Dr. Jonah Berger Speaker Biography

Wharton Professor, Best-Selling Author and World-Renowned Expert on Innovation and Change

Jonah Berger is a distinguished professor of marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a leading speaker on viral marketing. He is also an internationally bestselling author whose groundbreaking books—Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst—have transformed how businesses understand influence and change. As a trusted advisor, Jonah Berger explores why ideas, products, and behaviors spread, offering strategies that resonate across industries. Furthermore, his expertise in consumer behavior, decision-making, and social influence makes him a sought-after keynote speaker. Because he bridges rigorous research with practical application, Jonah Berger equips organizations with tools to inspire growth and spark transformation. His ability to decode virality and influence has positioned him as the leading speaker on viral marketing for global audiences seeking fresh insights into innovation and persuasion.

Change

As a business communications keynote speaker, Jonah Berger is internationally recognized for his research on word-of-mouth marketing, social influence, and organizational change. He has published over 50 scholarly articles in leading academic journals, expanding the understanding of why people share ideas and how products become successful. In addition, Jonah Berger teaches Wharton’s most popular online course, where he empowers professionals to harness influence effectively. His expertise is frequently highlighted by major media outlets, including The New York Times and Harvard Business Review. Moreover, his insights are applied by organizations ranging from Apple and Google to Nike and the Gates Foundation. Because he combines rigorous research with practical solutions, Jonah Berger consistently provides audiences with actionable strategies. Consequently, he has delivered high-impact keynotes across industries, making him one of the most trusted voices on change and influence worldwide.

Media

Jonah Berger’s work has attracted broad media attention, further cementing his reputation as a global thought leader. His expertise has been featured on NPR’s Marketplace, CBS This Morning, and CNBC, where he explained the hidden drivers of human behavior. Likewise, his research and commentary have appeared in USA Today, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and The New York Times. Because he translates complex research into clear and compelling insights, Jonah Berger captivates both media outlets and live audiences alike. These appearances not only highlight his communication skills but also extend his influence beyond academia, reinforcing his authority as a leading speaker on viral marketing.

The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind

In The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind, Jonah Berger reveals why change often feels so difficult—and how to overcome resistance. While marketers want to shift customer behavior, leaders strive to transform organizations, and nonprofits aim to spark social movements, resistance frequently blocks progress. However, Jonah Berger shows that successful change is not about applying more pressure. Instead, it requires removing barriers and reducing friction. He identifies five hidden factors that prevent change and demonstrates how addressing these creates lasting impact. Consequently, readers discover how to become catalysts for transformation in any context. This powerful framework has resonated across industries, equipping professionals to achieve meaningful progress where traditional methods have failed.

Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior

In Invisible Influence, Jonah Berger examines the unseen social forces guiding behavior, decision-making, and motivation. The book empowers readers to better understand how influence shapes both personal and professional lives. Moreover, it spent over three months on The New York Times bestseller list and also appeared on The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post bestseller lists. Translated into more than 25 languages, Invisible Influence has reached audiences worldwide. Additionally, it offers marketers, leaders, and innovators practical insights into persuasion. Because it combines storytelling with evidence-based research, Jonah Berger’s work inspires readers to make smarter choices and harness influence more effectively.

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

Jonah Berger’s breakout book, Contagious: Why Things Catch On, uncovers the science behind why some products, ideas, and content go viral. He introduces six fundamental principles that drive sharing and demonstrates how they can be applied across industries. From marketing campaigns to social causes, Jonah Berger reveals what makes messages resonate and spread. The book became a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post bestseller. Furthermore, Amazon named it a “Best Book of the Year,” while the American Marketing Association awarded it the prestigious Berry Book Prize. Because it blends research with real-world case studies, Contagious has become essential reading for anyone seeking to understand virality.

Awards and Honors

Jonah Berger has received numerous accolades recognizing his influence in both academia and business. He has been named among the “Top 30 Leaders in Business” by the American Management Association and listed by Fast Company as one of the most creative individuals in business. Moreover, his research has been spotlighted in The New York Times Magazine’s “Year in Ideas.” At Wharton, he was awarded the Iron Professor distinction for exceptional research contributions. These honors reflect not only his academic rigor but also his practical impact on industries worldwide. Consequently, Jonah Berger continues to be celebrated for shaping the global conversation on influence, marketing, and change.

Clients

As a persuasion keynote speaker, Jonah Berger has worked with a wide range of clients, from major corporations to nonprofits. His expertise has helped Apple launch products, guided Nike in connecting with audiences, and supported Google in refining strategies. Moreover, he has advised Facebook on introducing new technologies and assisted the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in amplifying their message. Startups, political campaigns, and nonprofit organizations have also benefited from his research-driven insights. In addition, Jonah Berger has delivered keynotes at renowned events such as SXSW and Cannes Lions, captivating audiences of all sizes. His ability to engage groups ranging from small leadership teams to global conferences underscores his versatility as a leading speaker on viral marketing.

Education

Jonah Berger earned his BA from Stanford University, focusing on Human Judgment and Decision Making. He later completed his PhD in Marketing at Stanford. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for his groundbreaking research into consumer behavior, influence, and social dynamics. By combining scholarly rigor with real-world application, Jonah Berger continues to inspire leaders, marketers, and innovators across the globe.

