Join us at AOM 2026 for our PDW It's Not Just You! Let's Have an Honest Conversation about Failure
When: Saturday August 1st 2026 - 2:00PM - 5:00PM
Sheraton, Liberty Ballroom B – Ballroom Level
Organizers:
Maria Rita Micheli – IESEG School of Management
Jeanine Pieternel Porck - Oklahoma State U.
Georg Wernicke - HEC Paris
Panelists:
Nilanjana Dutt - Bocconi University
Bryant A. Hudson - IESEG School of Management
Aldona Kapacinskaite - INSEAD
Gorgi Krlev - ESCP Business School
Cindy P. Muir (Zapata) - University of Notre Dame
Paolo Quattrone - The University of Manchester
Lex Nicole Smith Washington - Oklahoma State University
The first part, with presentations from panelists, will be open to everyone. In the second part, we will have interactive roundtables, and registration is necessary. You can register at this link https://ieseg.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25E9Uup7y4fd3qS
Dealing with failure is one of the most common challenges we face in our careers. Yet, in public, we mainly talk about successes and often form narratives of negativity around failure. In this PDW, we invite participants to rethink the conventional way of seeing failure as the opposite of success. We encourage them to look at failure with curiosity, as an opportunity for personal growth, and by accepting the feeling of vulnerability. This PDW provides an opportunity to hear vivid, real-life stories from a diverse and distinguished panel of scholars about their failures, ranging from dry spells in publishing to not getting tenure and from accepting the 'wrong' job to deciding to leave academia.
Through these open and honest stories, we aim to normalize failure and humanize academia, illustrate how to ask for help if one needs it, and offer practices, skills, and mindsets to overcome failure or even fail successfully.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Maria Rita Micheli
IESEG School of Management
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