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Agile For Agilists

Agile For Agilists

By Agile For Agilists

The Agile For Agilists podcast is a side project for hosts Drew Podwal and Brad Nelson. They hold open discussions, share anecdotes, and provide guidance from their own personal experiences. Listeners can expect soap box moments, thinking out loud, and guest speakers, but most of all, listeners will leave with a better understanding of the complex world of Agile Software Development.
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How Ford Credit is Investing in ProdOps to Build a Strategic Advantage with Kevin McClure

Agile For AgilistsMay 30, 2023

00:00
55:01
How Ford Credit is Investing in ProdOps to Build a Strategic Advantage with Kevin McClure

How Ford Credit is Investing in ProdOps to Build a Strategic Advantage with Kevin McClure

Ever wondered how creativity and collaboration can ignite your professional journey? We had a blast chatting with our longtime friend, Kevin McClure, Senior Manager in the Digital Experience team at Ford Motor Credit. He revealed the fascinating story of how he transitioned from a finance degree and sales career to a product manager, rekindling his creative spark along the way.

In this riveting conversation, we delved into the importance of visualization skills and empathizing with customers for successful product development. Kevin shared his experiences with powerful tools for mapping out his mind and illustrating the flow of value in a way that is tangible and easily presentable to stakeholders. We also discussed the exciting journey from BA to Scrum Master, the evolution of our partnership, and how treating product development like a business can lead to impactful results.

This episode is jam-packed with valuable insights, from UX maturity to the entrepreneurial spirit and metrics-driven decision-making. Don't miss out on learning from Kevin's experiences and discovering ways to channel your creativity into success. And hey, if you love the episode, post a repost with the hashtag #AgileSticks and tag us for a chance to win a free Agile for Agilist sticker pack! Let's keep the creativity flowing!

Join hosts Drew and Brad on an exciting episode of The Agile for Agilists Podcast, as they welcome special guest Kevin McClure, a Senior Manager at Ford Credit with a wealth of experience as a Product Manager for multiple Fortune 500 companies. In this captivating conversation, Brad and Kevin reflect on their experiences at Meijer and explore the fascinating journey that led Kevin to excel in the field of product management. Gain valuable insights into the power of visualizing work and effectively presenting those visualizations, while also discovering Ford Credit's innovative strategies for deepening their understanding of customers. Tune in to this episode to gain useful perspectives on agile practices, effective product management techniques, and the pivotal role of customer-centric approaches.

May 30, 202355:01
Breaking Agile Boundaries: Behavior Design Unleashed for Agile Transformations with Dom Michalec

Breaking Agile Boundaries: Behavior Design Unleashed for Agile Transformations with Dom Michalec

Welcome to another exciting episode of "The Agile For Agilists Podcast" hosted by Brad Nelson and Drew Podwal. In this episode, we have the pleasure of welcoming our special guest, behavioral design and product coach, Dom Michalec. Join us as we explore the elements of behavioral design and how this method can unlock the potential within your teams and revolutionize the way agile coaches approach facilitating transformation journeys.


During this insightful conversation, Dom shares his wealth of experience in creating user-centric and behavior-driven design solutions in contrast to facilitating organizational change by combining the principles of human behavior and agile methodologies. As an avid student of Dr. BJ Fogg and Tiny Habits Certified Coach, Dom highlights how the Fogg Behavior Model enables coaches to identify and align motivations, abilities, and prompts within individuals, fostering a fertile ground for agile adoption.


Dom shares how this approach can be used both for good and evil, as well as how to apply it in your own life to finally build the habits you have been struggling with for years. While this method is definitely a life hack, Dom assures us that it is not the Jedi Mind Trick. It can be just as powerful though in the right hands!


Throughout the episode, Brad, Drew, and Dom engage in a dynamic conversation that delves into the practical applications of behavioral design principles and how they can be seamlessly integrated into both product design and the agile transformation process. Listeners will gain a high-level understanding of what Behavior Design is, along with actionable tips for integrating these strategies into agile events, such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives, to optimize collaboration, enhance productivity, and foster a continuous improvement mindset.


