Podcasts about Business agility

In this episode, Ryan Brook brings his homework with him as he joins hosts Jim Sammons and Rich Visotcky for a vibrant Q&A session to answer questions from our viewers. Ryan flips the script, taking over emcee duties to extract key ideas and insights from Rich and Jim as they cover a range of topics from team autonomy and navigating roles to measuring outcomes and outputs to understand the impacts of agility.Join us for a lively session answering your questions! Have a question you want answered in a future episode? Comment on this episode, or reach out to us.00:00:00 Opening00:00:29 Introductions 00:02:54 Question Setup 00:04:16 Navigating New Roles in an Organization 00:13:07 Coaching Leadership on Agility and Fixed Projects 00:20:09 Managing Dependencies in Agile and Waterfall 00:28:38 Metrics for Agile Progress 00:36:00 Creating a Culture of Experimentation 00:47:23 Measuring Outcomes vs Output 00:52:40 The Gantt Chart Debate 00:58:16 Tools for User Story Mapping 01:05:21 Balancing Team Autonomy with Organizational Goals 01:13:01 Change Management in UI/UX Handoffs 01:19:38 Managing Parallel Sprints 01:29:13 Closing Connect with Mastering Agility

Karim Harbott: From Requirements Documents to Customer Obsession—Redefining the PO Role 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: Strategic, Customer-Obsessed, and Vision-Driven   "The PO role in the team is strategic. These POs focus on the customer, outcomes, and strategy. They're customer-obsessed and focus on the purpose and the why of the product." - Karim Harbott   Karim believes the industry fundamentally misunderstands what a Product Owner should be. The great Product Owners he's seen are strategic thinkers who are obsessed with the customer. They don't just manage a backlog—they paint a vision for the product and help the entire team become customer-obsessed alongside them.  These POs focus relentlessly on outcomes rather than outputs, asking "why are we building this?" before diving into "what should we build?" They understand the purpose of the product and communicate it compellingly.  Karim references Amazon's "working backwards" approach, where Product Owners start with the customer experience they want to create and work backwards to figure out what needs to be built. Great POs also embrace the framework of Desirability (what customers want), Viability (what makes business sense), Feasibility (what's technically possible), and Usability (what's easy to use). While the PO owns desirability and viability, they collaborate closely with designers on usability and technical teams on feasibility.  This is critical: software is a team sport, and great POs recognize that multiple roles share responsibility for delivery. Like David Marquet teaches, they empower the team to own decisions rather than dictating every detail. The result? Teams that understand the "why" and can innovate toward it autonomously.   Self-reflection Question: Does your Product Owner paint a compelling vision that inspires the team, or do they primarily manage a list of tasks? The Bad Product Owner: The User Story Writer "The user story writer PO thinks it's their job to write full, long requirements documents, put it in JIRA, and assign it to the team. This is far away from what the PO role should be." - Karim Harbott   The anti-pattern Karim sees most often is the "User Story Writer" Product Owner. These POs believe their job is to write detailed requirements documents, load them into JIRA, and assign them to the team. It's essentially waterfall disguised as Agile—treating user stories like mini-specifications rather than conversation starters. This approach completely misses the collaborative nature of product development.  Instead of engaging the team in understanding customer needs and co-creating solutions, these POs hand down fully-formed requirements and expect the team to execute without question. The problem is that this removes the team's ownership and creativity. When POs act as the sole source of product knowledge, they become bottlenecks.  The team can't make smart tradeoffs or innovate because they don't understand the underlying customer problems or business context. Using the Desirability-Viability-Feasibility-Usability framework, bad POs try to own all four dimensions themselves instead of recognizing that designers, developers, and other roles bring essential perspectives. The result is disengaged teams, slow delivery, and products that miss the mark because they were built to specifications rather than shaped by collaborative discovery. Software is a team sport—but the User Story Writer PO forgets to put the team on the field.   Self-reflection Question: Is your Product Owner engaging the team in collaborative discovery, or just handing down requirements to be implemented?   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Karim Harbott: Don't Scale Dysfunction—Fix the Team First 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.   "How do you define the success of a football manager? Football managers are successful when the team is successful. For Scrum Masters it is also like that. Is the team better than it was before?" - Karim Harbott   Karim uses a powerful analogy to define success for Scrum Masters: think of yourself as a football manager. A football manager isn't successful because they personally score goals—they're successful when the team wins. The same principle applies to Scrum Masters. Success isn't measured by how many problems you solve or how busy you are. It's measured by whether the team is better than they were before.  Are they more self-organizing? More effective? More aligned with organizational outcomes?  This requires a mindset shift. Unlike sprinters competing individually, Scrum Masters succeed by enabling others to be better.  Karim recommends involving the team when defining success—what does "better" mean to them? He also emphasizes linking the work of the team to organizational objectives. When teams understand how their efforts contribute to broader goals, they become more engaged and purposeful. But there's a critical warning: don't scale dysfunction! If a team isn't healthy, improving it is far more important than expanding your coaching to more teams.  A successful Scrum Master creates teams that don't need constant intervention—teams that can manage themselves, make decisions, and deliver value consistently. Just like a great football manager builds a team that plays brilliantly even when the manager isn't on the field.   Self-reflection Question: Is your team more capable and self-sufficient than they were six months ago, or have they become more dependent on you? Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Systems Modeling with Causal Loop Diagrams "It shows how many aspects of the system there are and how things are interconnected. This helps us see something that we would not come up with in normal conversations." - Karim Harbott   Karim recommends using systems modeling—specifically causal loop diagrams—as a retrospective format. This approach helps teams visualize the complex interconnections between different aspects of their work. Instead of just listing what went wrong or right, causal loop diagrams reveal how various elements influence each other, often uncovering hidden feedback loops and unintended consequences.  The power of this format is that it surfaces insights the team wouldn't discover through normal conversation. Teams can then think of their retrospective actions as experiments—ways to interact with the system to test hypotheses about what will improve outcomes. This shifts retrospectives from complaint sessions to scientific inquiry, making them far more actionable and engaging. If your team is struggling with recurring issues or can't seem to break out of patterns, systems modeling might reveal the deeper dynamics at play.   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Karim Harbott: You Can't Make a Flower Grow Faster—The Oblique Approach to Shaping Culture 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.   "How can I make a flower grow faster? Culture is a product of the behaviors of people in the system." - Karim Harbott   For Karim, one of the biggest challenges—and enablers—in his current work is creating a supporting culture. After years of learning what doesn't work, he's come to understand that culture isn't something you can force or mandate. Like trying to make a flower grow faster by pulling on it, direct approaches to culture change often backfire.  Instead, Karim uses what he calls the "oblique approach"—changing culture indirectly by adjusting the five levers: leadership behaviors, organizational structure, incentives, metrics, and systems. Leadership behaviors are particularly crucial.  When leaders step back and encourage ownership rather than micromanaging, teams transform. Incentives have a huge impact on how teams work—align them poorly, and you'll get exactly the wrong behaviors.  Karim references Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal, which demonstrates how changing organizational structure and leadership philosophy can unlock extraordinary performance. He also uses the Competing Values Framework to help leaders understand different cultural orientations and their tradeoffs. But the most important lesson? There are always unexpected consequences. Culture change requires patience, experimentation, and a willingness to observe how the system responds. You can't force a flower to grow, but you can create the conditions where it thrives.   Self-reflection Question: Are you trying to change your organization's culture directly, or are you adjusting the conditions that shape behavior?   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Debating why pricing belongs in product management's hands, not sales or finance.Product Manager Brian and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om are rankling egos as they discuss a heated debates: who should own pricing decisions? Listen or watch as they argue that pricing is product strategy, not a sales tactic. 

