The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them
4
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Prof. Emilio J. Castilla—NTU Professor of Management and Professor of Work and Organization Studies at MIT Sloan—as we unpack the promise and the pitfalls of meritocracy in today’s organizations.
In his latest book, The Meritocracy Paradox, Prof. Emilio J. Castilla draws on two decades of research to reveal why systems designed to reward talent and effort often fall short. Meritocracy promises fairness and equal opportunity, but without thoughtful design and ongoing oversight, it can unintentionally reinforce inequality and privilege.
Why does meritocracy so often go wrong? What practical, research-backed strategies can help organizations build talent systems that recognize performance, unlock potential, and expand opportunity for all?
Join us to find out.
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Speakers
Emilio J. Castilla
NTU Professor of Management and Professor of Work and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management
Emilio J. Castilla is the NTU Professor of Management and Professor of Work and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he co-directs the Institute for Work and Employment Research.
Emilio’s work focuses on how organizations can build fair, effective, and high-performing workplaces. Using large-scale longitudinal data from real organizational settings, he studies hiring, promotion, talent development, mobility, performance management, and the social and organizational conditions that help—or hinder—employees and teams thrive. His research has been published in leading management and social science journals, and he is the author of The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them (Columbia University Press, 2025), as well as a book on longitudinal methods in organizational research.
Aniela Unguresan
Founder of the EDGE Certified Foundation, Founder and CEO of EDGE Strategy
Aniela Unguresan is the Founder of the EDGE Certified Foundation, custodian behind EDGE Certification, the leading standards for workplace diversity, fairness, and inclusion. Since 2013, Aniela is also CEO of EDGE Strategy, provider of EDGE Empower.
An economist by trade and with decades of data-driven experience, Aniela believes in the vital role gender intersectional equity plays in fostering sustainably successful organizations, inclusive economic participation and opportunities, and fair societies. Aniela holds an MBA from the University of Geneva and a BA in International Trade from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies.
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4
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM