Cynthia S. Wang
Welcome! I am a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. My research examines how people navigate complex social interactions shaped by uncertainty, differences, and disagreement. I teach topics such as negotiation, leading high-impact teams, and human–AI collaboration.
I also serve as Executive Director of the Dispute Resolution Research Center and Kellogg Teaching Resources, where I lead initiatives that connect research, teaching, and practice and expand access to high-quality teaching materials worldwide.
Teaching
Advanced Negotiations
A glimpse into my Advanced Negotiation classroom at Kellogg, where students learn by doing. Through interactive exercises, real-time discussion, and applied reflection, Kellogg faculty create an engaging learning environment that helps students connect core concepts and frameworks to real-world business challenges.
Research
Perspective-taking in Hostage Diplomacy Negotiations
The article examines how negotiators can better navigate hostage diplomacy by considering the strategic, cultural, emotional, and moral perspectives of multiple stakeholders, from governments to families, in order to manage uncertainty, power dynamics, and high-stakes international conflict.
Featured Work
Recognition
Fulbright Fellowship
My Fulbright fellowship in Taiwan supported my research on negotiation, conflict, and social change. Through interviews with activists involved in Taiwan’s Sunflower and LGBTQ+ movements, I explored how social movements negotiate internally and externally to build power, protect rights, and advance democratic change. Read more about my Fulbright journey in Taiwan.
Media & Insights
To Reclaim a Slur or Reject It?
This Kellogg Insight article discusses my research on how people respond to stigmatizing labels. We find that reclaiming a slur can help reduce its power, but may also affect perceptions of leadership potential. It suggests that organizations can help support thoughtful conversations about stigma and language.