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Translating people science into talent strategy.

Samantha N. Smith, Ph.D.

Samantha with four other Ph.D. students on HBS's campus

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<h1>About Me </h1>
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I'm a people scientist who helps organizations identify, develop, and retain top leadership talent.
I earned my Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School, where I studied why some leaders rise to the top and what determines whether they thrive once they get there, with a focus on executives who advance without traditional sponsorship. At ghSMART, I analyzed a subset of 30,000+ executive assessments to identify the behaviors that distinguish C-suite leaders, translating those insights into evidence-based frameworks that help organizations develop top talent.
At Harvard Extension School, I designed and teach Harnessing Employee Talent: The Diversity Advantage, a 15-week course for working HR leaders, rated 4.9/5 across two cohorts. My work appears in Harvard Business Review, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and Harvard case collections.
Ph.D., Organizational Behavior, Harvard Business School · A.B., Psychology, Princeton University

Black concrete wall with spot light stage. Stock photo

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Outside of work, I have served on advisory boards that expand access to opportunity—a motivation that informs my research.

First Tee – Silicon Valley, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Chronic Disease Coalition

Beyond Research

Samantha N. Smith

I'm a people scientist.

I study traits of high potential talent—and why the path to the top may undermine your ability to lead once you're there.

At ghSMART, I've analyzed a subset of 30,000+ executive assessments to uncover the behavioral traits that predict who reaches the C-suite. At Harvard Business School, I found that competitive incentives (e.g. promotions, bonuses) drive top talent to isolate themselves, which may compound over a career into what I term a self-sufficiency trap: the independence that fuels their rise eventually undermines the relational demands of senior leadership.

I translate these insights into evidence-based frameworks that help organizations better develop and retain top talent.

My work has been published in Harvard Business Review, Harvard Case Collections, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and Academy of Management Proceedings; I've been invited to share this work with audiences including the United Nations and Fortune 500 leadership teams.

Ph.D., Harvard Business School. A.B. in Psychology, Princeton University (minors in Neuroscience & Cognitive Science).