Learn from Leaders Podcast

In this episode, Johannes shares his path from banking enterprise coaching and what it taught him about leading teams, driving innovation, and navigating enterprise transformation. From embracing design thinking to leveraging AI for productivity, Johannes dives into the evolving world of Enterprise Management, busts industry myths, and explains how small teams can outperform massive projects. (00:00) | Intro(03:47) |The Power of Small Teams: Outperforming Larger Projects(09:40) | Challenges and Misconceptions in Agile Implementation(13:01) | The Shu-Ha-Ri Model: From Following to Innovating(22:13) | Balancing Innovation and Structure in Large Organizations(30:01) | The Amazon Model: Autonomy and Innovation(37:46) | Frameworks and Methods: Old School vs. Flow-Based Approaches(39:09) | AI in Estimation and Product Management(50:00) | Hybrid Work and the Importance of Online Tools(01:04:39) | Looking Forward: Conferences, Books, and Leadership(01:07:46) | OutroGuest: Johannes started his professional journey in finance, advising clients on wealth management and financial planning. Frustrated with inefficient systems, he transitioned into product ownership, successfully revamping financial advisory tools. Drawn to the success of agile methods, he shifted to a FinTech company and focused on teaching agile principles. For the last 7+ years, Johannes has applied his expertise in agile transformation within the telecommunications industry. His focus lies in portfolio-level agility, product prioritization, coaching product owners. and improving enterprise agility.Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility. Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them. Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform.Make work flow with Favro. You can get the full solution on Product Operating Model in Favro Solutions: https://www.favro.com/templates/tech/... https://www.favro.com/templates/tech/...

In this episode, John Rossman dives into the core principles of his book, Big Bet Leadership, sharing how senior leaders can create clarity, maintain velocity, and accelerate risk and value to drive real impact. Drawing from his time at Amazon and other major companies, John unpacks how dedicated teams, strong leadership, and effective communication separate industry leaders from the rest.(00:00) | Intro(00:43) | Introduction to Big Bet Leadership(08:10) | The Three Habits of Big Bet Legends(14:36) | Accelerating Risk and Value(30:03) | Understanding Wicked Problems(43:24) | False Sense of Precision in Estimates(49:09) | Implementing Narrative Writing in Organizations(57:02) | Dedicated Teams and Leadership in Big Bets(01:13:03) | Continue, Kill, Pivot, or Confusion(01:16:00) | OutroGuest: Today’s guest is John Rossman, a former Amazon executive who launched the Amazon Marketplace and a four-time best-selling author, including The Amazon Way and Big Bet Leadership. John’s expertise in digital transformation, leadership, and innovation has made him a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies and startups alike. His latest free e-book, Rossman’s Business Manifesto for Competitive Advantage — The Pig, the Lipstick & the Playbook of Champions, is a bold guide to achieving transformational success.Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility. Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them. Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro. You can get the full solution on Product Operating Model in Favro Solutions: https://www.favro.com/templates/tech/... https://www.favro.com/templates/tech/...

In this episode Jon Leslie breaks down the key career moves that shaped his approach to product development—from enterprise software to game dev, then from games to the vendor side. Jon breaks down the product operating model, highlighting how strategy, discovery, and delivery come together to build successful, customer-focused products. (00:00) | Intro (00:45) | Career Crossroads: From Enterprise Software to Game Development (03:04) | Transitioning to the Vendor Side and Moving to Sweden (08:31) | Broadcove Insights: Improving Ways of Working (11:43) | The Product Operating Model: An Overview (15:58) | Agile vs. Product Management: A Shift in Focus (22:27) | The Future of Agile and Product Management (34:27) | Implementing the Product Operating Model with Favro (53:48) | The Global Impact and Future of the Product Operating Model Guest: Jon Leslie - Jon Leslie from Broad Cove Insights works with product and game teams worldwide, helping them succeed by keeping what works and transforming what doesn’t. He specializes in modern work transformations that reduce costs, increase agility, and accelerate growth with empowered product teams creating products that customers love. Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility. Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them. Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.

In this episode of Learn from Leaders, Patric and Adam break down key trends in the gaming industry, from entrepreneurship and leadership to talent acquisition and AI's growing role in development. They discuss the balance between specialization and versatility, the impact of industry crises, and the future of transmedia storytelling. The conversation also covers investment trends, hybrid work challenges, and how management can drive innovation and inclusivity in game production.(00:00) | Intro(00:45) | Introduction to Leadership and Career Crossroads(03:05) | Navigating Industry Crises and Opportunities(06:07) | Exploring Industry Challenges and Discoverability(09:11) | Diverse Perspectives from Executives and Talent(11:54) | The Impact of Discoverability on Game Success(14:53) | The Evolving Landscape of Venture Capital in Gaming(17:53) | Transmedia: The Future of Cross-Platform Storytelling(20:56) | Talent Acquisition and the Changing Workforce(23:46) | The Balance of Specialization and Versatility in Talent(26:49) | Leadership Styles and Their Impact on Creativity(30:07) | Cultural Differences in Leadership and Team Dynamics(48:16) | Diversity in the Gaming Industry(52:44) | Navigating Hybrid Work Models(01:00:28) | The Challenges of Production Practices(01:11:13) | Embracing Change in Production(01:24:23) | The Impact of AI on the IndustryGuest: At Vivrato, Adam Boyes channels his deep passion for gaming to inspire teams and drive innovative solutions for industry challenges. Previously, as co-CEO of Iron Galaxy Studios, he set strategic direction and forged key partnerships while promoting a people-first culture. Prior to that, as VP of Third Party Relations & Developer Technology Group at Sony Interactive Entertainment America, he spurred groundbreaking collaborations that boosted PlayStation’s revenue. Early in his career at Midway Games, Capcom, and his consulting venture Beefy Media, Boyes championed open communication, stable growth, and premium gaming experiences.Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility.Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them.Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.

