Subscribe to Our Email List
DiversityFIRST™ Jobs
DiversityFIRST™ Certification Program
Webinar Series
DiversityFIRST™ Publishing
Formerly Executive Director of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Adjunct Professor, Kellogg School of Management; Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University Organizational Behavior program, Teaching Leadership and Emotional Intelligence. Adjunct professor at National-Louis University; Illinois Institute of Art; Author and Speaker on Emotional Intelligence
Professional Profile:
Michael has 35 years of experience working with people from all walks of life, helping them to discover their passions and purpose in life. He has been an Executive Director of several leading Medical Associations, including The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He has served as President of the Chicago Society of Healthcare Executives. Michael is currently an Executive and Business Coach specializing in Emotional Intelligence skills development for senior executives. He has also started several medical products and services companies from concept to venture capital financing.
His work in Emotional Intelligence skills development and assessments compliments his experience in the development of leadership, teaching and training, strategic planning and facilitation. The result of his work is measurable transformation, helping executives and organizations achieve professional/organizational objectives.
His latest work in transformational leadership training and skills building include guest lecturing and teaching at Northwestern University; The Leadership Learning Forum associated with De Paul University, an Adjunct Professor at the Illinois Institute of Art in their Career Development program, an adjunct position at National-Louis University teaching an Psychology of Organizational Leadership course and working on the development and execution of the Executive Coaching program for MBA’s at Kellogg under the direction of Brenda Ellington Booth.
His clients include companies such as Navigant Consulting, Mitsubishi USA, McDonald’s Corp., and Grosvenor Capital Management. Dr. Thompson is a noted speaker, having appeared on several TV and radio programs. His theme of “Shift Happens” is designed to help American Businesses compete in the global economy by using new skills (especially around Emotional Intelligence) and new ways of thinking about international business. He is also a noted author of articles on Emotional Intelligence and its use in the workplace. His work has been published in such diverse journals as the Legal Management Association Journal; American Hospital Assn. HR Journal; and the German/American Chamber of Commerce Journal.
Dr. Thompson’s philosophy around leadership and transformation can be summed up in two different quotes:
The first is from Rollo May, “Real freedom is the ability to pause between stimulus and response and in that pause…Choose!”
Secondly, from the ancient Chinese I Ching: CHAOS – Where brilliant Dreams are born. “Before the beginning of great brilliance, there must be Chaos, before a brilliant person begins something great, they must look foolish to the crowd.”
