Beyond the titles: leading change as an individual contributor

Leadership in software development isn’t just for people with management titles. In this talk, Barry Ehigiator shows how anyone can influence change and improve quality by applying transformational leadership principles.

Using real stories from Margaret Hamilton’s work on Apollo 11 to the creation of the BBC iPlayer, Barry demonstrates how individual contributors can lead through expertise, collaboration, and action. He introduces a practical change model built on four steps: align your proposal to team and business goals, appeal to reasoning, act and call others to action, and provide ongoing support. You’ll also learn how reflection, feedback, and authenticity help sustain progress.