Explore every episode of the podcast Scrum.org Community Podcast

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. 

In this "Value Delivered" episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, host Dave West and PST Jay Rahman, Founder of Fractal Systems discuss how agile principles helped a large investment bank turn a struggling multi-million dollar project into a success. By applying Scrum at multiple levels, the organization improved leadership alignment, enhanced collaboration, and reduced risks tremendously—ultimately accelerating delivery and achieving better outcomes. Listen in to discover how Scrum can create transparency, alignment, and value at scale.

In this Ask a PST episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, guest host Lindsay Velecina is joined by Professional Scrum Trainer Dominik Maximini to answer listener questions about forecasting and release planning. Dominik shares practical insights on estimation, using burn-down charts, managing dependencies with joint roadmaps, and aligning with stakeholder expectations. He explains why normalizing velocity across teams can be counterproductive and stresses the importance of a clear Definition of Done when planning releases. Tune in for actionable advice rooted in experience, pragmatism, and common sense.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, host Dave West and Brendan Mcsheffrey, Managing Partner at Kendall AI explore the Kendall Framework—a method for training AI using principles from lean, agile, and design thinking. They discuss how clear problem definition and context blocks like roles, capabilities, and processes dramatically improve AI accuracy. Learn how Scrum Teams can get better results from AI and make this powerful technology more accessible to everyone.

In this "Value Delivered" episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Dave West speaks with Andre Bohn of ambarics and Professional Scrum Trainer Alex Hardt about how combining Professional Scrum and Kanban helped ambarics streamline ERP software support. Learn how greater transparency, limiting work in progress, and visualizing work item age enabled the team to better manage unplanned work, reduce escalations, and increase customer satisfaction.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Patricia Kong talks with Professional Scrum Trainer Joanna Plaskonka about why psychological safety is critical for effective Scrum Teams. Joanna explains how it fuels openness, innovation, and accountability—while its absence leads to poor collaboration, low morale, and missed opportunities. Through real-world examples, she dispels common myths and shares how leaders can foster a culture where teams feel safe to take risks, challenge ideas, and grow. This conversation highlights that psychological safety isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential for delivering real value.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast – Value Delivered Series, host Dave West is joined by Carmit Ophir, Senior Director at StoreDot, and Professional Scrum Trainer Michal Epstein to explore how StoreDot leveraged Professional Scrum to tackle the complex challenges of developing ultra-fast-charging batteries for electric vehicles.

Faced with low collaboration and siloed teams of chemists, engineers, and system experts, StoreDot turned to Scrum to foster transparency, cross-functional teamwork, and faster feedback loops. The results? Accelerated innovation, milestones delivered ahead of schedule, and a cultural shift driven by leadership support and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Whether you’re navigating R&D in a highly technical space or looking to drive transformation in your organization, this conversation is full of insights and practical advice.

 Key Takeaways:

• Why R&D teams can embrace agility
  
  
• The importance of leadership support in Scrum adoption
  
  
• How a culture of feedback and experimentation accelerates value delivery
  
  

 Tune in to hear how StoreDot is literally charging ahead with Scrum.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, guest host Lindsay Velecina welcomes Professional Scrum Trainer Simon Reindl to answer listener questions from his recent webinar, “How do the Scrum Accountabilities Work at Scale – Practical Steps for Delivery.”

Drawing on years of hands-on experience, Simon breaks down Scaled Scrum and portfolio management, explores how many Scrum Masters you really need, and offers guidance on applying frameworks like Nexus, Scrum at Scale, and even SAFe with intention—not dogma.

From structuring teams to improving flow and making value measurable, Simon shares practical insights to help organizations scale Scrum without losing sight of what really matters: delivering value through empowered teams and continuous learning.

