Ovul Sezer

Biography

Övül Sezer is an assistant professor of management and organizations. Her research focuses on impression (mis)management—the mistakes we make when we want to impress others. We all think we know how to make a positive impression, and we can easily spot the mistakes others make, but when it comes to our own missteps, we tend to be blithely oblivious. Sezer identifies these mistakes and investigates how we can better navigate our social world. How can we signal that we are both competent and likable? How can we brag wisely? How can we give valuable feedback in a way that strengthens our relationships rather than harming them? How can we network less awkwardly? Her research identifies useful strategies for making better impressions.

Sezer’s research has been featured in top management and psychology journals including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Harvard Business Review and covered in leading media outlets including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

Education

PhD Harvard Business School, Harvard University, 2017
AB Harvard University, 2010

Research

• Sezer, Ovul. "Impression (mis)management: When what you say is not what they hear"Current Opinion in Psychology. 44 (2022): 31-37
• Roberts, Annabelle; Levine, Emma; Sezer, Ovul. "Hiding Success"Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 120.5 (2021): 1261-1286
• Kim, Tami; Sezer, Ovul; Boyle, Juliana; Risen, Jane; Gino, Francesca; Norton, Michael. "Work Group Rituals Enhance the Meaning of Work"Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 165 (2021): 197-212
• Nault, Kelly; Rogers, Benjamin; Sezer, Ovul; Klein, Nadav. "Behavioral Insights for Minimizing Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic"Behavioral Science and Policy. 6.2 (2020): 137-143
• Garcia-Rada, Ximena; Sezer, Ovul; Norton, Michael. "Rituals and nuptials: Relationship Rituals Predict Relationship Satisfaction"Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. 4.2 (2019): 185-197
• Sezer, Ovul; Gino, Francesca; Norton, Michael. "Humblebragging: A distinct—and ineffective— self-presentation strategy"Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 114 (2018): 52-74
• Steinmetz, Janina; Sezer, Ovul; Sedikides, Constantine. "Impression mismanagement: People as inept self-presenters."Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 11.6 (2017): e12321
• Sezer, Ovul; Norton, Michael; Gino, Francesca; Vohs, Kathleen. "Family rituals improve the holidays"Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. 1.4 (2016): 509-526
• Bazerman, Max; Sezer, Ovul. "Bounded awareness: Implications for ethical decision making"Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 136 (2016): 95-105

Awards

• World's Best 40 Under 40 Business School MBA Professors (2020) Poets & Quants
• Article of the Year (2021) Harvard Business Review
• Wyss Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research (2016) Harvard Business School