Applied Scrum

I am a Scrum Trainer and Agile coach, and I love my job; I really do. I came to this path not by taking a well worn, easily recognizable route, but via a circuitous, accidental route that actually prepared me to be a successful ScrumMaster, coach and trainer. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed the challenge of removing obstacles, negotiating agreements, empowering teams and facilitating teamwork, demanding (and meeting) higher quality and productivity standards, and satisfying customer requirements … all to build better software that provides business value.

Before I joined the world of software development I spent nearly 10 years in the education and business arenas. The experience gained from the classroom - teaching business skills to young adults, as well as directing non-profit organizations and managing teams instilled me with the same values that are central to Agile development. The segue from businesswoman to active Scrum Trainer and Coach has been a natural progression built on the foundations of my values, principles and strengths as a person. These include values around on servant leadership, empowering teams, finding win-win solutions, facilitating productive discussions and managing customer expectations. At this point in my journey I consider myself to be an Agile evangelist, and Scrum with XP engineering practices is my Agile flavor of choice. As an evangelist, I am committed and passionate about spreading the word on this better way to build software to anyone who wants to listen to me!

Over the last several years I have taken my skills, knowledge and experiences and applied them as a ScrumMaster, coach and trainer with multiple teams on different software projects. I have had the privilege and pleasure of teaching and nurturing teams and customers new to Agile and to Scrum, and guiding them in successfully applying the values and principles specified in the Agile manifesto and twelve Agile Principles. I am fascinated with applying these values at the program level, helping larger organizations transition to Agile and Scrum software development practices. The challenge is adapting what they have to what they can be. It’s challenging work, and I love it.

The feeling of community associated with Agile and Scrum is especially rewarding. I attended a Certified Scrum Trainers Retreat last week. Meeting fellow practitioners and community leaders, exchanging experiences and points of view was thoroughly revitalizing. I realized that experience of teaching the CSM material and coaching teams has brought me back full circle, pro-actively applying my teaching and facilitating skills with a group of people who want to learn about one of my favorite subjects. I’ve come a long way on my Agile journey, and I’m looking forward to continuing to help and guide others on theirs.