Michael Pirson

Michael Pirson

Professor
James A. F. Stoner Endowed Chair in Global Sustainability
Leading People and Organizations
Joined Fordham: 2008

General Information:
140 W. 62nd St, Room 440,
New York, NY 10023

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.humanetwork.org

  • Michael Pirson, Ph.D., is the James A. F. Stoner Endowed Chair in Global Sustainability and is a full professor with a focus on global sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Pirson is a research associate at Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program (HFP). He co-founded the Humanistic Management Network and is founder and president of the International Humanistic Management Association. He is the editor in chief of the Humanistic Management Journal.

    Pirson’s research spans various areas in the field of humanistic management, including psychological and social psychological work on individual differences in mindfulness, trust, and well-being; organizational research on corporate governance, stakeholder trust, and social innovation; and conceptual and philosophical research on freedom, dignity, and well-being. He is actively exploring the role of higher education in positive change-making and social innovation, leading global efforts to transform business education (including with the Jesuit Network, Ashoka, UN, etc.).

    Pirson is a full member of the Club of Rome, leads the Humanistic Management working group at the UNPRME, and advises a number of social enterprises. He has won numerous awards for his work including from the Academy of Management and the Association of Jesuit Universities.

    He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Organizational Behavior (2009) at Harvard University. He holds a doctorate in Organizational Behavior (2007) from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, a Master of Business Administration (1999) from University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany, and Indiana University, a Master of Public Administration (Diplome de Sciences Po) (1997) from the Institute of Political Sciences, Strasbourg, France and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (1996) from the University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany.

    • Ph.D.: Organizational Behavior, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
    • M.P.A.: (Diplome de Sciences Po), Institute of Political Sciences Strasbourg, France
    • M.B.A.: University Erlangen-Nuernberg Germany, Indiana University, US
    • B.A.: Economics University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany

  • Trust and Well-Being in Organizational Contexts, Mindfulness, Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Humanistic Management, Philosophy of Management

