In leadership, this means we can’t assume our perspective as managers or founders is always fully understood, nor can we always fully grasp the lived experiences of our teams unless we actively seek to. Building resilient, creative studios requires acknowledging and bridging these empathy gaps, not just expecting others to “get” our viewpoint

Empathy Gaps in Leadership

Empathy isn’t just about being kind or understanding on a surface level. Often, empathy gaps arise when leaders unintentionally overlook the challenges and motivations of their teams. Whether it’s cultural differences or neurodiversity, these gaps can erode trust and communication if left unaddressed.

Empathy Needs a Backbone

Empathy is not a default skill, and without boundaries or direction, it can risk becoming sentiment without structure. As Sarah and Liz discussed, empathy needs a backbone, paired with clear values and a commitment to creating healthy, inclusive environments.

A truly resilient studio culture emerges when leaders can balance empathy with strength:

• Listening deeply while making tough calls that uphold the well-being of the team and the business.
• Creating space for vulnerability while setting clear expectations and boundaries.
• Championing individuality while building shared purpose and accountability.

This is where leadership becomes transformative rather than performative.

Looking Ahead

The Leadership Breakfast was a powerful reminder that the next generation of game studios will be defined not by how many hours they can push, but by how human they can be in their approach. Resilience doesn’t come from grinding harder, but from creating environments where people feel heard and supported.

For those who were able, thank you again for joining us at Develop: Brighton. Let’s keep the conversation going, because building better studios starts with building better ways of leading.