Managing AI-hyped stakeholders: prototypes are not production

Join us for the fourth session of Tech Leaders Collective: Warsaw, this time in partnership with Dropbox. Managing AI-hyped stakeholders: prototypes are not production AI makes it easier than ever to turn an idea into an impressive prototype, sometimes in just 15 minutes. But a working prototype can look production-ready long before it actually is. For engineering leaders, this creates a growing challenge: stakeholders expect production outcomes at prototype speed, while the realities of reliability, security, compliance and operational readiness still take time. How do you quantify the gap between a working proof-of-concept and a production system? What does it actually take to evaluate, secure and operate AI systems at scale? And how do you demonstrate that faster code creation doesn’t necessarily mean faster business outcomes? These are the questions we’ll explore during this session. Tech Leaders Collective is a curated community for Engineering Managers, Directors, and senior technical leaders who want to exchange real experiences about building effective engineering organizations. This event is designed as a high-signal environment for thoughtful discussion, practical insights, and peer learning. Format Panel discussion Networking with pizza and drinks Our goal is to create space for honest, practical conversations between engineering leaders. Who should attend? This event is primarily for: Engineering Managers Staff+ Engineers Directors of Engineering Technical leaders responsible for engineering teams Event details 🗓️ October 7, 2026 - 18:30 📍 Mindspace Koszyki, Warsaw ⚠️ Seats are limited Tech Leaders Collective aims to build a high-signal leadership community in Warsaw, focused on sharing practical lessons and raising the standard of engineering leadership.