  • Refereed Journal Articles

    • Laasch, O., Livne-Tarandach, R., Qu, Q., Fu, P., Pirson, M. A. (2025) How Alternative Management Ideas Are Realized for the Public Good: Performative Fabrics of Humanistic Practices. Journal of Management Studies (May 2025).
    • Town, S., Reina, C. S., Brummans, B. H. J. M., Pirson, M. A. (2024) Humanistic Organizing: The Transformative Force of Mindful Organizational Communication. Academy of Management Review, 49 (4) (January 2024).
    • Kabadayi, S., Livne-Tarandach, R., Pirson, M. A. (2023) A dignity-vulnerability approach framework to maximize well-being outcomes by transformative service initiatives (TSIs). Journal of Services Marketing, 37 (9), 1151–1166 (September 2023).
    • Turnbull, S., Pirson, M. A. (2023) Creating Virtuous Humanistic Managers and Organisations with Polycentric Corporate Charters. Academy of Management: Proceedings, 2023 (1) (July 2023).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2023) Dignity, Humanistic Management and the Sustainable Development Goals. Journal of Management for Global Sustainability, 11 (1) (May 2023).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2023) La dignidad, la gestioĢn humanista y los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible. Journal of Management for Global Sustainability, 11 (1) (May 2023).
    • Pirson, M. A., Piedmont, R.L., Nagy, N. et al. (2023) Establishing a Dignity Scale - Measuring Intrinsic Value within Social Contexts. Humanist Management Journal, 8, 97–112 (April 2023).
    • Rocha, H., Pirson, M. A., Suddaby, R. (2021) Business with Purpose and the Purpose of Business Schools: Re-Imagining Capitalism in a Post Pandemic World: A Conversation with Jay Coen Gilbert, Raymond Miles, Christian Felber, Raj Sisodia, Paul Adler, and Charles Wookey. Journal of Management Inquiry, 30(3), 354-367 (November 2021).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2021) Leading for Well Being - Dignity as Cornerstone. Humanist Management Journal, 6, 147–150 (July 2021).
    • Pirson, M. A., Dessi, C., Floris, M. et al. (2021) Humanistic Management: What Has Love Got to Do with it? Humanist Management Journal, 6, 1–4 (April 2021).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2020) Restoring Dignity with Open Hiring: Greyston Bakery and The Recognition of Value. Rutgers Business Review, 5 (2), 236-247 (July 2020).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2020) Chapter 13: Humanistic management as integrally responsible management? Research Handbook of Responsible Management, 195–211 (May 2020).
    • Rodriguez, R. M., Arandia, O., Camacho, G., Fontrodona, J., Pirson, M. A., Akrivou, K., Pinto, J., Bernacchio, C. (2020) The Common Good in the Firm. Academy of Management: Global Proceedings, Mexico (2020) (April 2020).
    • Pirson, M. A., Aksoy, L., Kabadayi, S. (2020) Social Innovation and the Future of Business and Business Education. Humanist Management Journal, 4, 119–124 (January 2020).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2020) Humanistic Narrative for Responsible Management Learning: An Ontological Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 162, 775–793 (January 2020).
    • Pirson, M. A., Vázquez-Maguirre, M., Corus, C. et al. (2019) Dignity and the Process of Social Innovation: Lessons from Social Entrepreneurship and Transformative Services for Humanistic Management. Humanist Management Journal, 4, 125–153 (December 2019).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2019) Humanistic Perspective for Management Theory: Protecting Dignity and Promoting Well-Being. Journal of Business Ethics, 159, 39–57 (September 2019).
    • Laasch, O., Fu, P., Livne-Tarandach, R., Dierksmeier, C., Qu, Q., Pirson, M. A. (2019) Humanistic Management Performativity ‘in the Wild’: The Role of Performative Bundles of Practices. Academy of Management: Proceedings, 2019 (1) (August 2019).
    • Pirson, M. A., & Zhang, D. (2019) Survival of the Misfittest - Stakeholder Enactment as Performance Buffer for Contingency Misfits. American Journal of Management, 19 (2) (July 2019).
    • Pirson, M. A., Adler, P. S., Barney, J. B., Bartunek, J. M., Patient, D. L., Phillips, N., Pitelis, C. N., & Walsh, J. P. (2019) From Crisis to Enlivenment: An AOM President Responds to EO13769. Journal of Management Inquiry, 28 (3), 291-297 (June 2019).
    • Pirson, M. A., Martin, K., & Parmar, B. (2019) Public Trust in Business and Its Determinants. Business & Society, 58 (1), 132-166 (January 2019).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2018) Humanistic Management – Sucks Less and Better for your Health. Humanist Management Journal, 3, 1–7 (June 2018).
    • Pirson, M. A., Turnbull, S. (2018) Decentralized Governance Structures Are Able to Handle CSR-Induced Complexity Better. Business & Society, 57 (5), 929-961 (May 2018).
    • Pirson, M. A., Steckler, E. (2018) Chapter 11: A Humanistic Ontology for Responsible Management. Business and Society 360: Journal of Business Ethics, 3 (April 2018).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2018) Reclaiming our Humanity – A Cornerstone for Better Management. Humanist Management Journal, 2, 103–107 (February 2018).
    • Pirson, M. A., Langer, E., Zilcha, S. (2018) Enabling a Socio-cognitive Perspective of Mindfulness: The Development and Validation of the Langer Mindfulness Scale. Journal of Adult Development, 25, 168–185 (January 2018).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2017) Exploring the Boundaries of Compassion Organizing. Humanist Management Journal, 2, 151–169 (October 2017).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2017) Better Stories Needed: How Meaningful Narratives Can Transform the World. Humanist Management Journal, 2, 1–6 (October 2017).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2017) Reconnecting Management Theory and Social Welfare: A Humanistic Perspective. Academy of Management: Proceedings, 2014 (1) (November 2017).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2017) Editorial: Better Stories Needed - How Meaningful Narratives Can Transform the World. Humanistic Management Journal, 2 (1), 1-6 (October 2017).
    • Pirson, M. A., Martin, K. & Parmar, B. (2017) Formation of Stakeholder Trust in Business and the Role of Personal Values. Journal of Business Ethics, 145, 1–20 (September 2017).
    • Pirson, M. A. (2017) In a Time of Global Upheaval – Humanistic Management Thinking Needed More Than Ever. Humanist Management Journal, 1, 155–157 (April 2017).
    • Turnbull, S., Pirson, M. A. (2012) Could the 2008 US financial crisis have been avoided with network governance? International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, 9, 238-263 (August 2012)
    • Pirson, M. A. (2012): New Governance Models, IESE Insight, (June 2012)
    • Pirson, M. A. (2012) Social entrepreneurship as blueprint for management in the 21st century. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship.(February 2012)
    • Pirson, M. A.; Langer, E.; Ie, A. (2012). Conditioned to see- the malleability of visual acuity Journal of Adult Development, in press.
    • Pirson, M. A. , Turnbull, S.(2011) Corporate governance , Risk Management, and the financial crisis- an information processing view. Corporate Governance: An international review.
    • Pirson, M. A., Turnbull, S. (2011) Towards humanistic governance, Journal of Business Ethics.
    • Pirson, M. A., Malhotra, D. (2011) Foundations of Stakeholder Trust- What Matters to Whom? Organization Science.
    • Pirson, M. A.; Bloom G.(2010): The social entrepreneurship lab- a new educational model for impact. Journal of Corporate Citizenship, (39), 103-111.
    • Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. A.(2010) Introduction to the Humanistic Management Network. Journal of Psychology. 218 (4), 246-248.
    • Langer, E. J., Djikic, M., Pirson, M. A., Madenci, A., Donahue, R. (2010). Believing is Seeing. Psychological Science. 21(5), 661-666.
    • Dierksmeier, C., Pirson, M. A. The modern Corporation and the idea of freedom. Philosophy of Management, 9, 3.
    • Pirson, M. A., Lawrence, P. R. (2010). Humanism in Business- towards a paradigm shift? Journal of Business Ethics. 93,553-565.
    • Langer, Pirson, M. A.; Delizonna, L. (2010). Creativity and the mindlessness of social comparisons. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. APA-4 (2), 68-74.
    • Dierksmeier, C., Pirson, M. A. (2009). Aristotle on Wealth and Well being. Journal of Business Ethics. 88, 417-430.
    • Anglin, L.; Pirson, M. A.; Langer, E. (2008). Mindful Learning: A Moderator of Gender Differences in Mathematics Performance. Journal of Adult Development, 15(3).
    • Pirson, M.; Malhotra, D. (2008).: Unconventional Insights into managing stakeholder trust (Sloan Management Review, Summer 2008 issue, SMR Top Ten Bestseller; Translated into Chinese (Beijing University Management Journal), and Spanish, (Harvard Deusto Business Review)
    • Pirson, M.: Social Justice and Emotions (Sociology of Justice Working Paper Series - Sociology Department, Harvard University)
    • Pirson, M: Managing in the 21st century- new paradigms required, Henley Management Executive Education Papers (2007)