Key Topics:

• Scaled Scrum and Portfolio Management
• How many Scrum Masters? It depends.
• Value Stream Mapping to uncover flow and bottlenecks
• Using metrics that matter (hint: it’s not velocity)
• The art of being a persistent (and sometimes annoying) Scrum Master

Whether you're scaling up or just getting started, this conversation will help you do it with clarity and purpose.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, guest host Lindsay Velecina is joined by Professional Scrum Trainer Joanna Plaskonka to answer lingering questions from her recent webinar on psychological safety in Scrum Teams. Joanna shares practical insights on measuring psychological safety using Amy Edmondson’s model, handling micromanagement, and fostering safe environments even in challenging cultures. From using behavioral questions and action learning to creating psychologically safe retrospectives, this episode is packed with actionable ideas for Scrum Masters, leaders, and teams seeking high performance through trust and openness! 

How does Toyota apply Agile Product Operating Model (APOM) principles to portfolio management? In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Dave West and PST Lucas Smith, Director of Agile Program & Services, Toyota Connected, explore how Toyota Connected structures its funding models, defines product life cycles, and manages dependencies in complex product ecosystems. Learn how Toyota Connected balances agility with control, ensuring product teams can innovate while maintaining strategic alignment. Tune in to discover how APOM principles are shaping portfolio agility at scale.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast,  host Dave West and Yuval Yeret, Professional Scrum Trainer and SAFe Fellow explore how the Agile Product Operating Model (APOM) can enhance the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). They discuss the shift from a rigid "feature factory" approach to a dynamic "lab" environment that fosters experimentation and value discovery. Yuval highlights the need to evolve SAFe to better support product-oriented organizations, highlighting practical steps like the Portfolio Agility Trail Map. Tune in to learn how SAFe and APOM can work together and other considerations.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Dave West and PST Andy Brandt explore the state of Agile transformations and the shift toward the Agile Product Operating Model (APOM) as featured in their recently written whitepaper. While Agile has been widely adopted, challenges like misalignment between business strategy and technical execution persist. Andy shares how focusing on products instead of work and starting small with one team can drive meaningful change. They discuss the role of AI in enhancing productivity, the importance of organizational alignment, and how executive commitment can lead to spectacular results. Tune in to learn how to move beyond Agile transformations and embrace a product-first mindset!

Referenced whitepaper: Moving Beyond Agile Transformations: Leveraging the Agile Product Operating Model

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Dave West is joined by Professional Scrum Trainer Jay Rahman to explore the evolving landscape of agility in the Middle East. They discuss how rapid digital transformation is driving the need for agility, not just in startups but also in established enterprises. Jay highlights the critical role of leadership in fostering an agile mindset, the importance of strong product thinking, and how organizations can balance speed with adaptability. Tune in to learn why agility is more than just a framework—it’s a strategic necessity for long-term success.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Dave West chats with Accenture’s Professional Scrum Trainer Dimitris Dimitrelos about how companies and organizations introduce the Agile Product Operating Model (APOM). They explore the shift from project-based to product-based approaches, how APOM integrates business and product development, and the challenges of aligning legacy structures with new ways of working. Dimitris highlights the need for strong C-level sponsorship and cross-functional transformation teams to drive success. Tune in to learn how organizations are navigating this transformation to achieve true business agility.

In this Ask a PST session, Professional Scrum Trainer Mary Iqbal answers questions around the principles of Agile Leadership, offering actionable insights for fostering collaboration, enabling self-managing teams, and driving organizational success in a fast-paced, complex world.

In part two of this portfolio management Q&A, Dave West, Yuval Yeret, and Darrell Fernandes tackle the complexities of funding products vs. teams, especially in nonprofits. They explore shifting from work-based to product-based funding, managing technical debt vs. product roadmap progress, and aligning business and technology goals. The discussion highlights the role of initiative owners, evidence-based management, and finance partnerships in driving effective portfolio decisions. They also explore the concept of working cross-product. Tune in for insights on creating a more sustainable and impact-driven portfolio strategy. 

