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Joelle Tegwen: How to Break Through the 'Not My Problem' Mentality Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. As a consultant often entering teams when problems already exist, Joelle encountered a team that took months to get anything into production. While some IT leaders and QA folks didn't see this as problematic, Joelle discovered the QA team was actually struggling with constant retesting due to work coming back repeatedly. She helped the team articulate the value of needed changes and discovered they didn't know how to split stories effectively. By focusing on what they could do rather than what they couldn't, and implementing test automation to enable smaller stories, the team began making meaningful progress toward more sustainable delivery practices. Featured Book of the Week: How Minds Change by David McRaney David McRaney, who runs the podcast “You Are Not Smart” about cognitive biases, presents a powerful insight in “How Minds Change”: we don't actually change other people's minds through arguments or facts. Instead, we need to create space for others to reflect and change their own minds. Joelle recommends this book because it fundamentally shifted her approach to working with teams. The book introduces techniques like Deep Canvassing, which focuses on asking people to tell their story and share what's happening to them, rather than trying to convince them with logic alone. This approach aligns perfectly with Joelle's belief in allowing space for people to reflect while trusting that they have good answers within themselves. Self-reflection Question: How might your current approach to influencing change shift if you focused more on creating space for reflection rather than presenting arguments and facts? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Emily Lint, senior technical Release Train Engineer at ICON Agility Services, is here to remind you not to be critical of yourself when dealing with the many changes that come with an Agile transformation. In fact, she says, “You're doing just fine.” Tune in to find out why. Like what you hear? Connect with Emily on LinkedIn. Learn more about Women in Agile. Explore SAFe courses here.
Joelle Tegwen: Why Your Scrum Master Job Needs a Reset with Every Leadership Change Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Joelle shares her experience as a coach and Scrum Master at a small startup where multiple companies had merged over several years. When a new VP with a conservative approach replaced her original sponsor who favored significant change, Joelle failed to adapt her tactics and align with the new leadership's direction. She emphasizes the critical importance of listening to feedback from leaders and avoiding the anti-pattern of only listening to peers and direct managers instead of higher-level leadership. Joelle explains that whenever you get a new leader, your job essentially starts over again, requiring you to discover their goals and style through interviews about their priorities. She stresses that change happens through people, not just actions, and that pushing too hard creates more resistance. In this segment, we refer to the book The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins and the Deep Canvassing Technique. Self-reflection Question: How do you currently assess and adapt to new leadership styles in your organization, and what steps could you take to better align your change management approach with leadership expectations? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Corporate Agile has caused true agility to become stagnant and undervalued in large organizations, losing its impact. What's with our loyalty to big companies these days anyway? We should look ahead to applying Agile in fresh settings, where we can discover new value, opportunity, and meaning in our craft.
In this episode of the Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) podcast, Karen Edwards welcomes Ben Fiedler from Benchmark to explore the intriguing intersection of Agile methodology and the roofing industry. Discover how Agile principles, traditionally used in software development, are being adapted to enhance efficiency and innovation in roofing projects. Ben shares his unique journey from broadcast television engineering to roofing consultancy, and how Agile practices like Scrum are transforming project management. Tune in to learn how contractors can adopt an Agile mindset to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market. Learn more at: https://rt3thinktank.com/
Pascal Papathemelis: The Mobile Product Owner—Why Great POs Move Around and Talk to People Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: The Visionary Communicator Pascal describes great Product Owners as excellent communicators who possess the courage to confront stakeholders when necessary. These exceptional POs thrive as decision makers and understand the importance of being mobile - they have "legs and walk around to meet stakeholders" rather than remaining isolated in their offices. Great Product Owners maintain a clear vision and excel at breaking down products into granular items that teams can easily pull from the backlog. They demonstrate superior backlog management skills and understand how to focus on creating systems that collect valuable feedback. Pascal emphasizes that it's critical to help Product Owners develop these capabilities so they can flourish in their role as the primary decision makers for their products. The Bad Product Owner: The Dominating Manager Pascal encountered a challenging Product Owner who exhibited several destructive anti-patterns. This PO dominated meetings by talking most of the time while the team remained silent, creating an environment where team members felt unsafe to contribute. The situation was complicated by the fact that this Product Owner also served as the line manager for the team members, blurring the boundaries between product decisions and personnel management. This dual role created a power dynamic that inhibited healthy team collaboration. The PO went so far as to stop retrospectives, even when Pascal explained how these sessions could benefit the entire team. Pascal identifies a critical anti-pattern: when a Product Owner has no channel of communication or coaching support, and they resist help, it becomes impossible to improve the situation. Self-reflection Question: What steps could you take to help Product Owners in your organization develop better communication skills and create safer environments for team collaboration? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Introduction to Emotional Agility Forget the outdated myth that stoicism equals strength. The strongest men don't bottle their emotions—they master them. In the boardroom, the weight room, or the storm of daily life, true mental toughness comes from the ability to feel deeply without being dominated by those feelings. That skill has a name: Emotional […]
Dans cet extrait, Antoine Craske partage ses opinions à contre-courant sur le testing. Soyez prêts à remettre en question tout ce que vous pensiez savoir à propos du testing.Au programme :Comment faire le lien les objectifs métier et ce qu'on décide de testerLes non-négociables d'une stratégie de qualité saineDeux opinions tranchées et à contre-courant sur le testingLes anti-patterns qu'Antoine voit trop souventCe que signifie vraiment “être autonome” sur ses testsRetrouvez Antoine :Sur LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/acraske/Si cet épisode vous a plu, pensez à laisser une note et un commentaire - c'est la meilleure façon de faire découvrir le podcast à d'autres personnes !Envoyez-moi une capture de cet avis (LinkedIn ou par mail à dx@donatienleon.com) et je vous enverrai une petite surprise en remerciement.
Pascal Papathemelis: Selecting the Appropriate Agile Values for Organizational Impact Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Pascal defines success for Scrum Masters through his recent mantra of "effectiveness over efficiency," "outcome over output," and "create value for the customer." Working with a client introducing a new digital platform, he focuses on understanding the value for both the organization and end customers while minimizing confusion in the process. Pascal emphasizes the importance of ensuring work sustainability over time by focusing on Agile values and principles and their deep understanding. He customizes the Agile Manifesto's values and principles for each organization, such as focusing on customer value, collaboration, and constant learning. Pascal strategically highlights the principles and values that address the biggest challenges facing the organization at any given time, making Agile concepts relevant and actionable for the specific context. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Sailboat Pascal recommends the sailboat retrospective as his preferred format, though he emphasizes that the choice depends on context and team focus. He values this metaphor-based retrospective because it helps teams discuss critical aspects of their work through different perspectives. The sailboat format allows teams to explore what propels them forward (wind), what holds them back (anchors), what they need to watch out for (rocks), and their destination (island). Pascal also uses timeline retrospectives and stresses the importance of varying retrospective formats to prevent teams from falling into routine patterns that might limit their ability to bring fresh insights to their work. He believes that good data and effective visualization are essential components of any successful retrospective format. Self-reflection Question: How effectively are you customizing Agile principles to address your organization's specific challenges and context? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Is Agile Disappearing? - Not Again...For the last two years, we've seen a fairly drastic change in the agile landscape. Large companies have laid off hundreds of thousands of agile and tech jobs (287k in 2023 and 152k in 2024). The job market for new jobs is also very different. You can't just search for Scrum Master or Agile Coach like you used to.Maybe it's because big firms have started treating agile like “a skill not a role”, as mentioned by the Business Agility Institute and scrum alliance in their “Skills in the New World of Work” research paper. You might need to be multiple things, a manager who knows agile or a technologist who knows Scrum. It's a trend that is sad but true, IMO.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/
In this episode we discuss: Who knows what is going to happen with Toronado Palmetto in some deep water What is really going on The post Episode 594 – We Went Agile first appeared on The Craft Beercast.
