Modupe Akinola

Modupe Akinola is the Barbara and David Zalaznick Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and serves as Faculty Director of the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Center for Leadership and Ethics. Prior to her academic career, she worked in professional services at Bain & Company and Merrill Lynch. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Social Psychology from Harvard University (2009).

Dr. Akinola's research focuses on how organizational environments characterized by deadlines, multitasking, and low status generate stress and how this stress affects performance. She employs a multimethod approach incorporating behavioral observation, implicit and reaction time measures, and physiological responses (hormonal and cardiovascular) to examine cognitive outcomes under stress. Her work also investigates workforce diversity, exploring organizational strategies to increase talent pool diversity and biases affecting minority recruitment and retention.

Her research portfolio reveals consistent themes across organizational behavior, stress physiology, and diversity studies. The publications demonstrate a progression from examining basic stress mechanisms to developing practical interventions that optimize performance under pressure. Her work increasingly integrates biological markers with social psychological frameworks, creating a unique interdisciplinary approach to understanding workplace behavior. Recent publications show growing emphasis on practical applications in healthcare, education, and organizational settings.

Dr. Akinola teaches courses including Advanced Micro Seminar in Social Interactions in Groups and Organizations, Executive Ethics (focusing on Stereotyping and Discrimination in Organizations), Global Immersion: Lessons from Rwanda on Conflict, Leadership, Change, and Business Opportunities, Lead: People, Teams, Organizations, and Success, Satisfaction and Sustainability. Her media presence includes interviews with major outlets and appearances alongside figures like Chris Hemsworth and Melinda French Gates discussing stress management and diversity topics.