Crucible Moments: They were my path to radical leadership, with Colum Slevin

The Manager's Moment

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Growth often comes from our most challenging moments. Risk. Failure. Consequences. Humility. What then? What does a leader do next?

In this episode, we journey through the peaks and valleys of Colum Slevin’s career, from the animation studios of Dublin to the cutting edge of player safety at Electronic Arts.

Colum's story is one of curiosity-driven evolution, peppered with moments of triumph and humbling failures. He shares with raw honesty his hubris and the weight of decisions that shaped not just his own path, but the lives and careers of those he led.

We explore the transition from being the 'utility player' - always ready to be useful - to becoming a leader who understands the delicate balance between taking risks and protecting his team. Colum's journey teaches us that true leadership isn't about having all the answers, but about the courage to be transparent when you don't.

Join us as we unpack the lessons learned by skinning knees and dislocating shoulders in the world of creative management. This is a story of how failure can be the crucible for authentic, empathetic leadership - a reminder that our greatest growth often comes from our most challenging moments.

About Colum

Colum Slevin has over thirty years of experience in leadership roles at the intersection of technology and creativity. He began his career in animated TV and features, eventually serving as Director of Computer Graphics at Industrial Light & Magic and later as Vice President of Studio Operations at Lucasfilm. At Lucasfilm, he oversaw animation and game development teams in California and Singapore, including the award-winning _Clone Wars_ animated TV show.

In 2013, Colum became Studio General Manager at Telltale Games before joining Meta in 2015. At Meta, he led media and narrative VR content development, overseeing products like Oculus TV, Media Studio, and Oculus Venues. Under his leadership, the team produced award-winning VR experiences, including Vader Immortal, The Wolves In The Walls, and The People's House, earning 15 Emmy nominations and 7 wins.

More recently, Colum led the Positive Play experiences team at Electronic Arts, developing products that promote safe and inclusive gaming experiences. He resides in San Rafael, California, with his wife Marie and remains obsessed with technology in the service of creativity and storytelling.
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