GreenOps is a cultural transformation that empowers developers to turn emissions data into meaningful action, bridging the communication gap with ESG teams and exposing the critical truth that cloud cost and carbon cost are not the same, which fundamentally reshapes how we approach sustainable IT.This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob talk to James Hall, Head of GreenOps at Green Pixie, to unpack the real state of GreenOps today—and why we've only just scratched the surface. TLDR 01:57 Rob is confused about AGI 06:11 Cloud conversation with James Hall 22:10 Esmee as media archeologist, found GreenOps is 50 years old 30:46 Having some drinks in the summer Guest James Hall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-f-hall/ Hosts Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/ Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Production Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/ Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ Sound Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/ Louis Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini
Pascal Papathemelis: From Waterfall to Agile—A Multi-Level Change Strategy Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Pascal describes a successful agile transformation where he collaborated with a fellow coach in the IT department of a large organization with a waterfall history and heavy documentation-driven processes. The two coaches worked together effectively, sharing information and scouting for opportunities to take action. They began with an assessment and discussions across IT, business, and management levels to understand the current state. Using the Cynefin framework to understand complexity, they conducted a two-day workshop to introduce Agile vocabulary, covering concepts like Push/Pull and process waste. The coaches operated at multiple levels simultaneously - working strategically with leadership who typically pushed excessive work to the organization, while also helping teams visualize their processes and clarify priorities. At the team level, they acted as Scrum Masters to demonstrate the role while mentoring the actual Scrum Master through one-on-one sessions. They also supported the Product Owner in understanding their role and used story maps to help visualize and organize work effectively. Self-reflection Question: How might collaborating with another coach or change agent amplify your effectiveness in leading organizational transformation? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
In this episode of the Agilists: Aspire and Achieve podcast, host Renae Craven and guest Karyn Smith explore Karyn's journey from a high school graduate to her current role as a COO. Karyn shares her reflection on how far she has come and the things she has learnt about herself along the way. About the Featured Guest Karyn is a seasoned executive with over three decades of international and cross industry experience. Karyn has a proven ability to inspire, empower and motivate teams towards high performance and delivery of sustainable results, making her a dynamic leader. Karyn is deeply committed to making a difference and ensuring meaningful engagement and outcomes for all. Follow Karyn on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-smith-14b4353/) The Women in Agile community champions inclusion and diversity of thought, regardless of gender, and this podcast is a platform to share new voices and stories with the Agile community and the business world, because we believe that everyone is better off when more, diverse ideas are shared. Podcast Library: www.womeninagile.org/podcast Women in Agile Org Website: www.womeninagile.org Connect with us on social media! LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/womeninagile/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/womeninagile/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/womeninagileorg Please take a moment to rate and review the Women in Agile podcast on your favorite podcasting platform. This is the best way to help us amplify the voices and wisdom of the talent women and allies in our community! Be sure to take a screenshot of your rating and review and post it on social media with the hashtag #womeninagile to help spread the word and continue to elevate Women in Agile. About our Host Renae Craven has been coaching individuals, teams and organizations for over 14 years and has spent a lot of time investing in and formalizing her professional coaching skills in recent years. Renae's passion is leading and coaching organizations and as a Certified Team Coach with Scrum Alliance, she helps teams to find their rhythm and pace that balances learning with delivery. Renae established her own company NaeCrave Pty Ltd (www.naecrave.com.au) in 2020 and keeps herself busy with coaching and training delivery. Renae is also a certified BASI Pilates instructor and runs her own pilates studio in Brisbane, Australia. She has a YouTube channel called ‘Pilates for the Office Worker' which features short 5 minute guided sessions that anyone can incorporate into their day, especially those of us who have been sitting down for extended periods. Subscribe to her channel Crave Pilates. Renae has been organizing the Women in Agile group in Brisbane since 2018. You can follow Renae on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/renaecraven/).
"MCP, c'est un peu le USB-C de l'IA." Le D.E.V. de la semaine est Zineb Bendhiba, principale software engineer chez Red Hat. Zineb vient nous parler du protocole MCP (Modèle, Contexte, Protocole) et son rôle dans le développement de l'intelligence artificielle. Zineb explique comment le MCP simplifie les interactions client-serveur grâce au découplage des systèmes et à l'utilisation du format JSON RPC. Elle explore également la différence entre un "assistant" et un "agent", la sécurité des données et la gestion des autorisations dans les serveurs MCP. La discussion va aux applications pratiques, y compris son expérience dans le développement de gateways et l'importance de tests rigoureux. La communauté est également reconnue comme vitale pour l'évolution du protocole.Chapitrages00:00:57 : Introduction au MCP00:03:05 : Définition du MCP00:06:36 : Le Protocole et ses Clients00:09:11 : Distinction entre Agents et Assistants00:13:59 : Exemples concrets d'utilisation00:22:55 : MCP comme Middleware00:24:23 : L'avenir du MCP00:38:22 : Limites et questions éthiques00:44:20 : Conseils pour débuter avec MCP00:51:13 : Améliorations souhaitées pour MCP00:54:32 : Questions finales et recommandations Liens évoqués pendant l'émission La spec officielle MCP https://modelcontextprotocol.io/Le blog de Guillaume Laforge (récemment sur AI et surtout Java AI) 🎙️ Soutenez le podcast If This Then Dev ! 🎙️ Chaque contribution aide à maintenir et améliorer nos épisodes. Cliquez ici pour nous soutenir sur Tipeee 🙏Archives | Site | Boutique | TikTok | Discord | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Youtube | Twitch | Job Board |Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Pascal Papathemelis: The Hidden Cost of Removing Scrum Masters from High-Performing Teams Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Pascal shares a cautionary experience with mature Scrum teams that appeared to function flawlessly. These teams demonstrated excellent Scrum practices with minimal impediments, leading management to conclude that Scrum Masters were unnecessary. When management removed all Scrum Masters from the department, the previously high-performing teams began to struggle significantly. Team members had to absorb the responsibilities previously handled by their Scrum Masters, causing them to lose focus on their core value-creating work. Different teams adopted various approaches to fill the Scrum Master void, but none proved effective. Pascal reflects that the Scrum Masters could have made their value more visible by supporting Product Owners more actively and becoming more involved in team tasks. This experience taught him the importance of demonstrating the ongoing value that Scrum Masters provide, even when teams appear to be self-sufficient. Featured Book of the Week: Learning Out Loud—Community Learning and Networking Pascal draws his greatest inspiration not from a single book, but from active participation in the Agile community. He finds tremendous value in discussions within local communities, networking events, and sparring sessions with colleagues. Pascal particularly benefits from Agile Coaching circles in Helsinki, which provide practical knowledge and insights. He also gains inspiration from Agile conferences, but credits Agile Coaching Camps as having the biggest impact - these 2.5-day open space format events are intense and packed with valuable insights. Pascal recommends that Scrum Masters actively engage with their local Agile communities and attend coaching camps to accelerate their professional development and gain diverse perspectives. Self-reflection Question: How visible is the value you provide as a Scrum Master, and what steps could you take to make your contributions more apparent to your organization? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
