Ryan Tiffin, an Orlando-based author and guest-experience leader, will co-present a session at IAAPA Expo 2026, sharing lessons from his own development with emerging attractions professionals. Tiffin joined IAAPA's mentorship program in January 2024, and this November he will take the stage to discuss how individuals can build trust, influence, and impact before holding a formal leadership title.
Tiffin will co-present Leading Before the Title: Building Trust, Influence, and Impact with Joseph Shepard, Finance & Development Manager at Time Mission. The session is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern in Room W303ABC at the Orange County Convention Center. The presentation will draw on Tiffin's book, Chasing Magic: How Experience Changes Lives and Shapes Leaders, which recounts his journey joining IAAPA and connecting with a mentor who challenged his thinking and encouraged him to pursue opportunities in themed entertainment.
In the book, Tiffin also traces lessons from his field communications work at Cinemark. He describes becoming someone business partners consulted before sending updates to theatre teams, earning credibility through an understanding of timing, clarity, and the operational demands behind each message. "Leadership is not about being impressive. It is about being dependable," Tiffin writes in Chasing Magic. That emphasis on everyday behavior connects directly to the session's focus: taking ownership, communicating clearly, following through, and building trust with colleagues and managers.
Participants will explore ways to lead without formal authority and develop a personal leadership action plan to bring back to their teams. For attractions professionals, those behaviors influence both the employee experience and the service guests receive. By fostering leadership at all levels, organizations can improve team morale, enhance guest satisfaction, and ultimately drive business success.
The session arrives as the attractions industry continues to emphasize professional development and mentorship. Tiffin's trajectory from mentee to Expo speaker underscores the value of such programs in cultivating talent. His insights may resonate beyond the attractions sector, offering a blueprint for leadership that relies on dependability and impact rather than titles. For session information and more about Chasing Magic, visit ryantiffin.com.