Dr. Jonah Berger Speaking Topics

Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way

From emails and power points to phone calls and pitch meetings, almost everything we do involves words. Words are how we persuade, communicate, and connect. But certain words are more impactful than others. They’re better at changing minds, engaging listeners, and driving action. What are these magic words, and how can we take advantage of their power? This talk provides an inside look at the new science of language and how you can use it. Learn the words that convince clients, captivate audiences, and deepen social connection. How to ask the right questions, hold attention, speak with confidence, and design presentations, pitches, and other types of content for maximum impact. And how the words others use reveal hidden information about their interests, actions, and intent. Whether you’re trying to persuade a customer, motivate a team, or get a whole organization to see things differently, this course will show you how to leverage the power of magic words.

How to Change Anyone’s Mind

Everyone has something they want to change. Salespeople want to change the customer’s mind. Managers want to change employee behavior. Leaders want to change the way an entire organization does business. But change is hard. We persuade and cajole and push and push, but even after all that work, often nothing happens. Things change at a glacial pace, if at all. Could there be a better way? In this new talk, Wharton Professor and change expert Dr. Jonah Berger outlines a revolutionary approach to change. Successful change isn’t about pushing harder or exerting more energy. It’s about removing barriers. Overcoming resistance by reducing friction and lowering the hurdles to action. Discover the hidden factors that impede change, why your biggest competitor is inertia, and why big changes require asking for less, not pushing for more. Whether you’re trying to change how consumers think, motivate people to act, or shift the way an entire industry does business, Berger will teach you how to become a catalyst.

Returning to Growth in the New World

Our world has recently undergone unprecedented change at a rapid pace. From remote work and online retail to shifting customer needs and employee mindsets, many things are different than they were before. But as we return to a new normal, smart companies and industries are recognizing the opportunity to also return to growth. How can you get your people on the right track and focused to take advantage of these emerging opportunities? In this timely and forward-looking presentation, Wharton Professor and change expert Dr. Jonah Berger explores how organizations can act now to succeed in the new world. Blending insights from his best-selling book The Catalyst, Berger will discuss the changes in consumer and customer behavior that have occurred so far, which pandemic-driven trends are here to stay, and how to thrive in the new reality we all find ourselves in. He shows how organizations and industries can adapt and motivate their leaders and employees to get on board. Berger will provide actionable tactics for pivoting strategy, thinking beyond the crisis, and changing minds to drive success.

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

Dr. Jonah Berger combines groundbreaking research and powerful stories as he sheds light on why things become popular. Based on 15 years of rigorous academic research, he put together a framework for making anything contagious using the acronym STEPPS: Social currency, triggers, emotion, public, practical value, and stories. In his presentations, he reveals the secret science behind why things succeed and how these six key factors drive all sorts of products, services, and ideas to catch on. Young and full of energy, he is interactive with his audience, quickly demonstrating that our intuitions aren’t always right. Berger also uses funny and compelling examples to reinforce his message and keep his presentation engaging. He provides a set of specific, actionable techniques for driving diffusion. Whether you’re trying to change public perception of an industry, get a product or service to catch on, change organizational culture, or become a more effective leader, these tools will help you get there.

Disruption-Proof

We live in an age of disruption. Entire industries have been uprooted and displaced by new technologies and business models, and the most successful corporations out there didn’t exist just a few decades ago. When it comes to Silicon Valley titans such as Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb, you have to wonder whether incumbents in the consumer goods, automotive, and hotel industries could have gotten their first—and what’s coming next. How can we stay ahead of this relentless innovation? How can we make sure we’re doing the disrupting, and not being disrupted ourselves? In this exciting, new presentation, Wharton Business School Professor and disruption guru, Dr. Jonah Berger, explains how organizations can make themselves “disruption-proof.” Learn why some companies are more likely to get displaced, how executives ought to be reimaging their competitive set to better service evolving consumer needs, and what innovators do differently than everyone else that makes them so successful. From shifting mindsets and redefining your competitive set to “de-risking” innovation and why great companies cannibalize themselves, Berger demonstrates how we can survive, and win, in this new age.

Leading Innovation & Effective Culture Change

In a high-energy presentation based on his groundbreaking research on organizational communication and word of mouth, Dr. Jonah Berger examines the science behind leading effective change in an era of dramatic technological and business transformation. Why is it so difficult to promote change in the first place? How do you grease the system to make people more likely to adopt positive behaviors and ignore negative ones? How do you push past mental barriers that insist innovative practices are impossible or fraught with risk? Jonah Berger offers audiences practical strategies for leading change in a clear and actionable way that encourages buy-in and drives results. He shares how to overcome reticence to change, how to avoid the “curse of knowledge,” and how to build a movement that shifts your audience from passive listeners to active participants, who become a powerful channel for diffusing your message. If your organization is looking for a forward-thinking talk aimed at getting change to catch on, this talk is can’t-miss.

Dr. Jonah Berger Books

The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind

Purchase Book

The Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior

Purchase Book

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

Purchase Book

Dr. Jonah Berger Videos

Dr. Jonah Berger Articles

Dr. Jonah Berger Speaker Testimonials

Jonah was perfect for our program! He really digested the information that we sent over to him in advance and pulled relevant items and topics to form some of his presentation slides. This really resonated well with our audience and drew them into his speech in a very meaningful way. People really took his message to heart about learning how to make wind energy a contagious topic for consumers; I mean to the point where you would be speaking with someone later that day and they were referencing some of the lessons from Jonah’s speech! It was fantastic! The meet and greet that we had with Jonah and a handful of our Board members was a real treat as well. These very high level and intelligent folks were hanging on his every word and getting some great advice from him. Even though he challenged their traditional views on marketing strategy and so forth they really understood what he was saying and why it was great!

- AWEA |