This week we're joined by Alicja Spaulding, Founder of Status: Alpha, who helps marketing leaders operationalize AI, digital transformation, and creative agility.Alicja started her career in the music industry—cutting her teeth in the early days of digital disruption—and has since built brands in architecture, food, and now AI-enabled strategy. She's worked with startups and mid-market manufacturers alike, helping them become more nimble, less siloed, and more prepared for what's next.In this episode, we talk about:How to build marketing teams that are ready for rapid changeThe difference between automation and AI strategyWhy AI isn't your strategy—it's your foundationHow to think about large language models (and when not to)The power of working yourself out of a jobConnect with Alicja: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicjaspaulding/Get the It'sRapid Creative Automation Playbook: https://itsrapid.ai/creative-workflow-automation-playbook/Take It'sRapid's Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey: https://www.proprofs.com/survey/t/?title=ffgvdEmail us at sales@itsrapid.io to find out how to get your free AI Image AuditTheme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.comProducer: Jake Musiker
In this episode of the Women in Product podcast, Meghna Shah of PWC joins Cassie Campbell to discuss the intersection of consulting and coaching in product management. Shah explains the importance of teaching clients how to build product management disciplines, using the analogy of teaching them to fish rather than just delivering the fish. They explore the mindset shifts required to succeed with agile and product management approaches, emphasizing the importance of coaching in making these shifts. Shah shares insights on the 'two in a box' model, where a coach and a product manager work together to ensure skill transfer. The discussion also includes strategies for influencing cross-functional teams, storytelling in product management, and the importance of continuous learning and adapting to technology changes.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:37 Meghna Shah's Background and Role at PWC01:23 The Importance of Coaching in Consulting02:09 Mindset Shifts and Agile Practices03:37 Influence and Stakeholder Engagement04:09 Technology's Evolving Role in Business05:24 Coaching for Continuous Improvement13:42 Success Story: Financial Services Organization17:45 Roles in Agile and Product Management21:54 Understanding the Value Chain26:33 Characteristics of Effective Product Teams30:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts✨Where to find Meghna:On LinkedIn
From Prototype to Product: Navigating Hardware Manufacturing with Violet SuIn this episode of the Agile Embedded Podcast, Luca speaks with Violet Su, Business Development Manager at Seed Studio, about the challenges and opportunities in hardware manufacturing. The conversation explores the realities of hardware development, from initial prototyping to mass production. Violet emphasizes the importance of getting products into users' hands quickly to gather feedback, even if they're not perfect. She highlights common pitfalls for newcomers to hardware manufacturing, including underestimating costs, certification requirements, and supply chain complexities. The discussion also covers the growing influence of AI in hardware development and how emerging connectivity technologies are shaping the future of embedded systems.Key Topics[01:30] Introduction to Seed Studio and its focus on open source hardware and AI[03:15] Changes in hardware development landscape over the past decade[06:45] Common challenges for hardware startups and innovators[12:30] The importance of early feedback and iterative development[16:20] Success story: OpenUC2 microscopy project collaboration[23:40] Indicators of a successful hardware project[28:15] Insights from Embedded World 2024 conference[33:10] Future trends in hardware beyond AINotable Quotes"You might be able to design one and it really works when you have a sample or 10 samples, but when we talk about products, there are a lot of nuances that we really need to think about." — Violet Su"You can fail faster so that you can succeed faster. We couldn't make a perfect project and we shouldn't expect to make a perfect product." — Violet Su"When they give you the complaints early on, you will be very thankful, and they know you listened as well." — Violet Su"The projects that might take off either really solve the pain of some people, or get people excited because it's something new." — Violet Su"There's nothing better than getting customer complaints early on, so you don't get them later on." — Luca IngianniResources MentionedSeed Studio - Company providing open source hardware and AI solutionsOpenUC2 - Open source modular microscopy project mentioned as a success storyConnect With UsReach out to Violet Su at violet@seed.cc to discuss potential hardware collaborations with Seed StudioVisit seedstudio.com to explore their range of AI hardware and customization servicesConnect with Violet Su on LinkedIn for updates on hardware manufacturing trends You can find Jeff at https://jeffgable.com.You can find Luca at https://luca.engineer.Want to join the agile Embedded Slack? Click here
About Joacim "Jay" Mattisson Joacim "Jay" Mattisson is a solution finder, who brings fresh perspectives to the discussion. As a founder and investor, Jay shake things up - be it software solutions, SaaS, websites, workflows or data gathering. Jay has a sensitive ear to what the users actually need. He builds close-knit teams that translate customer requirements into solid services. Experienced Scrum master and team leader using Agile methodology to bring projects in on time and on budget. Jay is President Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Arizona - promotes trade, investment and business opportunities between Sweden and Arizona. Board member SACC USA - the umbrella organization for 20 SACC chambers in the US. Adviser to the German American Chamber of Commerce Arizona. Board member and Treasurer Global Ties Arizona - grassroots diplomacy organization and International Visitors Leadership Program organization. Global Ties Arizona builds and strengthens relationships between community members, businesses and nations through international exchange and educational programs, one handshake at a time. Episode Notes 03:34 Lesson 1: Dare to be Vulnerable 08:35 Lesson 2: Work on bigger problems earlier 12:28 Lesson 3: Focus on what is right 15:11 Lesson 4: Normalize Excellence 17:57 Lesson 5: Be a Stradivarius among ordinary Violins. 21:48 Affiliate Break 22:33 Lesson 6: If you get upset over small stuff, you're not bigger than that 30:02 Lesson 7: Be aware of your shadow 32:07 Lesson 8: You can still lose 33:37 Lesson 9: Dual use 37:22 Lesson 10: It's never too late to have a fantastic childhood
Pascal Papathemelis: From Mechanics to Human Factors—How Scrum Masters Grow Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Pascal shares his evolution as a Scrum Master, moving from focusing purely on the mechanics of Scrum to understanding the critical importance of human factors. Early in his career, Pascal worked with teams that struggled to achieve sprint goals, with stories floating from one sprint to another. Through retrospectives and continuous improvement, he learned essential tips like not taking too much into sprints and making stories smaller. However, Pascal's biggest transformation came when he shifted focus to human elements - involving everyone in the team, improving collaboration during refinement, and developing people's skills and attitudes. He emphasizes that every person is an individual with the intention to be their best, and a good Scrum Master must sense when something is wrong and create safe environments for open conversations. Pascal highlights the importance of corridor conversations and coffee machine breakthroughs, especially before COVID, and stresses the need to invest effort in how teams start, using models like Tuckman's team growth model and Diana Larsen's Team Liftoff approach. In this segment, we also refer to the episode with Arne Roock, about the importance of team design and setup in the success of teams. Self-reflection Question: How might shifting your focus from Scrum mechanics to human factors transform the way you support your team's growth and collaboration? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
