Leadership By Design 2025
The New Conundrum: How to Lead When You’re Not the Expert
One of the hardest things for leaders to admit is that they don’t know enough to keep up. We’re all dealing with AI right now, and just like every wave of emerging tech before it, the people closest to the work are usually the ones who see what’s real. Smart leaders don’t fake it; they listen, spot talent fast, and get the hell out of the way.
This talk is about what it really takes to lead in rooms where you aren’t the smartest one there. It’s a perspective forged on the front lines where we’re navigating hype, translating hard truths, and fighting to protect good work from power-hungry, under-informed egos. If leadership isn’t grounded in trust, humility, and sharp political awareness, it’s not leadership. It’s theater.













