Michael D. Watkins is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD, and co-founder of Genesis Advisers. He has spent the last two decades working with leaders as they transition to new roles, build their teams and transform their organizations. In 2023, he was inducted to the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame, in recognition for his outstanding contributions to the worlds of management and leadership.

He is author of the international bestseller The First 90 Days, which The Economist recognized as "the on-boarding bible." With more than 1,000,000 copies sold in English, and translations in 24 languages, it has become the classic reference for leaders in transition and a standard resource of leading change.