This week's podcast is about how Alibaba.com restructured its business and re-ignited growth in 2017-2018.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.My summary of the Alibaba Management Playbook:Diagnose the problem:What is the chief complaint?Stagnant growth? Low NPS?What is the differential diagnosis?1-Re-clarify and re-focus customer value. This includes:Customer segmentation. Who are you targeting? What are you after (revenue)? Traffic? Data?What do they most care about? Map out the process.Is what customers want changing? Tech change? PC to mobile changed what maps could do.What is the competitor offering and how you are going to take their customers?2-Launch 2-3 key strategic initiatives to increase refocused customer value.3-Improve production. Fix the big pain points of customers, staff, suppliers, etc. Requires data-driven decision making and iteration.4-Change the org structure, talent and culture. Improve production relations.Increased communication and coordination.5-Have early wins (small phased victories). Important to test the strategy and get data. And to re-enforce culture and org changes.6-Agile tactics and speed are key.You win chess with 2x the moves.Tactical brilliance and guerrilla execution.7-Build a powerful biz model or operating flywheel. Maybe access multi-growth curves.Measure OutcomesFinancial and operationalStrategic——-- I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation.I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here.My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show
Robert C. Martin, more often known as Uncle Bob, has been programming since 1970 and has served as a mentor to generations of software engineers. He's one of the original authors of the Agile Manifesto and played a foundational role in forming the Agile Alliance, where he served as its first chairman. But beyond titles and organizations, Bob's lasting impact comes through his writing, his lectures, and his philosophy of software craftsmanship. He has spoken at conferences around the world — QCon, Agile 20XX, IT Days, and countless other industry gatherings — always advocating for clarity, discipline, and ethical responsibility in code. And if you've ever read Clean Code, The Clean Coder, or Clean Architecture, you know that he doesn't just teach how to build systems — he challenges us to become better professionals in the process. His most recent work, Functional Design, continues this legacy, distilling decades of experience into patterns and principles that are just as relevant today as they were when he first put finger to keyboard. Topics of Discussion: [2:22] Uncle Bob's advice for young programmers entering the field: Be cautious with AI tools, learn fundamental programming skills, and understand that AI won't replace programmers. [4:42] Get to the basics first, and then you can move on: Master core programming skills and fundamentals before relying too heavily on AI or advanced tools. [8:19] The impact of AI on experienced developers. [15:44] Highlighting the role of programmers in managing low-level details that managers and customers don't want to think about. [18:43] Programmers as language learners. [27:19] The state of Agile methodologies. [29:33] The original Agile goal of making small teams work efficiently together, which remains a crucial challenge. [35:37] Discussing the limitations of university computer science programs and the potential of trade school or apprenticeship models. [36:07] What's next for Uncle Bob? Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. Clear Measure, Inc. (Sponsor) Clean Agile: Back to Basics Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship We, Programmers: A Chronicle of Coders from Ada to AI “Uncle Bob Martin: Clean Code and How to Do Software Well - Episode 283” Functional Design: Principles, Patterns, and Practices UncleBob on GitHub The Clean Code Blog Agile Principles, Patterns, Practices Clean Coders Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
Master the art of risk management and unlock your full potential with this transformative journey into project management!
Bernard Agrest: Millions of Users, Multiple Stakeholders—The Art of Product Owner Navigation Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: The Stakeholder Navigator Bernard describes an exceptional Product Owner who managed a product impacting millions of people while navigating constantly evolving requirements from multiple stakeholders. This Product Owner excelled at understanding each stakeholder's unique needs and communicating effectively with all of them. What made this person truly great was their ability to come to the development team with a clear understanding of both the business case and user needs, having done the hard work of stakeholder management upfront. This Product Owner understood that their role was to be the bridge between complex stakeholder requirements and clear team direction. The Bad Product Owner: The Collaborative Hoarder Bernard identifies a dangerous anti-pattern: the Product Owner who adds everything to the backlog under the guise of being "collaborative." While this behavior appears inclusive and team-friendly on the surface, it actually demonstrates that the Product Owner isn't following through on delivering real value. These Product Owners become almost exclusively focused on authority rather than outcomes, making them particularly difficult to coach since they resist guidance. Bernard recommends using Cost of Delay as both a prioritization technique and a tool to help Product Owners understand why certain items shouldn't be added to the backlog at all. Self-reflection Question: Is your Product Owner truly collaborating by providing clear direction, or are they avoiding difficult prioritization decisions by adding everything to the backlog? In this segment we refer to the Coach Your Product Owner e-course that we created for everyone who needs to help their Product Owners succeed! [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Bernard Agrest: Creating Conditions for Healthy Conflict and Continuous Improvement in Agile Teams Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Bernard believes successful Scrum Masters focus on creating conditions where tension and healthy conflict can emerge naturally, rather than maintaining artificial harmony. Too many organizations remain stuck in fear-based cultures where people avoid raising important issues. For Bernard, success means ensuring people regularly surface problems and engage meaningfully with each other—it's not enough to simply monitor green dashboards. He emphasizes that real leadership involves focusing on creating conditions for teams to discuss what truly matters, moving beyond surface-level metrics to foster genuine dialogue and continuous improvement. Self-reflection Question: Are the people on your teams regularly raising issues, or are you relying too heavily on dashboard metrics to gauge team health? Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: 4L's The 4L's retrospective format is simple yet powerful, examining what the team Liked, Learned, Lacked, and Longed for. Bernard particularly values the "Longed for" category because it asks people to connect the dots between how they felt and how they performed. In one memorable session, using 4L's helped his team understand what they were missing in their regular sync work, leading them to change how they conducted meetings to better support upcoming deliveries. This retrospective format had long-term organizational impact, helping teams realize gaps in their collaborative processes and make meaningful improvements to their working relationships. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Quantum computing in 2025 is rapidly advancing toward commercialization, with breakthroughs in algorithms, scalable hardware, and cloud-based quantum services driving real-world applications across finance, healthcare, logistics, and cybersecurityThis week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob dive into the cutting edge of quantum computing with Catherine Vollgraff Heidweiller, Quantum AI PM at Google, and James Goeders, Head of Product for Google Quantum AI, exploring how far we've come since our June 2023 Quantumania! episode and what to expect from Willow—the bold fusion of quantum, AI, digital integration, deployment, and the broader tech ecosystem.TLDR00:46 Meet Catherine and James – intros and backgrounds02:22 Rob is confused about students using AI09:40 Deep dive with Catherine and James on the current state and future of Quantum48:01 Quantum isn't just tech—it's a whole new way of thinking1:01:37 Seize the moment and bringing external users onto quantum hardwareGuestCatherine Vollgraff Heidweiller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmv-vollgraffheidweiller/James Goeders: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-goeders-8876a7164/HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini
Transparency is a core pillar of Scrum—but what happens when the environment punishes openness? In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Professional Scrum Trainer David Spinks joins host Dave West to explore the complexities of transparency in unhealthy organizational cultures. David shares why pushing for full transparency too quickly can backfire, and offers a pragmatic, context-driven approach to building trust and psychological safety over time.Listeners will walk away with strategies for adapting transparency to different environments, balancing openness with privacy, and becoming an effective change agent—especially in teams that aren't quite ready for radical transparency.This discussion is inspired by a recent blog by David Spinks. Read it here.
