Vanessa Van Edwards

Vanessa Van Edwards is a behavioral researcher, author, and Harvard University instructor who has spent two decades translating the science of human behavior into practical, learnable skills. She founded Science of People with the thesis that people skills are not innate talent but a science that can be learned. What began as a research blog has grown into a platform used by more than 5 million students in over 100 countries. As lead investigator at her human behavior research lab, Van Edwards conducts original research on popular psychology and communication.

Van Edwards is the author of three books published by Portfolio/Penguin Random House. Her book "Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People" has been translated into more than 18 languages, and her second book, "Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication," became a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Her third title, "Conversation: How to Be Instantly Likeable in Any Interaction," expands on her framework for understanding and mastering the dynamics of human interaction, offering audiences actionable tools based on rigorous research.

Van Edwards describes herself as a recovering awkward person who struggled with social anxiety early in life. Early in her career, she recognized the importance of developing social skills to effectively communicate ideas. This personal experience of overcoming social difficulty became the foundation of her research, focusing on the cues and social signals that shape perception and trust.

More than 75 million people have seen Van Edwards on YouTube and in her TEDxLondon talk, "You Are Contagious," where she explains how nonverbal behavior, such as hand gestures, microexpressions, and verbal variety, influences perceptions of confidence. Her lab has conducted experiments on TED Talks, analyzed hand gestures in presidential inaugural addresses, and researched the TV show "Shark Tank." Her work has been featured across major media outlets, including CNN, BBC, CBS Mornings, Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur, USA Today, and The Today Show.

Van Edwards works with organizations to improve communication, with clients including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Comcast. She has spoken at MIT, Stanford, and SXSW, and writes monthly columns for Entrepreneur Magazine. Through her research and writing, Van Edwards provides practical insights into human behavior, communication, and leadership development.