About Dolly
PROFESSOR, NYU Stern School of Business
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
GOOD-ISH PERSON
Dr. Dolly Chugh studies the gap between who we mean to be and who we actually are. It's a gap she knows well — because she spends a lot of time in it herself.
An award-winning behavioral scientist at NYU Stern School of Business, Dolly has built her career at the intersection of psychology, leadership, and the ordinary moments most of us would rather not examine too closely. With a trademark blend of science and soul, she helps individuals become the leaders, colleagues, citizens, and people they aspire to be — while trying to do the same herself.
A note from Dolly
My professional life is built around a somewhat awkward fact.
I am a behavioral scientist known for helping people become better versions of themselves. Some folks even call me an expert. And yet, I remain remarkably talented at being a messy human.
I overthink. I underthink. I am defensive. I am offensive. I people please. I leave people out. I give too little feedback. I take too little feedback. I avoid hard conversations. I avoid hard truths. I avoid hard workouts. The list goes on.
In my experience, being human is not easy, let alone being the person we mean to be. If you’re trying to figure out how to do it, I see you. We’re in this together.
I’m all about growth… mine included. Lifelong learning. Lifelong unlearning. And lifelong relearning things I thought I nailed eons ago (sigh).
A six word bio of me might read: Fancy Resume. Messy Human. Growth Addict.
My superpower is turning mistakes (mine, yours) into growth. Biases, systems, habits, mindsets, narratives … I’m endlessly curious about the things that get in the way of our best selves and how to turn those moments into learning that sticks. Whether I’m in a classroom, on the page, behind a podium, or popping up on your algorithm, I help people be the leaders, bosses, colleagues, community members, and ancestors we mean to be.
To get there, I blend science and soul. I translate what research tells us about human behavior into practical tools for everyday life and work. Then I breathe life into those tools with storytelling and humanity, plus a dash of zeitgeist and joy.
You have high standards for yourself and so do I. The way we get there is by letting go of shame, judgment, and perfection. More about becoming than being.
I’m glad you’re here.
We got this.
BIO
Dolly Chugh is an award-winning behavioral scientist, author, and professor whose work explores what it means to be a good-ish person in an imperfect world. Through her research, teaching, writing, and speaking, she helps people and organizations bridge the gap between who they are today and who they aspire to become.
Dolly is the Jacob B. Melnick Term Professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, where she teaches MBA courses on leadership and management and serves as Faculty Director of the NYU Stern Leadership Accelerator. She also teaches in the NYU Prison Education Program, a role that reflects her commitment to making education and personal growth accessible across communities.
Her research focuses on what she calls the "psychology of good people"—the ways our intentions, biases, identities, and assumptions shape our behavior. Drawing from social psychology, behavioral science, and organizational research, Dolly offers practical tools for navigating difficult conversations, confronting bias, learning from mistakes, and leading with greater courage and self-awareness.
Dolly is the author of two critically acclaimed books. The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias (HarperCollins, 2018) challenged readers to move beyond perfectionism and embrace growth when confronting bias and inequity. The book received praise from Adam Grant, Angela Duckworth, Liz Wiseman, Billie Jean King, and many others. Her second book, A More Just Future: Psychological Tools for Reckoning with Our Past and Driving Social Change (Simon & Schuster, 2022), provides research-based strategies for understanding difficult histories and creating meaningful social progress.
Her forthcoming book, The Good Boss Project: Becoming the Manager You Mean to Be (Simon & Schuster Acumen, 2027), is a fresh and life-affirming vision of management as one of the most meaningful jobs you didn’t know you had—revealing how growing your employees is the key to fueling the bottom line and fueling your soul.
Dolly's TED Talk, "How to Let Go of Being a 'Good' Person—and Become a Better Person," was named one of TED's 25 Most Popular Talks of 2018 and has been viewed more than five million times worldwide. She is also the author of Dear Good People, a popular newsletter offering bite-sized, evidence-based insights on leadership, inclusion, personal growth, and the ongoing practice of becoming better.
Her work has been featured on the TODAY Show, NPR, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, among many other media outlets. Her research has earned numerous honors, including the Academy of Management Journal Best Paper Award, SPSP Fellow recognition, selection to the Thinkers50 Radar 2025, and recognition as one of Ethisphere Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics.
Before entering academia, Dolly worked at Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Sibson & Company, Scholastic, and Time Inc. She earned her BA in Psychology and Economics from Cornell University and her MBA and PhD from Harvard University.
Teaching at NYU Stern
At the NYU Stern School of Business, Dolly teaches MBA and executive students how to think about leadership and inclusion in the real world. Her courses draw on cutting‑edge research and lived experience, asking students to look closely at the everyday decisions that shape organizations and culture.
Speaking
Dolly speaks to organizations of all kinds about the science and soul of becoming the leaders, colleagues, and people we mean to be. Her talks stand out because she connects with audiences interactively — speaking with them, not at them.
Writing
Dolly turns complex research into personal, practical stories. She writes about unlearning old narratives, facing contradictions, and building “goodish” habits for imperfect lives.
Teaching at NYU Stern
At the NYU Stern School of Business, Dolly teaches MBA and executive students how to think about leadership and inclusion in the real world. Her courses draw on cutting‑edge research and lived experience, asking students to look closely at the everyday decisions that shape organizations and culture.
Teaching in the Prison System
Dolly teaches in prison classrooms, bringing rigorous, high‑expectation education to overlooked spaces. She brings rigorous, human-centered education into carceral settings.
Writing
Dolly turns complex research into personal, practical stories. She writes about unlearning old narratives, facing contradictions, and building “goodish” habits for imperfect lives.
DOLLY’S TED TALK
How to Let Go of Being a “Good” Person — and Become a Better Person
What if your attachment to being a "good" person is holding you back from actually becoming a better person? In this accessible talk, social psychologist Dolly Chugh explains the puzzling psychology of ethical behavior — like why it's hard to spot your biases and acknowledge mistakes — and shows how the path to becoming better starts with owning your mistakes. "In every other part of our lives, we give ourselves room to grow — except in this one, where it matters most," Chugh says.
