5 Tough Conversations Every Manager Should Master

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5 Tough Conversations Every Manager Should Master

Hosted by Kelly Vaughn

Wed, Jul 16, 2025

4:30 PM UTC (30 minutes)

Virtual (Zoom)

Free to join

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Management Fundamentals for the Modern Leader

Kelly Vaughn

View syllabus

Wed, Jul 16, 2025

4:30 PM UTC (30 minutes)

Virtual (Zoom)

Free to join

Invite your network

Go deeper with a course

Save 20% til Sunday

Management Fundamentals for the Modern Leader

Kelly Vaughn

View syllabus

What you'll learn

How to manage like a leader, and think like a therapist

Build skills to make the most impact with your team by balancing decisive leadership with empathy and accountability.

How to set clear expectations without micromanaging

Learn how to align on ownership, outcomes, and success metrics, while empowering your team to build confidence.

How to deliver feedback that builds trust, not resentment

Master giving both positive and constructive feedback that will drive meaningful action in 1:1s, retros, and realtime.

How to navigate tough conversations and come out stronger

Gain the confidence to address missed deadlines, team tension, or underperformance without making thinks awkward.

Why this topic matters

Many managers have potential, but lack the conversational skills to lead with confidence. This session draws from experience as both an engineering leader and trained therapist to help you turn tough conversations into trust-building moments. You'll learn how to lead with clarity—whether you're managing now or preparing for your first role.

You'll learn from

Kelly Vaughn

Sr. Engineering Manager @ Zapier (Prev. Director of Engineering @ Spot AI)

Over the past decade, Kelly has helped hundreds of engineers and ICs grow into confident, effective leaders. Drawing on her background as a trained therapist, she offers unique insights into management challenges. Her practical, no-fluff approach is built on firsthand experience leading cross-functional teams across product, engineering, and operations.

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