// Biography

J. Sanchez-Burks (JSB) is a cultural psychologist and behavioral scientist, as well as an endowed Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He is also a Fellow at the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research.

An award-winning scholar and executive educator, his research explores the role of emotion, culture, and group dynamics in organizational life — with a focus on leading innovation and driving engaged, sustainable change. His work is published in top peer-reviewed journals across behavioral science and management.

His studies have been profiled in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fortune, National Public Radio, the BBC, CBS News, The Times of India, and the National Academies of Sciences. He is the recipient of the Aspen Institute’s “Ideas Worth Teaching Award,” and is an elected Fellow of The Society of Experimental Social Psychology.

He brings a global perspective to his work, having consulted in 35 countries across five continents with leaders in Fortune 500 firms, startups, and mission-driven organizations. His online Coursera course on Emotional Intelligence has reached over 65,000 students and is available in 22 languages.

His forthcoming book with HarperCollins offers a fresh approach to structuring work life—one that draws on deeply human experiences to foster meaningful collaboration, boost creativity, and enhance productivity.

Born in San Francisco, raised in Los Angeles, he currently resides in Ann Arbor, MI. He has held visiting appointments at INSEAD (Singapore/France), the Stockholm School of Economics, Riga, and Koç University in Turkey.

Outside the classroom and off the page, he chases the torture of ultra-endurance cycling and the energy of live music.