New tech leads often fall into the same traps as bad Dungeon Masters: over-preparing for scenarios that never happen, trying to control the story instead of collaborating on outcomes, and failing to give each team member their heroic moments. The result? "Murder hobos" who don't follow process, rockstar developers who damage team dynamics, and talented engineers who leave because they're stuck in uninspiring stories.

Drawing from battle-tested concepts in Radical Candor, Corporate Rebels, and other leadership frameworks, this talk reveals how the best practices from running successful RPG campaigns translate directly into proven management techniques.

You'll discover practical strategies for turning difficult team conversations into collaborative problem-solving sessions, why effective leaders focus on getting things right, and how to give every team member meaningful ownership while preventing leadership burnout.

Perfect for new tech leads ready to move beyond command-and-control leadership, plus any tabletop gaming enthusiasts who want to level up their campaign management skills!

Presented on Project to Product Summit 2024