Join us on "The Agile For Agilists Podcast" as we uncover the immense potential of leveraging behavioral design strategies in driving an enterprise's agile transformation. Get ready to transform your organization into an agile powerhouse that thrives on human-centric principles!


Episode Links:

Dom Michalec - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dommichalec/ Gary Chapman - The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace https://www.appreciationatwork.com/5-languages-appreciation-workplace-improve-employee-engagement/ Dr. BJ Fogg - Tiny Habits - https://tinyhabits.com/ Tiny Habits Academy - https://tinyhabitsacademy.com/ Waiting Room Experiment - Social Conformity - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6kWygqR0L8 My Favorite Murder Podcast - https://myfavoritemurder.com/
May 16, 202301:15:44
Story Points vs. No Estimates: A Battle of Agile Philosophies - With Amanda Rae Arseneau

Story Points vs. No Estimates: A Battle of Agile Philosophies - With Amanda Rae Arseneau

The long-awaited Agile showdown is finally here, Story Points vs No Estimates!  Amanda Rae Arseneau is back to team up with co-host Brad Nelson to go head-to-head with Drew Podwal, in a debate that you won’t want to miss! The discussion gets heated as Drew argues in favor of story points, emphasizing the benefits of having a shared language enabling alignment between technical and non-technical members of the team. Meanwhile, Brad and Amanda staunchly defend the no estimates approach, emphasizing an approach that has a lower cognitive load and promotes flow. It’s a duel to the finish with no one holding back as they challenge each other's arguments and offer real-world examples and case studies to support their positions. They tackle tough questions such as: Is the need for metrics holding teams back from true agility? Are story points just a way to appease management, or do they provide real value to teams? Is a no-estimates approach realistic in a business environment that demands predictability? Join us for a thrilling and provocative episode of The Agile for Agilist Podcast’s long-awaited follow-up.  Will Drew be swept away by the flow metrics or stand victorious as the only one tracking points? Links from today's episode: 1. https://actionableagile.com/resources/publications/ 2. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-i-use-story-points-planning-brad-nelson/

3. https://itrevolution.com/product/accelerate/

4. https://cloud.google.com/devops

5. https://support.puppet.com/hc/en-us/articles/221368047-The-2023-State-of-DevOps-Report-is-here-

6. https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/news/expert-joshua-kerievsky-discusses-modern-agile-at-ebay/

May 02, 202301:16:06
The Startup Secret Sauce: How Enterprise Companies Can Benefit from the Startup Mentality with Elizabeth O'Neill

The Startup Secret Sauce: How Enterprise Companies Can Benefit from the Startup Mentality with Elizabeth O'Neill

Are you tired of office politics and personality clashes standing in the way of your team's or organization's growth of Agile capabilities? In this episode we discuss how to navigate workplace friction reveal how examining startup culture can provide valuable insights for accelerating the delivery of value in larger organizations.


Brad Nelson and Drew Podwal sit down with Organizational Fixer, Entrepreneur Coach, and Culture Consultant Elizabeth O'Neill to unpack the secrets of startup agility, innovation, and behavioral strategies that enable such rapid delivery of value to its customers. We highlight the practices and modalities that enterprise companies can adopt from startups in order to support a more engaged, empowered and customer focused workforce. (Spoiler we talk about culture!)


We wrap up our discussion by examining how self-awareness and active listening help agile coaches manage biases, build trust, and tailor their approach to individual clients. Elizabeth provides insight that allows coaches to connect to their clients and leadership on a deeper level, and identify underlying issues that may be impeding progress.


So, if you're ready to bring some startup culture to your enterprise organization, then you're in the right spot because it's time to think like a startup and take your enterprise to the next level!

