More than 2,000 students, faculty, staff, and visitors filed into Trinity University’s Laurie Auditorium on March 25 to hear author, podcaster, and social scientist Adam Grant talk about rethinking assumptions in his lecture, “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know.”
“Rethinking is more important now than ever,” Grant told the crowd. “The faster the world evolves, the faster we have to rethink.”
Grant was the latest headliner to give the Flora Cameron Lecture on Politics and Public Affairs, made possible by an endowment gift from the Flora Cameron Foundation and Mrs. Flora C. Crichton. The lecture series has welcomed world leaders, heads of state, politicians, and thought leaders to Trinity to discuss their careers, historic events, and the modern political climate. The event is part of The Conversation, Trinity’s initiative to promote thoughtful, constructive dialogue across differences.
“In a moment when complex challenges demand that we rethink assumptions, update opinions, and open minds, these opportunities to gather together are more important than ever,” said Raquel Alexander, Ph.D., dean of Trinity’s Michael Neidorff School of Business, who introduced Grant.
Funny and affable, Grant charmed the crowd with self-deprecating stories and interactive clapping, showcasing the personality that’s earned him recognition as the top-rated professor at the Wharton School of Business for seven straight years. He is a six-time New York Times bestselling author, and his podcasts – “Re:Thinking” and “The Curiosity Shop,” which he co-hosts with Brené Brown, the 2025 Cameron Lecturer – have been downloaded more than 100 million times.
Grant bases his material on social science research, and he encouraged the audience to think like scientists, with the humility to admit what they do not know and the curiosity to find answers.
As a young professor, Grant turned down an early opportunity to invest in Warby Parker, an online eyewear retailer, because he assumed people would not buy glasses over the internet. The company is now worth more than $2.6 billion. Grant’s decision led him to think again, and using research findings, he created a system to help people break out of conventional concepts.
- Build a network of constructive critics.
- Create a psychologically safe environment in which people feel comfortable bringing you problems.
- Turn critics into coaches by asking for advice, not feedback.
- Make the unfamiliar familiar when explaining your ideas.
- Rethink your mindset; be more likely to pivot toward good ideas and away from bad ones.
After his lecture, Trinity University President Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., whose academic specialty is rhetoric, joined Grant onstage for a question-and-answer period. She asked about issues facing college students and professionals, including burnout, perfectionism, authenticity, and imposter syndrome.
On the last topic, Grant said one of his graduate students offered a new perspective: Feeling like an imposter can be turned into a strength, not a syndrome. It can motivate some people to “close the gap” between what they think of themselves and how they think others see them.
Grace also plays a part, the psychologist said. “If you doubt yourself, you should also doubt your judgment of yourself. If multiple people believe in you, you should believe in yourself.”
For students, Alexander said, Grant’s talk offered a lasting lesson. “Your greatest competitive advantage is your willingness to rethink what you know,” she said. “The most challenging problems can't be solved by one person, and we can contribute by asking questions and listening deeply. The most successful leaders are the ones who know when to change their minds and model this for their teams.”