Navigating the journey into design leadership - Hatch Atelier, Berlin, 2026

Kick-off talk and workshop for the Berlin Hatch Atelier, 2026

1. ©2026 Andrew Polaine
2. Navigating the journey into design leadership ©2026 Andrew Polaine Hatch Leadership Atelier Berlin 2026 Andy Polaine Photo by Simple on Unsplash Image: S W on Pexels Find me here pln.me/linktree or do the QR thing:
3. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Hatch Leadership Atelier Berlin 2026 Find me here pln.me/linktree or do the QR thing:
4. White, middle-aged, middle-class male. Awkward in photos. ©2026 Andrew Polaine • Your experience may not be that of others (or mine) and there’s often more luck and privilege involved than we like to admit. • Structural bias and inequality is very real. • “Imposter syndrome” is not always internal, but often externally imposed and internalised. • Being an authentic leader is made harder by all of the above. An acknowledgment
5. ©2026 Andrew Polaine 01. The Dip
6. ©2026 Andrew Polaine The worst thing about growing up is realising adults don’t have all the answers.
7. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Antirom Awkward in photos back then, too.
8. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Animal Logic
9. ©2026 Andrew Polaine The Design Leadership Dip v1.0 https://www.polaine.com/2020/04/the-design-leadership-dip/
10. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Fjord
11. ©2026 Andrew Polaine
12. ©2026 Andrew Polaine 02. People
13. ©2026 Andrew Polaine “It’s not personal, it’s just business” is a terrible lie Photo by Tim Gouw on Pexels
14. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Companies aren’t real. They’re just an idea. Companies are really… Photo by Jethro C on Pexels
15. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Photo by James Wainscoat on Unsplash …groups of people briefly coming together
16. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Projects are 90% conversations. Most of the difficulties are people problems, not design problems. Photo by Samuel Scrimshaw on Unsplash
17. ©2026 Andrew Polaine The meta-work is the work Photo by Pixabay on Pexels
18. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Which means it is all about how you relate to others Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels
19. ©2026 Andrew Polaine So we need to understand how we learned to relate
20. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Activity What formed your values?
21. - Give to receive. Be as vulnerable and open as you can. - Be inclusive. Share the spotlight on the table. - Be curious, but accept no. Do not ask why or keep pushing. - Check in. Use the traf fi c light system:
 Green = all good. 
 Amber = back off/discomfort.
 Red = stop/no. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Relating rules for today Photo by Pixelbay on Pexels
22. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Tell me about your childhood. What values have you taken from your caregivers? 1. Appoint a timekeeper. 2. Turn to the person next to you and answer the question above. 3. Take ~3 minutes per person. 4. Discuss with others next to you. 3 mins per person
23. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Discussion
24. ©2026 Andrew Polaine 03. Loves, hates, hopes and fears
25. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Fear & Anxiety
26. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Fear & Anxiety
27. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Fear & Anxiety
28. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Fear & Anxiety
29. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Activity Territory Map
30. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Your territory map 1. Using a sheet of blank paper or the template, map out the following: • Loves, hates, hopes and fears. • Energisers and de-energisers. • Role-models & inspirations. 2. Discuss your maps as a table. 30 mins
31. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Design Leadership Self-Reflection Territory Map ©2025 Andy Polaine On the template, either write directly or use sticky notes to explore your: • Loves, hates, hopes and fears. • Energisers and de-energisers. • Role-models & inspirations. ENERGISERS DE-ENERGISERS ROLE MDOELS, INSPIRATION LOVES HATES HOPES FEARS LOVES HATES FEARS HOPES ENERGISERS DE- ENERGISERS
32. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Only do the territory map!
33. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Break. Back here at 11:45 please!
34. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Discussion
35. ©2026 Andrew Polaine 04. Use the skills you already have
36. Workplace Discrimination Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic August 22, 2013 Troy Aossey/Getty Images Summary. Why are so few women in management positions? The popular explanations range from women just aren’t capable of being leaders to women just don’t want to be leaders. According to the author, however, the absence of women in leadership roles has... more ©2026 Andrew Polaine Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels Leadership And Managing People 8 Essential Qualities of Successful Leaders by Rebecca Knight December 13, 2023 Patricia Marroquin/Getty Images Summary. Becoming a great leader is a journey of continuous learning and growth. It’s a process — one that thrives on embracing challenges, seeking feedback, fostering connections, and cultivating understanding. In this article, the Leadership is fetishised Although this is a good read
37. ©2026 Andrew Polaine “Enabler” is a better mental model than “leader” Photo by Neil Thomas on Unsplash
38. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Collaboration and leadership as slow-motion facilitation
39. ©2026 Andrew Polaine reading the room invited included excluded power structures tools methods spaces food cadence engaged disengaged divergence convergence closure structure crazy together apart mystery reveal purpose clarity pathways questions direction energy errors corrections improvisation C.f.: danielstillman.com/good-talk
40. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Boundary objects Images: NSW State Archives
41. ©2026 Andrew Polaine
42. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Ask stupid questions (Everyone will thank you for it.)
43. ©2026 Andrew Polaine “So what, who cares? Why does this matter?”
44. ©2026 Andrew Polaine “What is our intent behind this?”
45. ©2026 Andrew Polaine And questions to gain alignment and manage upwards
46. ©2026 Andrew Polaine “On what basis are we deciding to build this? How do we make decisions?”
47. ©2026 Andrew Polaine “Are the right people able to have the right conversations and work together in the right way at the right time?”
