Sandra Cha

Desautels Faculty of Management

Organizational Behaviour

 

---

---

---

PhD Harvard University, Organizational Behavior
MA Harvard University, Social Psychology
BA Harvard University, Psychology (magna cum laude)

 

Sandra Cha is an Assistant Professor in the Organizational Behavior area of McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management. She teaches in the MBA, Ph.D., and executive programs at McGill. Professor Cha’s courses include the MBA Core course Managing Resources (an integrative mega-course on the effective management of human, financial, and information technology resources in organizations), a Ph.D. course on teams, and executive courses related to leadership. Her course on Advanced Interpersonal Business Communications is one of the most popular offerings at the McGill Executive Institute.

Professor Cha conducts research on leadership, focusing on two major challenges for 21st century leaders: (1) values-based leadership, or leading through shared values and (2) diversity management, or leading in the context of demographic differences. First, many organizations emphasize shared values—ranging from quality to mutual respect to the environment—in an attempt to inspire employees and focus them on strategic priorities. Values-based leadership can motivate and coordinate employees, without impinging on the autonomy needed for excellent performance under changing conditions. Second, in an era of rapid workforce diversification, individuals who are (or wish to become) leaders must be able to work effectively across lines of difference. Professor Cha has received multiple awards for her research, including two awards from the Academy of Management, the Accenture Award for a significant contribution to management, and an approximately $100,000 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Professor Cha holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior, awarded jointly by Harvard Business School and the Harvard Psychology Department. She also earned an M.A. in Social Psychology and a B.A. in Psychology (magna cum laude) from Harvard University. Her past homes include La Paz, Bolivia; Manila, Philippines; and Washington, D.C.