Videos
-
Alison Fragale - Workforce Gender Gap - Squawk Box CNBC - 10/7/24
-
Power, Politics, and Asking for What you Want
-
Alison Fragale - Assoc. Prof. of Organizational Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
-
How Women Can Gain Status and Advance in the Workplace
-
How to be well-liked at work, according to science
-
WGN Chicago Interview with Alison Fragale
Learn More About Alison Fragale
Alison Fragale, Ph.D., is an organizational psychologist, professor at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, and bestselling author of “Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve” (Doubleday, September 2024).
Fragale’s academic research on status, power, negotiation, and influence have been published in her field’s top academic journals as well as national media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. She is a sought-after keynote speaker who uses behavioral science to help individuals, especially women, excel. Prior to her academic career, Fragale worked as a consultant for McKinsey and Company, Inc.
She holds a Ph.D. in organizational behavior from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Alison Fragale is available to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting meetings, interactive workshops and customized keynotes through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group®.
Likeable Badass: The Science of Winning the Status Game
- Why do women struggle to be seen as both competent and likeable?
- Why do women get less credit than men for the same accomplishments?
- Why do women remain underpaid and underrepresented?
- Why do women struggle to be seen as both competent and likeable?
- Why do women get less credit than men for the same accomplishments?
- Why do women remain underpaid and underrepresented?
In this revealing presentation, organizational psychologist Alison Fragale, Ph.D., answers these maddening questions. Drawing from her new book, “Likeable Badass,” she unpacks the science of status — how respected we are by others — and demonstrates that it is critical for both life satisfaction and career success. Because most people don’t understand status, she explains, they fail to manage theirs effectively. Reframing women’s age-old struggles through a new lens, Fragale shows why, on average, women have less status than men, how it holds them back from achieving the power they deserve, and, most importantly, what we can do about it. With easy, proven strategies to build status, participants will learn the two mistakes women make that diminish their status, how to self-promote effectively and authentically, and the value of “other-promoters” and how to get more of them. Audiences will leave newly informed and inspired to give and get the respect, power, and influence they deserve, even when the odds are unfairly stacked against them.
Being Your Own Best Advocate: Challenges & Strategies for Women in Negotiation
The bad news: An overwhelming body of evidence suggests that, relative to men, women are disadvantaged at every stage of the negotiation process.
The good news: None of these disadvantages are rooted in biology or personality. Women can negotiate as effectively as men, they just need to employ different strategies.
In this educational and inspirational session, negotiation expert Alison Fragale, Ph.D., discusses the science of gender at the bargaining table. Drawing on her long career in male-dominated fields, Fragale outlines the false assumptions women make about advocating for themselves and provides research-based strategies for correcting these assumptions and being a confident advocate for one’s self-interest. Speaking from both the head and the heart, she provides audiences with strategies for understanding how and why women can be disadvantaged in negotiations, as well as the psychology of social backlash against female negotiators. Attendees will leave with immediately applicable negotiation tactics that women can use to produce results and build relationships.
Leading From Where You Are: Women's Power, Advocacy & Influence
How can women be strong, confident advocates for their own careers and their own ideas?
In this accessible presentation, organizational psychologist Alison Fragale, Ph.D., answers this question with six practical strategies that all individuals, regardless of seniority or title, can use to speak up and influence productively without being labeled “aggressive” or “self-promoting.” Explaining the common myths that derail women’s advancement, she discusses the importance of setting long-term career goals, becoming a rockstar performer and an “other-promoter,” developing one’s narrative, building liking and trust, cultivating personal sources of status and power, and saying “yes” and “no” strategically. Participants will leave the session more confident, inspired, and purposeful than when they entered, armed with actionable advice to deliver the best performance to their organization while managing their own path.
Building a Powerhouse Network: How to Create, Sustain and Leverage Relationships
According to organizational psychologist Alison Fragale, Ph.D., success depends a lot on “who you know.” In this engaging presentation, she shows that when you have a trusted relationship with someone who can offer the advice, information, or approval you need, everything is easier. When you lack these relationships, Fragale explains, you struggle. She outlines why strategic relationship-building is particularly important for women but also more challenging because they often look different than others in the room, are busy, and, for many, the idea of “networking” is unappealing. But, she points out, building strong relationships does not need to be time-consuming or unpleasant. Sharing science and strategies, Fragale explains how to cultivate desirable professional relationships in ways that are both authentic and efficient. Participants will learn how to develop a network strategy that turns strangers into acquaintances and acquaintances into allies; how to stay top of mind in existing relationships by making “small deposits” and developing daily network habits; and how and when to use social media like LinkedIn to deepen professional relationships.
"I first met Alison when I took her Negotiations class in business school, and was very impressed with her ability to deliver content that is based on science with many advices and actionable items that you can execute in your work and personal life. Years later, I was very excited to have Alison as a guest speaker at our Women’s Network, and she did not disappoint! She delivered an amazing presentation that addressed strategies and tactics to help women overcome challenges in negotiation. During a time when we are being challenged to adapt our ways of working in virtual environments, Alison keeps her audience highly engaged with great sense humor and deep knowledge of influence, negotiation and leadership topics."
