Leslie Perlow is the Senior Associate Dean for Research and the Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership in the Organizational Behavior Unit at Harvard Business School.
Professor Perlow’s research focuses on the micro-dynamics of work. She studies how individuals act within an organization – i.e., what do people do all day, how do they spend their time, with whom do they interact– and the consequences for organizations and individuals. She documents individuals’ work practices including the use of technology, meetings, virtual interactions, and managing across cultures with global teams, and explores the implications of these practices for organization productivity, individuals’ careers, and family lives. Professor Perlow engages with organizations and identifies ways leaders can change their practices to the benefit of both the organization’s productivity and the individuals’ personal lives.
Professor Perlow is currently developing a new elective course that strives to enable students to think proactively about how they spend the first 10 years after earning their MBAs. This course will encourage students to be more intentional about their choices, and provide guidance to help them in terms of managing their careers, relationships, and lives.
Before joining the Harvard faculty, Professor Perlow was on the faculty of the University of Michigan Business School. She earned her B.A. in Economics from Princeton University and her Ph.D. in Organization Studies from MIT. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a management consultant.
