Multi-Collaboration Event: Dad Jokes & Deadlines

We spend our entire careers learning how to deliver efficiently and effectively. We know how to hit the milestone, meet the deadline and manage the risks in order to keep the program on track at all costs. And for many of us, we get pretty good at it.

But there’s another side of leadership that doesn’t come with a dashboard of metrics, a weekly status report, or a return to green plan. At home, there are no formal metrics being tracked. There are no performance reviews and definitely no clear indication whether you are “on track.”
All you have are moments in time, defined by your presence, and the impact it has on people who notice when you’re not there.

This talk explores the tension between execution and impact, between being in charge and being influential, and between short-term deliverables and long-term legacy.

Through real, relatable stories from fatherhood and decades of real world experience leading large complex programs, this session brings a candid and often humorous look at what leadership really looks like when authority disappears, feedback is unfiltered, and the stakes feel a little more personal.

Because while deliverables define success in the short term, legacy is shaped over time through consistent actions and decisions. And sometimes, the moments that matter most don’t come from a plan or a process, but from something as simple as showing up, even if it’s just with a poorly timed dad joke.

Learning Objectives

• Explore the distinction between execution-driven leadership and influence-driven leadership across different environments
• Examine how leadership effectiveness changes when authority, structure, and formal metrics are removed
• Identify practical ways to strengthen presence, communication, and emotional awareness in both professional and personal contexts
• Recognize the long-term impact of everyday leadership behaviors on trust, connection, and legacy

Learning Outcomes

• Apply influence-based leadership techniques in situations where authority is limited or ineffective
• Reframe success beyond traditional project metrics to include long-term impact
• Adjust leadership approaches in real time based on context, environment, and stakeholder needs
• Make more intentional decisions about where and how they invest their time and energy

Speakers

 

Tim Boyd

Keynote Speaker | Technical Leader | Caltech Instructor

Tim Boyd operates at the intersection of execution and leadership, where complex engineering programs either succeed quietly or struggle loudly. With a background in systems engineering, program management, and technical leadership, Tim has spent his career leading high-stakes efforts across development, integration, and delivery. He understands what it takes to move from plans and frameworks to real outcomes, especially when uncertainty, pressure, and competing priorities are in play. As an instructor with Caltech’s Center for Technology and Management Education, Tim teaches systems engineering and program management with a focus on practical application, not just theory. His sessions are known for being candid, engaging, and immediately useful, helping professionals navigate the “fuzzy space” where leadership and execution collide. Tim’s speaking focuses on topics like influencing without authority, emotional intelligence under pressure, navigating failure, and leading through ambiguity. He blends real-world experience with systems thinking, giving audiences tools they can apply the next day, not someday. He is also the host of the Curious & Cuirky podcast, where he explores leadership, innovation, and the unconventional ideas that shape how we think and lead.