Paul Leonardi

Paul Leonardi is Department Chair and Duca Family Professor of Technology Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, with additional appointment in the Department of Communication. He holds a PhD from Stanford University and has established himself as a leading expert in digital transformation and organizational change.

• University of California, Santa Barbara
• PhD, Stanford University

Leonardi's research focuses on how organizations can design networks and implement technologies to effectively create and share knowledge. He examines how data-intensive technologies like simulation and social media enable new information access and sharing methods, how these technologies change work routines and communication partners, and how these shifts alter organizational expertise. His work bridges management, communication, and information systems disciplines with particular emphasis on digital transformation.

His publication record shows a clear trend toward examining the intersection of artificial intelligence, organizational communication, and workplace transformation. Recent work explores generative AI, digital twins, remote work dynamics, and the organizational implications of new technologies. His research consistently addresses how technological changes reshape organizational structures, communication patterns, and knowledge management practices.

• Fellow of the International Communication Association (ICA)
• Fellow of the Academy of Management
• Ascendant Scholar Award, Western Academy of Management
• Young Scholar Award, ICA
• Early CAREER Award, National Science Foundation
• Industry Studies Fellow, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
• Multiple best paper awards from major academic associations

Leonardi has consulted extensively with major corporations including Google, Microsoft, General Motors, Cisco, and YouTube on digital transformation initiatives. He has authored more than 70 scholarly articles across management, communication, and information systems journals, along with four influential books including the award-winning 'Car Crashes Without Cars' and 'Technology Choices,' and his recent work 'The Digital Mindset: What it Really Takes to Thrive in the Age of Data, Algorithms, and AI' co-authored with Tsedal Neeley. He has received two major teaching awards for graduate student mentorship and education, demonstrating his commitment to developing the next generation of scholars and practitioners in his field.