Kendall Yamamoto

I'm an Organizational Behavior Researcher and Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia.

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Every human being is inherently valuable and worthy, but many people feel undervalued, limiting their ability to thrive. My research program seeks to understand the role of social worth in organizations and why certain people and ideas are deemed valuable. I explore how these perceptions impact individual and group behavior, considering factors like diverse identities, cultural influences, and status dynamics. I explore questions such as: "How can organizations effectively advocate for diversity across groups?", "How does gender influence the qualities entrepreneurs seek in their cofounders?", and "What can teams do to make all members feel valued regardless of status differences?"

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My research has been published in the Academy of Management Journal, and my dissertation was selected as the winner of the 2024 Academy of Management HR Division Dissertation Proposal Award.​​

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I graduated from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin with a Ph.D. in Management. Before starting my Ph.D., I worked as a research consultant specializing in leadership development. I obtained my bachelor's degree in psychology and entrepreneurship from the University of Washington in Seattle.​

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I welcome collaborations with organizations aiming to address and understand their challenges. Please message me to discuss potential collaborations further.​