Scrum.org Community Podcast

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

Ryan Brook and Sander Dur, co-authors of 'Solving for Value: A Journey of Ambition and Stupidity,' dive into the world of Scrum and agility. They discuss prioritizing value over process, the significance of self-management, and tackling common anti-patterns that stifle progress. Listeners will learn about the pitfalls of scaling organizations without a solid foundation and the need for flexible roadmap strategies. With humor and empathy, they reveal insights from their unique dual-format book that blends narrative and practical guidance.

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.

Dave West, CEO of Scrum.org and a seasoned expert in product definition, shares his insights on transitioning organizations to a product model. He highlights the challenges encountered in moving towards a product-oriented approach and discusses the complexities of digital product landscapes. West emphasizes AI's transformative role in product management, envisioning it as a co-pilot for teams. He also stresses the importance of agile leadership in fostering user-centric practices and adapting traditional approaches to enhance value delivery.

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 engaging discussion, Jay Rahman, a Professional Scrum Trainer based in Dubai, and Darrell Fernandes, an IT executive working on AI integration, tackle the fusion of AI with Scrum teams. They emphasize the necessity of maintaining the human element, ensuring essential roles like Product Owners and Scrum Masters are not overshadowed by technology. The duo explores AI's potential to transform team dynamics while highlighting the importance of structured, Agile-aligned approaches, and how LLMs can enhance product management without compromising quality.

Mik Kersten, CTO at Planview and author of "Project to Product," dives into the crucial shift from project-centric to product-driven models. He highlights the importance of executive sponsorship and business alignment for successful transformation. Kersten discusses Vanguard's journey, emphasizing how flow metrics enhance decision-making and alleviate challenges like technical debt. The conversation sparks optimism about integrating agile practices and advanced frameworks like cloud and microservices, positioning them as vital for future organizational advancements.