The Great HR Debate: Do We Need Managers Anymore?

TRACK

5. Wielding Influence

2:30 pm

–

3:15 pm

Online. 3 September.
One pass. Every session. 12 months of replay access.
Watch it on replay—Get Your Pass

Delayering, player-coaches, spans of control blowing out.

The manager role is being rewritten and nobody agreed on the new job description. Two teams go head to head on one question: do we need managers anymore?

Expect unfiltered positions from people who have added management layers and taken them out again inside real companies, a moderator keeping them honest, and a live audience vote that settles it.

Bring your own view. You'll need it when voting opens.

‍

What you'll leave with:

  1. A working definition of what a manager is actually for in 2026, including where new model holds up (if there is one) and where it falls over.
  2. The strongest case from both sides, argued properly, so you can pressure-test your own structure instead of copying whatever the last big flattening announcement did.
  3. Practical signals for when to add or strip a management layer, and what you have to fund instead when you take one out.

Tickets

Get 12 months of SPS 2026 on demand

The day has been and gone. But don't worry, we got you. Catch every session on demand, whenever you want. It’s not quite the same as being there on the day, but it’s a whole lot better than missing out entirely.

Watch SPS on your time

Replay Pass

Couldn't join us live? Get the complete SPS 2026 session library and watch every session and every speaker at any time.

It's not the same as being in the room, but it means you won't miss a thing.
‍

$360

A$327.27 +GST
Get Replay Access

Most attendee's choose to use their L&D budget for their ticket, and Startup People Summit is easily expensed. Here's a template to help you make the case to your boss.