Paola Cecchi Dimeglio
J.D.,LL.M,MS.c,PH.D.
Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Ph.D., J.D., LL.M., M.Sc. is a globally recognized authority in AI, Big Data, behavioral science, and people analytics, with deep expertise in leadership strategy, workforce transformation, and the future of work. She advises senior executives at Fortune 500 companies, global law firms, professional services organizations, and public institutions on applying data-driven insights to solve strategic challenges, drive performance, and lead with measurable impact. Her work spans people analytics across the full value chain—from employees to suppliers to customers.
At Harvard University, she holds dual appointments at the Law School and the Kennedy School of Government, where she serves as Faculty Chair of the Executive Leadership Research Initiative for Women and Minority Attorneys (ELRIWMA) and as a Senior Research Fellow at the Center on the Legal Profession. Since 2011, she has led pioneering research at the intersection of AI, decision science, behavioral economics, and organizational transformation.
As CEO of People Culture Data Consulting Group (pcdconsultinggroup.com), Dr. Cecchi-Dimeglio leads a global behavioral science and AI consulting firm. She is the inventor of I.D.E.A., a patented platform that enhances people analytics by improving fairness, consistency, and transparency in performance evaluations, supplier relationships, and customer experiences.
Dr. Cecchi-Dimeglio also plays a key role in shaping global technology and governance policy. She advises major international institutions, including the United Nations, the World Bank, the European Commission, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. At the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), she serves as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee on AI and Virtual Worlds and as Chair of Sustainability, Accessibility, and Inclusion for AI and Metaverse Regulation. She also advises the boards of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and the General Counsel for Diversity and Inclusion (GCDI, UK).
Before joining Harvard, she was Research Director of Comparative Law at The Hague University and practiced law with PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal (formerly Landwell & Associés) and Baker & McKenzie, focusing on corporate, regulatory, and intellectual property law. She was part of the Weinstein Team, working alongside the Hon. Daniel Weinstein on complex mediations involving multimillion- and billion-dollar disputes. She has also consulted globally on investment transactions and international strategic development.
As an educator, Dr. Cecchi-Dimeglio has taught graduate and executive-level courses in AI, Big Data, behavioral economics, IP law, corporate law, leadership, and dispute resolution, equipping professionals to lead at the intersection of technology, law, and human behavior.
She is a recognized thought leader, having authored more than five books, including Diversity Dividend (MIT Press, 2023) and Building a Thriving Future: Metaverse and Multiverse (MIT Press, 2025)—a strategic guide to AI-powered transformation that helps leaders design adaptive, people-centered ecosystems and navigate the evolving future of work.
Her work on AI and Big Data has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and honored with the Azbee Award of Excellence. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and contributes regularly to Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, Forbes, and other leading outlets. Her work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
Her insights—powered by AI and Big Data—continue to shape how organizations hire, engage, serve, and collaborate across the enterprise, strengthening leadership and delivering results at scale.
