NEXT.io Podcast Leah Neutel: The Art of Leadership
Oct 16, 2025
Leah Neutel, Head of Studio at Relax Gaming, brings a wealth of experience from social work and international development to game design. In this engaging talk, she delves into the essence of leadership in creative industries. Leah shares her insights on motivating teams without authority and transforming failure into learning opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of empathy, trust, and psychological safety, while also discussing the role of diversity and healthy conflict in fostering innovation. Can anyone be a great leader? Leah believes yes, with the right qualities.
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Leadership Skills Travel Across Fields
- Leadership skills transfer across contexts like rehabilitation, UN work, and game studios.
- Leah uses resilience, empathy and vision as a consistent leadership compass.
Empathy Plus Accountability Is The Compass
- Empathy builds trust which fuels collaboration and innovation.
- Pair empathy with accountability and clarity to keep teams healthy and productive.
Lead Through Motivation, Not Authority
- Lead by motivating and inspiring rather than relying on formal authority.
- Show the goal and invite people to join, especially when authority is weak or absent.