Karim Harbott: Why System Design Beats Individual Coaching Every Time 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.   "You can't change people, but you can change the system. Change the environment, not the people." - Karim Harbott   Karim was coaching a distributed team that was struggling with defects appearing constantly during sprints. The developers and testers were at different sites, and communication seemed fractured. But Karim knew from experience that when teams are underperforming, the problem usually isn't the people—it's the system they're working in. He stepped back to examine the broader context, implementing behavior-driven development(BDD) and specification by example to improve clarity through BDD scenarios.  But the defects persisted.  Then, almost by accident, Karim discovered the root cause: the developers and testers were employed by different companies. They had competing interests, different incentives, and fundamentally misaligned goals. No amount of coaching the individuals would fix a structural problem like that.  It took months, but eventually the system changed—developers and testers were reorganized into unified teams from the same organization. Suddenly, the defects dropped dramatically. As Jocko Willink writes in Extreme Ownership, when something isn't working, look at the system first. Karim's experience proves that sometimes the most compassionate thing you can do is stop trying to fix people and start fixing the environment they work in.   Self-reflection Question: When your team struggles, do you look at the people or at the system they're embedded in? Featured Book of the Week: Scaling Lean and Agile Development by Craig Larman and Bas Vodde "This book was absolute gold. The way it is written, and the tools they talk about went beyond what I was talking about back then. They introduced many concepts that I now use." - Karim Harbott   Karim discovered Scaling Lean and Agile Development by accident, but it resonated with him immediately. The concepts Craig Larman and Bas Vodde introduced—particularly around LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum)—went far beyond the basics Karim had been working with. The book opened his eyes to system-level thinking at scale, showing how to maintain agility even as organizations grow.  It's packed with practical tools and frameworks that Karim still uses today. For anyone working beyond a single team, this book provides the depth and nuance that most scaling frameworks gloss over. Also worth reading: User Stories Applied by Mike Cohn, another foundational text that shaped Karim's approach to working with teams.   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Karim Harbott: The Day I Discovered I Was a Scrum Project Manager, Not a Scrum Master 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.   "I was telling the team what to do, instead of helping the team to be better on their own. There's a lot more to being a Scrum Master than Agile—working with people is such a different skillset." - Karim Harbott   Karim thought he had mastered Scrum. He had read the books, understood the framework, and was getting things done. His team seemed to be moving forward smoothly—until he stepped away for a few weeks.  But, when he returned, everything had fallen apart. The team couldn't function without him constantly directing their work. That's when Karim realized he had fallen into one of the most common anti-patterns in Agile: the Scrum Project Manager.  Instead of enabling his team to be more effective, he had become their bottleneck. Every decision flowed through him, every task needed his approval, and the team had learned to wait for his direction rather than taking ownership themselves. The wake-up call was brutal but necessary.  Karim discovered that pushing project management responsibilities to the people doing the work—as David Marquet advocates—was far more powerful than being the hero who solves all problems. The real skill wasn't in telling people what to do; it was in creating an environment where they could figure it out themselves. Geoff Watts calls this servant leadership, and Karim learned it the hard way: a great Scrum Master makes themselves progressively less necessary, not more indispensable.   Self-reflection Question: Are you enabling your team to be more effective, or have you become the person they can't function without?   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

“Generosity as a strategy — I've never seen it not pay back eventually.”In this lively conversation, Jim and Sander welcome Jose Casal — agile coach, trainer, and long-time conference organizer — to reflect on the people, purpose, and future of agile gatherings. As part of the Scan Agile 2025 organizing team, Jose shares why he continues to invest months of volunteer effort into building events that foster connection and inspiration.From his global journey (Spain → UK → Finland) to his professional philosophy of “generosity as a strategy,” Jose unpacks the challenges and rewards of running community-driven conferences in a shifting industry landscape. The trio dive into the realities of sponsorship, the impact of AI on agile investment, and why human connection remains the ultimate ROI.Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

“Agile is not just for software — it's for solving problems anywhere there's complexity:"At Scan Agile 2025, Jim and Sander dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Michal Epstein about the transformative power of agility beyond traditional tech environments. Discover how agile principles can be applied in diverse fields like biotech and construction, and learn about the importance of stakeholder collaboration and value-driven approaches. Key takeaways include understanding that agile is a mindset transcending industries, the crucial role of stakeholder engagement, the benefits for non-tech teams, the importance of communication and transparency, and insights into value-based pricing.Connect with Michal: (14) Michal Epstein | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Welcome to Day 21 of the Double Your Profit SeriesThe go-to series for contractors, home service owners, and small business entrepreneurs.Today, we're tackling a silent bottleneck of growth: Over-qualifying what you already know.The truth is simple: speed wins. Most businesses don't fail because they made a wrong call — they fail because they got stuck waiting for the perfect call. Analysis paralysis keeps you stuck while competitors take action.

