Gem Hill
Founder
Selfcare Backpack

SESSION OVERVIEW: In a world of more AI and automation, human connection and empathy is more important than ever. Learn how to tap into and grow your empathy in this talk.

We think of empathy as an innate human trait, and humans are (generally) wired for it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t develop and practice this skill. I’d argue this is something we should be doing.

This talk will cover what empathy is, how we display and use it, and why it helps use have deeper, more productive conversations. It will also include some concrete tips on how to practice your empathy in every day life, as well as some tips on how empathy can help you increase your self awareness and kindness towards yourself.

I’ll be bringing research and tips I’ve learned on my journey to be a therapist, bringing examples in a safe and engaging way.

Holly Donohue
Product Consultant and Coach
Product Rebel

SESSION OVERVIEW: Your CEO thinks it’s a pitch deck. Your engineering team think it’s a plan to manage tech debt. You know you should have one yet no-one can agree on what one really is.

Holly will share an unfiltered account of the highs and lows of establishing a product strategy. She’ll share real world experiences of what to do when the business strategy is simply to make more money and the CEO changes their mind from one week to the next.

As product people, we know we should have a product strategy. We love a framework, yet, when we talk about product strategy, it quickly gets vague and complex.

This talk will help you understand how to turn a bunch of disconnected strategic thinking into a tangible strategy that everyone can align to. The key takeaways will include:

– How to ensure everyone is aligned on the purpose of a product strategy
– How and when to build a product strategy
– Common pitfalls to avoid

Kanika Selvan
Director
Beetroot Consulting

David Crawford
C-Level Tech Leader and NED

SESSION OVERVIEW: Kanika Selvan hosts a fireside chat with David Crawford, a C-Level Tech Leader, Non Executive Director and self proclaimed technology to business translator, critical friend in digital strategy and leader in building, optimising and scaling world class engineering teams… or a CTO!

This discussion is set to be a bold journey into the real questions leaders should be asking themselves about the role of the Chief Technology Officer. The challenges we should be posing to ourselves when moving into the CTO role. Followed by some honest reflections from a CTO on the mystical airs we need to clear, so that technology can be utilised to deliver real commercial success. David will be opening up both about his journey and posing questions to the audience to better understand how we navigate technology leadership for the future.

David Cox
Global Head of Product
Equal Experts

SESSION OVERVIEW: My talk questions the common orthodoxy that when deciding what to work on next, teams should reach for the ‘low-hanging fruit’ first. During planning sessions, ideas are typically positioned on a Effort/Impact matrix, with the ‘quick wins’ (high impact, low effort) unquestioningly prioritised. Using case studies from various real-life organisations, I explore how always following the path of least resistance (by doing the easiest things first) can lead to ‘product debt’. This is an obligation within an organisation that grows larger over time, whilst leaving more fundamental issues unaddressed. In my experience, if left for long enough, the debt becomes impossible to pay down, and can only be written off. I end the talk by discussing possible reasons why we’ve become addicted to the dopamine hit of quick wins, and argue for more conversations about the most difficult challenges facing our organisations.

Amul Batra
Co-Founder & Chief Partnerships Officer
Northcoders Group PLC

SESSION OVERVIEW: In this talk, Amul Batra cuts through the noise to share the real lessons he’s learned from two very different worlds: music and tech. Drawing from his journey—from starting record labels to building tech careers—Amul uncovers the unexpected parallels that shape leadership and innovation in both fields. He’ll reveal how the obstacles we face—whether chasing a number-one hit or reshaping a tech career—define our paths to success.

Amul also reflects on how his time in music led to the creation of challenger business models in tech, proving that agility and innovation can compete against slower, bigger competitors. You’ll hear about how his small independent label took on Simon Cowell and won, demonstrating that you don’t need to be a large corporation with millions of pounds to turn potential into success.

The message is clear: Leadership is about persistence, shaking up the status quo, and never taking “no” for an answer—whether it’s getting a no.1 record, teaching coding in 13 weeks, or disrupting the consultancy game.

Rob Sandbach
Founder & Managing Director
Indiespring

SESSION OVERVIEW: Rob Sandbach, Founder and Managing Director of Indiespring, will be delivering an insightful talk on the critical importance of company culture in the era of remote work. Drawing from a challenging two-year period, Rob will discuss how the shift from hybrid to a fully remote model during COVID-19 led to unexpected turnover among new hires, a stark contrast to the company’s strong retention history.

In this session, Rob will explore the consequences of cultural drift in a remote work environment and share how Inidespring identified and addressed these challenges head-on. Attendees will learn about the adjustments made to the hiring process, the gradual transition back to a hybrid work model and the emphasis on cultural fit that has since revitalised the team’s cohesion and morale.

Leaders facing similar challenges will gain valuable insights on maintaining a connected, resilient team culture, even in the face of remote work pressures. This talk is a must-attend for those interested in the intersection of leadership, culture and the future of work.

Join Rob at the Manchester Tech Festival Leadership Day to explore the power of culture in navigating the remote work dilemma.

John Green
Senior Solicitor
CD Lawyers

SESSION OVERVIEW:

Johns’ fireside chat will leave you in awe as he takes you on his against all odds transformational journey from leaving school with very little working for 15 years as a car mechanic in a back street garage to becoming the senior partner in a law firm.

A story of sheer grit and determination against all odds and expectations. Listen to the anecdotes and the colourful characters he met along the way which helped form who he is today.