Sabrina C E Noto and Karl A L Smith welcome Shobhit Chugh to Agile World to talk about Product Management Careers.GuestShobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/Intentional Product Manager https://www.intentionalproductmanager.comCo HostsSabrina C E NotoKarl A L Smith© 2025 Agile World ® News and Broadcast Network | Music by Debs from Detoxen (Facebook)
Bernard Agrest: One-on-One Insights—Building Change Strategy Through Individual Conversations Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. When faced with a tool that needed complete rebuilding rather than more "duct-tape" features, Bernard knew that disruption was inevitable—but where to start? Through extensive one-on-one conversations with employees and stakeholders, he discovered that teams didn't understand their work was cyclical, and more importantly, that the onboarding team was central to the entire process. By starting the transformation with this pivotal team and focusing on training and user adoption, the new tool provided immediate organizational impact with data-driven decision making. Bernard's approach demonstrates that successful change management starts with understanding the true workflow and identifying the critical connection points that can drive the most significant positive impact. Self-reflection Question: In your current change initiatives, have you identified which team or process serves as the central hub that could accelerate transformation across the entire organization? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
We’re taking our own advice and hitting pause to recharge this July. While we’re off the mic, revisit past episodes packed with timeless insights and conversations you may have missed. Overview This week, we're pressing pause to model the sustainable pace we teach. Brian shares a quick update about our summer break, what’s ahead in August, and how you can make the most of the podcast archive while we’re away. Whether you’re poolside or simply stepping back from the daily sprint, we hope you’ll join us in creating a little breathing room and we can’t wait to be back with a fresh season soon. References and resources mentioned in the show: Subscribe & Listen to Previous Episodes of the Agile Mentors Podcast Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Auto-generated Transcript: Brian Milner (00:00) Hey there Agile Mentors, this is Brian Milner and I'm just gonna take a moment of your time today because we're actually going to be practicing what we teach here at Agile Mentors and we're gonna be working at a sustainable pace. So for us that means we're gonna take a few weeks off. It's summer and I know many of you are going to be taking time off with your families and we're gonna be doing the same thing. So we won't be around for the next month. We're gonna be out of here for July, but already have some plans for when we come back in August. So stay tuned when we come back in August, we've got a new season of shows that will begin there in August that I think you'll really enjoy. While we're off, might I suggest you go back through our archive. Look at some of the previous podcast episodes we've done. There's quite a few now. And maybe you've missed some of the episodes from the past. Go back and find some of our great guests that we've had over the years when we've been doing this. I think you'll find some really great guests and some really interesting topics. So fill your diet of Agile Mentors with that while we're at taking a little bit of a break here at Agile Mentors. I hope you're having a great summer and we look forward to seeing all of you back here in August. Take care.
In this episode, Ali Hafizji, founder of Wednesday, shares insights into his unique approach to product engineering through a sprint model that emphasizes outcomes over time. He discusses the importance of Agile methodology in adapting to change, the dynamics of client relationships, and the challenges of communication across time zones. He discusses the importance of embracing AI in product development and emphasizes the lessons learned from his experiences.00:00 Introduction00:40 What is Ali Doing Today?04:30 Selling Sprints16:00 Success as a Company19:00 Timezone Challenges21:30 First Memory of a Computer27:30 Moving from Dubai to India30:00 Entering University37:30 Internships44:00 Building Mobile Games53:00 Entering Consulting57:00 Scaling a Business1:19:00 Starting Wednesday1:25:00 AI Tooling1:33:00 Contact InfoConnect with Ali: Linkedin: https://in.linkedin.com/in/alihafizjiX: https://x.com/ali_hafizji?lang=enMentioned in this Episode:Wednesday: https://www.wednesday.is/ Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs
De método tecnológico a filosofía de gestiónLa metodología Agile y Scrum surgió en 2001 como una forma de gestionar proyectos en el ámbito de las tecnologías de la información y el desarrollo de software. Con el tiempo, ha evolucionado hacia un sistema de gestión aplicable no solo a proyectos tecnológicos, sino a iniciativas empresariales de todo tipo. En esencia, permite a las organizaciones generar valor de forma más eficiente en comparación con la gestión tradicional.Principios del manifiesto AgileEl manifiesto Agile establece que es preferible fomentar la interacción entre personas en lugar de basarse únicamente en procesos definidos. También defiende la adaptación al cambio por encima de seguir un plan rígido y prioriza la colaboración con el cliente frente a la firma de contratos exhaustivos. Estos valores han moldeado lo que hoy conocemos como Agile.El objetivo central de Agile es minimizar el desperdicio, una preocupación compartida con metodologías como Lean. ¿Cuál es el mayor desperdicio en un proyecto? Desarrollar algo que no aporta valor al cliente.Cómo evitar el desperdicioPara prevenir este error, Agile propone:Mantener una comunicación constante con el cliente.Entregar pequeños bloques de valor de forma continua.Ajustar el rumbo con base en la retroalimentación del cliente.Estas prácticas permiten que el proyecto evolucione de manera más precisa y efectiva.Scrum: la metodología más extendidaScrum, la herramienta más popular dentro de Agile, combina elementos de distintas metodologías. Su propósito es facilitar entregas parciales y constantes de valor por parte de equipos multidisciplinarios.Características clave de ScrumDivisión en entregables pequeños: El trabajo se organiza en bloques llamados Sprints, unidades de tiempo fijas que se repiten cíclicamente. Cada Sprint genera valor que puede validarse con el cliente.Equipos reducidos y diversos: Usualmente compuestos por 8 a 10 personas que representan distintas perspectivas del proyecto.Roles definidos: El Scrum Master garantiza el cumplimiento del método, mientras que el Product Owner recoge las necesidades del cliente y guía al equipo hacia ese objetivo.Aprender para mejorarAl finalizar cada Sprint se realizan dos tipos de retroalimentación:Retroalimentación interna, que permite al equipo mejorar su dinámica de trabajo.Retroalimentación del entregable, que evalúa si lo producido realmente genera valor para el cliente.Este sistema iterativo evita que se invierta tiempo y recursos en soluciones que no serán apreciadas.
