Adam Kleinbaum

Adam M. Kleinbaum is an Associate Professor of Business Administration at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, where he specializes in organizational behavior and social networks. He has been a faculty member since 2009 and teaches courses on leadership, organizational behavior, and social networks, as well as leading experiential learning expeditions focused on technology and entrepreneurship in Israel, and structural racism in the U.S..23

Academic Background and Research

Kleinbaum holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, where he also completed his undergraduate studies. His research primarily focuses on the evolution and structure of social networks within organizations, examining how these networks influence coordination, innovation, and overall firm performance. He has explored various aspects of social networks, including their formation, the role of individual personality traits, and even neuroscience related to network behaviors.124

His notable publications include studies on homophily—the tendency for individuals to associate with similar others—and its implications for friendship formation and organizational dynamics. For instance, his work has demonstrated that friends often exhibit similar neural responses to stimuli, suggesting deep cognitive connections.13 Kleinbaum has also investigated how social networks can perpetuate misinformation through echo chambers, particularly in the context of social media.1

Professional Contributions

In addition to his teaching and research roles, Kleinbaum co-founded the Dartmouth Interdisciplinary Network Research (DINR) Group, which focuses on collaborative research across various disciplines related to social networks. He is recognized for his contributions to both academic literature and practical applications of social network theory in organizational settings.24

Kleinbaum's insights into how informal networks can facilitate or hinder organizational effectiveness have made him a sought-after speaker and consultant within the realm of management education. His work emphasizes the importance of understanding social dynamics in fostering inclusive environments within organizations.13