When Trust Goes Up, Costs Go Down: The Hidden Factor Behind High-Performing Development Teams

Why do some software teams consistently deliver while others struggle despite having equally talented developers?

After leading technical organizations, studying hundreds of leaders, and helping engineers transition into leadership roles, I've found that technical expertise alone is not enough. As systems become more complex, success increasingly depends on information flow, decision quality, and trustworthiness.

In this session, we'll examine real-world examples from software organizations, including a development team that missed a strategic product delivery by two years after trust collapsed, and technical leaders who learned how to build highly effective teams capable of navigating rapid change and increasing complexity.

You'll learn why the traditional "hero leader" model breaks down as complexity grows, how trustworthiness improves communication and decision-making, and why leadership capability often becomes the limiting factor in organizational performance.

Whether you're a developer, architect, team lead, engineering manager, or executive, you'll leave with practical techniques you can immediately apply to improve team performance, increase engagement, reduce turnover, and help your organization scale more effectively.

Key takeaway: Trustworthiness scales. Control doesn't.

The Superpower of Diversity is Productivity

Managers and leaders want productive teams that can deliver great products. And they are told to be inclusive and to hire and support diverse team members. Although they want to do that, they fear that these diverse teams may not be up to par with others. Their commitment to supporting diversity is frequently low.

Research and my own personal experience show that in fact, diverse teams are MORE productive than homogeneous teams.

“The Superpower of Diversity is Productivity” is an interactive presentation that uses real examples from the software development industry to demonstrate how diverse teams outperform those lacking diversity.

This inspiring and informative talk is a completely different take on DEI initiatives. It is not about programs and metrics (the How). It is about the WHY. Why should my team support DEI efforts? Because it will benefit them in solving problems faster. It will help them to have more problem-solving approaches. And it will help them devise more creative and useful features for their products. And I illustrate all of these benefits with real (and engaging) stories from my long career in software development.

Program Objectives:
After this presentation, participants will be able to:
• Describe the real value of diversity and inclusion
• Use five simple techniques to improve inclusivity
• Build trust, respect and inclusivity within teams as well as with customers.

Selling Up: How Can I Get My Boss to Recognize the Value of My Great Idea?

This fun-packed and fast-paced talk takes attendees through a 5 step process to construct a message that will get their boss’s attention and likely his or her approval.

Leadership Improv: Taking Skills from Improv Comedy to Improve Communication Skills

This fun-packed and highly rated workshop provides tools for leaders to remedy the problem of workers feeling disengaged and undervalued. Through active engagement in multiple scenarios drawn directly from the software development industry, participants recognize where their behaviors offend others or cause others to put up defenses. With practice, participants become significantly better at communicating in ways that lead to useful outcomes. Participants in this workshop from 10 years ago have advanced their careers significantly. 70% are now in the C-Suite, 20% have advanced up the career ladder to Director level, and 10% are now successful entrepreneurs.

It’s Your Decision. Where Do You Want to Take Your Career?

Software developers have a choice. Do you want to continue your career on a technical path? Or are you thinking about advancing into a leadership position? Let’s have some fun with this and construct an algorithm to help you decide!

We’ll look at the variables, your preferences, and then you will be able to evaluate the alternatives with a clear-eyed vision for the future.

How Can I Drive My Team to Deliver on Time Without Driving Them Nuts? Leadership, Deadlines, and Sch

FULL TITLE: How Can I Drive My Team to Deliver on Time Without Driving Them Nuts? Leadership, Deadlines, and Schedules, OH MY!

Managers and Leaders want productive teams that can reliably deliver great products. This program provides proven techniques for achieving their goals.

The program uses real examples from the software development industry that demonstrate techniques for engaging team members to take ownership of their project.

Fine-tune Your Career with Improv

Human behavior can be fine-tuned to get the best results in your career path. Understanding how our emotions and nervous system effect our behavior makes us more effective in negotiations and communications. Train your brain to respond to get the best possible outcomes in work situations.

Practice actionable communication strategies throughout this workshop with improv, role playing in actual scenarios from the software development industry, and creative discussions.

Outcomes:

• Participants will be able to communicate with their teams to achieve successful outcomes.
• Participants will be able to negotiate with colleagues and customers to lead to winning outcomes.
• Participants will be able to communicate with executives.

(Dealing with Conflict) Leading Prima Donnas: Herding Cats? Or Letting the Cats Feel Heard

Some star performers can solve problems 10 or even 20 times faster than their colleagues. Yet no one wants them on their team because they are so difficult to get along with. What is the magic that makes a difficult genius employee to no longer be difficult, but just be a genius?

In this fast-paced talk leaders will learn not only WHY they should keep those difficult people on their teams, but also HOW they can manage to make the arrangement work for the entire team.

Building High-Performing Technical Teams: A Leadership Workshop for Software Professionals

Many developers are promoted into leadership positions with little preparation for the human side of software development. Yet project success increasingly depends on communication, influence, trust, and the ability to coordinate knowledge across complex technical organizations.

This interactive workshop provides practical leadership tools specifically for software professionals, architects, team leads, engineering managers, and technical executives. Participants will explore real-world case studies, leadership simulations, communication techniques, decision-making frameworks, and methods for building trust within technical teams.

Topics include leading through uncertainty, gaining support for technical ideas, handling difficult conversations, increasing team engagement, improving accountability, reducing turnover, navigating organizational politics, and developing leadership capability in highly technical environments.

Participants will leave with practical strategies they can immediately apply to improve collaboration, accelerate execution, increase team effectiveness, and strengthen leadership capability throughout their organizations.

As software systems become more complex, technical expertise alone is no longer enough. The organizations that thrive are those that develop leaders capable of building trust, improving information flow, and helping teams perform at their best.

workshop 4 hours or 8 hours