In this talk, we'll examine the global effects that force us to reason differently about how we organize and lead people; we'll go through a series of valuable skills for leaders in this new climate, especially product & tech leaders.

As we launch into 2026, we face endless possibilities to build for a new reality while simultaneously experiencing global uncertainty and volatility. With shifting political and economic dynamics in the US creating continued uncertainty for European markets, how do we take the initiative and thrive rather than just survive?

The answer might be closer than we think. 2026 can be the year tech truly moves from a support function to a strategic advantage for our business. However, as AI shifts the foundations of how product teams operate, the human factor becomes more critical than ever. To realize the full potential of our teams amidst this, we first need to reshape leadership.

This means building trust, leading with context, and moving from output-driven to outcome-driven work. The real change is in the team culture and how we view work, focusing on the unique human ingenuity needed to create products our customers love.

To thrive in 2026, we need to maximize our chances of building the right things, which means working, thinking, and leading differently; by doing this, we can realize the full potential of our teams and create better products with the people at hand.