Katy Milkman

“She’s able to find these ideas that are conceptually novel and interesting — temptation bundling, from a purely conceptual standpoint, is brilliant,” he says. “But then simultaneously, [the ideas translate] into something that is quite practical and quite usable in the real world.”— John Beshears, Harvard Business School

Katy Milkman co-founded and co-directs the University of Pennsylvania’s Behavior Change for Good Initiative, alongside her Wharton colleague and fellow Lavin speaker, Angela Duckworth. As we emerge from lockdown into our post-pandemic lives, Milkman is the person best equipped to help us make the most of this figurative “blank slate”: not only teaching us how to create change, but make it stick. As humans, we are hard-wired to create meaningful change around “temporal landmarks.” New Years is an undeniable time for resolutions and goal-setting, as are birthdays, new seasons, or the start of the school year. This kind of “fresh start effect” that triggers our desire for change also appears as we emerge from the pandemic—especially powerful alongside a physical change in circumstances, like going back to the office or in-person schooling. Whether you hope to nudge yourself, your employees, your customers, or your clients, now is the  time to move forward with the changes you’ve always wanted to make. And no matter if the goal is to be more productive, save more for retirement, get more out of enrichment programs, or achieve health and wellness targets—Milkman is ready to help.

Decades of research have taught Milkman—host of Charles Schwab’s popular behavioral economics podcast Choiceology—that the key is to understand what’s standing between you and success, and tailor your solution to that roadblock. Too often, people reach for one-size-fits all solutions that sound appealing but lack a basis in evidence. Milkman’s cutting-edge research illustrates how to identify and overcome the barriers that regularly stand in the way of change. Her discoveries help explain why timing can be everything when it comes to making a change, how to turn temptation and inertia into assets that can help you conquer your goals, and why giving advice, even if it’s about something you’re struggling with, can help you achieve more, too.

Bestselling author Charles Duhigg called Milkman’s book How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be “a must read for anyone looking to improve their habits or their life”; Charles Schwab declared it “an invaluable guide to success”; and Laszlo Bock, CEO of Humu and former Google SVP of People Operations, says, “If your goal is to get better, or to make your teams or business better, read this book.” How to Change has been translated into over 20 languages, and The Financial Times named it one of the 10 best books on business to pick up in summer 2021. The book also made The Behavioral Scientist’s summer book list as well as Adam Grant’s personal list of 12 books every leader should read this summer.

Milkman’s research is transforming our understanding of behavior change. She’s the former president of the International Society for Judgment and Decision Making, and one of Wharton’s most sought-after teachers. Milkman has also worked with or advised dozens of organizations on how to spur positive change, including Google, the U.S. Department of Defense, the American Red Cross, 24 Hour Fitness, Walmart, Morningstar, and the White House. Her research and insights are frequently covered by major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist and NPR.