The river doesn’t care about your plan. Conditions change, hesitation has consequences, and sometimes the most useful thing you can do is admit you need help. Sound familiar?

Competing at world championship level in whitewater kayaking taught me lessons I would later recognize while leading people, developer communities, and organizing technology conferences. Read the conditions before choosing your route. Commit to a decision without becoming trapped by it. Know when to push and when to pause. And when something goes wrong, help people recover before picking apart the mistake.

Through personal stories from the water and technology communities, this talk explores how to lead when control is limited and uncertainty is unavoidable. We’ll examine how leaders can make decisions with incomplete information, create an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up, and turn setbacks into practical improvements.

Whether you’re a team lead, an experienced manager, or someone who leads without a formal title, you’ll leave with concrete ways to help others navigate change and a fresh perspective on what leadership requires when the current gets stronger.

No kayaking experience required.