“In both poker and business, humans are the biggest variable—and the biggest opportunity."In this episode of Mastering Agility, Jim welcomes long-time friend and seasoned agile coach Stacy Oliver for a fascinating conversation that blends the worlds of poker, game theory, and agility. Drawing from decades of experience at the card table and in the corporate world, Stacy shares how concepts like expected value (EV), Game Theory Optimal (GTO) play, and the Independent Chip Model (ICM) can help leaders make better bets on their projects, teams, and portfolios.Stacy and Jim explore how decision quality, not just outcomes, determines success, and how understanding your constraints, risks, and probabilities can help you maximize return on investment in any game you're playing.Connect with Stacy: (13) Stacy Oliver | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

“I dream of a world where we don't have managers — just autonomous, inspired teams.”In this insightful episode of Mastering Agility, hosts Sander and Jim sit down with Laura Heikkurinen, Lead Transformation Coach at OP Financial Group, live at the Scan Agile 2025 conference. Together, they dive into the nuances of modern leadership, the tension between management and empowerment, and how organizations can create psychologically safe environments where everyone is empowered to lead — regardless of job title.Laura shares powerful reflections from her experience leading enterprise transformation, explains why language matters when redefining leadership, and offers candid takes on navigating toxic leadership legacies, neurodivergent inclusion, and the delicate balance between pushing a change forward or letting it go.Connect with Laura: (18) Laura Heikkurinen | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

“You can build software with Excel. You can finish an Ironman on a cheap bike. But will it be enjoyable? That's another question.”In this inspiring and energetic episode, Sander and Jim sit down with Dana—Scrum Master, team lead, and passionate triathlete—just ahead of her session at the Online Scrum Master Summit. Together, they unpack:Dana's journey into agile and what drew her to the Scrum Master Summit.How her dual passions—agile coaching and triathlon—intersect in powerful and unexpected ways.The surprising overlap between triathlon training and software delivery: focus, iteration, adaptation, and complexity.The value and limitations of tools—whether it's JIRA or a $6,000 triathlon bike—and why mindset still trumps everything.The importance of coaching: in sports and in software. Do you really need to know how to code to be an effective coach?Connect with Dana: (31) Dana Mykytiuk | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"Origin stories create die-hard fans. Once your story and your product are inseparable, you win."In this powerful episode of Mastering Agility, Jim and Sander sit down with storytelling strategist Osita Ifezue to explore how strategic storytelling can reshape the way agile teams operate, connect with customers, and innovate beyond the status quo. Recorded at ScanAgile 2025, Osita shares how organizations like LEGO, Apple, Nike, and IKEA use storytelling to drive customer loyalty, enhance internal alignment, and navigate change.Connect with Osita: (31) Osita Ifezue | LinkedInCheck out Think About It! With Osita Ifezue Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2idqtZvGCMswcqIPvQMDCa?si=oQhfzXDkRFCYRDtW16PkUgCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, Jeroen Jan Elzinga, CEO of Connected Movement, explains the key advantages of collaboration. Like what you hear? Connect with Jeroen on LinkedIn. Explore SAFe courses here.

This interview was recorded for the GOTO Book Club.http://gotopia.tech/bookclubRead the full transcription of the interview hereSimon Rohrer - Co-Author of "Better Value Sooner Safer Happier" & Senior Director at Saxo BankEduardo da Sliva - Independent Consultant on Organization, Architecture, and Leadership ModernizationRESOURCESSimonhttps://bsky.app/profile/simon.bvssh.comhttps://mastodon.social/@simonrhttps://x.com/sirohrerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/simonrohrerhttps://github.com/sirohrerhttps://www.soonersaferhappier.comEduardohttps://bsky.app/profile/esilva.nethttps://mastodon.social/@eduardodasilvahttps://x.com/emgsilvahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/emgsilvahttps://github.com/emgsilvahttps://esilva.netDESCRIPTIONEduardo da Silva and Simon Rohrer discuss the core ideas of "Better Value Sooner Safer Happier" diving into the principles of organizational transformation.Simon shares insights on the shift from output-driven to outcome-focused thinking, emphasizing value over productivity, and the need for continuous improvement in delivery speed, stakeholder satisfaction, and safety.The conversation explores key concepts like technical excellence, integrating safety into development, and balancing incremental changes with occasional larger steps.Simon Rohrer discusses organizational patterns and the importance of decentralizing decision-making, recommending a flexible, context-driven approach to transformation. The session concludes with practical advice on how to start implementing these ideas, using the book's map to guide organizations toward the right transformation strategy based on their specific goals.RECOMMENDED BOOKSJonathan Smart, Zsolt Berend, Myles Ogilvie & Simon Rohrer • Sooner Safer HappierStephen Fishman & Matt McLarty • Unbundling the EnterpriseCarliss Y. Baldwin • Design Rules, Vol. 2Matthew Skelton & Manuel Pais • Team TopologiesForsgren, Humble & Kim • Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOpsKim, Humble, Debois, Willis & Forsgren • The DevOps HandbookBlueskyTwitterInstagramLinkedInFacebookCHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUSJoin this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/joinLooking for a unique learning experience?Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.techSUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!

