diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_comp__exhibit_license_list.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_comp__exhibit_license_list.svelte
index 8f66996c..2e4a86b0 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_comp__exhibit_license_list.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_comp__exhibit_license_list.svelte
@@ -23,7 +23,20 @@
     // Parse JSON into local state
     $effect(() => {
         try {
-            const parsed = JSON.parse(license_li_json || '[]');
+            const raw = license_li_json;
+            if (!raw) {
+                untrack(() => local_license_li = []);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // Handle both string and pre-parsed array/object formats
+            let parsed = [];
+            if (Array.isArray(raw)) {
+                parsed = raw;
+            } else if (typeof raw === 'string') {
+                parsed = JSON.parse(raw || '[]');
+            }
+
             untrack(() => {
                 local_license_li = Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed : [];
             });
@@ -141,7 +154,7 @@
             onclick={add_license}
             disabled={local_license_li.length >= (license_max || 1)}
         >
-            <Plus size="1.2em" class="mr-2" /> Add Staff License
+            <Plus size="1.2em" class="mr-2" /> Add Leads Licensee
         </button>
 
         <button 
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_tab__manage.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_tab__manage.svelte
index b0160f22..1c62ca0d 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_tab__manage.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_tab__manage.svelte
@@ -230,8 +230,8 @@
                         <div class="flex items-center gap-4">
                             <div class="bg-primary-500/10 p-2 rounded-lg text-primary-500"><Users size="1.2em" /></div>
                             <div class="text-left">
-                                <div class="font-bold text-sm">Exhibit Staff Licenses</div>
-                                <div class="text-xs opacity-50">Manage assigned staff and codes (Admin Only)</div>
+                                <div class="font-bold text-sm">Exhibit Leads Licensees</div>
+                                <div class="text-xs opacity-50">Manage assigned users and codes (Admin Only)</div>
                             </div>
                         </div>
                         {#if show_license_mgmt}