I speak to business, marketing, and policy audiences on the hidden moral logic that drives consumer behavior — why people buy what they buy, why they boycott brands, and why some prices feel like a moral insult. My talks draw on a decade of behavioral research and are designed to be immediately relevant to practitioners, executives, and policymakers navigating an increasingly values-driven marketplace.
For speaking inquiries: shreyans.goenka@vt.edu
Signature Talk
“The Moral Shopping Cart: How Ethics, Politics, and Values Drive Consumer Decisions”
Every purchase is a moral decision — most consumers just don’t realize it. This talk explores the hidden ethical logic behind everyday buying decisions, brand boycotts, and consumer backlash. Drawing on original research, I examine how political identity, moral values, and perceptions of fairness shape what people buy, what they avoid, and how they react when brands get it wrong. Audiences leave with a clearer framework for understanding — and anticipating — the moral psychology of their customers.
Available as a keynote (45-60 min) or executive workshop format.
Topics
- Politics & the Marketplace: How political identity shapes brand loyalty, consumer boycotts, and reactions to corporate activism — and what brands can do about it.
- Price Fairness & Consumer Backlash: When prices feel morally wrong, why consumers punish brands for it, and how the framing of price increases drives or defuses outrage.
- The Ethics of Everyday Consumption: How personal moral values quietly govern purchasing decisions — from luxury goods to sustainable products to charitable giving.
- Consumer Welfare & Market Inclusion: Who gets left behind by market systems, and how brands can navigate inclusion without alienating their base.
Selected Invited Talks
University of Florida (Warrington) | University of Delaware (Lerner) | University of Virginia (McIntire) | Duke University (Fuqua) | University of Maryland (Smith) | American University (Kogod) | Northwestern University (Kellogg) | UCLA (Anderson) | Georgetown University (McDonough) | University of Notre Dame (Mendoza) | Indiana University (Kelley) | NUS Business School | University of Pittsburgh | Baruch College (Zicklin) | Virginia Tech
Invite Me to Speak
I speak at corporate events, industry conferences, executive education programs, and academic institutions. To discuss availability and topics, contact:
shreyans.goenka@vt.edu | (+1) 347-387-0215