2024 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Chiara Trombini, Luiss Business School

Chiara Trombini
Luiss Business School

“Professor Trombini is absolutely PHENOMENAL! She stands out as the best professor I’ve ever encountered in my career, as she has played a pivotal role in my professional and personal development. I’m immensely grateful for her guidance during a challenging job negotiation I was navigating. Her classes are very popular, and she consistently receives stellar evaluations from her students, reflecting her remarkable impact on their leadership development. Her innovative teaching methods, which incorporate live polls and AI, are nothing short of impressive and set a new standard for excellence in education. Without a doubt, she is truly deserving of this award!” – Wyatt Biel

Chiara Trombini, 35, is Lecturer of Organization and People Management at Luiss Business School. Prior to joining Luiss, she was a postdoctoral fellow at INSEAD Singapore and a research and teaching fellow at Harvard Kennedy School.

An economist, her research focuses on how behavioral insights can help us understand and improve employees, leaders, and organizations. Using a multi-method approach – that includes experiments, surveys, physiological responses, and secondary data – she investigates ways to mitigate cognitive and affective biases in leadership, hiring, and negotiations. Her work also examines women’s leadership advancement and the role of negotiations in career progression.

Her research has been published in leading academic journals. She has also been recognized with academic honors such as an honorable mention at the APS Researching Injustice and Social Equality Award.

Trombini has been collaborating with multinational corporations across diverse sectors, such as automotive, energy, pharmaceutical, personal care, insurance, and financial services.

BACKGROUND

At current institution since what year? 2022

Education:

• PhD, Business Administration and Management, Bocconi University
• MSc, Models and Methods in Economics and Management, Ca’ Foscari University
• BSc, Economics and Management, Ca’ Foscari University

List of MBA courses you currently teach: Leading People and Getting Things Done

TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when… That’s a fantastic question! Well, guess what? I recently revisited one of my earliest drawings from when I was just three years old. Back then, our teacher instructed us to illustrate what we aspired to become as adults. To my surprise (or perhaps not), I found that even back then, I dreamed of becoming a professor!

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? I am very passionate about understanding how individuals make decisions, when and why do they opt for specific choices over alternatives and the impact they have on their organizations. More importantly, I design and test evidence-based interventions to mitigate decision making biases in the context of leadership, hiring, and negotiations, with the ultimate goal of improving performance and well-being of individuals, organizations, and the society.

If I weren’t a business school professor… I would be an athlete! I have a genuine passion for sports and cherish the discipline, commitment, and dedication it requires. Setting ambitious goals and diligently working to achieve them is something I very much enjoy.

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? Passion for teaching and learning! I find joy in witnessing the professional and personal growth of others. Being able to transmit my passion and get people enthusiastic about what I do and wishing to delve deeper into concepts is truly rewarding. I also love to continuously learn from others, whether my students, my collaborators, or the organizations I work with. Moreover, I constantly consult with my colleagues around the world over the best practices, materials, and cases to bring to class. I like to incorporate the latest data-driven and evidence-based research findings into my courses. I am an advocate for active learning, and I strive to develop interactive and engaging classes that optimize both key takeaways and the overall classroom experience for my students.

One word that describes my first time teaching: Exciting!

Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: The significant and profound impact we can make on our students, organizations, and society. It’s a big responsibility…and a wonderful privilege!

Professor I most admire and why: I admire several people who have inspired and profoundly influenced me both professionally and personally. Beyond their excellence as scholars and esteemed professors, I deeply value their perspective on work and life, as well as their ongoing support they continue to offer me. Allow me to mention a few of them, listed in alphabetical order:

