Pete Behrens

Pete Behrens
 

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.

Presentations

From Coder to Catalyst: Mastering Tech Leadership at Every Level

9:00 AM MDT

Step beyond technical excellence and into transformative leadership. This immersive, no-slides workshop will walk you through the three pivotal shifts in technical leadership—from solving problems, to managing programs, to developing people.

Expect real-world stories, practical models, and powerful group discussions—not theory or fluff. Whether you’re growing into leadership or leading a team of leaders, you’ll leave with clear strategies to expand your impact.

What You'll Explore:

  1. How technical mastery can become a leadership liability—and what to do about it
  2. The real reason letting go doesn’t work (and what comes next)
  3. Why influence beats control (but still requires structure
  4. How to foster ownership without losing alignment
  5. What to do when “do it right” and “do it fast” are both true

As leaders rise, the work shifts from problems to product to people. But most technical leaders aren’t prepared for this change—and end up stuck in the weeds or overwhelmed by complexity. This workshop helps you recognize those transition points and navigate them with confidence and clarity.

You’ll also have a chance to step back and reflect on your own leadership journey—what’s working, what’s in the way, and where to go next. It’s not about fixing broken leaders. It’s about unlocking the next version of you.

Power & Influence: Leading Beyond Your Title

8:30 AM MDT

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.

We’ll Explore:

  • The 4 sources of leadership power and how to use them
  • How to navigate the thin line between influence and manipulation
  • The tension between being respected and being in charge

The best leaders don’t use power to control. They use it to connect.

Organizational Tension is not the Problem, it's the Point

10:30 AM MDT

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.

You’ll explore:

  • The difference between a solvable problem and a persistent tension
  • The leadership habits that increase tension (often unintentionally)
  • A practical lens to work with tension rather than against it

No perfect answers. Just better choices.

The Expert Trap: When Technical Skill Limits Leadership Impact

1:00 PM MDT

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.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why the shift from expert to leader is harder than it looks
  • A practical model for blending expertise, leadership, and coaching mindsets
  • Tools to expand your leadership presence without losing your edge

Great leadership doesn’t abandon expertise—it evolves it.

AI is a Force Multiplier – What are you multiplying?

5:00 PM MDT

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.

You’ll walk away with:

  • A framework for evaluating what AI is really amplifying in your org
  • Insight into the unseen tradeoffs behind AI investments
  • How to lead with intention, not just adoption

If AI is fuel, leadership is the steering wheel.