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Dave is joined by Yuval Yeret and Darrell Fernandes to answer key questions on Agile product portfolio management from a recent webinar. They explore how to visualize work, reduce work in progress, and prioritize investments using cost of delay. The conversation highlights the importance of quarterly business reviews, aligning initiatives with strategic goals, and leveraging Kanban and Evidence-Based Management. Tune in for practical insights on managing Agile portfolios effectively—and stay tuned for Part 2!

Here is the resource Yuval mentioned containing the Product Portfolio Agility Trail Map. 

In this Ask a Professional Scrum Trainer episode, Patricia Kong moderates a discussion with Simon Flossmann and Stas Pavlov tackling listener questions on the challenges of Product Backlog Management. They explore techniques for prioritization, balancing technical debt, and improving transparency with stakeholders. From leveraging the Kano model and Magic estimation to using tools like Miro and Monte Carlo simulations for forecasting, they provide actionable insights to help teams refine their backlog effectively. Tune in for expert advice on optimizing backlog management for better product outcomes!

In this Scrum.org Community Podcast episode, our host Dave West speaks with Bilal Alawiye, Agile Coach Lead at Sanofi’s Accelerator, and Stephen Sykes, co-founder of Scrum Match. Bilal shares how Sanofi’s Accelerator transformed its approach to Scrum Mastery. The discussion highlights challenges like mechanical Scrum and the evolving role of Scrum Masters in fostering a product-focused culture, making their contributions transparent, and addressing business complexities. They explore how Sanofi’s Accelerator partnered with Scrum Match to enhance Scrum Master recruitment, emphasizing the importance of domain knowledge, product orientation, and value delivery. 

View written case study

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Dave West sits down with Sander Dur and Ryan Brook, authors of Solving for Value: A Journey of Ambition and Stupidity. This unique "bar book" combines a fictional story with actionable insights and real-world advice on Scrum and agility. The authors discuss the importance of prioritizing value over process, self-management, and transparency while highlighting common anti-patterns like mindless Scrum adoption, flawed scaling efforts, and rigid roadmaps. They also share their collaborative, iterative writing process and how humor plays a crucial role in connecting with readers. Tune in for an engaging conversation that blends empathy, humor, and practical guidance for tackling Scrum challenges.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Omar Ahmed, a Scrum Master from the UK, shares his inspiring journey from a mechanical engineering background to becoming a Scrum Master. Starting in a defense company with a waterfall-driven culture, Omar recounts how a pivotal encounter during a continuous improvement course introduced him to Scrum.

Omar dives into the challenges of transitioning to agile practices, emphasizing the critical roles of team empowerment, psychological safety, and staying true to personal values. He reflects on balancing career aspirations with serving his team and offers valuable advice for new Scrum Masters, including the importance of resilience, networking, and leading organizational change.

Omar also discusses his current role in a defense and aerospace organization undergoing a top-down agile transformation, showcasing the impact of strong leadership support. Tune in for insights, lessons, and encouragement for navigating the rewarding path of a Scrum Master.

In this episode of Scrum Master Real Talk, host Dave West chats with Jim Sparks, a Scrum Master from Dayton, Ohio, about his accidental journey into agility. Jim shares how he discovered a passion for servant leadership, the evolution of his role toward delivery accountability, and how he tackles challenges like leading without authority and overcoming resistance to Scrum—especially in government and cybersecurity contexts.

Jim’s advice for Scrum Masters is simple yet profound: never stop learning, build strong networks, and approach the accountability with humility and fun. Tune in to hear Jim’s inspiring story, actionable tips, and insights on balancing servant leadership with delivery focus.

Patricia Kong is back to flip the script and interview Dave about Product Definition, answering remaining questions from his webinar on the topic a few weeks ago. 
Dave covers:

• Challenges in Moving to a Product Organization
• Impact of Digital Products and Organizational Complexity
• Transitioning to a Product Model
• Core vs. Context in Product Portfolio
• Role of AI in Product Development

Tune in for great insights!

