Our Instructors

j+c

Jim Walsh

Jim is one of the world’s leading experts on the topic of managing your boss and has lectured on this subject for over 4 decades. Jim spent more than 30 years at IBM, working for the bulk of his career in their legendary management training division. The quality of this training and the executives it produced made IBM the most innovative and important player in the early days of the computer industry.

While at IBM, Jim was fortunate to study with the iconic Peter Drucker, who is often described as the “father of modern management.” Frustrated with his own career trajectory, Drucker advised Jim to take matters into his own hands by taking control of the relationship with his boss. Jim followed that advice and it immediately transformed his career at IBM. From that day forward, Jim has recognized the singular importance of learning to manage one’s boss and it gives him great joy to share this invaluable skill with his students.

Since retiring, Jim and his wife Christine have taught business students in MBA programs around the world, most recently at Baruch College in New York. Jim holds both a B.A and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Missouri. In addition to teaching, Jim has consulted for corporate clients like Bayer, MetLife and First American Title.

Christine Markussen

Christine is an attorney who spent 40 years working for the insurance giant MetLife. She rose steadily through the ranks there, ultimately achieving the position of General Counsel-Global Operations. Throughout her incredibly succesful career, Christine used and refined the techniques covered in this course in managing her own bosses.

At MetLife, Christine was responsible for legal operations in over 60 countries worldwide and lead a team of approximately 300 legal professionals. She is a member of the Florida, Georgia, New York and American Bar Associations. During Christine’s career, Jim’s approach to managing the boss proved invaluable in her success and allowed her to forge the rock solid relationships that make it possible to stay at the same company for 40 years.