Jon Bogard
Olin Business School
Washington University in St. Louis
“Upon starting his class, Jon gave us a choice: Stay with him and deal with a more difficult, but more fulfilling class, or switch to another professor and for an easier, but ultimately more formulaic course. I made the decision to stay with him and I have never felt any doubt about that choice.
“The early 8:30 AM start time became something to anticipate. He energized the room with rituals like our loud and cheerful ‘Good morning, Jon!’ greetings, encouraged peer-to-peer reviews by having us share what we learned while walking around and chatting with one another, and filled class time with interactive experiments, such as a bidding war over a $20 bill, that made abstract concepts real and memorable.
“Jon’s teaching style is unlike any other I’ve experienced. He blends rigor with creativity, ensuring that students are not only learning but also engaging with the material on a deeper level. His classroom is interactive, lively, and thoughtful, and it is clear how much care he invests in his students’ growth. He challenges us to think critically while making the process enjoyable and meaningful.
“He has had a remarkable impact on my learning and the learning of many others, creating an environment where students feel motivated, supported, and inspired.” – Jay Reyes
Jon Bogard, 38, is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School. Since joining WashU in 2022, Bogard has taught the introductory Organizational Behavior course, an applied social psychology class examining the behavior of individuals embedded within groups.
A behavioral scientist, he studies human judgment and decision making, with a particular focus on understanding how people navigate uncertainty.
Bogard’s research has been published in leading scientific journals and he has received multiple teaching awards.
Prior to returning to his hometown of St. Louis and joining the WashU faculty, he earned his PhD in Behavioral Decision Making from UCLA. Before that, he taught high school math and ran a teacher-training program in New Orleans.
He earned his BA in philosophy from Brown University with an emphasis on ethics and philosophy of mind.
BACKGROUND
At current institution since what year? 2022
Education: BA in Philosophy, Brown University, 2009; PhD in Behavioral Decision Making, UCLA, 2022
List of Undergraduate courses you teach: Organizational Behavior Within the Firm
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when … I realized two things about being a professor: 1) I get to spend my time studying the questions that fascinate me, the ones that I’d otherwise be awake at night reading about if I had any other job. I still sometimes shake my head in disbelief that this is my job?! People pay me to do this?!
2) Teaching undergraduate students, I’m surrounded by a group of exceptionally talented people who are unusually open to a wide set of different ways their life could go. I love working with my students to figure out how they can use their careers to maximize their contribution to the world.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? Much of my work examines how people navigate uncertainty—uncertainty about what information means (“How should I update my beliefs as new evidence emerges?”), about which outcomes will occur (“How likely is each possibility?”), or about the best course of action (“What do others do?” “What’s the right thing to do?”). A central finding is that people often deviate from the normative standards set by economists and decision theorists. But equally noteworthy, these deviations are often systematic and predictable, practically useful, and fascinating to study.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be … Working to improve the lives of animals raised on factory farms, or working to help the transition to Artificial General Intelligence go well for the world.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? I used to teach high school, and I carry a lot of those lessons and skills with me into my classroom at WashU. In particular, I approach each class the way I’d approach teaching any skill (like riding a bike or doing long division): I ask myself, “What should my students be able to do in 80 minutes that they couldn’t do at the start of class?” Then I design each class around activity-driven discovery, practice, and feedback. Additionally, I spend a lot of time building class culture through rituals and routines. I want my students to feel excited about being held to unusually high standards, bringing a whistle-while-you-work spirit to challenging coursework. My hope is that students leave each semester having learned a lot, developed new lenses through which to view the world, and had an inspiring experience — and that they feel proud of themselves for it.
One word that describes my first time teaching: Striking
Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: Before showing up to your class, most students will have undergone intense pressure to define themselves academically and to fit into pre-professional silos. It is possible to crack them out of this — but it’s very hard.
Professor I most admire and why: When I was an undergraduate, I received intense, wonderful years-long mentorship from two of my professors — Steve Sloman and Nomy Arpaly — that changed my life. Even at that time I knew how absurdly lucky I was, but becoming a professor has only reaffirmed my sense of how generous and incredible they were. I think of them often when interacting with undergraduates.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? Business students tend to be extremely engaged during class and are motivated to perform well. This can be leveraged in exciting ways — I can challenge students and trust that they will rise to meet the demands of a fast-paced, challenging course.
What is most challenging? When I was an undergraduate, we had no core curriculum requirements, so I selected classes based only on whatever seemed most interesting. In contrast, many business school students approach their college experience far more practically minded and career-focused, and they thus see their coursework in more instrumental ways. The university is full of intellectual treasures; I wish students were more interested in ideas for their own sake and in pursuing a liberal education.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Morally ambitious (that’s two words; I cheated)
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Incurious
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as … Inspiringly demanding (I hope)
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies? I used to play guitar and soccer fairly often. Now most of my time outside of work is spent with my family — my very wonderful partner and very wonderful daughter. We’ve built many family rituals that I cherish. I’m also lucky to live just a few blocks from my parents and a few minutes from my brother’s family.
How will you spend your summer? Summer is a quiet, focused time to work on my research. Fortunately, I also get to take a solo trip with my daughter and a separate family trip all together.
Favorite place(s) to vacation:
Traveling alone with my partner: Exploring a new city outside the United States
Traveling alone with my daughter: New Orleans
On a family trip: Anywhere with great children’s museums, parks, and temperate weather
Favorite book(s):
The Alignment Problem (Brian Christian)
The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemingway)
Thinking Fast and Slow (Danny Kahneman)
Doing Good Better (Will MacAskill)
Moby Dick (Herman Melville)
The Precipice (Toby Ord)
Reasons and Persons (Derek Parfit)
The Intuitionist (Colson Whitehead)
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much?
Atlanta – It’s beautiful, bizarre, clever, and deep
The Office – It always leaves me satisfied and smiling
The West Wing – Watching it feels like hanging out with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why?
Stated preference: Mostly blues and neo-soul
Revealed preference: Whatever my daughter happens to be obsessed with in a given month
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this … Business schools ought to take a clear stand: their mission should be to equip people to solve the world’s biggest problems.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at … Most leaders I work with drastically underestimate how quickly people can grow and how ambitious their organizations can be. Put simply, most organizations index to standards far below what’s possible and then group performance tracks this (low) standard.
I’m grateful for … I’m constantly staggered by, and grateful for, the jaw-dropping, life-defining luck I’ve had in each phase of my life.
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