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Andreas Whitla, a Scrum Master from Germany, shares his inspiring journey from transforming an economically troubled hospital with Agile principles to working with diverse organizations across the globe.

Andreas reflects on key lessons for Scrum Masters, including:

• Balancing learning with delivery to foster team growth.
• Navigating cultural differences and managing conflicts effectively.
• Leveraging tools from unexpected fields, like couples therapy, to enhance team dynamics.

He also offers actionable advice for new Scrum Masters, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge, recognizing team strengths, and creating a personal backlog for continuous improvement.

Tune in for an engaging conversation on the creative and impactful aspects of Scrum Mastery!

In der Scrum.org „Ask A Professional Scrum Trainer“-Serie bietet sich die Möglichkeit, unmittelbar in einer Live-Session mit einem Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) in Kontakt zu treten. Dort bekommst du die drängendsten Fragen zu deinen Herausforderungen und Situationen, mit denen dein Scrum Team konfrontiert ist, beantwortet.

Solltest du also dringende Fragen zu Scrum haben, dann ist diese Session für dich!  

Triff PST Gregor Stuhldreier zu einer deutschen Ausgabe von “Ask a PST”. 

In this episode - we kick off a new series - Scrum Master Real Talk, where Dave interviews Scrum Masters in the field sharing what they really do!

In this episode Yannick van der Wende, a Scrum Master from the Netherlands working at Team Rockstars IT, shares his journey from a Microsoft.NET developer to a Scrum Master, highlighting his experiences at various organizations. He discusses the challenges of transitioning to a Scrum Master role, including managing dependencies in data teams at Ascent Energy and fostering psychological safety. 

Yannick emphasizes the importance of understanding team dynamics, leveraging ADHD for quick problem-solving, and creating a neurodiverse environment. He advises new Scrum Masters to build psychological safety, understand team goals, and maintain transparency. Yannick also stressed the need for Scrum Masters to adapt to evolving team needs and leverage diverse perspectives for innovative solutions.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Jay Rahman and Darrell Fernandes join host Dave West to explore the integration of AI—specifically, Large Language Models (LLMs)—within Scrum Teams. Jay cautions against focusing solely on AI technology without factoring in the human element, underscoring the ongoing need for critical roles like Product Owners and Scrum Masters. Darrell highlights AI's potential to disrupt and accelerate but stresses the need for a structured approach that aligns with Agile values. Together, they discuss AI's impact on team dynamics, product ownership, and the holistic approach required—mission, management, and mechanics—to drive successful AI adoption.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Mik Kersten, CTO at Planview, returns to chat with Dave about the movement from project-centric to product-driven models, reflecting on the recent Project to Product event where they both spoke. 

Together, they explore how pragmatic organizations are embracing product operating models, underscoring the need for executive sponsorship, business alignment, and visibility into flow metrics. Kersten shares valuable lessons from Vanguard’s success, the challenges of technical debt, and the importance of infrastructure for sustained transformation. 

Tune in to learn why Mik and Dave are optimistic about the future of product-based models, especially with agile and DevOps practices setting the foundation for success.

In this unique episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Patricia Kong and PSTs Ryan Ripley, Todd Miller and Will Seele discuss the application of the Evidence-Based Management (EBM) framework to career management. They highlight that intentional career management can improve retention rates by 30-50% and that 94% of employees would stay longer at a company investing in their career development. They share personal experiences with using EBM tools like empathy mapping and a career canvas to align career aspirations with organizational goals. They emphasize the importance of co-creation and non-surprising data presentations to foster productive conversations. The conversation also touches on the relevance of EBM for independent consultants and small business owners.