Apr 18, 202301:08:08
Accelerate Your Delivery with FAST Agile: Tips and Tricks from FAST Founder Ron Quartel and Agile Coach Todd Hallowell
Apr 04, 202301:10:47
The Conference Hangover: Brad's Agile International Conference and Transform 2023 Journey

The Conference Hangover: Brad's Agile International Conference and Transform 2023 Journey

After two weeks of travel to Miami and Dallas, Brad has returned to the podcast with tales of his travels. In this episode, Drew welcomes Brad home and attempts to tap into his goldfish memory with a discussion on lessons learned, recognition to fellow presenters, and highlights of Brad's presentations "The Velocity Trap" and "Platforms as a Product." The Velocity Trap highlights the dangers of only measuring productivity and shares how to get started with outcomes, whereas Platforms as a Product reveals how Product Thinking can transform component teams from barriers to enablers.


Brad discusses briefly what Transform at Insight is, including Brad's presentation on Platforms as a Product, leading Drew and Brad to have a high-level discussion on scaling with platform teams, guilds and tribes, and SAFe.


Brad also shares AIC highlights from Rick Reguiera's work with the leadership at TracFone, David Hartmann's skill-tree approach to career development, Quincy Jordan creating personal awareness and space with Agile Psychology (and Eminem), and Veronica Stewart treating her agile transformation like a product with Radical Product Thinking and lessons learned from Shark Tank.


Lastly, Brad provides a brief overview of his talk, The Velocity Trap, and Drew and Brad tease the impending but never scheduled talk with Amanda Rae Arseneau on #NoEstimates.


Jump into this episode to hear Brad butcher names, an overview of some great events, and a more casual conversation between Drew and Brad.


Checkout Brad's upcoming conference dates:

Good Tech Fest virtually on May 4 (Use code "FRIEND100" for a free virtual ticket worth $100 or $100 off your in-person ticket) Agile & Beyond in Detroit on June 13-14


Related Links:

http://www.velocitytrap.com/ https://solutions.insight.com/Blog/December-2022/Platforms-as-a-Product https://www.agileinternational.org/aic2023-presentations https://waystones.io/ https://drewpodwal.com/2022/12/22/what-to-do-on-your-first-month-as-a-scrum-master-with-a-new-team/ https://www.radicalproduct.com/ https://www.influenceatwork.com/books-and-publications/ https://melissaperri.com/blog/2014/08/05/the-build-trap https://nicolefv.com/book
Mar 28, 202301:11:27
From the Classroom to the Boardroom: Teaching a Growth Mindset in Organizations with Patty Aluskewicz

From the Classroom to the Boardroom: Teaching a Growth Mindset in Organizations with Patty Aluskewicz

In this episode of Agile for Agilists, we explore the often-overlooked fact that corporations are made up of human beings, and therefore, when we are coaching an organizational transformation we are actually coaching people with emotions and feelings. Hosts Brad Nelson and Drew Podwal team up with former school teacher turned Agile Consultant Patty Aluskewicz to share practical strategies for supporting individuals through the emotional challenges of transformational change.

Knowledge of the Agile values, principles, practices, and tools is what makes a coach an "Agile Coach," but effectively coaching the adoption of Agile is more about creating a safe space for individuals to express their concerns, fears, and uncertainties. Coaches can build trust and mitigate resistance by acknowledging the individual and harnessing a collaborative approach to continuous improvement. With lessons from the classroom and years of experience facilitating the growth of agile environments, this conversation offers a thoughtful and nuanced approach to coaching organizational transformations.

Tune in to discover how recognizing the importance of human emotions can lead to a more successful transformational initiative, how to tailor coaching approaches to support individuals through the transformational process, and the benefits of creating a culture of collaboration and co-creation.

