Presenter: Michael Leicht (1403)

Key Takeaway: Build team culture and empower student leaders using tiered structures, mindset shifts, and systems training.

Managing a massive robotics team with limited adult mentorship can easily lead to burnout. The secret isn’t more mentors—it’s stronger systems. In this session, the lead advisor of Team 1403 shares the exact blueprint used to scale their team to over 90 students while building an Impact-winning culture. Learn how to design a student leadership structure that handles daily logistics, run tiered meetings that streamline communication, and use design challenges to build authentic team culture. We will discuss how to shift your role from manager to advisor by treating leadership as a learning process where “failure” just means tweaking the system.

About the Presenter:

Michael Leicht is the Lead Technical Advisor for Team 1403 Cougar Robotics. Over the past 14 years, he has grown the program into a sustained, high-impact team of more than 90 students. Michael specializes in developing robust student leadership structures and team logistics that empower students to manage large-scale operations with minimal mentor intervention.