Open Space Technology for Engineering Leaders: Real Problems, Real Conversations

In this episode of the Mob Mentality Show, Chris Lucian is joined by Amy Dredge, Will Munn, and Mike Clement to dive deep into how Open Space Technology (OST) is transforming the way engineering leaders learn, connect, and solve real-world challenges together.

Whether you're a Staff+ engineer, an engineering manager, or a tech leader looking for meaningful growth, this episode uncovers how OST creates space for peer-to-peer learning that’s spontaneous, high-impact, and deeply human.

We explore:
The Engineering Leadership Summit — what it is, why it matters, and how it's unlike traditional conferences.
How Open Space Technology empowers attendees to shape their own agenda and focus on the most pressing leadership challenges.
The shift from passive presentations to active conversations among experienced engineering leaders.
Lessons learned from hosting and attending open space events — from hallway chats to high-trust collaboration.
How tools like GatherTown help replicate the spontaneity of in-person connection in a remote world.
Why this format resonates deeply with Staff+ and senior engineering leaders seeking authenticity, relevance, and practical insight.

We also compare remote vs. in-person open space events, dig into accessibility, and share actionable tips for running your own internal or external open space sessions inside engineering orgs.

🎧 This is a must-listen for anyone serious about growing engineering culture, building leadership communities, and fostering real, unscripted learning.

💬 What’s your experience with open space formats in tech? Drop a comment or DM us on social.

📌 Topics Covered:
Open Space Technology in Engineering
Staff+ and Engineering Manager Peer Learning
Engineering Leadership Summit Preview
GatherTown for Remote Events
Community Building in Tech
Agile Leadership in Practice
Unconference vs. Traditional Conferences

Podcast Episode…
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ub8...
PodBean: https://mobmentalityshow.podbean.com/
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7a6...

References…
Engineering Leadership Summit: https://elsummit.com/
Amy's LinkedIn:   / amy-dredge-0983a82b  
William's LinkedIn:   / williammunn  
Mike's LinkedIn:   / mclement  

Thanks to G-SLiK (  / g-slik  ) for the intro and outro music.

Chris Lucian and Austin Chadwick discuss all things #agile and product development from a #MobProgramming perspective.

Chris Lucian is the Director of Software Development at Hunter Industries and a founder of mob programming. https://www.chrislucian.com/p/chris-l...

Austin Chadwick is a Mob Programmer at Hunter Industries and is a passionate agilist and craftsman with experience in several roles (e.g. coach, developer, tester, scrum master, business analyst).   / austin-chadwick-3a58151a4  

We would love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Please add comments to the video or reach out to us on Twitter (   / mob__mentality   &   / christophlucian   ).

All statements and opinions expressed by Chris and Austin are solely their own and do not represent the views of any company. Chris and Austin are just sharing and not recommending ( https://justsharing.dev/ ).