Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches One-on-One Insights—Building Change Strategy Through Individual Conversations | Bernard Agrest
Jul 2, 2025
Bernard Agrest leads a major software implementation at the University of Wisconsin—Madison Medical School. He discusses how he tackled the challenge of rebuilding an outdated internal tool through one-on-one conversations, highlighting the importance of stakeholder engagement and understanding team workflows. Bernard emphasizes the pivotal role of the onboarding team in enhancing organizational efficiency. He also shares insights on navigating change by engaging staff and refining processes, proving that successful transformation starts from the ground up.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Onboarding Team as Catalyst
- Bernard Agrest used one-on-one conversations to map a cyclical workflow for a complex tool rebuild at Teach for America.
- The onboarding team was key as they connected all phases and teams across the year, becoming the strategic starting point for redesign.
Seeing Work as Cycles Not Lines
- Teams tended to see their work as a linear handoff rather than a cyclical, interconnected flow.
- Mapping a continuum across teams revealed overlooked collaboration points critical to process redesign.
Onboarding Simplified Teacher Qualification
- The onboarding team's work ensured teachers met legal qualifications through managing exam requirements.
- Redesigning this process simplified workflows and improved impact on every other team involved.