Mar 21, 202301:03:52
Balancing Chaos and Order Without A Scrum Master: Successful leadership Insights from Engineering Manager Sina Jazayeri on Delivering Customer Value

Balancing Chaos and Order Without A Scrum Master: Successful leadership Insights from Engineering Manager Sina Jazayeri on Delivering Customer Value

Is it possible to maintain a high-level flow in the absence of a scrum master? Can teams maintain focus, clarity, and collaboration without this key role? Join hosts Brad and Drew for a thought-provoking conversation with Sina Jazayeri, an engineering manager at Adobe's Frame.IO, as they explore how customer centric organizations are able to maintain the balance between chaos and order when delivering working software without a scrum master.
In this episode, Sina emphasizes the importance of creating a culture where everyone in the company is focused on building the best version of the product, regardless of the absence of a scrum master. He provides practical tips on how to foster values of customer collaboration, and customer centricity, and highlights the benefits of embracing change and unpredictability while maintaining a structure that allows for continuous improvement and autonomy in teams. Sina emphasizes that maintaining an agile mindset becomes everyone's job in environments where scrum masters aren't present.
Is this a taboo subject? Absolutely! Will we get hate mail for even discussing this as a subject? Without a doubt! But, if you're in a situation without the support of an official scrum master or working in a low agile culture environment then this podcast is a must-listen for inspiration, valuable insights and actionable advice.
Tune in now and discover how to maintain the perfect balance of chaos and order in your agile practices, drive innovation that improves customer value in your teams, and maintain a high-level flow, even without a scrum master.
Mar 14, 202301:13:21
Product-Led Growth - How to Capture a Unicorn with Diego von Sohsten

Product-Led Growth - How to Capture a Unicorn with Diego von Sohsten

Having a wildly successful product takes more than solving the right problem for the right users. It also requires paying customers. We are joined in this episode by Director of Product and Growth Strategy Expert, Diego von Sohsten, who shares his experience in his own failed startup and how that has made him a better Product Manager today. Tune in to learn tips and tricks, as well as hear about Diego's journey from Brazil to Canada and from developer to product manager, and his successful quest to capture that mythical unicorn.

Diego von Sohsten - https://www.linkedin.com/in/diego-vs/

Clayton Christensen's Jobs to Be Done - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXYm-CVzPQ0

Mar 01, 202301:07:44
Bonus Episode: Agile For Agilists Season 1 Retrospective

Bonus Episode: Agile For Agilists Season 1 Retrospective

We did it! We recorded and published our first season of the Agile For Agilists Podcast. In this bonus episode, Drew and Brad reflect on the efforts that have gone into launching a podcast from scratch, the challenges along the way, and the lessons they have learned. If you are interested in hearing more about the behind-the-scenes of the Agile For Agilist Podcast, then tune into this transparent and vulnerable bonus episode where the guys try to live what they preach.

Feb 24, 202349:54
Scrum Master Energy - Banging Bongos and Shaking Tambourines

Scrum Master Energy - Banging Bongos and Shaking Tambourines

Does having a continuous improvement mindset make you a negative person? Do people view you as overly critical? Does it make it harder for you to stop and smell the roses? In this episode, Drew and Brad explore these questions and open up about challenges and habits they have in their own lives, teams, and organizations. They touch on agile culture, positive psychology, and energy leadership. Drew ensures we all know how cool he is and self-identifies as a "fun coach," while Brad is against mandatory fun and is a calming force with his stoic presence. More than just a feel-good episode, the Agile Manifesto and its core values emphasize the human aspect over process and tools. Delivering innovative, high-quality software at a steady pace requires motivated, involved, and happy teams. And you know what they say, happy developers equal happy users. Tune in to relate and/or learn some tips and tricks. #GoodVibesOnly

Links from this episode:
1. The Happiness Advantage (https://www.shawnachor.com/happiness-advantage-key-takeaways/)
2. Tiny Habits (https://tinyhabits.com/)
3. Atomic Habits (https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits)
4. Husband reviews scotch while wife leaves him (https://youtu.be/ouGLEtapOX8)
5. iPEC Coaching (https://www.ipeccoaching.com/blog/energy-leadership-explanation)

