Positive Links Speaker Series: Staying True to You: Discover the Power of Your Middle Self and Live with Confidence, Integrity, and Peace of Mind
Speaker: Patricia Faison Hewlin
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Free and Online | Registration required to obtain login information

Event link: https://myumi.ch/11Emx

Positive Links:
The Positive Links Speaker Series, running for over 22 years with 165 sessions, is one of the most-watched speaker series at Michigan Ross. Positive Links features distinguished scholars sharing leading ideas in the science of thriving. Learn how to ignite the science of extraordinary organizations catalyzed by human thriving, together with our community of researchers, students, staff, and leaders.

About the talk:
In recent years, we have seen an increase in conversations related to two extremes in the workplace. On one side is the pressure to express the “whole self,” while on the other is the pressure to conform. The desire to fit in can particularly lead to suppressing one’s personal values and pretending to embrace organizational values, a behavior Hewlin has termed as creating “facades of conformity.” Both extremes of authenticity and conformity carry distinct risks and potential harm to our well-being. In this session, Hewlin bridges decades of her empirical research and real-world application to help people navigate these tensions. Drawing from her book, Staying True to You, she introduces a revolutionary concept: The Middle Self. Attendees will learn how the Middle Self serves as a powerful framework to comfortably manage the daily trade-offs between authenticity and conformity, leaving them with actionable strategies to cultivate personal integrity and peace of mind.

About Hewlin:
Dr. Patricia Faison Hewlin is an award-winning behavioral scientist with 20+ years of experience researching authenticity and conformity around the world. Currently a Professor of Social-Organizational Psychology at the Teachers College of Columbia University, Dr. Hewlin holds her PhD in organizational behavior and MBA in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Her work has been featured in mainstream media, including the Huffington Post, The Times (UK), Harvard Business Review Online, and The Globe and Mail. In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Hewlin is also a professional consultant who works with major companies, as well as arts organizations.

Host:
Monica Worline, Faculty Director, Center for Positive Organizations

Positive Links Speaker Series Sponsors:
The Center for Positive Organizations thanks the Sanger Leadership Center, Tauber Institute for Global Operations, and the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship for their support of the 2026-27 Positive Links Speaker Series.

Positive Links Series Promotional Partners:
Additionally, we thank Ann Arbor SPARK, the Managerial and Organizational Cognition (MOC) Division of the Academy of Management, and the Organization Development and Change (ODC) Division of the Academy of Management for their Positive Links Speaker Series promotional partnerships.