Project management is rarely taught as a human discipline in computer science. Students learn tools and frameworks, but not how to manage conflict, coach peers, or lead through ambiguity. This lightning talk introduces a new project leadership curriculum, deployed within the TechJoy Internship Program—a bridge between coursework and industry that blends simulation, mentorship, and reflection.

In this environment, students don’t role-play or manage real employees. Instead, they lead through fictional workplaces populated with realistic personas—the skeptical engineer, the burnout risk, the overpromising salesperson—each drawn from research and leadership literature. Across seven workshops, students navigate scenarios that mirror real-world challenges: unclear requirements, HR issues, executive pressure, and AI-driven feature requests.

Participants discuss their decisions in small groups, defend them with metrics (velocity, coverage, DORA, ROI), and reflect on how empathy and data intersect. The experience feels like managing a real team—only safer, faster, and funnier.

This talk shares how TechJoy uses narrative, analytics, and AI literacy to teach leadership before students enter internships. Attendees will see how simulated workplaces can deliver authentic, low-cost leadership training and how this format bridges classroom theory and professional readiness.