People

“In working closely with TOM faculty, I have gained the skills to produce knowledge that is both academically rigorous and relevant to practice and society.”

I spent over ten years working in finance and at startups. During my time in industry, I observed the significance of information in transacting and making decisions. Prior to coming to HBS, I founded a company called introPLAY that promoted physical activity through games and community-based services. We collected individual performance data and found tremendous potential in providing beneficial services to our users that required the aggregation of that data.

I became more interested in understanding how the disclosure, aggregation, and diffusion of information affect behavior. How do firms change decision-making given the propagation of customer and market data? How do individuals value their personal information and their privacy? What business models are best for the provision of information goods? Ultimately, I decided to pursue these types of research questions here at HBS, where there is a particular emphasis on academic and industry application.

My Research Interests

I study how information disclosure and information goods affect individual behavior and firm strategy. Currently, I am investigating how dynamics of opinions in user communities influence firm decisions.

The TOM Program

In working closely with TOM faculty, I have gained the skills to produce knowledge that is both academically rigorous and relevant to practice and society.

A key strength of the TOM unit is the diversity of the faculty, in terms of backgrounds and research interests. There are economists, operations management scholars, organizational theorists, and others studying topics ranging from open innovation to information technology to product innovation. I have borrowed freely from these many perspectives to develop my own research.

The HBS Experience

For me, HBS means having the opportunity to interact with world-class faculty not only here, but also at the University and the wider academic community in Cambridge. I also feel fortunate for this community of doctoral students that provides constant mutual support for each other.

Advice for prospective doctoral students

I have found the inherent uncertainty in producing new knowledge to be a personal challenge. Be patient and persevere over the course of your doctoral career. Some practical tips before coming: learn software environments used in your field of research, audit classes online, and do relevant readings.