From Geek to Lead: A Techie's Guide to Leadership - Paperback

by Sandy Molloy (Author), Yousif Asfour (Author)

If you've ever been promoted for your technical skills and suddenly expected to lead people and not just projects, you're not alone. Moving from expert to manager is one of the toughest transitions in any technology career.

From Geek To Lead is your practical, no-jargon guide to making that leap with confidence. Whether you're a first-time manager, a team lead, a technical expert stepping into leadership, or a non-technical leader managing technical teams, this book gives you the tools to succeed.

Drawing on decades of leadership experience across higher education, government, and global industry, the authors offer clear frameworks, real-world stories, and ready-to-use checklists that help you lead modern technical teams with purpose.

• How technical roles evolve, and what people expect from you as a leader
• How to communicate with clarity (up, down, and across the organization)
• How to build trust and lead teams with diverse skills and personalities
• How to set direction and make decisions when the data is incomplete
• How to establish healthy processes without slowing innovation
• How to handle conflict, low performance, resistance, and burnout
• How to build a leadership foundation that grows with you

• Templates and checklists for 1:1s, feedback, role clarity, and decision-making
• Practical frameworks for communication, alignment, and team development
• A capstone case study that ties the leadership journey together
• Illustrations, sidebars, quotes, and stories that make the lessons memorable

• New and first-time managers any field
• Experts evolving into leadership roles
• Team leads and supervisors managing technical teams
• Aspiring CIOs, CTOs, and digital transformation leaders
• Non-technical leaders who need to understand and guide technical staff

Yousif Asfour is Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer at the American University of Beirut and former founding CIO at NYU Abu Dhabi.

Sandra Molloy is a leadership development executive and neuroscience coach who has designed and delivered culture-change programs across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

This book gives you the practical tools to lead teams with clarity, empathy, and impact.