In the Media

Selected writing and conversations on judgment, neuroscience, and the second half of life

I by IMD

Diagram showing stages of adult brain development across the lifespan, from early adulthood to later leadership roles, highlighting the progression toward strategic and executive brain performance in midlife and beyond.

In Thriving after 45: is the best still to come?, Michael Netzley shows why cognitive performance does not have to decline during midlife. Drawing on neuroscience, the article demonstrates that core leadership capabilities — including judgment, integrative reasoning, and strategic sensemaking — can strengthen well into the second half of a career when deliberately trained. The message is biological, not motivational: brain performance improves under the right conditions. For leaders navigating AI and complexity, midlife can become a strategic advantage if you make the right investments.

Dr. Michael Netzley speaks with podcast host and marketer extraordinaire Daniel Nestle about how neuroscience can be used to unlock the underutilised benefits of an ageing workforce.

Watch now as Dr. Michael Netzley joins Money FM 89.3 to discuss brain health and Singapore’s ageing population and workforce. March, 2023.

NEW YORK TIMES

Dr. Michael Netzley spoke with the New York times about innovations in teaching and adopting wikis in the classroom (at a time when such approaches were quite new to education -- resulting in his 2011 Champion's Award for teaching innovation)

In 2011 Dr. Netzley spoke with the New York Times about innovation in teaching and his early adoption of wikis in the classroom. This work would later earn him the global award—the Champion’s Award from CEEMAN—for innovative teaching.

I by IMD

Illustration of the human brain representing neural regulation and the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation under sustained cognitive demand.

Cognitive Strain

How to train your brain to thrive amid the strain

Uncertainty can trigger two very different brain responses: one that broadens thinking, enables connections, and fosters innovation, and one that can undermine judgment via a stress response. Take this quick test to check if your brain needs a tune-up.

DIALOGUE REVIEW

Magazines or journal pages discussing leadership shifts in finance, titled 'From vertical to horizontal leadership,' with text about organizational transformation and digital strategies.

Leadership Shifts

From vertical to horizontal leadership

It's time to let go of legacy practices. The way you led your organization yesterday does not work for today. Leaders need to change to meet the demands of new business models in a digital world.

M. Netzley & Robin Speculand November 2022

DIALOGUE REVIEW

Page layout with a digital illustration of a microchip with integrated circuit lines at the top and the article titled "Knowing but not doing" about digital transformation and skills for digital literacy.

Digital Maturity Index

Knowing but not doing

Individuals have the knowledge but not the skills to participate in digital transformation. Closing this gap is critical for organizations seeking to become digitally driven.

M. Netzley & Robin Speculand March 2023