Katherine Phillips

Capturing the Real Value of Diversity: Building Relationships and Changing Cultures

Abstract: What are the benefits of diversity in teams? Twenty years of research examining the performance, feelings of confidence, and efficacy of diverse and homogeneous teams highlights the inherent tension that exists in diverse environments – diverse teams perform better but they have less confidence and efficacy than homogeneous teams. How might we move forward knowing that this inherent tension is actually the source of the real value of diversity? How can individuals build relationships across boundaries and influence organizational cultures to create environments that are conducive to capturing diversity’s potential benefits? Application of this work to women and men in STEM fields will be considered.

Katherine Phillips is the Reuben Mark Professor of Organizational Character, and the Director of the Sanford C. Bernstein & Company Center for Leadership and Ethics at the Columbia Business School. Before moving to Columbia in 2011 she served as the Co-Director and Founder of the Center on the Science of Diversity and Associate Professor at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Professor Phillips received her PhD in Organizational Behavior from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Prof. Phillips’ research addresses the value of diversity and the barriers that prevent society, organizations and especially work teams from capturing the knowledge, perspectives and unique backgrounds of every member. Professor Phillips is the recipient of numerous professional awards, including recognition from the International Association of Conflict Management, and the Organizational Behavior and Gender, Diversity, and Organizations Divisions of the Academy of Management. She is an APS Fellow and in 2018 she appeared on the Thinkers 50 list. Her research has been published in numerous scholarly and popular outlets. She lives in New York City with the other Professor Phillips, two daughters, and their cat, Maxie.