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PeteBehrens
Founder/CEO @ Agile Leadership Journey
Pete Behrens didn't set out to become a leadership expert. His professional journey began as an engineer, solving technical problems, but life had other plans. Over three decades, Pete has evolved from individual contributor to technical leader to business executive and organizational coach, learning that the most complex challenges aren't technical; they're human.
As Founder and CEO of Agile Leadership Journey, Pete has dedicated his career to helping leaders navigate uncertainty with courage and authenticity. He believes that leadership isn't about having all the answers; it's about having the humility to ask better questions and the courage to step forward when the path isn't clear.
Pete’s debut book, “Into the Fog: Leadership Stories from the Edge of Uncertainty,” captures decades of leadership wisdom through compelling real-world stories. The book reveals how authentic leadership emerges not in moments of clarity, but in the uncertainty of everyday challenges–what Pete calls “the Fog.”
An influential speaker, Pete has shared his insights at various global conferences and hosts the Relearning Leadership™ podcast, where he engages with industry experts and leaders to explore the evolving landscape of leadership and organizational development.
Sessions at TechLeader Summit ’24
AI is a Force Multiplier – What are you multiplying?
Everyone’s talking about AI’s potential. Few are asking the harder question: What exactly is it multiplying? This session explores how Generative AI is accelerating everything—good and bad—and the hidden risks for leaders who aren’t paying attention. Drawing from the AI Leadership Lab and decades of riding tech waves (software, mobile, cloud, agile…), Pete will challenge you to rethink your AI strategy—from productivity to power, design to decision-making. ___
Power & Influence: Leading Beyond Your Title
Influence is the currency of leadership—but most leaders only spend what they’ve been given. This session helps technical leaders break out of default power (positional, cultural, prestige) and tap into personal power—built on presence, clarity, and credibility. Whether you’re managing up, across, or leading without formal authority, this talk gives you the tools to lead with more impact. ___
The Expert Trap: When Technical Skill Limits Leadership Impact
You were promoted for your expertise. And that’s exactly what’s holding you back. Many technical leaders struggle to shift from “doing the work” to “leading the work.” Letting go is hard. Worse? It’s not enough. This session reveals why stepping back doesn’t work—and what it really means to step up as a leader. ___
Organizational Tension is not the Problem, it's the Point
Technical leaders are problem-solvers by design. But not everything is a problem that can be solved. Some challenges—like speed vs. quality, alignment vs. autonomy, planning vs. adapting—aren’t meant to be solved. They’re tensions that can only be managed. And treating them like problems only creates new ones. This session unpacks the most common leadership tensions in tech and how to navigate them with more clarity and less frustration. ___
Two and a half days with the people writing the playbook.
Insightful sessions, inspiring ideas, and meeting your peers — the skills and methods that take your organization to the next level.