🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #251 with Leah Natuel, Head of Studio at Relax Gaming
Leah Neutel leads one of iGaming’s most creative teams at Relax Gaming, where innovation, empathy, and accountability come together to push the boundaries of modern game development.
In this episode, Leah joins Pierre Lindh to explore what true leadership looks like in creative industries — from building trust and psychological safety to turning failure into fuel for success.
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:32 - Sponsors message
01:53 - Welcoming Leah Neutel
02:09 - How Leah’s background shaped her leadership
03:54 - From youth offenders to UN work
06:04 - The principles of leadership
07:32 - Leading with accountability & humanity
09:20 - What it means to lead without authority
10:25 - How to inspire creative teams without control
12:30 - Asking the right questions vs. giving answers
16:39 - Imposter syndrome & redefining leadership
19:20 - How insecurity shows up in poor leadership
20:17 - Training first-time managers
23:10 - Culture at Relax Gaming
25:29 - Can you be friends with your team?
27:46 - Conflict resolution
29:46 - Turning disagreement into progress
31:38 - Embracing diversity & aligning different personalities
34:40 - Should companies take political stances?
38:25 - Why failure isn’t final?
39:42 - How Relax Gaming turns failure into iteration
41:15 - Creating a culture where risk fuels innovation
44:40 - The most important leadership qualities of the future
46:03 - Can anyone become a great leader?
46:39 - Final thoughts
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This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by:
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Sponsored by:
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