"We started partnering with Alison in 2018 on a variety of trainings and engaged her expertise with the top leaders in our business. We have been so impressed with her ability to quickly understand the complexity of our business and adapt the content and format to our needs. In all of our engagements, Alison’s advice is high-impact, tactical, and universally valued. At our global Sixth Street Partners firm Offsite in 2019, Alison spoke to our Women’s Network on Power, Advocacy, and Influence, tailoring content to a group of 50+ women across functions, levels, and years of experience. She also conducted one-on-one and small group office hours with members of the Women’s Network specifically designed to address their professional development goals. The Women’s Network found her teaching extremely relatable and impactful — she engages audiences with ease and makes a lasting impression."
"Alison presented on the use and abuse of power at our Best Practices Forum for Ethics and Compliance practitioners. Her comments were insightful and full of practical applications and her warmth and sense of humor deeply connected with our group. In fact, Alison’s presentation was rated as one of the best of the forum!"
"Alison is one of the most impactful speakers I have ever seen and worked with. She presents in such a genuine and unassuming way that endears her to the audience, and then she delivers an impact through storytelling and practical tools that anyone can start using immediately. Her first event with us was so well-received that we invited her back for a second event with our clients. And, I’ve been able to personally benefit from her advice. After hearing her talk about the art of negotiation, I used some of the techniques to acquire free gym passes on a business trip. She is truly changing the world, one free gym pass at a time. I can’t endorse Alison enough and I would jump at the chance to see her speak at every opportunity."
"Alison was a perfect fit for our training conference for L&D professionals. She was flexible leading up to the event, adjusting her talk on negotiation to fit our audience. Alison was definitely a favorite among our attendees. She is a very dynamic presenter, engaging, incorporated humor and had excellent stage presence. Thanks for delivering a memorable and practical keynote!"
"Alison Fragale is a superb public speaker by any measure. I have had the privilege and pleasure to listen to over 50 of her lectures to audiences of a couple dozen or hundreds of attendees. As a mentor to those audiences, I often follow her presentations with small group discussions of her topics which are related to the art and science of negotiation and the consequences of power. Thus, I can calibrate how well her audience absorbed her lecture, which in every case has been outstanding. She is a master of her lecture subjects, and blends well researched facts, her opinions and humor to keep her audience engaged throughout her lecture. Alison is one of the very best speakers I know, and I’m confident she will meet the standards of any requirement she faces."
Praise for "Likeable Badass"
"Alison Fragale is doing something different . . . Fragale’s book is for anyone who wants to know the secrets of getting ahead — or just going through life at your own pace — without being a self-promoter or a hard-ass: someone who no one respects or likes. She comes across as a thoroughly likeable badass herself — this is a genuinely original and useful book."
"Business professor, coach, and adviser Fragale hits the mark. . . . By listening and learning, Fragale convinces us, we can achieve conscious excellence"
“The ultimate guide for women to achieve their goals. Drawing on her brilliant research and extensive experience, Alison Fragale reveals how to overcome the tradeoff between likeability and competence. But it’s not just for women—it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to be a better colleague, mentor, parent, or partner to half the population.”
"A must-read for every woman seeking to thrive. With clarity and wit, Fragale provides incisive insights and incredibly practical advice that will help women tackle the challenges they face. Filled with 'a-ha' moments, 'Likeable Badass' equips women with tools to navigate biases and emerge empowered, at any stage of life."
“Before I had even finished reading 'Likeable Badass,' I had already put my learnings to work three times. Talk about an ROI! Entertaining, actionable, and eye-opening. One of the most personally transformative behavioral science books I have ever read."
"In 'Likeable Badass,' Alison Fragale dives deep into the science behind gender bias and stereotypes — and how we can challenge them. With warmth, humor, and powerful personal stories, she provides women with actionable advice for achieving greater success in the workplace."
"In her deeply-researched and business-savvy book, Fragale shatters the conventional wisdom about power, status, and the path to professional success. Her strategies for gaining advocates are brilliant — and her blueprint for strategic self-promotion will have you rereading this invaluable guide over and over.”
“Essential reading for every woman who aspires to make a difference. 'Likeable Badass' shows us how to cultivate our unique capacity and power to drive the change we want to see in the world.”
"Insightful and practical! Alison Fragale provides an important and urgently-needed look at how women are denied status and power in the workplace, and the evidence-based strategies that can help change this reality."
"Too many women feel trapped in the competence-likeability catch-22. 'Likeable Badass' will help you break free of that nonsense, do the best work of your life, and build the best relationships of your career."
"Such an important book! By focusing on status and respect, Fragale changes women’s perception of power. Backed up by years of scientific research, she shows how to play to our strengths to get what we so deserve."
"Alison Fragale hits it out of the park with this deeply practical, science-backed read, full of easy-to-implement strategies to increase your status, power, and influence. I loved this book!"
