News Archives

How Neuroscience and AI Could Reshape Leadership Pipelines

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For decades, leadership identification has relied on personality inventories, interviews, and performance history. These tools are valuable, but they often capture who people are, not how they think and adapt under pressure. New research from Elizabeth “Zab” Johnson (Executive Director) and Michael Platt (Faculty Director) of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative (WiN), Korn Ferry, and Lazul.ai, shows how neuroscience-informed, AI-enabled assessments can add a powerful new layer to leadership pipelines, especially at early career stages.…Read More

Artificial Intelligence Mirrors Natural Intelligence

A striking visual metaphor for artificial intelligence and continuous learning, depicting a human brain merging with glowing blue circuitry.

Artificial Intelligence Mirrors Natural Intelligence Can we move beyond human education years to hybrid intelligence? A striking visual metaphor for artificial intelligence and continuous learning, depicting a human brain merging with glowing blue circuitry. For the past three years, the conversation around artificial intelligence has been dominated by a single, anxious question: What will…Read More

The Science of Boardroom Decision-Making

Artificial intelligence interface in a modern meeting room, showcasing neural networks and machine learning.

The Science of Boardroom Decision-Making How neuroscience can help boards make better decisions Artificial intelligence interface in a modern meeting room, showcasing neural networks and machine learning. Corporate boards are operating in a period defined by persistent uncertainty and volatility. Directors are asked to make consequential decisions under heightened scrutiny yet the information available…Read More

How Neuroscience Can Unlock the Future of AI-Powered Literacy

A small group of people in a panel discussion setting, with one person standing and addressing the others seated on stools.

News How Neuroscience Can Unlock the Future of AI-Powered Literacy Michael Platt speaks on a panel at StudyFetch's Enduring Literacy Symposium. Photo: StudyFetch StudyFetch, the AI-powered educational platform serving over 6 million students worldwide, recently hosted the Enduring Literacy Symposium at the University of Pennsylvania. This event gathered some of…Read More

How Can Leaders Adapt to AI?

How Can Leaders Adapt to AI? In an excerpt from his book ‘The Leader’s Brain,’ Wharton neuroscientist Michael Platt talks about three leadership skills that are critical in an increasingly automated world. In this updated and expanded edition of his groundbreaking book The Leader’s Brain, Wharton Neuroscience Initiative director Michael Platt reveals how…Read More

Can We Identify Future Leaders Before They Lead?

Can We Identify Future Leaders Before They Lead? How Wharton Neuroscience, Korn Ferry, and Lazul.ai are uncovering the science behind tomorrow’s leaders Imagine a company that's not hiring just for today but for the future. Discover how Wharton Neuroscience, the Korn Ferry Institute, and Lazul.ai are uncovering the science behind…Read More

Advancing Leadership Through Science and Innovation

Advancing Leadership Through Science and Innovation Uniting Psychology and Neuroscience to Push the Boundaries of Leadership Assessment and Development Image: Courtesy of Korn Ferry Institute In this piece from Korn Ferry, Dr. Michael Platt, Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, explores how neuroscience can unlock new dimensions in leadership assessment…Read More

Ripple Effect Podcast: Visual Marketing: Barbara Kahn and Zab Johnson

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In a podcast episode titled ‘Visual Marketing: A Practical Guide to the Science of Branding and Retailing,’ Barbara Kahn and Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson discuss the merger of marketing and neuroscience, focusing on visual marketing’s increasing significance in today’s digital and omnichannel environment. They highlight key principles such as attention and fluency, and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate behavioral and neuroscience data to optimize marketing strategies.…Read More

Does AI Limit Our Creativity

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New research from Wharton highlights that while generative AI like ChatGPT can enhance individual idea quality, it may reduce diversity among group ideas, which is crucial for innovation. Ensuring diversity in ideation processes involves changing prompts and incorporating multiple AI models or starting with human ideas, as suggested by the study’s authors.…Read More

How Small Talk Opens Up Deeper Connections

In an article for MSN, Emily Falk, Associate Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, unpacks how small talk can spark deeper social bonds. Backed by neuroscience research, Falk explains how brief, everyday conversations help establish brain synchrony—laying the groundwork for more meaningful exchanges. Using the “Fast Friends” protocol, a structured Q&A game, Falk and her collaborators found that even strangers could align neurologically through initial icebreakers, leading to more enjoyable and wide-ranging discussions. The piece reframes small talk as a gateway rather than a barrier to connection.…Read More