Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches From Corporate to Startup—Navigating the Scrum Implementation Gap | Simina Fodor
May 12, 2025
Simina Fodor, a career rebel who transitioned from HR to Agile delivery, shares her bold journey into Scrum mastery. She reveals a critical failure when she rushed Scrum implementation with a team unfamiliar with Agile, emphasizing the importance of understanding team dynamics and starting with fundamentals. Simina discusses the challenges of shifting from a structured corporate world to the chaotic environment of startups, highlighting the need for tailored training and proper discovery phases for Scrum Masters.
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Startup Scrum Implementation Misstep
- Simina went full force implementing Scrum in a startup, assuming team members knew Agile basics.
- She faced challenges due to undefined roles, no prior Scrum experience, and constant product changes.
Start With Discovery Phase
- Spend time in a discovery phase before implementing Scrum practices to understand team maturity.
- Avoid rushing process adoption; listen and adjust based on team readiness and context.
Build Team Before Speed
- Prioritizing speed without building the team foundationally leads to Scrum failures.
- Team building must precede rapid delivery for Agile success in startups.