Professor profile
Manfred Kets de Vries is the Raoul de Vitry d'Avaucourt Clinical Professor of Leadership Development at INSEAD and Director of the INSEAD Global Leadership Centre
1. What are you currently working on (area and medium (case, article, book, new course…))?
I am currently working on the following:
a) DVD on INSEAD Global Leadership Centre (IGLC) Group Coaching method.
b) Three books: on Leadership Development; the third volume in my Wiley series of Leadership books: “Reflections on Leadership and Organizational Change”; a second IGLC coaching book: “The Coaching Kaleidoscope”
c) Finally I am working on a group leadership coaching book.
2. A case study that you think is important. Why?
I used to really like the HBS case “Who Killed Bob Lyons” by Harry Levinson as I thought it was a good illustration of work life balance, stress at work, and the fit between a person and the organization.
3. A management book you think highly of. Why?
“Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom,” by Matthew Fraser and Soumitra Dutta (Wiley, 2008).
4. A very recent management title you read and/or one you would like to read. Describe.
I don’t read many management books as I believe that most of them are exercises in recycling. Too many quick fixes. I prefer to read psychology/ sociology/ anthropology books.
5. What is one of your well-liked teaching moments (case, discussion topic,…)?
I very much enjoy teaching my CEO seminar, “The Challenge of Leadership” here at INSEAD. It is a way of helping to change people and thus have a positive impact on their organizations. I use the “life” case study. In spite of having written over 150 cases I always find it more exciting when the real people are in the class themselves as is the case for the life case study. To present a life is very complicated, but fascinating.
6. What was your most interesting consulting assignment? Why?
Working with a highly complex Russian top executive team (Exco) who I helped transition themselves into a better place in which to work—not typical for most Russian organizations.
7. A product or service gap that you would like an entrepreneur loaded with funds to fill. Explain.
The whole process of education for young women in developing countries.