In this episode of Learn from Leaders, Patric Palm & Benjamin Carcich discuss the concept of leadership balance, focusing on the distinction between "Founder Mode" and "Manager Mode." They dive into the misconceptions surrounding these modes, often oversimplified as micromanagement versus hands-off leadership. Using examples from companies like Larian Studios (Baldur's Gate 3), they emphasize that leadership is about aligning teams with a shared vision and strategically deciding where to engage.(00:00) | Intro (00:43) | Founder Mode and Manager Mode Patric and Benjamin discuss the buzz surrounding "Founder Mode" and "Manager Mode," debunking common misconceptions that oversimplify these leadership styles. They explore the complexities of balancing involvement and delegation.(06:04) | Balancing Vision and Autonomy The conversation shifts to how leaders can maintain control over a project's vision while allowing team autonomy, using game development as a primary example.(11:12) | Successful Examples from Larian Studios Benjamin shares insights from Larian Studios (Baldur's Gate 3), where CEO Swen Vincke finds the right balance between directing the project’s vision and empowering teams to work independently.(15:52) | Communicating Vision Effectively Patric and Benjamin discuss the importance of leading by example and communicating vision in both words and actions, ensuring the entire organization aligns with the CEO’s goals.(25:28) | OutroGuest: Benjamin Carcich has spent the last few years helping leaders at studios of all sizes, and recently led the creation of a training for game producers called "Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught". Before that, he spent almost a decade at Riot Games shipping champions, tools, maps, and various platform and backend systems, and ended up leading discipline efforts around hiring and the role of production while teaching agile fundamentals around the world. His first job after college was as a Combat Arms officer in the U.S. Army.Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility.Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them.Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.

In this episode of the Learn from Leaders podcast, Patric Palm and Benjamin Carcich discuss practical models for fostering accountability, balancing individual roles with team objectives, and how positive consequences can break fear-based cycles. (00:00) | Intro(00:45) | The Importance of Accountability The episode begins with a discussion on why accountability is crucial for both individuals and teams. It explores how clear accountability drives collaboration, quality, and satisfaction in the workplace.(12:37) | Setting and Negotiating Expectations This section delves into the first step of accountability—setting clear expectations. The conversation highlights the importance of negotiating expectations between leaders and teams to create alignment and foster responsibility.(21:04) | Types of Consequences in Accountability Patric and Benjamin discuss the different types of consequences—positive, negative, and adaptive. They stress the value of positive reinforcement and learning from failure as part of a healthy accountability process.(34:17) | Goal Setting and Verification The conversation shifts to goal-setting, discussing how teams and leaders can structure goals, track progress, and verify outcomes. The importance of adaptive feedback loops is emphasized to ensure ongoing alignment.(45:26) | Individual vs Team Accountability This chapter addresses the balance between holding individuals accountable for their roles and holding teams accountable for shared objectives. The benefits and challenges of both approaches are explored.(57:01) | Self-Managing Teams and Expectations The challenges of self-managing teams are discussed, with a focus on group dynamics and how to build high-performing teams that can effectively manage themselves over time.(1:13:30) | OutroGuest: Benjamin Carcich has spent the last few years helping leaders at studios of all sizes, and recently led the creation of a training for game producers called "Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught". Before that, he spent almost a decade at Riot Games shipping champions, tools, maps, and various platform and backend systems, and ended up leading discipline efforts around hiring and the role of production while teaching agile fundamentals around the world. His first job after college was as a Combat Arms officer in the U.S. Army.Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility.Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them.Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.

In this episode, Patric Palm and his guest discuss the misapplication and challenges of implementing Agile practices in the game development industry. They also touch on how modern techniques like measuring throughput instead of granular estimates can improve production efficiency and outcomes.(00:00) | Intro(00:44) | State of Agile development in the games industryBenjamin explains why Agile in game development feels outdated, lagging behind other industries by 10-15 years. They discuss how early methods, like waterfall, have constrained creativity and innovation in game production.(08:42) | Cynisism towards agile - the mess we have todayAgile has become overly structured, leading to cynicism. Instead of embracing Agile’s core values, game developers have adopted rigid frameworks that stifle creativity and collaboration.(19:15) | Working with agile frameworks & toolsThey discuss how Agile tools, such as daily standups and planning poker, are often misused. The conversation highlights the need for teams to adapt these tools to their specific challenges rather than follow them blindly.(30:48) | Estimation & throughput based planningBenjamin shares insights on how to improve production by using throughput-based planning instead of traditional granular estimates. This approach leads to better accuracy and efficiency in game development timelines.(42:03) | OutroGuest: Benjamin Carcich has spent the last few years helping leaders at studios of all sizes, and recently led the creation of a training for game producers called "Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught". Before that, he spent almost a decade at Riot Games shipping champions, tools, maps, and various platform and backend systems, and ended up leading discipline efforts around hiring and the role of production while teaching agile fundamentals around the world. His first job after college was as a Combat Arms officer in the U.S. Army. Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility. Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them. Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.