In this Ask a PST session, Agile Director, Executive Coach and Professional Scrum Trainer Jay Rahman answers listener questions and offers advice about their Scrum challenges and obstacles. Jay offers strategies for avoiding and recovering from product delivery failures. Jay emphasized the importance of alignment across leadership, management, and teams, and the need for business and technology to work together. He highlights the critical role of Retrospectives in identifying and addressing issues, and the necessity of senior leadership's accountability. Jay also stresses the importance of Product Owners being fully engaged and available, and the value of using OKRs to foster a culture of accountability. He shares practical examples, such as cross-skilling teams to reduce dependencies and leveraging stakeholder metrics to prioritize requirements. Tune in for a thought provoking session!

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, as a part of our Value Delivered series highlighting Scrum case studies, host Dave West, sits down with Professional Scrum Trainer Mary Iqbal, founder of Rebel Scrum and organizer of Scrum Day Madison. They discuss the agile transformation journey of a leading health insurance provider. Mary shares insights into their shift from a waterfall model to a product-based Agile approach using Scrum, the challenges faced during this transition, and the strategies employed to streamline product ownership and improve delivery processes. Tune in to learn about the importance of defining clear products, empowering teams and fostering a product mindset in large-scale agile implementations.

Ești la început de drum cu Scrum sau vrei să-ți dezvolți experiența în Scrum? Atunci această sesiune este pentru tine.Cu toate că Scrum este ușor și simplu de înțeles, poate fi dificil de aplicat eficient. Seria “Întreabă un Professional Scrum Trainer” te pune în contact cu traineri certificați (PST) de către Scrum.org într-o sesiune live, în care aceștia răspund la cele mai presante întrebări legate de provocările și situațiile cu care se confruntă echipele Scrum.

În această sesiune live a “Întreabă un Professional Scrum Trainer”, cei doi PST români, Mihai Olaru și Ciprian Bănică vor fi disponibili pentru a răspunde întrebărilor voastre arzătoare despre Scrum și pentru a discuta provocările pe care voi sau echipele voastre le întâmpinați.

Paul Kuijten and Fredrik Wendt join Dave West again to discuss the third piece of the Professional Product Ownership Capabilities model - Evolve with Validation. They discuss the importance of understanding and validating the "why" behind product features. They discuss the evolution from traditional requirements to user stories and outcomes, and the need for continuous experimentation to validate assumptions. The conversation highlights the shift towards more empirical and economic validation methods, the role of AI in enhancing this process, and the importance of team collaboration in achieving product success.

In this episode of the Scrum.org community podcast, PSTs Paul Kuijten, and Fredrik Wendt join Dave to discuss the "lead to value" capability in Professional Product Ownership. They emphasize the importance of contextual awareness, understanding market dynamics, and aligning product strategies with business goals. They highlight the challenges of defining products, the impact of organizational capabilities, and the necessity of considering financial aspects and pricing strategies. The conversation also touches on the iterative nature of product definition and the need for long-term decision-making to avoid accumulating technical and business debt. A key theme in this discussion is the importance of leading teams towards value creation and the practical application of Product Ownership principles.

In this PST Spotlight Episode, PST Ryan Ripley interviews Pawel Felinski about his journey into Scrum. Pawel shares how he became a Scrum Master and the initial challenges he faced, including the misconception that Scrum Mastery is simple, and the importance of practical experience over theoretical knowledge. Pawel emphasizes the value of mentorship, learning from peers, and more! Tune in for some great advice. 

In this episode, Dave West, our host and  Mik Kersten, CTO at Planview and author of Project to Product discuss the critical shift from project-oriented to product-centric organizations. Mik highlights the disconnect between traditional project-based models and Agile principles, sharing insights from a recent survey. Dave and Mik explore key factors for a successful transition to a product focus, including aligning business and technology planning, managing a portfolio of products, and more. Mik also emphasizes the importance of redesigning quarterly business reviews (QBRs) to link business outcomes with Agile planning. Tune in to learn more and get a sneak peek into the upcoming Project to Product Summit coming up October, where these topics will be further explored by Mik, Dave and many other exciting speakers!

