A bold and captivating voice and an award-winning researcher and teacher in the field of social psychology, Dr. Amy Cuddy demystifies the science behind power, presence, body language, and social bravery — and their influence on human interaction and outcomes. The question that drives her work: “How can we harness our personal power to take control of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to improve relationships and boost our performance and well-being?”
Cuddy is widely recognized for her enduringly popular TED Talk, “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are” — the second-most-watched TED Talk of all time with over 70 million views — and for her bestselling book Presence, which has sold more than half a million copies and been published in 35 languages. In 2025, she will publish her next book, Bullies, Bystanders, and Bravehearts, which explores the psychology of bullying among adults and how we find the courage and tools to stop it.
No matter the forum or topic, Cuddy conveys a rare combination of wisdom and deep expertise — along with an honest, warm-hearted accessibility and openness. Her writing, research, and speaking focus on presence and performance under stress, the causes and outcomes of feeling powerful vs. powerless, prejudice and stereotyping, nonverbal behaviour, and the psychology of bullying. Whether she’s talking to a group of 100 or 20,000, she creates an unparalleled intimacy with her audiences, engaging deeply with listeners and bestowing advice that is both practical and profound.
Cuddy earned her Ph.D. at Princeton University and was a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for two years before joining Harvard Business School from 2008 to 2017. Today, she continues to teach as a guest lecturer in Executive Education at Harvard Business School and at UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Throughout her academic career, Cuddy has been honoured with some of the highest commendations for both her teaching and her research, including the Excellence in Teaching Award from Harvard University and the Scientific Impact Award from the Society for Experimental Social Psychology for her extensive research on intergroup conflict.