Dr. Alex Edmans is a globally recognized expert and Professor of Finance at London Business School (LBS), renowned for his pioneering research in corporate finance, responsible business, and behavioral finance. A highly decorated academic, his work provides a crucial, data-driven framework for leaders seeking to move beyond maximizing shareholder value to a more sustainable model where purpose and profit reinforce each other.
Edmans's influential perspective is built on a rare career blend: he graduated from Oxford University, worked for Morgan Stanley in both investment banking and fixed income trading, and earned a Ph.D. from MIT Sloan as a Fulbright Scholar. His seminal book, Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit, was featured in the Financial Times Best Business Books of 2020. This work asserts that a “pie-growing mindset”—creating value for all stakeholders—is the most effective way to achieve long-term profit.
As an influential voice in global policy and governance, Edmans is a Director of the American Finance Association, a Fellow of the British Academy, and a non-executive director of The Investor Forum. He has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos, testified in the UK Parliament, and advised the World Bank Board of Directors. His latest book, May Contain Lies, addresses how stories, statistics, and studies exploit our biases—a critical topic in today's post-truth world.
A winner of 28 teaching awards and named Professor of the Year by Poets & Quants in 2021, Edmans delivers keynotes that are grounded in reality and immediately actionable. His presentations, including his viral TED and TEDx talks, equip audiences with the tools to confront the biases that impact decision-making, while demonstrating that a strategy of maximizing stakeholder value is the most powerful method for achieving financial and social success.