Questions? Feedback? Send us a text!In this episode of TRANSFORMED, Joe sits down with Dr. Andrea Talentino, President of Augustana College, to explore how she is leading a bold, community-driven approach to strategic planning. With deep roots in teaching, coaching, and student development, Dr. Talentino brings a unique blend of vision and practicality to her leadership.Listeners will gain insight into how Augustana is embracing creativity, shared governance, and agility to shape a strategic plan grounded in mission and focused on student outcomes. From informal listening sessions and living-room salons to design teams and evolving metrics, Dr. Talentino shares an honest, inspiring view of what it takes to align an entire campus around meaningful transformation.References: Andrea TalentinoAugustana CollegeEngage with host, Joe Gottlieb, at discussion@higher.digital at any time! Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc
Bernard Agrest: Avoiding Hard Conversations—When High-Performing Agile Teams Self-Destruct Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Bernard describes how a high-performing, fun-loving team began to unravel when a new member joined who wasn't delivering on their commitments. Instead of addressing the performance issue directly, team members started picking up the slack, avoiding the difficult conversation that needed to happen. As morale dropped and people checked out, Bernard realized the team was paralyzed by fear of confrontation and assumptions that raising the issue would be ignored. This experience taught him that individual performance problems quickly become whole-team problems when left unaddressed, and that strong relationships require the courage to have honest, supportive conversations. Self-reflection Question: What difficult conversation are you avoiding on your team, and what assumptions might be preventing you from addressing it? Featured Book of the Week: The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni Bernard recommends The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni because it helps leaders understand that everyone has specific "genius" areas in different phases of work. When people work outside their natural genius zones, they feel unfulfilled and frustrated. This framework has been invaluable for Bernard in understanding team dynamics—why some teams click naturally while others struggle. By recognizing each person's working genius, leaders can better position team members for success and create more effective, satisfied teams. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
What's on your mind? Let CX Passport know...How do Agile principles, customer experience, and camper life all fit together? Lauren Feehrer connects those dots brilliantly in this *Greatest Hits* episode of CX Passport.Lauren is the founder of LoyaltyCraft, where she helps mid-market companies grow through smarter customer experience strategies. From her roots as a process analyst at Accenture to helping clients implement Agile CX frameworks today, Lauren brings a balance of structure and empathy to the CX world.This episode originally aired as E182 and stood out not just for Lauren's insights but for her authenticity — whether talking about CX in hospice care or running her family like a Scrum team (yes, really).Lauren blends CX discipline with curiosity and care — and it's no surprise this episode made the Greatest Hits list.CHAPTERS 00:00 Starting at Accenture...and blue screens 04:58 Listening deeply to customers 07:49 Agile CX explained 11:46 The business of grief and caregiving 15:34 Family road trips during the pandemic 18:41 First Class Lounge 23:41 Discipline, emotion, and process 26:54 Her grandfather's CX inspiration 29:11 Using Agile with your familyEpisode resources: Connect with Lauren Feehrer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenfeehrer Learn more about LoyaltyCraft: https://www.loyaltycraft.comIf you like CX Passport, I have 3 quick requests:✅ Subscribe to the CX Passport YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@cxpassport ✅ Join other “CX travelers” with the weekly CX Passport newsletter https://cxpassport.kit.com/signup ✅ Bring
The Daytona founders - Ivan Burazin and Vedran Jukic - discuss their pivot to an AI agent cloud. We dig into the new infrastructure requirements of developing agents that need their own sandboxes to operate in.A year ago, we had them on to talk about Daytona giving us remote development environments for humans, and they have now pivoted the company to focusing on providing cloud hosting environments for AI agents to operate.I suspect this is something we're all gonna eventually need to tackle as we work to automate more of our software engineering. So we spend time breaking down the concepts and the real world needs of humans developing agents, and then the needs of AI that require places to run their own tools in code.Check out the video podcast version here https://youtu.be/l8LBqDUwtV8Creators & Guests Cristi Cotovan - Editor Bret Fisher - Host Beth Fisher - Producer Ivan Burazin - Guest Vedran Jukic - Guest You can also support my content by subscribing to my YouTube channel and my weekly newsletter at bret.news!Grab the best coupons for my Docker and Kubernetes courses.Join my cloud native DevOps community on Discord.Grab some merch at Bret's Loot BoxHomepage bretfisher.com (00:00) - Intro (06:08) - Daytona's Sandbox Technology (12:57) - Practical Applications and Use Cases (14:29) - Security and Isolation in AI Agents (17:59) - Start Up Times for Sandboxing and Kubernetes (22:51) - Daytona vs Lambda (31:06) - Rogue Models and Isolation (34:54) - Humanless Operations and the Future of DevOps (47:17) - SDK vs MCP (50:15) - Human in the Loop (51:13) - Daytona: Open Source vs Product Offering
Bernard Agrest: When Stepping Back Becomes Stepping Away—A Leadership Failure Story Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Bernard shares a powerful story about a critical research project where his instinct to step back and empower his team ultimately led to project failure and personal burnout. When Bernard realized his team wasn't ready for the work ahead, he made the mistake of taking everything on himself rather than building proper feedback loops and ensuring true understanding. Working overtime and feeling guilty about not supporting his team properly, Bernard learned that empowerment isn't about stepping back—it's about creating space to work together. His key insight reveals that it's through doing the work that we discover what work actually needs to be done, and that having people say they "get" the plan doesn't mean they truly understand it. Self-reflection Question: How do you distinguish between genuine team empowerment and abandonment when stepping back from direct involvement in projects? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Garrick van Buren is the owner and principal consultant at Pricing from the Start, where he helps early-stage entrepreneurs and B2B SaaS companies create effective pricing strategies before they invest heavily in product development. Since 2003, he has been launching and managing businesses that support entrepreneurial organizations. His diverse experience includes working with creative professionals and agencies, as well as time at a large corporation with established pricing practices. Garrick is also a certified Cicerone (beer sommelier), which gives him a unique insight into customer value and market positioning. In this episode, Garrick shares his "Pricing from the Start" framework, designed to help entrepreneurs avoid the costly error of building products without fully understanding their value or pricing potential. He emphasizes the importance of qualitative customer research, explains the difference between foundational and detailed problems, and highlights why many entrepreneurs overlook pricing to their own disadvantage. Alongside Mark, he explores how the Jobs-to-be-Done methodology intersects with traditional pricing strategies, debates various value frameworks, and delves into how to measure value in B2B settings. Why you have to check out today's podcast: Learn how to determine pricing before you build your product, avoiding costly over-investment in questionable features Discover the "Pricing from the Start" framework for early-stage entrepreneurs and established companies at inflection points Understand how to identify foundational vs. detailed customer problems and price accordingly "They need to have a price, they need to be comfortable charging it, and they need to approach it in a way that they want it to be repeatable, that it gets at the customer value, and that they can make the decision in an ongoing way of, is there a sustainable business here that we're developing?" – Garrick van Buren Topics Covered: 01:53 – How Garrick transitioned from struggling creative professional to pricing consultant 03:36 – Why entrepreneurs need to know their price before building their product 05:38 – Why successful companies often don't understand the value they deliver to customers 06:37 – Using MVP and Agile principles to test value through service delivery before building products 08:58 – The "Pricing from the Start" framework: qualitative research and timeless persistent problems 11:57 – Jobs-to-be-Done vs. problem-solution-result-value frameworks: what's the difference? 15:42 – Foundational problems vs. detailed problems in market segmentation 20:48 – Why the McDonald's milkshake example may be hurting Jobs-to-be-Done adoption 23:21 – The single sentence framework: "I help [role] at [adjective company] struggling with [timeless persistent problem]" 25:38 – Working with B2B SaaS companies at inflection points and quantifying customer value 28:44 – The 10% rule: capturing value as a percentage of customer incremental profit Key Takeaways: "Because the alternative is that they burn hundreds of thousands of dollars on something that they were guessing at and then pushed, shoved, fought, and argued with the developers... because they didn't do the first few steps." – Garrick van Buren "Your competitive set is wider than you think. And that I think really drives how I think about both products, solutions, jobs-to-be-done, pricing, all of those things." – Garrick van Buren "If we're going to capture 10% of value and we're going to charge $10,000 a year, that means that somebody is expecting $100,000 worth of value in that year against this kind of problem." – Garrick van Buren Resources and People Mentioned: Pricing from the Start: https://pricingfromthestart.com/ Jobs-to-be-Done Canvas (referenced in discussion) LinkedIn for recruiting (used as foundational problem example) Connect with Garrick van Buren: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrickvanburen/ Website: https://pricingfromthestart.com/ Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com
