Platform engineering plays a vital role in modern software development, but its adoption can be hindered by several common anti-patterns. Darren Evans will examine how misalignment with business objectives leads to wasted resources and why building a “Field of Dreams” platform - where developers are expected to adopt it after it’s built - often results in low usage and frustration. Evans will emphasize the importance of securing leadership buy-in, creating comprehensive Golden Paths beyond simple service deployments, and avoiding the trap of over-engineering. Drawing on real-world examples, he will offer practical strategies for overcoming these challenges. This session is designed for platform engineers, team leads, and business stakeholders, equipping them with the knowledge to build a platform that empowers their organization and accelerates development.