    Books

    • Dierksmeier, C.,Kimakowitz, E., Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. A. Humanistic ethics in the Age of Globality, Palgrave McMillan, 2011
    • Hamschmidt, J., Pirson, M.- Cases in Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship- the oikos collection, Greenleaf 2011.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2011). In Humanistic Management NETwork (Ed.), Business Schools under Fire- The future of management education. Palgrave MacMillan.
    • Kimakowitz, E., Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. A., Dierksmeier, C. Banking with integrity- the winners of the financial crisis? Palgrave MacMillan (2011).
    • Kimakowitz, E., Pirson, M., Spitzeck, H. Dierksmeier, C., Amann, W.: Humanistic Management in Practice, Palgrave McMillan, 2010.
    • Spitzeck, H.; Pirson, M.;.et al. (2009). Humanism in Business. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2008). Facing the Trust Gap - Measuring and Managing Stakeholder Trust. Saarbrucken: VDM Verlag.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2008). Facing the Trust Gap - Managing Stakeholder trust (pp. 320). EDIS.

    Book Chapters/Cases

    • Pirson, M.A. (2012) Mindfulness in organizational contexts, Mindfulness, Edward Elgar.
    • Pirson, M.A. (2012) Public Trust and its determinants, Public Trust, Cambridge University Press.
    • Pirson, M.A. (2011) Social Entrepreneurship and Finance Business Models, Responsible Finance, Wiley& Sons.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Chapter 4 on Global Business. Management by collaboration. Routledge.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Social Entrepreneurship as a model for sustainable value creation. Handbook for Appreciative Inquiry. (Editors: David Cooperider, Tojo Thatchenkery), Berrett-Koehler.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Establishing and managing a trusting relationship. Career Guide for MBA's. University of St. Gallen Press.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). BracNet- Humanistic Management in Action (pp. 350). Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Novo Nordisk- Humanistic Management in Practice (pp. 350). Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). ABN Banco Real-Humanistic Management in Practice (pp. 350). Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Introduction-Humanistic Management in Practice (pp. 350). Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Conclusion-Humanistic Management in Practice (pp. 350). Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). The role of Business over time ,The MBA under siege- The future of management education. Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Basis for a humanistic curriculum , The MBA under siege- The future of management education. Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Introduction : The MBA under siege- The future of management education. Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2010). Conclusion : The MBA under siege- The future of management education. Palgrave McMillan.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2009). Social Entrepreneurship as a blueprint for humanistic management. Humanism in Business. Cambridge University Press.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2009). Introduction- Humanism in Business. Cambridge University Press.
    • Pirson, M. A. (2009). Concluding Remarks. Humanism in Business. Cambridge University Press.
    • Kimakowitz, E., Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. A. , Dierksmeier, C. Introduction- Banking with integrity- the winners of the financial crisis. Palgrave McMillan.
    • Kimakowitz, E., Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. A. Dierksmeier, C. Conclusion- Banking with integrity- the winners of the financial crisis. Palgrave McMillan.
    • Dierksmeier, C.,Kimakowitz, E., Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. A. – Introduction - Philosophical Groundings of Humanistic Management, Palgrave McMillan, 2011
    • Dierksmeier, C.,Kimakowitz, E., Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. A. – Conclusion - Philosophical Groundings of Humanistic Management, Palgrave McMillan, 2011
    • Pirson, M. A. (2008). Managing Stakeholder trust sustainably. Doing well by doing good:The Human Face of the New Capitalism. Information Age Publishing.
    • Hamschmidt, J., Pirson, M.- Introduction-Cases in Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship- the oikos collection, Greenleaf 2011.
    • Ebrahim, A.; Pirson, M., Mangas, P.: Brummer and BracNet, Harvard Business School Case on Social entrepreneurship/Base of the pyramid entrepreneurship. HBSP:9-309-065