“It's hard to master, yes, because there's so much value. You need to have the right people to help you disseminate that advice, to apply the right approach to implement it in your organization.” In this episode, Adam has an honest, transparent discussion about Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) with Darren Wilmshurst, managing director, and Ken France, VP enterprise agility practice, both at Cprime. Topics covered in the conversation include the evolution of Agile at scale and the increasing importance of portfolio management as organizations look to connect strategy with execution and move to a product operating model. A look at the results from the State of SAFe Report 2025, which shares data on how organizations are transforming with SAFe and highlights struggles they have with LPM. And Darren's and Ken's insights and advice for achieving mastery in LPM. Like what you hear? Connect with Darren and Ken on LinkedIn. Download the State of SAFe Report here. Explore SAFe courses here.  

What's the best way to motivate people during an Agile transformation and set them up for success? In this episode, Quinn Dodsworth, Agile learning consultant at PM Partners in Australia answers that question and shares his advice. Like what you hear? Connect with Quinn on LinkedIn. Explore SAFe courses here.

Following through on the information output from a Value Stream Mapping (VSM) workshop is critical. Just as important is paying attention to a small but mighty metric that has to do with quality. Stefano Giovannini, business agility director at Capgemini Invent, explains and shares a real-world example. Like what you hear? Connect with Stefano on LinkedIn. Explore SAFe courses here.

Willst Du SAFE richtig implementieren – oder nur so tun als ob?Dann kommst Du am LACE-Team nicht vorbei.In dieser kompakten, aber knallharten Folge von „Psychologie, die verkauft“ tauchen wir mit Dr. Thomas Kahl und Stefan Kahl (Deloitte) tief in das Herz jeder erfolgreichen Transformation ein:✅ Was ist ein LACE-Team wirklich – und was definitiv nicht?✅ Wann ist der perfekte Zeitpunkt für den Aufbau?✅ Wer muss rein – und wer darf auf keinen Fall rein?✅ Die 3 größten Fehler, die LACE-Teams scheitern lassen.✅ Warum ein One-Man-LACE besser ist als gar keins.Du erfährst:Wie Du mit einem gut aufgestellten LACE-Team Skalierung möglich machst, echte Verantwortung ins Unternehmen bringst – und was Du unbedingt vermeiden musst, um nicht am Widerstand Deiner Organisation zu zerschellen.Diese Folge ist Pflichtprogramm für alle, die Agile Transformation ernst meinen – nicht nur auf Folien.Mit dabei: echte Insights aus der Praxis bei DAX-Konzernen, handfeste Do's & Don'ts und ein ganz klaresStatement: Leadership darf sich nicht wegducken.BÄM BÄM. Play drücken. LACE meistern. Transformation starten.

"Whenever I work with companies, I always challenge the leaders and the managers to rethink what they are paying the people for … are you paying them to stare at the screen from nine to five or are you paying them to actually generate outcomes?" In this episode, Adam talks to Oskar Kawecki, the first SAFe Practice Consultant-T (SPCT) in Poland, about the state of business agility adoption in Eastern Europe. The two discuss topics including the strong industries that are accelerating the need for companies to better adapt to changing market conditions, younger workers seeking more flexible and empowering work environments, and how SAFe can help enable those cultural and generational shifts to solve real business problems. Like what you hear? Connect with Oskar on LinkedIn. Explore SAFe courses here. 

In this episode, Brandon Frank and Ben Gold discuss the impact of AI across various industries and its potential to reshape business practices. They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, from its transformative power to its potential pitfalls.Key Discussion Points:​AI Impact on Supply Chains: The conversation begins with a discussion on how AI is helping businesses navigate supply chain disruptions, particularly in the packaging industry.   ​​AI as a Consultant's Tool: Ben highlights the effectiveness of AI tools like ChatGPT Deep Research in analyzing complex data, using the example of evaluating proposals from a client's strategy session.   ​​The AI-Driven Transformation: The discussion covers the potential for AI to drive significant change in businesses, including automating processes and streamlining operations.   ​​The Future of the Workforce: Ben and Brandon delve into the implications of AI for the workforce, discussing the need for adaptation and the potential for job displacement.   ​​AI Literacy and Adoption: The importance of AI literacy within organizations is emphasized, along with strategies for integrating AI tools into business processes.​•​LinkedIn Automation Strategies: Ben shares his experiences with using AI to enhance his LinkedIn strategy, including content creation, lead generation, and engagement. About Ben Gold:Ben Gold is an AI strategist and consultant with over 20 years of experience in technology and sales. He specializes in helping organizations adopt AI to improve efficiency, quality, and client engagement. Ben is passionate about making AI accessible and practical for businesses of all sizes.For more information and to explore other episodes, go to https://www.ppcpackaging.com/packology-podcast-1Follow PPCPackaging on social media! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-packaging-components-inc-/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PPCPackaging/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ppcpackaging/?hl=en Website: http://www.ppcpackaging.com/Find out more about Ben on his website and connect with him on LinkedIn and Email.Website: bengoldai.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bengoldsalesEmail: ben@bengoldai.comThe views and opinions expressed on the “Packology” podcast are solely those of the author and guests and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity. This podcast is an independent production of Packology, and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2025.

