Letian Zhang
Associate Professor of Management and Organizations
I am a sociologist interested in how innovation reshapes work and organizations. My research speaks to debates about the future of work, but often by looking to the past. I use a mix of econometric and computational methods, often in historical settings. For example, I study how new technologies affect incumbent workers, how codified knowledge changes occupations, and how new organizational forms reshape work and management.
I am an Associate Professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. I am affiliated with the Center for Economic History and the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems. Before joining Kellogg, I was an Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School. I received my Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University in 2018 and my B.S. in Mathematics from Stanford University in 2011.
Accessibility note: I have a serious eye condition that causes light sensitivity (among other things), so you’ll often see me wearing sunglasses.
If you are interested in working with me as a research assistant or collaborator on historical projects, please email me at letian.lt.zhang@gmail.com.
Independent Study - PhD (MORS-599-0)
Students who have established superior records and who wish to study more in depth than what is provided in regular courses may register for independent study with a selected instructor. Permission of the instructor and the department is required.
Leading at Scale: Power, Design, and Influence in Organizations (MORS-453-0)
Power shapes whose ideas are heard, how work gets done, and who succeeds in organizations. This heavily case-based course puts you in the role of leaders navigating delegation, influence, and organizational design at scale. Each session centers on a real-world case, teaching you how to build and exercise power when formal authority is limited, and how to lead effectively in complex, high-stakes environments.
