The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes | How To Academy
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Mon, 3 February 2025

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm GMT

The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes

Dr Sunita Sah In Conversation with Hannah MacInnes

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Why do we often say yes when we shouldn’t, and how can we say no when it matters most? Dr Sunita Sah is here to help.

“Defiance is not just saying no to something that is not right. It’s saying yes to the world you want to create.” – Dr Sunita Sah

Former NHS doctor and award-winning organisational psychologist Dr Sunita Sah joins us to delve deep into why the pressure to comply is a corrosive and often invisible force in our society.

Drawing upon her own revelatory research, she will help us transform our idea of defiance from a misunderstood negative trait into a crucial, positive force for personal and societal change. Taking us through her five stages of defiance, Dr Sah will equip us with simple tools to make decisions that align with our values and unleash the power of a “True No.”

Drawing on her story as a woman scientist of colour, as well as her original research and insights from multiple disciplines including psychology, ethics, law, medicine, organisational behaviour, sociology, and philosophy, Dr Sah reveals the critical need to rediscover our core values, and what we can do to reclaim our agency.

This conversation is especially resonant for anyone who has felt powerless, offering a guide to developing the skills and ability to defy in a way that is unique and most natural to us. Don’t miss this conversation as Dr Sah reveals how everyday acts of consent or dissent collectively shape our society, and how to speak up and act when it matters most.

Tickets to this stream are free for members of How To +.

Praise for Dr Sunita Sah’s Defy:

“A powerful book. If you’ve ever compromised your principles to please others, Defy will give you the will—and skill—to stand up for yourself.” —Adam Grant

“In Defy, Sunita Sah brilliantly reframes our understanding of defiance—from an act of mere rebellion to a vital tool for personal growth and social change. This book is a powerful, even transformative, read for anyone who’s ever felt the tension between doing what’s expected and doing what’s right.” —Daniel H. Pink

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Dr Sunita Sah

Management and Organisations Professor, Cornell University

Dr Sunita Sah is an award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organisational psychology. She leads groundbreaking research on influence, authority, compliance, and defiance. Born and raised in Bradford, she worked as a junior doctor in the NHS and later a management consultant for the pharmaceutical industry. She currently teaches executives, leaders, and students in healthcare and business. Dr Sah is a sought-after international speaker and consultant, advisor to government agencies, and former Commissioner of the National Commission on Forensic Science. Her multidisciplinary research and analyses have been widely published in leading academic journals and media outlets including Financial Times, The Telegraph, BBC News, Metro, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Harvard Business Review, and Scientific American. She lives with her husband and son in New York.

Hannah MacInnes

Journalist and Broadcaster

Hannah MacInnes is a broadcaster and journalist. Alongside hosting How To Academy’s live programmes and podcast, she presents a cultural show on Times Radio and interviews on-stage at a number of other major literary events. She is the host of The Klosters Forum Podcast series and has written for the Radio Times, the Evening Standard and TLS. Before going freelance she worked for 8 years at BBC Newsnight, as Planning Editor and as a Producer / Filmmaker.

 

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