Michael D. Watkins

Michael D. Watkins

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Michael D. Watkins is a professor of leadership at the IMD Business School and a co-founder of Genesis Advisers. He was a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School, and is the author of The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking and the international bestseller The First 90 Days.

A dinosaur stands in a field as a flaming asteroid falls from the sky; bold text reads "DON'T BE THE DINOSAUR.
8 min
"You need to embrace these systems and try out what's going on because if you don't understand it, you really can't hope to help your organization adapt and stay in front of this momentous, world-changing technology."
A foot in a brown shoe stepping on a banana peel against a blue background, illustrating one of the humorous fixes for success.
Professor of leadership Michael D. Watkins identifies ways high-performing teams can be sabotaged — and offers simple fixes for each.
Illustration of two human silhouettes facing each other with neural connections and nodes, featuring the text "BORN AND MADE" on a green background.
7 min
“I'm often asked: “Are great strategic thinkers born, or are they made?” And my answer is always yes. Like so many human capabilities, it’s a mixture of nature, nurture and experience.”
Five silhouetted figures walk towards a bright white area on a predominantly red background, casting long shadows—an evocative portrayal of leadership skills in action.
Whatever your length of service in the top role, this tool-box will help you conquer adversity — and thrive.
The six disciplines of strategic thinking.
Why has the value of strategic thinking never been higher? It’s complex.