Basima Tewfik

Basima Tewfik is an Assistant Professor of Work and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Her research focuses on the science of the social self at work, examining how interpersonally rooted psychological experiences can yield adaptive outcomes. She reconceptualizes the impostor phenomenon as workplace impostor thoughts, defined as the belief that others overestimate one’s competence. Her work explores phenomena such as engagement variability, workplace microaggressions, and request-declining, using multi-method designs to advance theoretical understanding. Her research has been published in top journals, including the Academy of Management Journal and Journal of Applied Psychology. She received her PhD in management from the Wharton School and her AB, summa cum laude, in psychology from Harvard University.

Basima Tewfik's research focuses on workplace dynamics, particularly the impostor phenomenon, conflict management, and job engagement. Her work explores how impostor thoughts and feelings affect interpersonal effectiveness and job performance. She investigates the role of self-affirmation in mitigating impostor feelings and how workplace relationships evolve in response to microaggressions. Her studies also examine the impact of role overload and emotional stability on job performance. Tewfik's research integrates multidisciplinary perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of workplace behavior and adaptation. Her work emphasizes the importance of managing workplace challenges through effective communication and self-awareness.