Self Control & Leadership: Moving Beyond Just Willpower

Dr. Kentaro Fujita, a leading expert on motivation, self-regulation, and decision-making, joins us to talk about the science behind willpower. He is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Decision Sciences Collaborative at The Ohio State University, and earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard and his PhD in Psychology from NYU. His research explores why some people are better than others at resisting short-term temptations in pursuit of long-term goals, and what enables people to stay aligned with their intentions. His award-winning work has shown that people with stronger self-control tend to think more abstractly about their goals, which helps them overcome distractions and impulses. He also challenges the idea that willpower is simply a depletable resource, framing it instead as a dynamic process shaped by mindset, motivation, and context.