In this episode, of the Learn from Leaders podcast, Patric Palm & Benjamin Carcich delve into the challenges and evolution of the gaming industry, with a focus on the shift towards live service games. The discussion covers how player expectations are driving developers to adopt continuous updates, which has transformed both game development and business strategies.(00:00) | Intro(00:44) | Live service, the future of the games industry?The conversation kicks off with the shift towards live service games. Benjamin explains why this model is becoming the norm, driven by player expectations and technological advancements that allow for continuous updates and bug fixes post-launch.(15:55) | The business promise of live servicePatric & Benjamin dive into the business appeal of live service games. The potential for long-term player engagement and recurring revenue makes live service a lucrative model for game developers, though it comes with unique challenges.(18:55) | Successful live games from humble beginningsThis chapter highlights how many of today’s most successful live service games, like League of Legends and Counter-Strike, started small. It shows how developers can grow games gradually, sometimes surpassing expectations to become massive industry staples.(22:51) | Iterating under the perfect storm of live service Benjamin discusses the complex reality of running a live service game, where constant iteration and innovation are necessary, all while balancing player satisfaction and avoiding disruptions to the live environment.(31:37) | OutroGuest: Benjamin Carcich has spent the last few years helping leaders at studios of all sizes, and recently led the creation of a training for game producers called "Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught". Before that, he spent almost a decade at Riot Games shipping champions, tools, maps, and various platform and backend systems, and ended up leading discipline efforts around hiring and the role of production while teaching agile fundamentals around the world. His first job after college was as a Combat Arms officer in the U.S. Army.Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility.Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them.Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.

In this episode, the Patric Palm & Benjamin Carcich dive into the challenges of game production, discussing leadership struggles, inefficiencies, and the need for better management practices that balance creativity with process. (00:00) | Intro(00:44) | Challenges within Games Production TodayThe conversation moves to the broader challenges in game production, including leadership struggles, inefficiencies, and the need for better management practices that balance creativity with process.(07:04) | Efficiency vs EffectivenessBen highlights the industry's tendency to prioritize efficiency over effectiveness, explaining that while efficiency is measurable, true effectiveness comes from meeting or exceeding goals, which often requires a different approach.(11:49) | Aligning Incentive StructuresThe duo explores the importance of aligning incentive structures to support the right behaviors and outcomes, emphasizing how incentives can drive both positive and negative outcomes within production teams.(19:53) | Simple & Advanced Tools in ProductionThe episode wraps up with a discussion on tools in production, focusing on how simplicity in tools can enhance collaboration and creativity, while also recognizing the need for advanced functionalities that stay "under the hood" to avoid overwhelming teams.(32:54) | Outro Guest: Benjamin Carcich has spent the last few years helping leaders at studios of all sizes, and recently led the creation of a training for game producers called "Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught". Before that, he spent almost a decade at Riot Games shipping champions, tools, maps, and various platform and backend systems, and ended up leading discipline efforts around hiring and the role of production while teaching agile fundamentals around the world. His first job after college was as a Combat Arms officer in the U.S. Army.Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility.Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them.Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.

In this episode, Patric and Benjamin discuss the key challenges and lessons in game development leadership, focusing on the role of producers in driving both creativity and efficiency. The conversation covers:(00:00) | Intro(00:00) | Being Thrown Through the Wall of Your Own NaivetéBenjamin reflects on a pivotal moment in his career where political realities in a company led to his departure. This experience taught him the importance of maintaining self-worth independently of external validation.(11:47) | The Importance of Focus and Strategic Decision-MakingBenjamin emphasizes the value of prioritizing focus over multitasking, sharing how he learned to concentrate on one team to drive meaningful progress, rather than spreading himself too thin across multiple projects.(24:52) | The Role of a Producer in Articulating the VisionPatric and Benjamin discuss the producer's role in helping articulate and communicate the creative vision. Benjamin stresses the importance of fostering alignment within teams through effective communication and iteration.(35:13) | OutroGuest: Benjamin Carcich has spent the last few years helping leaders at studios of all sizes, and recently led the creation of a training for game producers called "Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught". Before that, he spent almost a decade at Riot Games shipping champions, tools, maps, and various platform and backend systems, and ended up leading discipline efforts around hiring and the role of production while teaching agile fundamentals around the world. His first job after college was as a Combat Arms officer in the U.S. Army.Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility.Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them.Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.