• Arthur Brief (Eccles School of Business, University of Utah) – for his kindness, generosity and wisdom demonstrated during the several hours we spent discussing behavioral science, and beyond.
• Hannah Riley Bowles (Harvard Kennedy School) – advisor, mentor, personal and professional role model, and much more. Talking to her, even for just 5 minutes while crossing the bridge from Harvard Kennedy School to Harvard Business School, is remarkably enlightening.
• Manju Ahuja (University of Louisville) – for her courage, determination, resilience, and enthusiasm in the multitude of adventures that life offers.
• Modupe Akinola (Columbia Business School) – for her effective leadership blending toughness with a genuine joy for helping others. Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, I hold dear the memories of our inspiring and invigorating weekly walks, through the tropical beauty of Singapore.
• Remus Ilies (Bocconi University and National University of Singapore) – for his profound heart and brilliant mind.
• Zoe Kinias (formerly at INSEAD, currently Ivey Business School) – advisor, mentor, personal and professional role model. I admire her prowess in managing both people and difficult conversations with grace and skill. Her unique talent to make everyone feel included and welcome is truly remarkable. She serves as an exceptional ally, consistently demonstrating a willingness to support others and contribute to the greater good.

TEACHING MBA STUDENTS

What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? I thoroughly enjoy the exchange that takes place in the MBA classroom! MBA students typically bring a wealth of professional experience, diverse backgrounds, and expertise to our discussions. This fosters lively exchanges and enables us to directly apply theoretical frameworks to real-world business cases, yielding remarkable insights and takeaways. Beyond the classroom, I find joy and gratification in supporting my students in any way I can. And when I have the opportunity to reconnect with them, even months or years after they graduated, and they share the profound impact what we discussed had on them, I’m reminded that teaching isn’t just a profession for me—it’s a true passion!

What is most challenging? Hybrid and online classes could be challenging, but they are also an opportunity to learn and experiment! Maintaining a high level of engagement and interaction in virtual settings requires creativity and adaptability. Being able to effectively connect with and inspire students in a virtual environment is a post pandemic superpower!

In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Curious

In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Lazy

When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as… Clear, transparent, and fair!

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

What are your hobbies? I love sports. I am outdoorsy, adventurous, and I cherish the connection with nature. Whether it’s running along the deserted beaches of Australia at sunrise, soaking in the vibrant city lights of Singapore, Boston, Auckland, or Dubai during an evening jog, or experiencing the timeless beauty of ancient monuments during an early morning run in Rome (when the city feels entirely my own!), each moment feels like a personal gift from life. Additionally, I find joy in trekking through majestic mountains, and diving into the blue depths of the sea.

How will you spend your summer? Travelling, working, relaxing and planning!

Favorite place(s) to vacation: South-East Asia! Caribbean! South Africa! New Zealand! Anywhere I can immerse myself in the wildness of nature and connect with it on a deep level. Whether it’s diving into the cerulean depths of the oceans to discover rare marine life and vibrant coral reefs, conquering towering and breathtaking peaks, exploring jungle treks in tropical rainforests, or sprinting through lush green prairies.

Favorite book(s): Thinking Fast and Slow

What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? A Beautiful Mind

What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? Different styles and artists have accompanied me through various stages of my life, providing the soundtrack to my experiences and shaping my musical tastes along the way. In the past few days, I had been listening to jazz and Afro-Cuban jazz, with Chucho Valdés standing out as one of the top pianists.

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this… Sports, in every aspect. Providing state-of-the-art, convenient, and easily accessible facilities for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of sports throughout the day. Moreover, integrating insights from sports psychology, sport coaching, and mindset development into the curriculum and culture would offers invaluable opportunities to develop essential skills crucial in the business world.

In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at… Listening to their employees. Each individual holds immense potential, and when organizations make efforts to ensure employees feel valued and included, it enables them to bring their best selves to work. This not only enhances employee well-being and productivity but also fosters a culture of positive change within organizations and society at large.

I’m grateful for… The endless support of my family, friends, and loved ones. I also cherish the camaraderie shared with my companions from sport groups around the world. I am thankful to my mentors and colleagues who are guiding me along my journey. To my students, both past and present, from various corners of the globe, and anyone who has had a positive impact on my life.

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE 2024 ROSTER OF THE WORLD’S BEST 40-UNDER-40 MBA PROFESSORS