The course Professor Feiner created, High Performance Leadership, is consistently ranked by students as one of the School's most popular courses. He was also selected by the graduating class of 2004 as recipient of the Singhvi Prize for Scholarship in the Classroom for his dedication to teaching and ability to communicate knowledge and encourage students.
Feiner is also president of Michael C. Feiner Consulting, Inc., a firm he founded in 1996 after retiring from Pepsi-Cola Company. The firm advises CEOs on how to muscle-build their organizations and upgrade the quality of their company's leadership.
From 1975 to 1995, he worked for Pepsi-Cola Company. In 1989, he was named senior vice president and chief people officer for Pepsi's beverage operations worldwide. Beyond building and leading an organization of 400 human resource professionals that gained a reputation as one of the most distinctive, innovative and prestigious in the world, he devoted much of his time to growing and developing high-potential leaders. At a time when Pepsi's operations comprised 70,000 employees in 150 countries, he advised, coached and counseled executives on how to enhance their leadership effectiveness. He is credited with upgrading Pepsi's performance standards and organizational excellence and is acknowledged as one of the key architects of Pepsi's distinctive culture, known for its openness, results orientation and assertive, "David vs. Goliath" style.
In 1993, Feiner went on to become chief people officer for PepsiCo Europe. Based in London, he was responsible for building the management and organizational capability of all of PepsiCo's businesses across continental Europe.
Prior to PepsiCo, from 1966 to 1975 he was an executive at Trans World Airlines, becoming one of the youngest vice presidents in TWA history. As vice president of employee relations and training, he was responsible for all management and flight-attendant training.
Feiner is internationally recognized for his intellectual integrity, broad-gauge leadership skills and expertise on people and organizational issues. He is considered by students in both Columbia's MBA and Executive Education programs, as well as by audiences at conferences, to be a passionate and engaging speaker.His book, The Feiner Points of Leadership: The 50 Basic Laws That Will Make People Want to Perform Better For You, was published by Warner Books in June 2004. The Toronto Globe and Mail selected it as the "Best Business Book of 2004."