소개
Michael Watkins studied electrical engineering at the University of Waterloo and business and law at Western University before earning a PhD in decision sciences from Harvard. He went on to join the faculty at Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government, where he taught leadership development and strategic negotiation, before moving to INSEAD and ultimately to IMD in Lausanne, where he holds the chair in Leadership and Organizational Change.
His 2003 book The First 90 Days — updated and expanded in 2013 — became the standard reference for leaders entering new roles. It introduced the STARS framework (Startup, Turnaround, Accelerated Growth, Realignment, Sustaining Success) for diagnosing the type of situation a new leader inherits, and the concept of the “breakeven point” — the moment when a leader starts contributing more value than they consume. The book has sold over 1.5 million copies, been translated into more than 25 languages, and is widely assigned in executive education programs globally. In 2023, Watkins was inducted into the Thinkers50 Management Hall of Fame.
Beyond the book, Watkins co-founded Genesis Advisers, a leadership development consultancy that operationalizes his First 90 Days methodology for corporations managing large-scale leadership transitions. He has also authored Master Your Next Move, The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking, and over a dozen other books on leadership and negotiation. At IMD, he directs the First 90 Days open enrollment program and co-directs the Transition to Business Leadership executive program.