Storytelling isn't a soft skill — it's a leadership superpower.In this jam-packed and practical episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen unpack what great storytelling actually looks like in leadership. They explore the difference between rambling and landing, and share how leaders can create clarity, shape culture, and inspire action with stories that actually stick.You'll learn how to mine your own experiences for powerful “nuggets,” avoid common traps like over-explaining or name-dropping, and test your storytelling in the wild. Whether you're leading a team, presenting to the board, or just trying to communicate better — this episode gives you a full blueprint for telling stories that change people, not just fill airtime. Stay Connected and Informed with Our NewslettersJosh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse"Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse." This bi-weekly newsletter offers insights, tips, and personal stories to help you navigate the complexities of leadership in today's fast-paced tech environment. Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned leader, you'll find valuable guidance and practical advice to enhance your leadership skills. Subscribe to "Leadership Lighthouse" for the latest articles and exclusive content right to your inbox.Subscribe hereBob Galen's "Agile Moose"Bob Galen's "Agile Moose" is a must-read for anyone interested in Agile practices, team dynamics, and personal growth within the tech industry. The newsletter features in-depth analysis, case studies, and actionable tips to help you excel in your Agile journey. Bob brings his extensive experience and thoughtful perspectives directly to you, covering everything from foundational Agile concepts to advanced techniques. Join a community of Agile enthusiasts and practitioners by subscribing to "Agile Moose."Subscribe hereDo More Than Listen:We publish video versions of every episode and post them on our YouTube page.Help Us Spread The Word: Love our content? Help us out by sharing on social media, rating our podcast/episodes on iTunes, or by giving to our Patreon campaign. Every time you give, in any way, you empower our mission of helping as many agilists as possible. Thanks for sharing!
A special simulcast of this week's Off-Nominal—the other show I do, if you somehow haven't heard of it!—because it's exactly the topic list with exactly the guest I had up next on my list. I'm joined by Adrian Beil of NASASpaceflight to talk about the recent mayhem at Starbase, and to kick around European space policy topics in the run up to the ESA Ministerial later this year.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 34 executive producers—Creative Taxi, David, Donald, Matt, Frank, Better Every Day Studios, Warren, Bob, Russell, Pat from KC, Pat, Lee, Joel, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Ryan, Josh from Impulse, Joonas, Natasha Tsakos (pronounced Tszakos), Heiko, Will and Lars from Agile, Fred, Kris, Stealth Julian, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Theo and Violet, Jan, Steve, The Astrogators at SEE, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.TopicsAdrian Beil (@BCCarCounters) / TwitterAdrian Beil, Author at NASASpaceFlight.comOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 202 - Rapidly Adjusting (with Adrian Beil) - YouTubeFollowing the Loss of Ship 36, SpaceX now Focuses on Rebuilding Masseys - NASASpaceFlight.comJack Beyer on X: “Close up slow motion footage of the unexpected event(s) during Northrop Grumman's BOLE DM-1 stb test today.”Northrop Grumman tests SLS Block 2 BOLE booster in Utah; nozzle issue seen - NASASpaceFlight.comESA studying impacts of proposed NASA budget cuts - SpaceNewsESA moving ahead with ‘resilience from space' satellite imaging program - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by NASAWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
Lilia Pulova: Business Case Ownership—The Product Owner's Core Duty Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: Always Present and Inspirational Lilia describes an exceptional Product Owner whose defining characteristic was consistent presence with the team. This presence went beyond just showing up - it was inspirational and made team members genuinely care about their delivery and the product they were building. The Product Owner served as the vital connection between the team and the organization's wider mission, helping everyone understand how their work contributed to the bigger picture. This constant engagement and visibility created a motivated team that took pride in their product development efforts. The Bad Product Owner: Unprepared and Responsibility-Shifting Lilia encountered a Product Owner who exemplified poor practices by consistently arriving at backlog refinement meetings without any preparation, expecting developers to provide business context instead. This approach was fundamentally wrong because developers aren't equipped to discuss business expectations or product direction - that's the Product Owner's responsibility. This individual habitually said "yes" to all tickets without consideration, shifted decision-making responsibility to the team, and relied on architects to manage the product and determine sprint priorities. Product Owners must own the business case rather than delegate it, and keep the business rationale constantly visible to the team. Self-reflection Question: How do you ensure your Product Owner maintains proper preparation and ownership of business decisions rather than shifting these responsibilities to the development team? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
This week's podcast is about how Alibaba's Amap quickly dethroned market leader Baidu Maps.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.Here is the Amap case study.My summary of the Alibaba Management Playbook:Diagnose the problem: Stagnant growth? Negative NPS? Low engagement?1-Unwavering focus on customer value. Re-clarify customer value. This includes:Customer segmentation. Who are you targeting? What are you after (revenue)? Traffic? Data (Amap)?What do they most care about? Map out the process.Is what customers want changing? Tech change? PC to mobile changed what maps could do.What is the competitor offering and how you are going to take their customers?2-Fix the Big Pain Points. Requires Data-Driven Decision Making and Iteration.3-Do cultural change and increased communication and coordination.4-Agile teams and tactics are key. Tactical brilliance and guerrilla execution.5-Have early wins.6-Build a powerful biz model or operating flywheel.--------- I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation.I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here.My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show
Lilia Pulova: Building Self-Sufficient Teams Through Emotional Intelligence Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Lilia defines success for Scrum Masters by asking a simple but powerful question: "Do people feel supported?" Her approach focuses on training teams to take on her responsibilities and make their own decisions. Rather than dictating solutions, she presents options and allows teams to choose their path. Over time, teams learn these options and develop independence in decision-making. She maintains awareness by monitoring delivery metrics, watching for tickets that take too long, and staying attentive during daily stand-ups. With her primarily remote team keeping cameras open, Lilia reads emotions and body language to identify potential issues early, preventing small conflicts from escalating into major problems. Self-reflection Question: How well do you read the emotional state of your team members, and what early warning signs might you be overlooking? Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: 1-on-1 Retrospective Lilia advocates for the 1-on-1 retrospective as her most effective format, explaining that people open up more in private conversations than in group settings. While group retrospectives can work well with smooth conversation flow, she finds that structured formats don't always suit every team - sometimes the "lack of format" creates better outcomes. The key to successful 1-on-1 retrospectives is building strong relationships and establishing trust, which she considers the most important foundation for effective retrospectives. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
The International Man Doug Casey chimes in on the state of the world and why you may need a second passport. Monetary debasement looks to grow, inflation looks to grow, and that means the need to be physically and financially agile is important to understand perhaps more than ever. Any and all views, opinions, expressed here are not reflective or endorsed by Silver Bullion Pte Ltd.
