Signals, Stories and Tribal Instincts with Prof. Michael Morris

Michael Morris is the Chavkin-Chang Professor of Leadership at Columbia Business School, and one of the world’s leading scholars at the intersection of culture, cognition, and leadership. A cultural psychologist by training, his research has shaped how we understand identity, influence, and the psychology of change across global contexts. Over a career spanning decades, Prof. Morris has published over 200 academic papers and founded Columbia’s Leadership Lab and Behavioral Lab.In this episode, Prof. Morris and Subbu unpack the deep instincts that shape our collective lives—from the psychology of sports teams to corporate leadership—and why culture is not fixed, but dynamic, contested, and constantly evolving.To listen to the full episode, go here: bit.ly/m/cult_mWe cover:- Prof. Morris' journey from literature and cognitive science to pioneering cultural psychology- The origin story of the field—and why it had to reemerge after being sidelined for decades- Why culture is not what people say, but what people signal- What South Korea’s 2002 World Cup team taught us about identity and adaptability- Peer, hero, and ancestor instincts—and how they shape organizational behavior- What leaders often get wrong about culture change- Why the legitimacy of the messenger matters more than the message- How companies like Infosys, HCL, and GM shifted culture through surprising signals- The future of cultural analysis in an age of AI and big data