Sheena Iyengar

Sheena Iyengar, a Columbia Business School professor known for her work on the psychology of choice, and Mark Gardiner, a journalist and author with insider knowledge of Trader Joe's, explore how the grocery chain's innovative practices could reshape American governance. They discuss Trader Joe's unique model of limited product offerings and community engagement, revealing how its treasure hunt shopping experience enhances customer interaction. The conversation highlights psychology's role in consumer behavior and the potential lessons for broader business and social systems.

Today's podcast features Sheena Iyengar, Professor of social psychology. The interview delves into the effectiveness of brainstorms, highlighting the flaws of traditional brainstorming sessions. It explores alternative solutions, such as pre-meeting preparation and diverse knowledge bases, emphasizing the value of individual thinking before group discussions. The importance of persistence in generating creative ideas is also discussed, challenging the notion that fancy office designs enhance creativity.

Sheena Iyengar, a decision-making expert at Columbia Business School, and former Trader Joe's advertising executive Mark Gardner, discuss the grocery chain's unique principles. They explore how Trader Joe's unconventional business model, with its limited product selection and engagement strategy, fosters customer loyalty. The conversation delves into how too many choices can confuse consumers, illuminating the paradox of choice. They highlight the store’s minimalistic experience and collaborative culture, suggesting valuable lessons for governance and consumer behavior.

Show notes: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/sheena-iyengar-choose-to-think-biggerWe may not think about it all that often, but the choices that we make often end up defining who we become. Dr. Sheena Iyengar, the S.T. Lee Professor of Business at the Columbia Business School, makes the psychology of choice and decision-making the focus of much of her research. She wrote a best-selling book called The Art of Choosing, and just published a new book called Think Bigger.We talk about Sheena’s new book, and dive into why decision-making has become a focus of her career. We also have a lively discussion about design thinking and its shortcomings, and talk about some of the myths associated with innovation.Join our Substack to get access to episodes a week early, post-show discussions, and other bonus content: https://thecuriositydepartment.substack.com/BioSheena S. Iyengar is the S.T. Lee Professor of Business at the Columbia Business School. She graduated with a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Stanford University.Dr. Iyengar’s research focuses on the psychology of choice and decision-making, addressing how humans face challenges in a world where they are inundated with options. She has also tackled issues in the business world through the lenses of network analysis and diversity-inspired ideation. She studies the processes used by both groups and individuals in making choices to see how we can improve on innovation, problem-solving, and leveraging business relationships.Dr. Iyengar currently sits on the board of the Asian University for Women and is looking to expand her work on further board opportunities. She is also a member of the Ashinaga Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council. She is a blind, first-generation Indian-American who lives in New York City.***This episode is brought to you by:Fable: Build inclusive products: https://makeitfable.com/designbetter/ Freehand by InVision: The intelligent whiteboard that's half the price of Miro and Mural:https://freehandapp.com/Methodical Coffee: Roasted, blended, brewed, served and perfected by verified coffee nerds:https://methodicalcoffee.com/(use code "designbetter" for 10% off of your order).Help us make the show even better by taking a short survey: www.dbtr.co/surveyIf you're interested in sponsoring the show, please contact us at: sponsors@thecuriositydepartment.comIf you'd like to submit a guest idea, please contact us at: contact@thecuriositydepartment.com

Join Dr. Sheena Iyengar, an expert on choice, as she explores choice overload, decision-making challenges, reducing gender bias, and the influence of cultural backgrounds. Discover her innovative six-step process for fostering innovation and the surprising truth about brainstorming. Additionally, learn about disruptive technology in making ice cream and how a team solved the ventilator shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore the importance of decision education for children in today's information-filled world.