Why Workplace Success Isn't Just About Merit
- Sep 1, 2026
- 9:14
- Full Episode
ABOUT THE EPISODE The best opportunities at work do not always go to the most qualified person.
Judd Kessler, Howard Marks Endowed Professor and Wharton Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, explores the hidden rules that determine who gets scarce workplace resources, from a manager's attention to high-profile assignments and professional development. He explains how employees can better navigate these systems and how leaders can design rules that are more equitable and effective.
The conversation also highlights Lucky by Design: How to Navigate Hidden Markets, a Wharton Executive Education course taught by Kessler that applies these ideas to real workplace decisions. Learn more: https://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/for-individuals/all-programs/lucky-by-design-how-to-navigate-hidden-markets/
ABOUT THE PODCAST Every day, business scholars answer pressing questions in their research - but what do their insights mean for you? In this podcast, Wharton faculty dive into what inspired their studies and how their findings resonate with the world today. Learn how research insights translate into knowledge you can use, with host Dan Loney.
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Brief Summary
Judd Kessler discusses hidden markets and strategies for navigating workplace opportunities in this episode of The Ripple Effect.
Key points
- Understanding Hidden Markets. Explore how hidden markets shape workplace opportunities and strategies for navigating them.
- Designing Luck in the Workplace. Learn how to shift from being a market participant to a market designer.
Episode highlights
- Understanding Hidden MarketsExplore how hidden markets shape workplace opportunities and strategies for navigating them.“You have to understand those rules and develop a strategy to get what you want.”2:32Sep 1, 2026
- Designing Luck in the WorkplaceLearn how to shift from being a market participant to a market designer.“Designing our market's rules allows everybody to get lucky.”6:30Sep 1, 2026





