Erica Boothby
University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School
“I took this course as a pure elective and I’m so glad that I did. Professor Boothby is amazing and the value that I have gained from this course is immense. I can genuinely say this is one of the most practical and useful courses that I have taken at Penn, and Professor Boothby does a great job both engaging with her students as well as making sure we all develop both personally and professionally. There was a true sense of community cultivated within the classroom, and I know that I will be able to apply many of the principles from this class moving forward, whether it’s in a few months or a few years.” – Student evaluation
Erica Boothby, 38, is Senior Lecturer at University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School.
Her research examines the social illusions and decision-making biases that interfere with social connection. Much of Boothby’s research finds that our beliefs about how others see us are often overly pessimistic—with implications for our well-being, our relationships, and our careers.
Her research has been published in leading academic journals, including Psychological Science, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Trends in Cognitive Sciences, and it has been featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and National Public Radio’s Hidden Brain.
In 2022, she was awarded the American Psychological Society’s Rising Star Award. She has also received other awards and fellowships recognizing her research, including the Annie G. K. Garland Memorial Dissertation Fellowship and the Philip G. Zimbardo Prize in Social Psychology. She has been recognized for her pedagogy with the Wharton Teaching Excellence Award.
BACKGROUND
At current institution since what year? 2019
Education: PhD from Yale
List of Undergraduate courses you teach: Negotiations
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when … I realized that negotiations are actually just a specific form of social interaction, which is what I spent my PhD studying. So, they are not only incredibly important for people’s lives, but also very psychologically rich and fascinating. I love having the opportunity to help students learn this skill while encouraging them to think of negotiation through the broader lens of social interaction, making it more accessible to all.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? My research consistently underscores the fact that people have an overly pessimistic outlook on their social lives. Time and again, I find that people chronically underestimate how much others like them, don’t realize how much their friends think about them when they are apart, and mistakenly think their colleagues are not interested in talking—especially when they are from different backgrounds or identity groups. This results in people feeling socially disconnected or excluded, which can be extremely detrimental—making employees feel alienated, managers feel burned out, and people from underrepresented groups feel like their voices aren’t heard. But my research consistently shows that people like us, are interested in talking, and are willing engage much more than we realize! I think this is an important message that people need to hear.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be … Doing something that enables me to explore the human condition from another angle, like journalism or photography. Probably while driving around in a surf van.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? My passion for helping students learn to advocate for themselves, and making sure everyone feels included in what can sometimes be an intimidating context. Also, some of my slides are very silly.
One word that describes my first time teaching: Equal parts overwhelming and exhilarating
Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: How much fun it is – I would have done this sooner!
Professor I most admire and why: My husband teaches MBA Negotiations (we started teaching at the same time), and he’s been a source of inspiration and support since the beginning. His charisma and passion for teaching are infectious and being able to bounce ideas off of one another and learn from each other over the years has made the job even more enjoyable. I also have to give a shout out to my dad, as the first professor I ever knew (in microbiology), and whose path has always been a role model for my own.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? I love that my students are not only excited to learn, but also eager to apply lessons from class to their lives outside of the classroom. Often, my students are navigating job offers, internships, or challenging interpersonal situations, and nothing makes me happier than seeing them gain new confidence and skill as negotiators and immediately put it to use with meaningful consequences for their lives.
What is most challenging? Many students enter Negotiations feeling uneasy or out of their element—maybe they have preconceptions about what it means to be a good negotiator, a definition they believe doesn’t include them. Some carry the weight of past negotiation experiences they perceive as failures, while others might be entirely unfamiliar with the art of negotiating. From day one, my objective is to help students feel more comfortable making “the ask” and to convey that the class will be going through this journey together, so it’s important that they see the classroom as a safe space where everyone can learn from one another. The more students embrace this mindset, the more profound and collective the learning experience becomes for everyone involved.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Engaged.
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Absent.
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as …Generous, fair, and willing to work with students to overcome individual hardships that inevitably occur.
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies? Surfing, painting, photography, playing the fiddle, and travelling.
How will you spend your summer? Working on my research projects and writing, in between some family trips with my young daughter.
Favorite place(s) to vacation: Anywhere in Italy.
Favorite book(s): I have recently been reading (and re-reading) Jamberry, one of my daughter’s all-time favorites. It’s about a little boy and a bear who become friends and live in a world with lots and lots of delicious berries everywhere.
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? I’ve been trying to use my media consumption to improve my Italian language skills, so lately I’ve been watching a lot of entertaining Italian series on Netflix, like Summertime and An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts. But if my goal is to relax, I’ll nestle into the Great British Baking Show.
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? I like all kinds of music, but I’m learning to play the fiddle, so I’ve really been appreciating music by people like Alasdair Fraser, Brittany Haas, and Bruce Molsky.
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this … Cultivating so-called ‘soft skills,’ which are tremendously helpful for navigating the complex social dynamics inherent to the workplace, not to mention life in general.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at … Prioritizing employees’ well-being.
I’m grateful for … The opportunity to teach and mentor the next generation—my students regularly inspire me and renew my hope for humanity; my daughter, who provides me with daily opportunities to hone my negotiation skills; and my supportive colleagues, family, and friends. And coffee.
DON’T MISS THE ENTIRE ROSTER OF 2023’S 50 BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSORS.
Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.