Dr. Jonah Berger is a professor at the Wharton School and an internationally bestselling author who is a world-renowned expert on word of mouth, influence, and behavioral science. His research fundamentally addresses why products, ideas, and behaviors catch on, providing leaders with a rigorous, data-driven methodology for driving social transmission and organizational change.
Berger holds a PhD in Marketing and a BA in Human Judgment and Decision Making from Stanford University. He has published over 80 articles in top-tier academic journals and teaches one of the world's most popular online courses. His books, including the award-winning Contagious: Why Things Catch On, are taught globally, revealing the six basic principles that drive all things to become popular. He is also the author of Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way, which examines the power of natural language processing to increase persuasion and connection.
His expertise is frequently sought by the world's leading corporations and organizations. Berger has consulted for Apple on new product strategy, helped The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sharpen messaging, and advised startups, political campaigns, and Fortune 500 companies, including Moderna and Amazon. This widespread application of his theories in high-stakes environments highlights the practical, transformative power of his behavioral science research.
As a speaker, Dr. Berger provides a powerful, intellectual, and humorous examination of the behavioral science behind influence and change. He has keynoted hundreds of major events like SXSW and Cannes Lions, engaging audiences from 10 to 10,000. His presentations focus on actionable takeaways, from discovering the "magic words" that convince clients, to becoming The Catalyst who removes barriers to change by mitigating the five hidden factors that impede action.
