Dr. Sunita Sah

Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes is AVAILABLE NOW: SunitaSah.com/defy As a physician-turned-organizational psychologist and Cornell University professor, I focus on why we comply when we shouldn’t, how professionals navigate conflicts of interest, and what drives us to defy the status quo when it matters most. What is Defy about? In Defy, I redefine defiance—not as rebellion or chaos, but as the courage to act in alignment with your values when societal pressures push you to comply. Drawing from decades of research and real-world examples, I show how quiet, values-based defiance can transform workplaces, relationships, communities, and, most importantly, yourself. 🔬 My Research: My work has been published in leading journals like JAMA, Psychological Science, and PNAS and featured in The New Yorker, BBC News, Forbes, Financial Times, and NPR. From biases in medical advice to unintended consequences of transparency policies, I explore how systems shape human behavior—and how we can reshape those systems to make better decisions for ourselves and others. 🎓 The Professional Journey: From practicing medicine in the UK’s National Health Service to earning my PhD in Organizational Behavior at Carnegie Mellon, my career bridges healthcare, business, and psychology. I’ve held academic positions at Cornell, Harvard, Cambridge, and Georgetown and served on national committees shaping ethical practices. ✨ The Fun Stuff: I’m endlessly curious about why we follow—or challenge—the rules, what it means to act with integrity under pressure, and how small, deliberate acts of defiance can reshape organizations, relationships, and lives. When I’m not teaching or writing, you’ll find me exploring behavioral science in action, drinking Earl Grey tea, or dancing to 80s music.