48. ©2026 Andrew Polaine “Are the right people able to have the right conversations and work together in the right way at the right time?”
49. ©2026 Andrew Polaine 04. Shaping stories
50. ©2026 Andrew Polaine The work never speaks for itself. You need to kick- start its mythology.
51. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Find the shape of you and your story ©2022 Andrew Polaine
52. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Work at the next level without permission Image: abode on Pexels
53. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Start at the end and work backwards. Image: abode on Pexels
54. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Activity Personal Manifesto
55. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Personal Manifesto/ Value Proposition Working out what we’re all about is more dif fi cult that we think. It’s a manifesto for how you want to work and where you want to be. 70:30 now vs future. Use it to shape your narrative, your focus, and your centre to come back to. Personal Manifesto/Value Proposition As you start to think about what you’re all about, laying out your stall and wares in a personal manifesto is a great place to start. It is a mix of personal philosophy and what you might end up putting on your LinkedIn profile. Think of this as a mix of what you currently do and what you want to be doing in the future. It’s a value proposition pitch as much as it is a manifesto for the future. To start with, keep the language straightforward and plain. No marketing jargon. I believe... (The point of view you bring to your work. Either a positive or negative statement. Keep it tangible.) What I do (Just a bullet point list of what you actually do/will do) Who I do it for (types of people or organisations, types of people within orgs, etc.) Impact (Answer the “So what?” question to any of the things you do.) What I don’t do (This might be practical, such as no pixel pushing. Or it might be ethical.) Credentials and credibility (what can you point to that shows you can do the things and have the impact you say you do?) Andy Polaine | Design Leadership Coaching ©2025 Andy Polaine
56. ©2026 Andrew Polaine I believe... (The point of view you bring to your work. Either a positive or negative statement. Keep it tangible.) What I do (Just a bullet point list of what you actually do/will do) Who I do it for (types of people or organisations, types of people within orgs, etc.) Impact
57. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Impact (Answer the “So what?” question to any of the things you do.) What I don’t do (This might be practical, such as no pixel pushing. Or it might be ethical.) Credentials and credibility (what can you point to that shows you can do the things and have the impact you say you do?)
58. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Personal Manifesto/ Value Proposition 1. 10-15 mins to write 2. 15 mins share and discuss in small groups. Consider: - Is there a clear PoV? - Do the activities align with the PoV? - Are what you do and impact mixed up? - Does the zoom level work? Personal Manifesto/Value Proposition As you start to think about what you’re all about, laying out your stall and wares in a personal manifesto is a great place to start. It is a mix of personal philosophy and what you might end up putting on your LinkedIn profile. Think of this as a mix of what you currently do and what you want to be doing in the future. It’s a value proposition pitch as much as it is a manifesto for the future. To start with, keep the language straightforward and plain. No marketing jargon. I believe... (The point of view you bring to your work. Either a positive or negative statement. Keep it tangible.) What I do (Just a bullet point list of what you actually do/will do) Who I do it for (types of people or organisations, types of people within orgs, etc.) Impact (Answer the “So what?” question to any of the things you do.) What I don’t do (This might be practical, such as no pixel pushing. Or it might be ethical.) Credentials and credibility (what can you point to that shows you can do the things and have the impact you say you do?) Andy Polaine | Design Leadership Coaching ©2025 Andy Polaine 25 mins
59. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Discussion
60. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Why do this? • It helps you be clear about who you are—the shape of you • It gives you a palette of ways to talk about you and your work • It acts as a fi lter for what to say yes or no to. • It’s a centre to come back to when you’re spun out. Personal Manifesto/Value Proposition As you start to think about what you’re all about, laying out your stall and wares in a personal manifesto is a great place to start. It is a mix of personal philosophy and what you might end up putting on your LinkedIn profile. Think of this as a mix of what you currently do and what you want to be doing in the future. It’s a value proposition pitch as much as it is a manifesto for the future. To start with, keep the language straightforward and plain. No marketing jargon. I believe... (The point of view you bring to your work. Either a positive or negative statement. Keep it tangible.) What I do (Just a bullet point list of what you actually do/will do) Who I do it for (types of people or organisations, types of people within orgs, etc.) Impact (Answer the “So what?” question to any of the things you do.) What I don’t do (This might be practical, such as no pixel pushing. Or it might be ethical.) Credentials and credibility (what can you point to that shows you can do the things and have the impact you say you do?) Andy Polaine | Design Leadership Coaching ©2025 Andy Polaine
61. ©2026 Andrew Polaine 05. Coaching reflections
62. ©2026 Andrew Polaine It’s not just you.
63. ©2026 Andrew Polaine The Dip v2.0 – more like a rollercoaster Con fi dence in skills Time Young Gun Senior IC Beginner Leader/ Manager Competent Leader Con fi dent Leader
64. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Defend your time & boundaries
65. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Servant leadership is not martyrdom. Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash Fill your cup first.
66. ©2026 Andrew Polaine The AI slide. Everything old is new again. Just more expensive.
67. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Make every meeting a workshop
68. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Preach design less Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
69. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Meta-communication Photo by Antoni Shkraba on Pexels
70. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 - Pavilhão Atlântico Find what gives you confidence on the “stage”
71. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Do your inner work
72. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Scars vs tattoos
73. ©2026 Andrew Polaine Improvise Remember, everybody else is. ©2022 Andrew Polaine Photo by Sam Browne on Unsplash
74. Thank You! Q&A ©2026 Andrew Polaine