Virtual

Masterclass with Michael D. Watkins

when

thu 8 apr'27, 3:00pm-4:00pm

where

live via zoom

who

CEO, CFO, CPO, CMO, Executive, Emerging leaders, Digital, NFP-CEO, EA

exclusively for
multinational leaders

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the archer’s edge
how to stay focused and perform when the pressure is on

with: michael d. watkins
professor of leadership and organisational change, imd business school
author, the first 90 days

Composure under pressure isn't a trait you have or lack. It's a capability you train — and Olympic archery shows you how.

The frameworks you studied live in your head. The pressure lives in your nervous system, and under stress the nervous system wins. That gap between knowing and performing is the most consequential problem in leadership development, and almost nobody trains leaders how to close it.

Michael wrote the book on leadership transitions. The First 90 Days is the go-to playbook for executives stepping into new roles, and he has advised leaders at some of the world’s largest companies. His new book, The Archer’s Edge, written with Barcelona 1992 Olympic archery gold medallist Juan Carlos Holgado, takes the mental discipline of elite archery into the boardroom. Members who joined his last Abundium session will know he’s worth the hour.

your master

Michael D. Watkins

Co-founder

at Genesis Advisers

Bio: Michael is a Co-founder of Genesis Advisers and a Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at the IMD Business School. He is the author of 16 books and hundreds of articles on leadership and negotiation. His best-known book, The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Smarter and Faster, has sold more than 2 million copies in English and has been translated into 24 languages. Michael was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame (2023) for his contributions to research and practice on accelerating leader transitions. At IMD, Michael has directed the Transition to Business Leadership (TBL), an executive development program that prepares participants for enterprise leadership. Michael's personal practice is coaching senior executives taking on new roles and helping them build their leadership teams. His new book is The Archer’s Edge: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Practice for Business Leaders.

your learning outcomes

Focus under pressure: spot when pressure is narrowing your perspective, and use simple routines to reset before a high-stakes moment, from a board update to a tough call with HQ.
Emotional discipline in uncertainty: separate what you can control from what you can’t when priorities shift, and stay steady so your team takes its cue from you.
Consistency in decisions: rely on process rather than adrenaline, and build shared decision habits that keep your team on target when conditions change.
A practice for life, not just work: take habits home that hold up just as well outside the office.

inside your masterclass

world-class thinkers, brought to you live

Join some of the world’s leading thinkers for live virtual sessions, designed for the realities of multinational leadership today. Each Abundium Masterclass brings you closer to the ideas, expertise and perspectives shaping how the best leaders think and work.

what you’ll take away

Fresh thinking on the leadership and business challenges that matter
Practical tools and frameworks you can apply the same day inside your multinational organisation
New perspectives to challenge and extend your thinking

how to show up

Come curious and ready to get involved. Join the conversation in the chat, ask questions and make connections to your own leadership, team or organisation. The more you engage, the more you’ll get from the hour.