You may be wondering what goldfish have to do with agile leadership. The answer will be shared by Constantin Hoya in his talk “Agile Leadership: Lessons from Ted Lasso” at the upcoming 34th IPMA World Congress. Breaking away from the tradition of explaining leadership concepts purely in academic terms, he uses the popular Apple TV series Ted Lassoto illustrate ideas for Agile Leadership.

At its core, Agile Leadership means making leadership concepts accessible and moving away from hierarchical, traditional command-and-control models. It represents a shift from a “push” to a “pull” approach, where leaders do not just give orders but empower and support their teams. Hoya’s presentation will highlight five pillars of agile leadership, including Positive Leadership and Empathy Building.

Drawing on Ted Lasso, key concepts such as empathy and relationship-building, team development, open communication, and seeing mistakes as valuable learning opportunities are vividly illustrated. One striking example is the humorous “goldfish metaphor,” which explains resilience and a healthy error culture: since a goldfish has a short memory span and quickly forgets mistakes, leaders can use it as a role model for not dwelling too long on failures.

The series shows how coach Ted Lasso builds empathetic relationships by fostering the individual growth of team members, even those who initially resist teamwork. For instance, he turns a kit man into an assistant coach and inspires a once self-centered player to embrace his role within the team, learning not only to score goals but also to assist.

Even setbacks, such as the team’s relegation, are framed as deliberate learning opportunities, helping to create awareness of mistakes and acceptance of necessary improvements without punishment. Another important theme is Ted Lasso’s stakeholder management: he wins over the club management—originally aiming to undermine the team—into becoming supporters of their own club.

Agile leadership is especially relevant in today’s workplace, particularly in remote and hybrid teams where constant change and unpredictability are the norm. For project leaders like Constantin Hoya, who serves as Director Global Agile Organization at Olympus Corporation, the series offers practical insights. Project teams often resemble sports teams, with defined start and end points as well as clear goals.

Hoya applies these principles in his own professional practice. At Olympus, he leads a team of agile coaches that supports product development projects in medical technology, including the design of endoscopes, minimally invasive diagnostics and therapy solutions, and medical software. His team coaches project teams and leaders, helping them evolve from traditional managers into true leaders who serve as role models and empower their team members. This is particularly critical in Olympus’ complex, intercultural environment, with teams spread across Japan, the United States, and Germany.

Participants in his session will gain new perspectives on modern and effective leadership. They will not only learn about the five pillars of agile leadership but also receive concrete, practical tips for acting with greater empathy and boosting their teams’ motivation and performance. The talk shows how relationship management can be inspiring and how leaders can guide teams successfully even in complex, unpredictable environments. By blending theory with entertainment, Hoya makes the often dry topic of leadership accessible and engaging.

The 34th IPMA World Congress 2025 in Berlin will bring together project leaders, innovators, and change-makers from all over the world. Be part of the conversations that will shape the future of project management.

Discover more and secure your place: www.worldcongress-ipma.com/en