Help Your Audience Listen Better Why Curiosity Is the Key to Connection and Leadership Episode 263 (Meaghan is based in Chicago) In this conversation with Meaghan Benjamin we explore: The difference between credibility and rapport — and why both matter in leadership. How communication habits are formed and the importance of adapting them. What it means to practice agile communication in today's digital world. How curiosity fosters connection, learning, and innovation. Why tone, gestures, and delivery shape how others receive your message. How to use the Know–Feel–Do framework to craft more persuasive messages. Ways to build fast rapport in emotionally or professionally high-stakes settings. The four levels of listening and how to move conversations to a deeper level. How to help your audience become better listeners by how you speak. The challenge and opportunity of virtual communication for modern professionals. ----- About our guest, Meaghan Kane Benjamin: Meaghan holds a master's in Speech and Hearing Science and Psychology from THE Ohio State University She's the CEO and Co-Founder of Studio Reinvent, where she co-developed the Agile Communication™ methodology which brings science of communication and the art of showing up to transform how leaders connect, influence, and inspire. You can learn more about her program at https://www.studioreinvent.com/ ----- Key Lessons from this conversation: Credibility vs Rapport Rapport creates emotional connection; credibility is built by consistent follow-through. Communication as Habit + Adaptability Effective communication adapts to the context and people involved. Agile Communication Framework A methodology based on science, systems thinking, and storytelling. The Power of Curiosity Authentic curiosity drives rapport, empathy, and innovation. Tone Is More Than Words Tone, gestures, and expression shape how your message is received. The Know-Feel-Do Framework Define what you want the audience to know, feel, and do. Let the "feel" and "do" guide your messaging. Build Rapport Fast in High-Stakes Moments Especially in healthcare and business pitches, rapport often matters more than content volume. Listening as a Shared Responsibility It's not just about being a better speaker — help others become better listeners too. Four Levels of Listening From small talk (Level 1) to generative collaboration (Level 4). Virtual Communication Challenges With screens reducing non-verbal cues, intentional delivery matters more than ever. ----- ----more---- Your Intended Message is the podcast about how you can boost your career and business success by honing your communication skills. We'll examine the aspects of how we communicate one-to-one, one to few and one to many – plus that important conversation, one to self. In these interviews we will explore presentation skills, public speaking, conversation, persuasion, negotiation, sales conversations, marketing, team meetings, social media, branding, self talk and more. Your host is George Torok George is a specialist in communication skills. Especially presentation. He's fascinated by the links between communication and influencing behaviors. He delivers training and coaching programs to help leaders and promising professionals deliver the intended message for greater success. Connect with George www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgetorokpresentations/ https://www.youtube.com/user/presentationskills https://www.instagram.com/georgetorok/
Lilia Pulova: Leading an Agile Transformation—The Power of Patience and Small Wins Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Lilia shares her experience leading a genuine Agile transformation in an organization just beginning their journey. Faced with widespread skepticism and resistance, she encountered impatient stakeholders demanding immediate results during the challenging first 2-3 months. The breakthrough came after two months when stakeholders finally witnessed tangible improvements in the application and faster release cycles. Patience emerged as the critical skill that carried the transformation through its most difficult phase. Lilia emphasizes the importance of conducting numerous one-on-one conversations and consistently praising teams while celebrating small wins to maintain motivation throughout the change process. Self-reflection Question: How do you maintain team morale and stakeholder confidence during the uncertain early phases of organizational change? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Lilia Pulova: Leadership Red Flag—When Managers Care More About Career Than Team Success Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Lilia shares the story of when she worked with a troubled team where all projects were running late. As a junior Scrum Master, she struggled to identify that the root cause was a manager more focused on career advancement than team success. This manager only paid attention to team members who could provide exposure to higher management, dismissing other requests with "let's solve that later." Integration problems mounted, key people were absent, and when COVID arrived, the team was ultimately disbanded. This experience taught Lilia crucial lessons about taking ownership of team success and viewing the Scrum Master role as a continuous learning journey in leadership. Self-reflection Question: How well do you understand the human dynamics within your team, and what signals might you be missing about individual motivations? Featured Book of the Week: 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene Lilia recommends "48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene for its insights into human behavior and understanding the consequences of our actions when working with others. As Scrum Masters who interact with humans daily, this book helps develop awareness of interpersonal dynamics. One key principle Lilia applies is "always say less than necessary" - helping teams make decisions rather than overwhelming them with too much information or direction. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Agile processes often deliver better ROI than new martech tools. Greg Kihlström, principal of The Agile Brand and advisor to companies like Adidas and Toyota, shares his expertise on implementing agile approaches to marketing technology. He emphasizes establishing good measurement frameworks before adding new tools, creating agreement on success metrics, and developing cyclical workflows that prioritize process improvements over constant technology acquisition. Show Notes Connect With:Greg Kihlström: Website // LinkedInThe MarTech Podcast: Email // LinkedIn // TwitterBenjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Lilia Pulova: When Architects Push Solutions—Learning to Disagree but Commit in Agile Teams Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Lilia shares a challenging situation where an architect pushed a complex solution that she felt might be too difficult for her less-experienced team. Despite having two alternative solutions that better suited the team's capabilities, she chose to let go of her concerns and try the architect's approach. This decision required significant adaptation and ongoing conversations with her frustrated team members. By informing her manager about the team's frustration level and working closely with the team to adapt the solution to their context, Lilia demonstrates the valuable principle of "disagree but commit" - sometimes you need to let go of your preferred approach and learn from trying something different. Self-reflection Question: When have you had to set aside your preferred solution to support a team decision, and what did you learn from that experience? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]