Hold on, Let Me Prompt That - Leading with Conviction in the GenAI Era

Explore the tension between leveraging GenAI tools and maintaining authentic leadership conviction in this 10-minute conference talk from LeadDev Berlin 2025. Examine how the widespread adoption of generative AI has created a paradox where increased productivity and access to knowledge can simultaneously erode personal confidence and decision-making authority. Learn to recognize the early warning signs of GenAI-induced confidence erosion, particularly the tendency to default to prompting tools before forming independent thoughts. Discover practical strategies for rebuilding narrative clarity and inner conviction essential for high-stakes engineering leadership decisions. Master the critical skill of discerning when to utilize AI assistance versus when to lead from personal experience and conviction. Gain actionable techniques for modeling original thought and independent judgment while still benefiting from AI capabilities. Address the fundamental challenge facing modern engineering leaders: how to maintain authentic voice and decision-making confidence in an era where AI tools can handle many cognitive tasks, ensuring leadership stems from genuine expertise rather than pre-defined templates.