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Stefan Michel

Program Director

Stefan Michel is a Professor of Management and Dean of Faculty and Research at IMD

Stefan Michel

Program Director

Stefan Michel is a Professor of Management and Dean of Faculty and Research at IMD

Meet your Program Director

Professor Stefan Michel’s major research interests are in AI’s impact on strategy, pricing, and customer centricity. He has written 13 books, numerous award-winning articles and ranks among the top 40 bestselling case-study authors worldwide by The Case Center.

Video

Create a place for your customers to play – Gaming

Gaming has become one of the world’s most powerful consumer ecosystems. Stefan Michel explores why every company now needs a strategy for play to stay competitive.

By Stefan Michel

01 December 2025

Article

Five ways to unlock breakthrough ideas

New ideas behind innovative business models can feel sudden, but are rarely random. Innovation happens when you reframe challenges and opportunities.

By Stefan Michel

11 September 2025

Article

It’s vital to spend time and energy on thinking through net zero [Foreword]

The energy transition is more than a buzzword; it is a fundamental force reshaping global business and society. In its simplest form, it is the profound shift from a fossil fuel-dependent past to a future powered by clean, renewable sources. “Whil…

By Stefan Michel

11 September 2025

Article

Five ways to unlock breakthrough ideas

New ideas behind innovative business models can feel sudden, but are rarely random. Innovation happens when you reframe challenges and opportunities. Stefan Michel outlines five ways to unlock breakthrough ideas in your personal and professional l…

By Stefan Michel

11 September 2025

Howard Yu

LEGO® Professor of Management and Innovation

Howard Yu, hailing from Hong Kong, is LEGO® Professor of Management and Innovation at IMD. He leads the Center for Future Readiness, founded in 2020 with support from the LEGO Brand Group, to guide companies through strategic transformation. Recognized globally for his expertise, in 2023 he was honored with the Thinkers50 Strategy Award, recogn…

Arnaud Chevallier

Professor of Strategy

Arnaud Chevallier is Professor of Strategy. He helps executives solve complex problems and make better decisions under uncertainty. His research, teaching and consulting draw on empirical findings from diverse disciplines to provide concrete tools that prepare executives to manage the strategic challenges they face in today’s dynamic global marke…

Heather Cairns-Lee

Affiliate Professor of Leadership and Communication

Heather Cairns-Lee is Affiliate Professor of Leadership and Communication. Her award-winning research and teaching focus on sensemaking in leaders and organizations, collaboration, authentic and effective communication and the creation of diverse, caring and inclusive cultures. She works to develop reflective and responsible leaders at all levels…

Karl Schmedders

Professor of Finance

Karl Schmedders is Professor of Finance. His research and teaching focuses on sustainability and the economics of climate change. He is therefore able to provide key insights on the transition risk arising from the shift to a greener economy and help companies face up to the challenges of potential asset degradation and increasing carbon prices. …

*Contributing faculty might change depending on the session.