We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world.In this final episode of Agile Tales with Michael Hamman, we discuss the concept of Inner Agility as a pivotal element for achieving business agility. Michael shares his personal experiences, both disappointing and rewarding, in helping leadership teams develop their inner capacity for agility. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the courage to face discomfort for personal and organizational growth. We also touch on his book, 'Evolve Agility,' which serves as a guide for fostering an agile leadership culture from within. The episode concludes with a teaser for our upcoming season 10 of Our Agile Tales.00:00 Introduction01:18 Disappointing Experiences in Leadership04:38 Challenging Yet Rewarding Experiences08:43 Starting the Inner Agility Journey12:44 Michael Hamman's Book: Evolve Agility14:45 Conclusion and Season 10 TeaserMichael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility.Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

Ever been confused by the amount of certifications available and what will actually help you advance your career? Look no further than this conversation between Stephanie Ockerman and Emily Lint as they dive into the Agile certification landscape and their experiences in finding the right certifications for the next step in your career.    About the Featured Guest Stephanie Ockerman is a Business Agility & Leadership Coach and Consultant, Professional Scrum Trainer (PST), author, and entrepreneur. She helps teams and leaders use evidence-based approaches to unlock customer value, create space for innovation, and harness the power of collaborative teamwork. Stephanie is co-author of the book Mastering Professional Scrum. You can sign up for her newsletter for musings about business agility, teamwork, leadership, and life at AgileSocks.com.   If you're ready for a different type of learning experience, Stephanie is the creator of Agile Leadership Surf Camp, a transformational leadership development program for people who want to learn to ride the waves instead of trying to control the ocean - literally and in all aspects of life.   Follow Stephanie Ockerman on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieockerman/)   Reference(s) AgileSocks.com   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   Emily Lint is a budding industry leader in the realm of business agility. Energetic and empathetic she leverages her knowledge of psychology, business, technology, and mindfulness to create a cocktail for success for her clients and peers. Her agile journey officially started in 2018 with a big move from Montana to New Mexico going from traditional ITSM and project management methodologies to becoming an agile to project management translator for a big government research laboratory. From then on she was hooked on this new way of working. The constant innovation, change, and retrospection cured her ever present craving to enable organizations to be better, do better, and provide an environment where her co-workers could thrive.  Since then she has started her own company and in partnership with ICON Agility Services serves, coaches, and trains clients of all industries in agile practices, methodologies, and most importantly, mindset. Please check out her website (www.lintagility.com) to learn more. You can also follow Emily on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilylint/).

We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world.In this episode of 'Our Agile Tales,'  Michael Hamman talks about the significance of inner agility as a key to business agility. Michael talks about the transformative journey he advocates through his work with organizations and his book, 'Evolve Agility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out.' The episode delves into the practice of 'deliberate sensemaking,' and how it contributes to a more adaptive and authentic workplace culture. Michael emphasizes the importance of leadership and systemic changes starting from the top-level executives, advocating for a culture where awareness and complexity in meaning-making lead to more effective actions in the face of uncertainty. Books and resources for further reading on transformative leadership are also discussed.00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales01:13 Understanding Inner Agility02:10 The Role of Coaches and Guides06:06 Leadership and Organizational Transformation11:02 The Nonlinear Nature of Change23:50 Books and Resources for listeners24:58 ConclusionMichael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility.Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world.In this episode of Agile Tales, our discussion with Michael delves into the concepts of inner agility and its pivotal role in achieving business agility, highlighting Chris Argyris' theories on espoused theory versus theory in use. Michael provides insights on the challenges of honest communication within organizations and the psychological strategies people employ to avoid discomfort. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the limitations that our inner operating systems impose on our sensemaking and interactions. Michael also touches on the IDG's inner development goals and the need for methods that enhance our capacity for complex sense-making. The episode underlines that true organizational transformation stems from a deeper personal transformation and increased awareness of our underlying beliefs and assumptions.00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales01:13 Espoused Theory vs. Theory in Use05:29 The Cost of Avoiding the Truth06:53 Organizational Transformation and Human Change11:10 Experience Wheel and Inner Agility16:59 Understanding Our Inner Operating System19:30 Developing Inner Capacity for Sustainable Goals24:56 Enhancing Team Collaboration and Sensemaking29:35 ConclusionMichael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility.Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

Why is it critical for organizations to follow up and act on outcomes from retrospectives and problem-solving workshops? Steve Adolph, strategic advisor with Scaled Agile, explains in this episode. Like what you hear? Connect with Steve on LinkedIn. Explore SAFe courses here.

We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world.In this episode of Agile Tales, Michael Hamman emphasizes the importance of leadership agility in navigating the complexities of the 21st-century workplace. He addresses the impact of organizational politics, the need for a culture of transparency, authenticity, and integrity, and the benefits of collective intelligence in fostering innovation and effective action. He also shares anecdotes and insights on how leaders can create environments that promote psychological safety and challenge employees to achieve greater levels of performance and development.00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales01:24 The Hidden Layers in Organizations02:44 The Importance of Authenticity04:45 Challenges in Organizational Transparency07:54 Disorienting Vocabularies10:30 Developing People for Organizational Success14:17 Leadership and Vulnerability21:39 Handling Layoffs with Integrity25:16 Collective Intelligence in Crisis29:23 ConclusionMichael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility.Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world.In this episode of Our Agile Tales, our discussion centers around business transformation through the lens of inner agility. The conversation delves into how informal agreements within teams can evolve into organizational culture and the importance of balancing cultural mandates with flexibility. Michael shares stories illustrating the significance of observing and responding to natural patterns in organizational behavior. The dialogue also explores the delicate balance between stability and evolution in human systems, the role of resistance in fostering growth, and the risks involved in authentic communication within organizations. The discussion concludes with insights into the negative impacts of organizational cover-ups on culture and employee behavior.00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales01:27 Cultural References and Informal Agreements06:35 The Role of Resistance in Organizational Culture12:19 Practical Examples of Organizational Resistance17:55 Cover-Ups and Organizational Dysfunction27:47 Conclusion and Next Episode TeaserMichael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility.Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

Business agility is about adapting services, people, processes and finances to the changes in business environment. But, in many cases, it is attempted in a fragmented and opportunistic way thus undermining its full potential. How can we define and adopt ONE approach to managing data, architecture, security, and customer community across the enterprise towards best outcome? Guest 1: John Lambeth, Chief Information Officer, PAE Guest Bio: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/contributor/john-lambethh/ More on this Episode: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/steps-to-boosting-business-agility/ Visit CIO Talk Network Website: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/subscribe/ Nominate Guests or Sponsor: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/contact/

Having the right Agile tool is critical to any successful transformation. In this episode, Charlene Cuenca, SPCT and principal consultant with Icon Agility Services, explains why, shares her tips about when to implement one, and how to use it to collect key data. Like what you hear? Connect with Charlene on LinkedIn. Explore SAFe courses here.

