Michael Watkins

Michael D. Watkins is the world's leading expert on accelerating transitions. He is the Chairman of Genesis Advisers (www.genesisadvisers.com), an executive on-boarding and transition-acceleration company located in Newton, Massachusetts. Previously he was a professor at IMD in Switzerland, INSEAD in France, the Harvard Business School, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Dr. Watkins is author of the international bestseller THE FIRST 90 DAYS: CRITICAL SUCCESS STRATEGIES FOR NEW LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS, which the Economist recognized as "the on-boarding bible." With more than 500,000 in print, 420,000 copies sold in English, and translations in 27 languages, The First 90 Days has become the enduring classic reference for leaders in transition. Recently it was named one of the best 100 business books of all time.

A prolific writer, Dr. Watkins is the author or coauthor of numerous articles and books on leadership. His most recent publications include "Picking the Right Transition Strategy" (Harvard Business Review, January 2009), "The Three Pillars of Executive On-boarding" (Talent Management, October 2008), and Shaping the Game: The New Leader's Guide to Effective Negotiating and Predictable Surprises: The Disasters You Should Have Seen Coming and How to Avoid Them (Harvard Business School Press).

A native of Canada, Dr. Watkins received a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo, did graduate work in law and business at the University of Western Ontario, and completed his PhD in decision sciences at Harvard University.

Michael's new book, YOUR NEXT MOVE: THE LEADER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING MAJOR CAREER TRANSITIONS, published in October 2009.