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Scrum.org

Scrum.org Community Podcast

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!

What is a Product? - Q & A with Dave West

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.

Scrum Master Real Talk: Jim Sparks on Overcoming Resistance, Networking, Learning and Continuous Growth

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.

Scrum Master Real Talk: Omar Ahmed on Resilience, Empowering Change and Agile Leadership

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.

Solving for Value: A Journey of Ambition and Stupidity - An Interview with PSTs Ryan Brook and Sander Dur

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

Finding the Right Scrum Masters: The Journey of Sanofi’s Accelerator to a Product-Oriented Culture

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!

Ask a PST - Product Backlog Management with Stas Pavlov and Simon Flossmann

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.

Q & A About Product Portfolio Management - Part 1

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.

Q & A on Product Portfolio Management Part 2: Evolving Portfolio Management for Product Success

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.

Ask a Professional Scrum Trainer - Agile Leadership with Mary Iqbal

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.

Shifting to a Product-Based Operating Model with APOM - The Accenture Way

Duane Girard learned to help build strong teams as a Sergeant in the US Army. In the military, he paralleled many of the Scrum events and values and practiced his ability to build teams in complex environments - later finding a civilian position as a Scrum Master in one of his first jobs out of the military. In this podcast, Duane has a discussion with host, Dave West, and shares those parallels, talks about his career journey as a Scrum Master, and speaks about how the Professional Scrum Master certifications and learnings from Scrum.org courses helped catapult his career as a Scrum Master, make significant impacts at several organizations, and how each Professional Scrum certification he took was a stepping stone to elevate his career.

From Sergeant to Scrum Master - Building a Career Journey with Professional Scrum

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