Alison Fragale, Ph.D.
Organizational Psychologist | UNC Kenan-Flagler Professor | Bestselling Author of Likeable Badass
“ALISON FRAGALE IS NOT JUST A LIKEABLE BADASS. SHE’S A BRILLIANT SOCIAL SCIENTIST. HER WORK HAS CHANGED THE WAY I THINK ABOUT SUCCESS AND RELATIONSHIPS.”
— Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife
When the world’s leading voices on leadership change the way they think because of someone’s work, you pay attention.
At the 2026 LeadingBetter™ Summit, we are proud to welcome Alison Fragale, Ph.D., one of today’s most influential thinkers on status, power, and leadership influence.
Leading from Where You Are: The Art and Science of Building Status
What if the real key to influence is not power, but status?
In her research and bestselling book Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, Alison unpacks one of the most misunderstood forces in the workplace: status, and why it is one of the biggest determinants of career success and quality of life.
In this high-impact keynote, Alison will explore:
- What status really is and what it is not
- Why status drives influence more than authority alone
- How leaders can build status ethically and authentically
- Practical behaviors that increase trust, credibility, and impact
- How organizations can create cultures where influence is earned, not hoarded
Whether you are a senior executive, HR leader, or emerging manager, you will leave with a research-backed playbook for strengthening your leadership presence and helping others do the same.
Why Alison Fragale?
Alison is an organizational psychologist and award-winning professor at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. Her academic research on status, power, negotiation, and influence has been published in top scholarly journals and featured in major national media outlets including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Before entering academia, she worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Company, bringing real-world organizational insight to her research and teaching.
She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Today, she is a sought-after keynote speaker who translates behavioral science into practical tools leaders can use immediately.
Why This Matters for LeadingBetter™ Summit Attendees
The LeadingBetter™ Summit is designed for leaders who want more than inspiration. They want tools they can apply immediately to strengthen communication, collaboration, and team performance.
Alison’s work directly supports the Summit’s core leadership themes:
- Constructive communication and feedback cultures
- Trust, loyalty, and leadership presence
- Emotionally intelligent leadership
- Leading through complexity and change
- Building high-performing, psychologically safe teams
In a world where AI is reshaping skills and roles, human influence is the durable competitive advantage. Alison’s research gives leaders a clear, actionable path to building it.
Who Should Attend?
- Senior Leaders and Executives seeking to increase influence without relying solely on title or authority
- HR and Talent Development Leaders looking for research-backed frameworks to strengthen leadership capability
- Operational Leaders who want practical behaviors that drive credibility and accountability
- Emerging Leaders learning how to lead from where they are, even without formal power
If you have ever wondered how some leaders seem to command respect effortlessly, Alison will show you the science behind it and how to build it yourself.
Join Us at the 2026 LeadingBetter™ Summit
One powerful day.
World-class thought leadership.
Actionable insight you can use immediately.