The Agile landscape has evolved dramatically in recent years, with demand for traditional roles decreasing while expectations for value delivery increase. How can Agile practitioners adapt and thrive in this changing environment?
Jessica Soroky, Senior Director of Program Management and Product Operations at Pendo, shares her fascinating journey transforming a team of Scrum Masters into Program Managers. This strategic shift expanded their focus from the software development lifecycle to the entire product development lifecycle – from initial ideation through customer validation to post-launch activities.
What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Jessica's candid assessment of the current state of Agile. While rejecting claims that "Agile is dead," she acknowledges significant market changes where once-plentiful positions have become scarce and increasingly specialized. Her insights on domain knowledge requirements reveal a troubling trend: companies demanding hyper-specific industry experience rather than valuing diverse perspectives that could drive innovation.
The most powerful takeaway comes from Jessica's practical experience leading organizational change. By redistributing responsibilities (engineering managers taking over standups, product managers owning sprint planning) while preserving the core facilitation expertise of Agile professionals, her team accomplished something remarkable – they shifted conversations from outputs to outcomes. Rather than celebrating completed sprints, they began focusing on delivering actual customer value.
For Agile practitioners wondering about their career trajectory, this episode provides a compelling roadmap. The skills that make great Scrum Masters – facilitation, process improvement, and human-centered problem-solving – create countless opportunities when applied more broadly. Former team members have progressed into product management, operations roles, and chief of staff positions they might never have discovered otherwise.
Ready to expand your perspective on what Agile can be? Listen now and discover how broadening your focus might reveal unexpected career opportunities and deliver greater value to your organization.
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicasoroky/
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https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-agile-within
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