Events
Patterns Leadership Summit
2025 Location & Dates
New York, NY | May 22, 2025
Chicago, IL
San Francisco, CA
Portland, OR
Pittsburgh, PA
Austin, TX
Your sponsor & Host
Knapsack summits are one-day meet-ups for a small group of engineering, product, and design leaders who want to connect with and be inspired by peers and experts. Share challenges, develop relationships, and learn from the people whose work you admire in a shared safe space. Attendees will go home with the know-how to affect change and lead their teams towards achieving what used to feel impossible, a fresh perspective, new relationships, and actionable insights to make their efforts support other strategic imperatives, including:
Create a high-performing team culture
Attract, onboard, and retain top talent
Ensure teams are shipping consistent, accessible, on-brand products and features across complex product ecosystems
Improve collaboration across design, engineering, and product orgs working in different locations and timezones
Support company’s growth targets and metrics
Is the leadership summit for you?
Leadership summits are for engineering, product, and design leaders—not frontline managers or makers. With less than 30 spots available at each summit, everyone will be part of the conversation and everyone's voice will be heard.
How to attend
Leadership Summits are by application, nomination or direct invitation only and is intentionally limited less than 30 attendees. This event is carefully and exclusively curated for engineering, product, and design leaders. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email.
Now accepting applicationsRegistration details
Your attendance is of NO COST and includes catered snacks and happy hour.
You or your company will be responsible for accommodations and transportation costs.
Ready to apply?
What to expect
Designed to be a relaxed, fun, and vulnerable day of conversations, not a conference. Our intention is to create a safe space that's conducive to honest discussion and learning from our peers.
expert insights
Summit attendees are all experts in their field. You can expect to learn from and be inspired by EPD leaders with many years of leadership expertise.
authentic connections
Get to know other engineering, product, and design leaders. Create connections and community that will thrive well beyond your time at the summit.
Experiences to renew and refocus
Designed for relaxed networking, wine tasting and happy hour following a day of meaningful discussion promises an evening to unwind, socialize, and connect with fellow leaders.
Moderated workshops and discussions
Share challenges and co-create solutions with peers in workshops and discussions guided by thought leaders and seasoned experts.
Speakers
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Elyse Holladay
Staff Design Engineer at Color
All
Future
LinkedIn
Adriana Morales
Principal Designer at H-E-B Digital
All
Future
LinkedIn
Alex Wilson
VP, Design System Engineering Lead at T. Rowe Price
All
Future
LinkedIn
Stephanie Friend
Senior Engineering Manager, Design Systems at Etsy
All
Past
LinkedIn
Brian Dorsey
Director of Platform Product Management at Mastercard Data & Services
All
Past
LinkedIn
Adekunle Oduye
Design Engineer, Tech Lead at Plaid
All
Past
LinkedIn
What previous attendees say
Sometimes it’s rare to just share a passion with strangers, but the caliber of the attendees was by far some of the best people I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with.
Wow—what an absolutely fantastic day at Patterns SF with Knapsack. The room was brimming with design systems brilliance, and the warmth and generosity of this community never cease to amaze me. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—the design systems world is one of the most supportive, ego-free spaces out there.
A chance to spend all day in a room with design system leaders and trade stories?
Yes please!
sample agenda
30 minutes
Introductions
90 minutes
Opening Panel led by Chris Strahl
30 minutes
Networking, Snacks, and Drinks
45 minutes
Presentation with Guest Speaker
60 minutes
Knapsack Presentation
90 minutes
Closing Workshop
60 minutes
Happy Hour and Networking
2025 Location & Dates
New York, NY | May 22
Chicago, IL
San Francisco, CA
Portland, OR
Pittsburgh, PA
Austin, TX
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Frequently asked questions
What can I expect?
This day is intentionally designed to provide an extended period of concentrated discussion, dialogue, and strategic thinking. Unlike a conference, attendees can expect to be fully engaged and involved in every aspect of the conversations.
What will I learn at the summit?
Attendees will come away with a fresh perspective, new relationships, and actionable insights to make their digital production efforts support other strategic imperatives, including:
- Create a high-performing team culture
- Attract, onboard, and retain top talent
- Ensure teams are shipping consistent, accessible, on-brand products and features across complex product ecosystems
- Improve collaboration across design, engineering, and product orgs working in different locations and timezones
- Support company’s growth targets and metrics
When and where is it?
The leadership summits take place monthly in every major city in the US. On the application, you'll be able to specify which event you'd like to attend. If your city is not listed, reach out to us at hello@knapsack.cloud to request we come to you.
Are you able to accommodate guests with accessibility needs or dietary restrictions?
Yes. Once your application has been accepted, we will be in touch to confirm any accessibility needs or dietary restrictions.
Can I take work meetings during the summit?
If you aren’t able to be present for the entire time, we encourage you to leave that spot for someone who is invested in attending the full summit.
Can I invite other leaders from my company?
If you'd like to bring 1-2 additional peers from your company, we are allowing this on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to hello@knapsack.cloud with your request.
Did we miss something?
Reach out to hello@knapsack.cloud for any other questions or concerns. We’d love to hear from you!
Ready to learn how Knapsack can help your team create a single source of truth?
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