In this eye-opening session, Matt Gjertsen confronts one of the most overlooked crises in today's workforce: the widespread failure of managers to actually lead. Drawing on recent Gallup data and the research behind his book Minimum Viable Manager, Matt makes the case that the bar for effective leadership has never been lower and the cost of that gap has never been higher. More importantly, he shows why technical professionals are exactly the people we need stepping into leadership roles, and gives them a practical framework to do it well from day one.

Whether attendees are engineers being asked to lead for the first time or senior leaders trying to build a stronger management bench, this session delivers both the urgency and the roadmap.

Participants walk away with:

• A data-backed understanding of the manager engagement crisis and why closing that gap is one of the highest-leverage moves any organization can make

• A clear case for why technical managers are uniquely positioned to lead the next generation of high-performing teams

• The Minimum Viable Manager framework, a practical, no-fluff starting point for becoming the kind of leader your team actually needs

In this fundamental rethinking of what it means to be a leader, Matt Gjertsen provides an approachable framework for engineers, technical professionals, and high performers who aren't sure if leadership is for them. Drawing on his experience as a U.S. Air Force instructor pilot and Head of Training & Development at SpaceX, Matt distills leadership into three core principles that anyone can measure, practice, and act on immediately.

Whether attendees are managing people, leading projects, or contributing as individuals, they'll leave with a clear picture of where to focus and a concrete plan to have more impact.

Participants will walk away with:

• A simple, three-part leadership framework they can apply to their role immediately — no management title required

• The ability to self-assess their leadership gaps and identify the one or two areas that will move the needle most

• A concrete action plan to increase their influence, improve their team's results, and step into the leader others want to follow

In this dynamic exploration of what separates thriving organizations from struggling ones, Matt Gjertsen reveals the three cultural attributes that allow certain companies to not just survive change — but use it as a competitive advantage. Drawing on 20 years of experience in two of the most demanding, fast-moving environments on the planet, the U.S. military and aerospace startups, Matt brings real-world examples that show exactly how the world's most adaptive organizations operate differently.

Whether attendees are senior leaders setting culture or managers trying to keep their teams focused and motivated, they'll leave with a clear picture of what needs to change and the tools to start making it happen.

Participants will walk away with:

• A proven framework for building a culture where people are comfortable being uncomfortable, and the specific barriers holding their team back

• A prioritization mindset modeled after the world's most focused organizations,  including one concrete change their team needs to make to improve

• An action plan for radical transparency that accelerates information flow and faster decision-making

In this practical and immediately actionable session, Matt Gjertsen challenges individuals and organizations to move beyond passive learning and train with the same rigor as elite athletes, military units, and the world's highest-performing teams. Drawing on experience across the U.S. Air Force, SpaceX, and competitive triathlon, Matt shows how the best organizations systematically build the capabilities they need to stay ahead and gives every attendee the tools to do the same.

Tailorable for both individual contributors looking to accelerate their own growth and leaders responsible for developing their teams, this session meets attendees where they are and delivers tools they can put to work immediately.

Participants will walk away with:

• A clear understanding of the difference between learning and training — and when each approach drives the most impact

• Proven strategies for identifying the most critical capabilities to develop before they're needed

• A personalized roadmap for rapidly building the skills and behaviors required to tackle tomorrow's challenges