Ink-redible leadership: Octopus Deploy's LEAD program

Octopus Deploy recently conducted a 3-day, in-person leadership program called LEAD in Brisbane, aiming to strengthen its leadership as the company scales up and embraces a more diverse, distributed team. The program emphasized peer learning, practice through simulations, and psychology-based theories to help leaders develop a clear leadership identity, empower others, and foster psychological safety in remote-first teams. Participants highlighted the value of face-to-face interaction, which enhanced connections and understanding among peers, turning previously digital relationships into more meaningful, supportive ones. The program was designed to be hands-on and relevant to the challenges of leading at Octopus today, with the ultimate goal of reinforcing the company’s culture and equipping leaders with the clarity, empathy, and courage needed to guide the organization towards continued growth and success.