I am an anthropologist and social psychologist with a strong passion for designing, implementing, and researching initiatives to transform human behavior in the real world. I believe that changing our behavior can drastically improve the world we live in, and that collective action is one of the most engaging and powerful ways to do it. I have almost a decade of experience as a creator, consultant, manager and researcher of behavioral change initiatives in public, private, social and international cooperation organizations.
I am from many places. I’m proud to have been born and to have grown up in Colombia from Lithuanian, Lebanese and French immigrants, and to have lived and worked in Colombia, Lithuania, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
I am currently the Scientific Director of the Paris Institute for Advanced Study and a Visiting Fellow at the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science of the London School of Economics (U.K.). I’m also proud to have co-founded and acted as Managing Partner of the Behavioural Lab LT (Lithuania), an international network of experts and local leaders promoting the application of behavioral insights to policy and industry challenges (one of the first of its kind in Eastern Europe).
My previous experience includes posts as Managing Director of the Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania (U.S.), external consultant in social norms, behavioral change, and institutional development for several U.N. and international agencies (ILO, IOM, USAID, World Bank), and Head of theCultural and Behavioral Change Team for Public Servants at the Colombian Government, and as Research Assistant for the former Mayor of Bogotá, Antanas Mockus. I have also been coordinator, technical advisor and researcher in projects related to cultural and behavioral change, public leadership, institutional strengthening and administrative reforms in organizations in several public organizations and NGOs.
I hold a Ph.D. in Psychological and Behavioral Science from the London School of Economics (U.K.), an M.B.A. with Honours from the Quantic School of Business and Technology (U.S.), an M.A. with Distinction in Cultural Studies from Goldsmiths College, University of London (U.K.), and a B.A. in Anthropology (Summa Cum Laude degree) from the Universidad de los Andes (Colombia). I am a member of the SEBE Research Lab, an Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, and a member of the Global Lithuanian Leaders Network.