Leadership Beyond the Playbook
Good leadership isn’t always about having the right answers—it’s about asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and creating space for others to grow. In times of uncertainty and rapid change, the best leaders don’t just react—they reflect, reframe, and rethink how decisions are made, how teams are built, and how emerging technologies are understood. The contributions in this issue invite readers to do exactly that: to pause, shift perspective, and consider new ways of leading in complex environments.
Noorlizawati Abd Rahim, in “From Boom to Bust: What the Dot-Com Era Can Teach Leaders About the AI Boom,” draws lessons from the rise and fall of early internet companies to help today’s leaders approach AI adoption with strategic clarity, realism, and ethical awareness. In “Overcoming Micromanagement in VC-Backed Startups,” Mobayode O. Akinsolu, in “Switching Hats: A Simple Guide for Engineering Managers Considering AI Adoption,” introduces a structured decision-making tool using lateral thinking, helping leaders assess AI integration from multiple perspectives—balancing risk, emotion, creativity, and long-term value. Lucy Bichakhchyan explores how founders can shift from control-driven leadership to empowerment, offering actionable strategies to build trust, foster autonomy, and unlock innovation.
The TEMS Leadership BRIEFS are a free membership benefit for all TEMS members. If you would like to contribute to the IEEE TEMS Leadership BRIEFS please contact me at sabine.baumann@ieee.org. I do hope this issue of the IEEE TEMS Leadership BRIEFS provides you with new ideas and actionable insights. You as a leader are responsible to prepare your team and organization for the future!
Sabine Baumann, Editor-in-Chief
In this Issue
Noorlizawati Abd Rahim – From Boom To Bust: What the Dot-Com Era Can Teach Leaders About the AI Boom
In her Leadership BRIEF Noorlizawati Abd Rahim draws striking parallels between the internet frenzy of the early 2000s and today’s AI surge. While AI promises to revolutionize industries, the article warns that hype, unsustainable growth, and ethical blind spots could trigger a similar downfall. By revisiting the lessons of the dot-com era, this BRIEF offers practical strategies to help leaders build resilient, responsible, and value-driven approaches to AI adoption.
Mobayode O. Akinsolu – Switching Hats: A Simple Guide for Engineering Managers Considering AI Adoption
Adopting AI in engineering isn’t just a technical decision—it’s a strategic leadership challenge. In his Leadership BRIEF Mobayode O. Akinsolu presents a structured approach using Edward de Bono’s six lateral thinking hats to help managers assess AI integration from diverse viewpoints. This practical framework encourages balanced decision-making that considers data, risks, emotions, creativity, and long-term strategy—empowering engineering leaders to navigate AI adoption with clarity, confidence, and ethical foresight.
Lucy Bichakhchyan – Overcoming Micromanagement in VC-Backed Startups: Key Insights and Leadership Solutions
Micromanagement is a common but often overlooked barrier in VC-backed startups, where speed and innovation are essential. In “Overcoming Micromanagement in VC-Backed Startups,” Lucy Bichakhchyan examines how founder over-involvement can hinder team performance and stifle creativity. Based on real-world interviews, the article outlines how leaders can shift from control to trust—unlocking productivity and motivation through practical steps like outcome-based delegation, structured feedback, and transparent workflows.
Alexander Brem – Editor’s Picks Engineering Management Review (EMR)
This issue’s editor’s picks showcase several early access articles in IEEE Engineering Management Review that are must reads. They all offer timely insights for engineering leaders—from scaling AI and navigating human-AI dynamics to mastering roadmapping and even learning charismatic speaking. Whether you’re tackling strategy, innovation, or influence, these reads are worth your attention.
