Dr. Robert Livingston is a social psychologist and leading expert on the science underlying bias and racism in organizations. Prior to joining the Harvard Kennedy School in 2015, he held positions as Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Associate Professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of Sussex, where he was also area chair, and founder and faculty director of the Centre for Leadership, Ethics, and Diversity (LEAD).
His research has been published in top-tier academic journals such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Academy of Management Journal, Psychological Science, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Journal of Social Issues, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and Leadership Quarterly. His work has also been featured in popular press outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, BBC, Newsweek, USA Today, Time, and MSNBC, as well as popular podcasts such as Armchair Expert, Beyond Busy, and The Business of Giving.
Dr. Livingston is also a practitioner whose passion is the application of social psychological theory and research to solving real-world organizational and societal challenges. For two decades, he has served as a diversity consultant to scores of Fortune 500 companies, public-sector agencies, and non-profit organizations. His Harvard Business Review article “How to Promote Racial Equity in the Workplace” was the winner of the 2020 Warren Bennis Prize, awarded to the best article on leadership published in HBR each year. This article was also included in HBR at 100—a book showcasing the most influential and innovative articles published in Harvard Business Review over the last century.
His groundbreaking approach to combatting racism is detailed in his book The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth about Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations published by Penguin Random House in 2021. It was selected from among 600 entries as one of six finalists for the Financial Times & McKinsey Best Book of 2021 Award. The Conversation was also nominated for a 2022 NAACP Image Award in the “Outstanding Literary Work—Instructional” category.
Dr. Livingston is an elected Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, an honor bestowed upon “individuals who have made extraordinary and unique contributions to the field of personality and social psychology.” He was also selected by Thinkers50 Deloitte as a member of the Radar Class of 2022, described as “an exceptional group of thinkers, whose ideas, hard work and passion can make a real difference in the world.”
In his spare time, he enjoys jazz, wine and whiskey tasting, gastronomy, philosophy, cinema, interior design, and nature documentaries. He has resided in six countries and speaks four languages.
Executive Education Programs
Empowering Black Leaders: Strategies for Personal and Professional Success
Strategies for Building and Leading Diverse Organizations
Transparent Engagement
Harvard Kennedy School is proud of its energetic involvement in the world. To better understand how to solve public problems by improving policy and leadership, we engage directly with policymakers, public leaders, governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses whose activities affect those problems. However, we recognize that such engagement can raise questions about perceived and potential conflicts of interest, so we disclose publicly the key professional activities of our faculty outside the Kennedy School. The activities disclosed below are for the most recent reporting period, as defined by University policy. Some may be paid, some may be unpaid, and others may be in exchange for expense reimbursement only.
Outside Professional Activities For Robert Livingston
| Organization | Relationship |
|---|---|
| L'Oreal USA Women in Science | Membership on a scientific or other advisory board |
| L'Oreal USA Women in Science | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| NJC and State Judiciaries (MA, OR, NJ, CO) | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| Columbia University | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| Anavo | Consulting |
| Ancestry.com | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| Claremont Graduate University | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| DC Metro Police | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| Genentech | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| King County District Court | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| Rutgers University - New Brunswick | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| Social Security Administration | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| Tufts University | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| University of Georgia | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |