Michael Watkins has spent the past two decades working with leaders, both corporate and public, as they transition to new roles, negotiate the future of their organizations, and craft their legacy as leaders. A recognized expert in his field, he ranked among Thinkers50’s top fifty management influencers globally in 2019. He is the best-selling author of The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, the globally acknowledged handbook for leadership and career transitions, which recently earned the accolade of Amazon’s Top 100 Leadership Books. He is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at the IMD Business School in Switzerland and previously served on the faculty at INSEAD and Harvard University, where he earned his PhD in Decision Sciences.
Leadership transitions are deceptively hard. On the surface, stepping into a new role often looks like a logical next step—more responsibility, broader scope, greater influence. Organizations assume that because someone has succeeded before, they’ll succeed again. And yet, research and experience consistently show that a significant percentage of leadership transitions underperform or fail outright. Not […]
Sarah was a seasoned executive leading a tech startup through a period of rapid growth. Known for her commitment to transparency and fairness, she embodied authentic leadership principles. Her team admired her integrity and trusted her implicitly. However, Sarah found her commitment to authenticity challenged by the pressure of sustaining growth in the face of […]
The job interview is progressing well. You’ve explained your skills and highlighted your achievements, and the interviewer seems impressed. Then comes the curveball question – “What is your biggest weakness?” This question can leave even seasoned candidates flustered… unless they are prepared. After all, you’re trying to sell yourself, not highlight shortcomings. Yet, handled strategically, […]
In this article, first published by IMD.org, Genesis Co-Founder Michael Watkins and Genesis Leadership Consultant Konrad Lenninger, explore the current challenges new CEO’s face when managing crisis. “Leading an entire company through a crisis will test your leadership skills like nothing else. Thankfully, others before you have faced similar challenges. Here’s how to learn from […]
I had the pleasure of co-authoring an article featured on chieflearningofficer.com, with David Lee, Global Head of the Immunology Therapeutic Area at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Our collaborative work, “The Unique Challenges of Developing R&D Leaders,” sheds light on the distinctive elements involved in nurturing effective R&D leaders and the significance of […]
I am excited to share my latest article on hbr.org, “Start Your New Leadership Role with the End in Mind”. To successfully step into a new role and set yourself up for long-term success, you must balance “now-forward” planning with “future-back” visioning. That is, you must start with the end in mind, envisioning what you want […]
