Leadership Ateliers 2026 / Kickoff Session
The Messy Middle of Design Leadership
Ever felt like leading a design team is equal parts coaching, crisis management, and amateur therapy? You’re not alone. In this honest and interactive session, Steve “Buzz” Pearce shares the failures, facepalms, and lessons that have shaped how he leads creative teams that actually flourish.
You’ll get real scenarios to debate, real tools to take home, and maybe a few revealing stories from Buzz, ssshhhh.
Expect lively discussion, reflection, and a few uncomfortable truths, all aimed at helping you grow designers who not only make great work, but make a real dent in the business and culture.
Who is it for?
People who've been switching to roles where pixels matter least, and people start being on the front and center. Regardless of your management experience (or if you ever even want to become one), this session from training and mentoring to balancing craft, invention, and influence.
Top 3 Outcomes
- #1Make a real dent in the business and culture of your company
- #2Find real tools to take back and become a better leader
- #3Become an enabler for growth
Facilitating this session:
Steve "Buzz" Pearce
VP of Design · Monday.com
Steve (or Buzz as many know him) is an exec design leader and collaborator with over 25 years of experience across many sectors. He strives to be radically honest about failures and what he’s learned along the way. He’s led and built large teams that created some of the most loved products and brands in the world, including Skype, Skyscanner and now at Monday.com.