I am a 5th year PhD candidate in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

My research program examines three types of communications exchanged by consumers: (1) narratives of goal pursuit, (2) narratives of failure, and (3) persuasive messages aimed at influencing others. The central theme is that these communications shape the inferences the audience makes about the communicator, including perceptions of skill, emotional resilience, expertise, and intention, often resulting in contradictory evaluations. By employing a combination of natural language analysis (e.g., conversation on Reddit forums) and experimental methods, my work aims to develop new theories that illuminate how consumers interpret and respond to the narratives and recommendations presented by others.

I am originally from Los Angeles, CA and I hold a master’s degree in Social Science Research from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Smith College. When I’m not working on research, I can usually be found swimming, crocheting, or talking about broadway musicals.

You can reach me via email at abbyrb@stanford.edu.