Shifting to an Agile way of working is much more than checking boxes for standups and user stories. In this episode, Harry Narang, transformation leader and Agile coach with Skillbook Academy discusses the importance of understanding the why behind Agile practices, rather than just implementing them at face value. Like what you hear? Connect with Harry on LinkedIn. Explore SAFe courses here.

We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world.In this episode of Our Agile Tales, we discuss the importance of deliberate sense-making and its impact on team dynamics and leadership. Michael shares practices and examples of both conversational and relational practices to overcome challenges. We also explore effective methods for giving feedback and the significance of acknowledgment and appreciation in fostering a positive and productive team environment.00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales01:25 A Story of Self-Awareness in the Workplace07:13 The Power of Self-Management and Self-Awareness12:43 Cultural Sensitivity and Team Dynamics19:42 The Importance of Relationship Building27:52 ConclusionMichael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility.Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world.In this episode of Our Agile Tales, we discuss the importance of deliberate sense-making and its impact on team dynamics and leadership. Michael shares practices and examples of both conversational and relational practices to overcome challenges. We also explore effective methods for giving feedback and the significance of acknowledgment and appreciation in fostering a positive and productive team environment.00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales01:29 Conversational Patterns for Inner Agility05:22 Advocacy and Inquiry in Conversations12:40 Impact Feedback and Nonviolent Communication22:25 Self-Awareness in Organizations29:22 ConclusionMichael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility.Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

Chrissy Fleming: The Pressure Conduit, aka The Tornado Product Owner 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: Customer Advocate and Team Partner A great Product Owner brings customer insights directly to the team and shares access to customers, fostering deeper understanding of user needs. They maintain transparency about their knowledge limits and involve the team in both problem and solution spaces, ensuring comprehensive understanding before diving into solutions. The Bad Product Owner: The Pressure Conduit, aka The Tornado This anti-pattern emerges when Product Owners simply transmit leadership's volatility to the team, becoming mere messengers of pressure rather than true product leaders. They fall into "tornado mode," acting as order takers without questioning the "why" behind requests or protecting the team's ability to deliver value each sprint. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Chrissy Fleming: The Role of Trust and Fun in High-Performing 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. For Chrissy, success as a Scrum Master means fostering high-performing teams that solve valuable problems. She emphasizes that while this sounds simple, it requires building trust, establishing accountability, and maintaining a commitment to continuous improvement. A key indicator of success is when teams naturally have fun together, reflecting their comfort and psychological safety. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Simple and Team-Led Chrissy advocates for simple retrospective formats that encourage team participation, particularly those led by team members rather than the Scrum Master. She recommends using tools like Easy Retro and MURAL for remote sessions, emphasizing the importance of individual reflection time before group discussion and creating a safe space by acknowledging personal mistakes. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Chrissy Fleming: From Tasks to Outcomes, An Agile Cultural Transformation 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. Chrissy shares her experience transforming a sales-led organization from task orientation to outcome focus. By partnering with the head of tech and implementing OKRs, they created meaningful conversations about team goals and progress. Through initiatives like Demo Days and the creation of team "houses," they successfully shifted the organizational culture while ensuring teams felt ownership of their future. Self-reflection Question: How can you create meaningful opportunities for your teams to shape their own identity and future? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Chrissy Fleming: The Impact of Unaddressed Conflict on Agile Team Health 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. Chrissy shares a compelling story about a newly formed team working on retention that struggled with toxic behavior. The presence of a hostile team member created an environment where healthy conflict became impossible, leading to either unhealthy confrontations or complete avoidance. Despite attempts to address the situation, the lack of trust prevented team members from addressing the destructive behavior, ultimately resulting in the team's dissolution. Self-reflection Question: How do you currently handle toxic behavior in your team, and what steps could you take to build the psychological safety needed for addressing conflicts openly? Featured Book of the Week: How Toddlers Thrive by Tove Klein How Toddlers Thrive by Tove Klein explores brain function and human behavior, drawing surprising parallels between toddler development and adult interactions. Chrissy recommends it for its valuable insights into emotional intelligence and human nature, reminding us that in Agile environments, we're fundamentally dealing with human beings and their emotions. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Chrissy Fleming: The Hidden Cost of Combined Scrum Master and Product Owner Roles 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. In this episode, Chrissy shares a critical learning moment from her career when she attempted to juggle both Product Owner and Scrum Master roles simultaneously. This dual role led to a situation where the team began "sandbagging" their estimates due to underlying conflicts with leadership. The situation culminated when a team member completed a supposedly two-month project in just two days, destroying team credibility and ultimately leading to the team's dismissal. Self-reflection Question: How do you ensure you maintain your authentic voice as a Scrum Master while balancing multiple stakeholder needs? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Let's delve into the crucial topic of leadership during times of crisis. Whether you're a feminine leader, a business owner, a solopreneur, or an entrepreneur, knowing how to navigate through local emergencies and national administrative turmoil is essential. In this episode, we'll explore how communities, especially in times of distress, come together to provide immediate and long-term support. I'll also share my personal experiences relocating to Southern California and witnessing firsthand the incredible mobilization efforts during the LA fires. We'll discuss practical ways for business owners to maintain operations while contributing meaningfully to crisis efforts. I will emphasize the importance of aligning social good with your business values and how doing so can prepare you to respond effectively during emergencies. Additionally, we'll touch upon the significance of community and the feminine approach to leadership, advocating for a resourceful, abundant, and connected way of operating in these challenging times. Stay tuned as we uncover ways to embed social good into your business, ensure alignment with your core values, and create a lasting impact. Whether it's a local or global crisis, this episode aims to equip you with the tools and insights needed to lead from a place of compassion and strength. Let's get started! KEY TAKEAWAYS: The importance of community in times of crisis Setting yourself up for success by aligning business with social good The role of Feminine Leadership in todays initiatives Defining and Revisiting Your Values and Mission Listeners Only Offer: Feminine Leadership Upgrade  ACTIVATE > INITIATE > ANOINT Your next level of leadership. Rise up and step forward with clarity. There is nothing more important right now than women coming together to lead with renewed purpose. Use CODE: Upgrade11 Free Feminine Leadership Masterclass Free ebook Expand Your Leadership 1:1 LEADERSHIP RESET OFFER [for listeners only] For female entrepreneurs, visionaries, leaders and healers. If you and your work is feeling "off" or disconnected or you just want to feel much more aligned to the actual outcomes, experiences and the impact you're having then these two hours will provide the spiritual and practical shifts you need to be in congruence with your highest good and your sacred purpose. 2 Hours to create massive shifts and transformation in your work. Alchemize your energy, spirituality and professional goals. Claim Your Session Code ABUNDANCE for Listeners  APPLY:

