Nathan PettitView profile
Professor
Nathan Pettit is a Professor of Management and Organizations and Vice Dean for MBA and Graduate Programs at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University. He is also the George and Edythe Heyman Faculty Fellow and has been at Stern since 2011. He teaches leadership courses in the full-time MBA, NYC Executive MBA, and DC Executive MBA programs. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Management, Cornell University, 2011 M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology, Columbia University, 2006 M.P.S. in Statistics, Cornell University, 2003 B.S. in Statistics, Cornell University, 2002 Nathan's research focuses on social hierarchy, underdogs and favorites, and cross-cultural issues in organizations. He investigates how status influences perception, motivation, and behavior in competitive and organizational settings. His work bridges management, psychology, and behavioral science, often exploring the cognitive and emotional dynamics of power and competition. The 15 most recent articles reflect a consistent focus on hierarchical dynamics, status perception, and competitive mindsets. They span disciplines including organizational behavior, psychology, and general science, with publications in top journals such as Academy of Management Journal , Organization Science , PNAS , and Psychological Science . The research reveals how high-status individuals perceive the world more positively, how underdogs and favorites adopt different motivational strategies, and how these dynamics shape organizational and societal outcomes. His scientific awards include: Named one of Poets & Quants '40 most outstanding MBA professors under 40' Stern’s Distinguished Teaching Award 'Professor of the Year' by MBA students (twice) 'Great Professor' by EMBA graduates (four times) Nathan actively contributes to academic leadership and student development. He serves on the editorial boards of Academy of Management Discoveries and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes . He is the founding director of the NYU Stern Leadership Accelerator, pioneering experiential learning through live case models. He also mentors students as the faculty representative for the Stern Chats podcast. While specific advisees are not listed, his role as a PhD-trained professor and program leader implies significant advising and mentorship responsibilities. He has likely secured research grants supporting his work on status and competition, though specific grants are not detailed in the text. He is central to the Leadership Accelerator initiative, which integrates faculty, students, and coaches to develop leadership skills through real-world challenges. This team-based approach emphasizes experiential learning and behavioral development, positioning Stern at the forefront of innovative business education.