Learn more about the Project to Product Summit virtual event.

Learn more about the Project to Product Summit Executive Experience live event in New York.

In this PST Spotlight episode, guest host PST Ryan Ripley interviews Rich Visotcky, a Professional Scrum Trainer, about his journey to becoming a Scrum Master. Rich shares his initial exposure to Scrum at a small software startup and his formal training. He describes his experience working with a high-performing team, including fellow Professional Scrum Trainers. Rich emphasizes the importance of self-management, accountability, and the role of Scrum Masters in fostering collaboration and continuous improvement. He advises aspiring Scrum Masters to start living the role, let go of control, and influence through care and influence. 

In this series, we will be exploring the key tenets of the Capabilities and Skills of Professional Product Ownership. This first episode focuses on the "Engage with Vision" area. PSTs Fredrik Wendt and Paul Kuijten emphasize the importance of a shared vision for product development, highlighting that a clear, inspiring vision aligns the team towards a common goal. They share examples stressing the need for vision clarity and its practical application. The conversation also covers the importance of goals, roadmaps, and stakeholder engagement, as well as fostering innovation and creativity within the team. The discussion underscores the role of leadership in creating an environment that empowers teams to deliver value.

In this PST Spotlight episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, guest host Ryan Ripley speaks with fellow PST Matt Dominici about his journey to Scrum mastery. Matt reflects on his early experiences with Scrum as a QA director, the challenges he faced, and the lessons learned from failure. He shares insights from his role as a Scrum Master, his leadership in forming a Dev Tools team to improve release efficiency, and the impact of Scrum Master accountability. Matt also offers advice to aspiring Scrum Masters on embracing failure and developing leadership skills beyond Scrum and Agile.

In this Scrum.org Community Podcast episode, PSTs Paul Kuijten and Lavaneesh Gautam join to discuss the creation of the new Professional Product Discovery and Validation class that officially launched today, aimed at helping Product Owners and Product Managers validate product ideas before development. They share insights on the development process, including beta classes, customer feedback, and evaluating market and solution fit. They explain how they used techniques from the class to develop it. The episode highlights the importance of continuous learning, data-driven decision-making, and experimentation.

This inspiring episode features Professional Scrum Trainer Stephanie Ockerman tackling tough questions about personal leadership and our ability to influence change! She shares stories and experience to address listener questions about control, influencing change in organizational culture and more! 

In this episode, Patricia Kong hosts our host Dave West to answer more listener questions from a recent webcast about the Agile Product Operating Model! Dave covers:

• Role of Product Management and Ownership
• Cross-Functional Teams and Collaboration
• Outsourcing and Procurement in Agile Product Operating Model
• Product Leadership and Decision-Making
• Future of the Agile Product Operating Model

Be sure to tune into episode one, too!

Ever wonder what happens when the usual podcast host becomes the guest? In this unique episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Patricia Kong flips the script and puts Dave West our host, in the hot seat with your questions!  We revisit some open questions from Dave's webcast Introducing the Agile Product Operating Model, an Evidence-Based approach from last month. 

Dave describes the Agile Product Operating Model and how it can benefits teams and organizations. He also talks about challenges and opportunities with scaling agility. He answers questions about:

- Defining products
- Managing Multiple Projects and Focus
- Value Streams and the Agile Product Operating Model
- Transitioning to an Agile Product Operating Model from a Legacy System

Tune in next week for part 2!