CTO Series: How Open Strategy and Agile Practices Drive Success at NorthCode With Ismo Aro   In this BONUS episode, we sit down with Ismo Aro, CTO and partner at NorthCode, to delve into the transformative power of Open Strategy in the tech world. Ismo shares his journey from corporate roles at Nokia and Ericsson to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, and he unpacks how his approach to leadership evolved with the rise of agile methodologies, test automation, and cloud transformation. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to modernize their company's strategy and foster a culture of transparency and co-ownership. Pivotal Career Moments: From Waterfall to Agile Mindset   “When I joined the agile pilot team, it felt like discovering the way software development should always be done—release early, get feedback fast, and improve continuously.”   Ismo reflects on his early days at Nokia, where he began as a test engineer in a traditional waterfall environment. He describes how the shift to agile methodologies transformed the way teams communicated and collaborated. When he joined a pilot project for Scrum, he realized the value of fast feedback loops and early releases. This experience laid the foundation for his future focus on continuous integration and test automation.   Key Takeaway: Adopting agile frameworks can improve workflows by shortening feedback loops and promoting direct communication. The Essence of Open Strategy “Open Strategy means involving everyone in shaping the direction of the company—not just receiving updates but truly co-creating the future.”   At NorthCode, Open Strategy is a cornerstone of their operations. Ismo explains how they empower employees by making strategy-building a transparent and collaborative process. The company's structure includes a parent company and subsidiaries where employees are also co-owners. Revenue-sharing ensures that when the business succeeds, everyone benefits directly.   Key Elements of Open Strategy: Transparency: Strategy is made visible through a kanban board and KPIs accessible to all. Ownership: Subsidiary team members can own up to 80% of their company. Profit-sharing: 80% of client revenue goes to the subsidiary, and dividends are shared annually.   “By aligning incentives and opening up the strategy process, you create a culture where employees don't just work for you—they work with you.” How Open Strategy Unfolds Annually “We make ideas visible and let them evolve until they're ready for execution.”   Ismo outlines the company's approach to strategy using a high-level roadmap and clear metrics to track progress. The focus is on organic growth through subsidiaries, with a benchmark of starting a new subsidiary once a team reaches 20 people. The company also uses “business spikes”—short, low-cost experiments to test new ideas.   Practical Tip: A business spike allows you to explore an idea quickly without committing significant resources, making it easier to pivot when necessary. Navigating Challenges in Open Strategy “Some people want to co-create, while others prefer to focus on their work—and both are valid.”   Ismo acknowledges that not everyone in the organization is equally interested in strategic discussions, and that's okay. Open Strategy doesn't require everyone to participate equally—it provides opportunities for involvement at different levels. The key is fostering an environment where insights and information flow freely from the ground up, rather than top-down mandates.   Key Insight: Open Strategy thrives when participation is voluntary and inclusive, rather than forced. Measuring Success: KPIs and Transparency “We believe in showing our utilization rates openly because our people have a stake in the results.”   To measure success, NorthCode tracks KPIs such as revenue, profit, and utilization rates. Unlike traditional consulting companies that keep these metrics private, NorthCode shares them openly to build trust and foster a sense of ownership. Monthly meetings focus on tactical updates, while strategic sessions aim to inspire employees to contribute ideas for the company's future.   Fun Practice: The “nightmare competitor” exercise encourages the team to imagine an ideal competitor and then adopt some of their hypothetical best practices into NorthCode's strategy.   “When people can see the metrics that matter, they're more motivated to take ownership of their impact.” Inspiration from Open Strategy and Business Agility “We take concepts from corporate books and tailor them to fit our context as a growing, agile company.” Ismo cites two key books that shaped his thinking: Open Strategy and The 6 Enablers of Business Agility. However, he emphasizes the importance of adapting corporate-level concepts to suit smaller, more agile organizations. He believes that while agile is mainstream in software development, many companies remain rigid in their overall strategy.   Recommended Reads: Open Strategy: Mastering Disruption from Outside the C-Suite by Stadler et al. The 6 Enablers of Business Agility by Harbott   Key Reflection: Ismo's approach underscores the importance of agility not just in software but in company operations and strategy-making.   Final Tip: Embrace modern tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) to streamline workflows—but remember, they enhance your work, not replace it.   About Ismo Aro Ismo Aro is the CTO and partner at NorthCode, specializing in software development and workflow modernization. With experience at Nokia and Ericsson, he has held various roles, from test engineer to entrepreneur. Ismo co-founded NorthCode after selling a previous company and also served as Chairman of the Robot Framework Foundation, contributing to the growth of the widely used open-source test automation framework.   You can link with Ismo Aro on LinkedIn.

