Jay Shetty
TIME100 Creator 2025 | #1 NYT Bestselling Author, Think Like a Monk | Host, World's #1 Health Podcast On Purpose | Chief Purpose Officer, Calm
Michael Watkins
Professor of Leadership & Organizational Change, IMD | Bestselling Author of The First 90 Days | World Authority on Leadership Transitions | Thinkers50 Hall of Fame
Michael D. Watkins is the world's foremost authority on leadership transitions and the author of the bestseller The First 90 Days, "the onboarding bible," with 1.5M+ copies sold. An IMD professor, Genesis Advisers co-founder, and Thinkers50 Hall of Fame inductee, he gives leaders proven, immediately actionable frameworks for succeeding in new roles, thinking strategically, and leading change.
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Michael Watkins biography
Michael D. Watkins is the world’s foremost authority on leadership transitions, the thinker who quite literally wrote the book on how leaders succeed in a new role. His international bestseller The First 90 Days has become the definitive playbook for anyone stepping up, in, or across an organization, and has shaped how millions of executives approach the most vulnerable and decisive moments of their careers.
Leadership speaker Michael Watkins is a Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD Business School and co-founder of Genesis Advisers, the leadership development firm built around his transition methodology. Over more than two decades, he has coached C-level executives into challenging new roles, guided senior leadership teams, and advised on organizational transformation. His seminal book The First 90 Days, which The Economist dubbed “the onboarding bible,” has sold more than 1.5 million copies and been translated into some two dozen languages, making it one of the most influential leadership books ever written.
From the First 90 Days to the Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking
Watkins is the author of sixteen books on leadership and negotiation, and his ideas continue to evolve with the challenges leaders face. His 2024 book, The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking, takes on a capability that is widely praised yet rarely defined, breaking strategic thinking into six learnable disciplines: pattern recognition, systems perspective, mental agility, structured problem-solving, visioning, and political savvy. Inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2023 in recognition of decades of contributions to management, he was previously a professor at Harvard Business School, the Harvard Kennedy School, and INSEAD, and holds a PhD in decision sciences from Harvard. At IMD he directs the First 90 Days open program and co-directs the Transition to Business Leadership program for future enterprise leaders.
As a speaker, Michael Watkins delivers proven, immediately actionable frameworks drawn from decades of research and hands-on work with leaders at the highest levels. He speaks on accelerating leadership transitions and onboarding, mastering strategic thinking, leading organizational change and transformation, and harnessing AI as a “cognitive superpower” for better decision-making. Audiences leave with clear, structured tools they can apply the moment they, or their newly promoted leaders, step into a new role.
Michael Watkins Speaking Videos
Leadership Masterclass: Strategic Thinking with Michael Watkins
IMD's The First 90 Days®: Five questions for your new role - Michael Watkins
Michael Watkins Keynote Topics
Drawing on the methodology that made his book "the onboarding bible," Watkins gives leaders a proven roadmap for the make-or-break early months in a new role. He shows how to diagnose the situation, secure early wins, build the right team and alliances, and avoid the transition traps that derail even talented executives, accelerating the point at which a new leader starts creating value.
Based on his latest book, Watkins demystifies a skill everyone praises but few can define. He breaks strategic thinking into six learnable disciplines, pattern recognition, systems perspective, mental agility, structured problem-solving, visioning, and political savvy, and shows leaders how to develop each one, so they can anticipate threats and opportunities and lead their organizations into an uncertain future.
Watkins brings decades of research and consulting to the challenge of driving change that sticks. He helps leaders understand the predictable dynamics of transformation, align their people around a compelling vision, and sequence their moves for momentum, turning change from a source of disruption and resistance into a well-managed path to better performance.
In his most current work, Watkins explores how leaders can use AI not as a shortcut but as a disciplined tool to sharpen their own thinking over time. He shows how to pair human judgment with AI to strengthen strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving, and why the leaders who master this balance will hold a lasting advantage.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Michael Watkins
Why Michael Watkins?
Booking Michael Watkins gives audiences the definitive authority on one of the highest-stakes moments in any career: stepping into a new leadership role. His book The First 90 Days is a genuine modern classic, "the onboarding bible," with more than 1.5 million copies sold, and his frameworks are used by organizations and executives around the world. An IMD professor, Thinkers50 Hall of Fame inductee, and coach to C-level leaders, he pairs deep academic credibility with intensely practical, immediately usable tools. Whether the topic is transitions, strategic thinking, or leading change, he delivers structured frameworks that audiences can act on right away. He is an ideal speaker for leadership summits, executive programs, and organizations promoting or onboarding leaders. To bring Michael Watkins to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Michael Watkins?
Michael D. Watkins is a Canadian author, professor, and leadership transitions expert. A Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD Business School and co-founder of Genesis Advisers, he is the author of sixteen books, including the international bestseller The First 90 Days and, most recently, The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking. A former professor at Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School with a PhD in decision sciences from Harvard, he was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2023.
What is The First 90 Days about?
The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter is Michael Watkins's bestselling guide to leadership transitions. It provides a structured playbook for the critical first three months in a new role, when a leader is most vulnerable and their actions set the tone for everything that follows. The book covers how to accelerate learning, secure early wins, build key relationships and teams, and avoid common transition traps. Called "the onboarding bible" by The Economist, it has sold over 1.5 million copies and become the standard reference for executive onboarding worldwide.
What topics does leadership speaker Michael Watkins cover?
Michael Watkins speaks on accelerating leadership transitions and onboarding, the six disciplines of strategic thinking, leading organizational change and transformation, and using AI to sharpen leaders' thinking. His keynotes suit leadership summits, executive development programs, and organizations onboarding or promoting leaders. To book Michael Watkins as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Michael Watkins as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Michael Watkins as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Michael Watkins's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Michael Watkins or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Michael Watkins speaking fee?
Michael Watkins speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Michael Watkins to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Michael Watkins.
How can I contact Michael Watkins?
We only work with Michael Watkins on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Michael Watkins and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Michael Watkins speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Michael Watkins for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Michael Watkins for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Michael Watkins is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Michael Watkins for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