In this Professional Scrum Trainer Spotlight episode, Laetitia Baratelli joins us to share her journey. She emphasizes the benefits of Scrum, such as early value delivery, customer satisfaction, and team happiness. Laetitia highlights her unique perspective from both traditional and Agile environments, which aids her in teaching. She also shares her passion for mentoring and teaching Scrum to future generations, including university students, to equip them with the necessary skills for the rapidly changing world. She stresses the importance of human interaction and storytelling in professional development.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community podcast, Steve Lizotte, VP of Engineering at NEC, and PST Yuval Yeret are interviewed by Dave about the practical implementation of Scrum and Kanban practices at NEC as a part of our Value Delivered series. They explore the importance of collaboration, continuous improvement, and maintaining a customer-centric approach. Steve shares insights on separating program teams from product teams, finding the right balance between custom solutions and standardized offerings, and managing the tension between empowering teams and cognitive load. The discussion also touches on the evolution of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS), the complexities of managing agile delivery in challenging environments, and the critical role of Product Ownership and accountability in driving successful outcomes.

In this episode of Ask a PST, we focus in on Product Ownership, Sam Falco answers questions about stakeholder engagement, PO participation in Scrum Events, measuring value, the shift from a Scrum Master to a Product Owner and more!

In this PST Spotlight episode hosted by PST Ryan Ripley from Agile for Humans, Dimitris Dimitrelos shares his journey with Scrum

Initial Encounter with Scrum: Dimitris Dimitrelos, originally a project manager, faced a failing software project in 2011-2012. After overpromising to a new customer and dealing with a "death march" project, he decided to try Scrum as a last resort, ultimately saving the project and shifting his career to becoming a Scrum Master.

Eureka Moment: Dimitris experienced his first significant success with Scrum during a customer review, during which his team successfully delivered key functionalities. This moment highlighted the power of Scrum and its potential to transform project outcomes and team morale.

Evolution of the Scrum Master Role: Over time, Dimitrelos's approach to the Scrum Master role evolved from strictly adhering to the Scrum guide to focusing on the broader organizational impact. He emphasizes working with team interfaces and organizational structure to create more significant and lasting changes.

Advice for Aspiring Scrum Masters: Dimitris highlights the importance of people skills, natural organization abilities, and a helping nature for aspiring Scrum Masters. He advises looking for individuals with a history of volunteering or service-oriented roles and emphasizes the importance of personal values such as transparency, honesty, and teamwork.

In this episode which is a part of our new Scrum in Action: Stories from the Trenches series, host Dave West chats with PST Felipe Andrade about the application of Scrum in non-traditional product development contexts, such as small businesses. Felipe shares his experience of implementing agile principles in a barbershop/pub setting, emphasizing cultural fit and continuous improvement. He shares his experience with starting and growing a bar and barbershop business, highlighting the importance of understanding customer needs and experimentation in business decision-making using product discovery and validation techniques. He emphasizes the versatility of Scrum and its potential to be applied in various industries and contexts.

In this PST Spotlight episode, PST Ryan Ripley interviews PST Ralph Jocham about his Scrum journey and experience. 

Introduction and Background: Ralph Jocham, a PST and product management expert, shared his journey to becoming a Scrum Master. He started in the early 2000s with extreme programming and eventually transitioned to Scrum Mastery after discovering Ken Schwaber's book on Scrum in 2001.

Evolution of the Scrum Master Role: Ralph discussed how his perception of the Scrum Master role evolved over time. He initially was more demanding and directive but later embraced servant leadership and eventually found a balance between guiding and coaching his team.

Advice for Aspiring Scrum Masters: Ralph emphasized the importance of enjoying the process of helping others succeed, being prepared for both praise and blame and having a mindset similar to a sports coach, focusing on team success rather than personal recognition.

In part 2 of this podcast focused on the success story of Strobbo, an HR software platform, PST Steven Deneir, Bert Neels - CEO at Strobbo and Michael Voorhaen, Product Owner at Strobbo continue their discussion about agile transformation and leadership, emphasizing the importance of trust, experimentation, and leadership. They also highlighted challenges such as navigating team self-restructuring and empowering teams for success and share some really inspiring advice.

Part 1 is here: https://www.scrum.org/resources/professional-scrum-powers-strobbos-go-market-acceleration