Self-discipline. Leaders naturally stand out from the pack. Becoming the best version of yourself, in fitness, mental acuity, and grace under pressure is the first step in earning the respect of your team. It's also a consequence of taking your newfound responsibilities seriously. Cultivate that striving for excellence in all aspects of your living.
Case method. The vast repository of business history and strategic decision making forms the archival data set from which most academic management theory draws. It's also the basis of the shared language that elite managers speak. You can get access via HBX Online:
http://hbx.hbs.edu/
I recall when I was just getting started in gamedev. I got my IGDA membership and a free (print!) subscription to the monthly magazine. In each issue was a feature called the "Postmortem" in which a company exec was tasked with listing 5 things that went right with their launch, and five things that went wrong. I learned so much from the "wrongs" lists its uncanny. The importance of the digital asset pipeline. How to remove bottlenecks between the nodes. IP licensing snafus. Negotiating contract minutiae with publishers. How to cultivate unorthodox revenue streams. As well as a thousand (failing) methods for avoiding the (inevitable) crunch time.
Network. How great would it be if you could just call up Patrick Collison, Brian Chesky or Justin Kan any time you you found yourself stumped by a seemingly intractable problem? No one is doing it alone. Conferences are one way to branch out. But the power of a "warm email" should not be overlooked.
You can do it, Carrok. I believe in you ;)