“Technology is evolving quickly … and the government is embracing that. And so as they look at modernization and transformation initiatives, how can we look at AI and machine learning and different ways to incorporate these technologies into improving their solutions, improving their services to their constituents, and then integrating that into this whole mindset of agility.” How does a small but mighty Agile consulting firm help government clients tackle the unique challenges and opportunities of large-scale enterprise transformation? Adam finds out in this episode with Beth Hatter, Director of Agile Training, and Jason Fair, CEO of Genesis Consulting Partners. The discussion covers topics including the influx of new, tech-savvy talent seeking to improve government services for citizens, how agencies are adopting a different approach to deliver and manage their products, and the opportunities ahead for both the government and Genesis Consulting. Like what you hear? Connect with Beth and Jason on LinkedIn. Explore SAFe courses here.

What Does an Enterprise Business Agility Coach ACTUALLY Do?Discover the crucial role of Enterprise Business Agility Coaches in transforming organizations! In this episode, we dive deep into:How an Enterprise Coach differs from other CoachesWorking with C-suite executives to drive organizational changeMeasuring culture and transformation successNavigating resistance from middle managementImproving time-to-market and financial outcomes

“The language people are using now is ‘we're on this continuous journey of improvement' and the ability to adapt the Framework has always been there. … Rather than make it something that you have to discover for yourself, we want to make it part of the fabric of the Framework.” In this episode, Adam talks to Andrew Sales, Chief Methodologist at Scaled Agile, about making SAFe more accessible, understandable, and adaptable for organizations. The two discuss the why behind reimagining SAFe, the focus on clearly explaining the purpose and rationale behind the practices, the intentional design of the new Big Picture and reworked articles, and the future evolution of the Framework. Like what you hear? Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn. Check out the new Big Picture. Explore SAFe courses here.

“The value of the enterprise strategy room is to bring forward the information that the enterprise leaders need to do their jobs, enable others to be successful, and support the things that most need support at that moment.” Tune in as Adam talks to Rebecca Davis, Methodologist for the Framework Team, and Saahil Panikar, SPCT and CIO at Atlas Revolutions, about the concept of an enterprise strategy room—a tool designed to help leaders reconnect portfolio performance data to the overall enterprise strategy. The discussion dives into what benefits the enterprise strategy room aims to achieve and why it's the right forum to make informed decisions to drive the business forward, the growing need to focus less on transformation and more on achieving the benefits of having transformed, and pitfalls to avoid. Like what you hear? Connect with Rebecca and Saahil on LinkedIn. Read the Enabling Strategic Alignment with an Enterprise Strategy Room article. Explore SAFe courses here.

In this episode of We Are Only Human, host Ben Eubanks is joined by Poornima, Chief Product Officer at Rival. Together, they discuss the latest research in Talent Acquisition, focusing on the importance of flexibility and agility within organizations. They delve into the challenges employers face in forecasting hiring needs, the necessity of personalized onboarding processes, and the evolving role of AI in talent acquisition. The conversation highlights the significance of having integrated systems to maintain data accuracy and compliance. They also touch on the evolving landscape of ATS and the critical role of skill development in maintaining an adaptable workforce. Poornima emphasizes the importance of engaging deeply with vendors and understanding the real capabilities of their solutions.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:43 Guest Introduction: Poornima from Rival01:20 Research Insights: Workforce Agility and Flexibility02:22 Challenges in Talent Acquisition and Onboarding03:16 The Importance of Data Integration and Accuracy06:50 Personalized Onboarding: Best Practices and Examples14:02 The Role of ATS in Talent Acquisition20:57 AI and Skills in Talent Management26:08 Final Thoughts and AdviceConnect with PoornimaConnect with RivalSee the show archives and sign up for episode updates

** 3 Consecutive Awards for Best Podcast, 2022 - 2024 APEX Awards of Publication Excellence. In this episode, The Journal's Executive Editor Theresa Houck brings the written word to life by reading the article, “HMI Helps With the Heavy Lifting.” It's written by Susan Burtch, Lead Commercial Portfolio Manager of, Visualization Software at Rockwell Automation. You'll learn how modern human-machine interface software removes barriers to accessing a manufacturing operation's data, and empowers OEMs and end users. Resources from this episode: Read the article online: “HMI Helps With the Heavy Lifting.” To subscribe to our 4 print magazines (Feb., May, July and Oct.), e-mail Anna Hicks at ahicks@endeavorbusinessmedia.com. Subscribe to our 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe. Hit the “Share” symbol to share this episode with your colleagues who would benefit from this information. And please give us a 5-star rating and a review. Brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Grace Vandecruze: A Wall Street trailblazer, corporate board member, and mountain climber who's scaled 25 peaks across 3 continents while revolutionizing the insurance industry.Make sure to check out Grace's “Become a Wealth Builder” at https://wwamasterclass.comChange Ready is an original series brought to you by Behind the Human & Malosi. A series where we do everything possible to future-proof your mind and thrive in an era of unprecedented change.   ___How Prepared is Your Team for the Next Big Disruption? Future-proof your team with Malosiminds.com Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props

David Greenspan, founder of BLUECASE, has a PhD in High-Performance Psychology. He specializes in empowering leaders and fast-moving organizations to build great companies and achieve exceptional results.Welcome you to Change Ready, an original series brought to you by Behind the Human & Malosi. A series where we do everything possible to future-proof your mind and thrive in an era of unprecedented change. ___How Prepared is Your Team for the Next Big Disruption? Future-proof your team with Malosiminds.com Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props

Today we are speaking with Chris Dyer, CEO and acclaimed company culture expert, consistently guided organizations to become recognized as "Best Places to Work" and achieved five- time recognition as the fastest-growing company by Inc Magazine. As the #1 Leadership Speaker on Culture and author of three bestselling books, including "The Power of Company Culture and Remote Work, Chris stands as a Top 50 Global Thought Leader. ___How Prepared is Your Team for the Next Big Disruption? Future-proof your team with Malosiminds.com Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props