Michael S. Kaufman

A Senior Lecturer at the Harvard Business School, Michael co-developed and teaches a second year MBA course, “Challenges and Opportunities in the Restaurant Industry.” 

A founder and partner of Positive Strategy LLC, a management/strategy consulting firm, Michael helps boards and CEOs develop and implement navigation strategies in this ever-changing business environment.

Prior to founding Positive Strategy, Michael served as a partner of a boutique New York M&A advisory firm, led Metromedia Restaurant Group (then a $1.4 billion multi-chain restaurant company) for a dozen years, created and successfully exited a restaurant start-up, and innovated a restaurant brand for a luxury retailer.  Michael also served as an investment banker with Kluge & Company and an M&A lawyer with Paul Weiss in New York. 

He served as Chair of the Board of the National Restaurant Association, and is currently a director of the Association, a trustee emeritus of its Educational Foundation and of the Culinary Institute of America, Chair of the Business Leadership Council of Menus of Change (a collaboration between Harvard and the CIA), an executive advisor to a private equity firm, and a member of the Board of Northern Westchester Hospital and Chair of its Community Health Committee.  He also served on the Boards of Benihana, Inc., Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges, and the Chappaqua School Foundation (including as president).

Michael is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and lives in Chappaqua, New York.