Michael C. Liley is an International Adjunct Faculty at Lagos Business School, where he contributes to teaching and thought leadership in leadership, organisational behaviour, and the future of work. He holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Bonn and a Bachelor’s degree in African Studies from the University of Cologne, grounding his work in a strong analytical, ethical, and contextual understanding of organisations and society.

Professionally, Michael is Senior Managing Director at SAND, where he works on data and artificial intelligence solutions for African governments. His career spans senior leadership roles across the private, public, and philanthropic sectors. He has been a partner in leading global consulting firms, including EY, Deloitte, and Accenture, and has also held roles within the United Nations system and in philanthropy, including serving as Managing Director of a foundation. This breadth of experience informs his perspectives on leadership, institutional capacity, and large‑scale transformation.

Michael’s areas of expertise include organisational behaviour, leadership and talent management, human resources strategy, change and transformation management, and the future of work. He is particularly recognised for his work on how technological change and demographic shifts are reshaping labour markets in Africa. His thought leadership examines the interaction between formal and informal employment, digital transformation, and emerging models of workforce development across the continent. He has contributed to global think tanks such as the Economist Intelligence Unit and The Conference Board, engaging in policy‑relevant discussions on the implications of emerging technologies for work, organisations, and public systems.

Michael has been affiliated with Lagos Business School since 2018, first as a guest lecturer and subsequently as an International Adjunct Faculty member. He teaches across MBA and executive education programmes and currently contributes primarily to the Advanced Management Programme (AMP). His teaching focuses on helping senior leaders navigate organisational change, talent development, and the strategic implications of technological transformation, equipping them to respond effectively to evolving business and societal contexts.

Beyond the classroom, Michael’s work centres on the application of data and artificial intelligence to enable smarter governance in Africa. He works closely with governments to apply AI-driven insights to decision-making across critical sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, energy, digital infrastructure, and connectivity. His engagement aims to strengthen public‑sector capability, support evidence‑based policymaking, and advance institutional transformation.

Michael is motivated by the conviction that those with the privilege of education and opportunity carry a responsibility to address the world’s most complex challenges. In particular, he is committed to ensuring that artificial intelligence is deployed in ways that advance inclusive development. He also serves on the Editorial Board of Insights Edge, Lagos Business School’s thought leadership publication, contributing to the School’s intellectual influence and public engagement.