Feb 16, 202301:05:31
What the heck is going on at Capital One? w/Former Capital One Agilist, Amanda Rae Arseneau

What the heck is going on at Capital One? w/Former Capital One Agilist, Amanda Rae Arseneau

The agile community and industry are reeling from the news that Capital One, has decided to eliminate their agile coaching teams. It's definitely heartbreaking news but it doesn't take a lot of inspection to realize that it's less about agile being "bad" and more about a company that needed a way to show some short-term gains. In this episode, we're speaking with Amanda Rae Arseneau who was a former Agilist at Capital One. She shares some really valuable insights on the current state of agile and what we should do in today's upturned technology market. The game is far from over and there are still plenty of opportunities left on the table so don't quit just yet! Where do you go from here? Join us and find out!
Feb 07, 202353:04
Leadership skills without the knife hand with former US Air Force EOD Master Sergeant Ken L. Lewis

Leadership skills without the knife hand with former US Air Force EOD Master Sergeant Ken L. Lewis

Each day software developers are responsible for maintaining code bases that support billions of dollars in revenue streams.  When decisions need to be made it can often feel like that MacGuyver moment of choosing between the red wire, and the blue one.  In this episode, Drew is joined by former USAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal Master Sergeant turned Leadership & Performance consultant Ken Lewis to discuss the contrast and similarities to leading software teams and EOD teams who literally cut red wires.

Military culture is often associated with toughness, discipline, and always being ready to fight, but the reality is that while the military is entrenched in authority, its leadership approach is highly empathetic. Ken’s experience as a US Air Force EOD tech gives him unique insight into how we can apply high-stakes military leadership principles, with empathy and compassion into our daily lives at work and in our personal relationships.  

You'll also learn about the "knife hand," and why you probably shouldn't use it.

This episode is packed full of actionable insights you can take back to your own organization today!

Jan 31, 202352:58
How To Get Your Scrum Black Belt With ShuHaRi

How To Get Your Scrum Black Belt With ShuHaRi

In this episode, we discuss ShuHaRi as a concept, approach, and guideline for teams learning to adopt the Scrum Framework, and ultimately, what the requirements are to consider yourself a Scrum practitioner. Is it mastering the Judo chop? Is it stepping into the ring with other Scrum Teams? Or is it naming your team after the Avengers? Join us for these questions and more!
Jan 25, 202350:36
Scrum Success: Tales of an early stage agile experiment (Featuring Shaun Bradley)

Scrum Success: Tales of an early stage agile experiment (Featuring Shaun Bradley)

Shaun Bradley, a UK-based Agile Coach, transmits his voice across the pond to discuss the trials & tribulations of getting started with Agile in an organization, including how he kind-of, sort-of, but not really, invented Scrum on his own.
Jan 17, 202301:04:47
Agile and Scrum Certifications: Are they worth the investment?

Agile and Scrum Certifications: Are they worth the investment?

Certifications are all the rage in the agile product development world. But do they actually make you a better agile coach? Will they help you to accelerate your career as a scrum master? Which certification is the right one for you? In this episode, we discuss the pros/cons of various certifications so you can choose which one is best for you!
Jan 17, 202301:01:20
The History of Agile and Scrum: Where did it come from, and why are we still waterfall?

The History of Agile and Scrum: Where did it come from, and why are we still waterfall?

Have you wondered where this thing called Agile came from or why companies seem to struggle with adopting Scrum practices in their organizations? In this episode, we'll talk about the history of how we ended up here, why companies are still struggling to transition to product-based software delivery, and some thoughts on how they (and we) might be able to evolve and move beyond the Golden Age of Waterfall. Sir Isaac Newton said it best, "It's by standing on the shoulders of giants." Let's reflect on the history of Agile.
Jan 17, 202354:14
Leadership: A skill the US Military gets right and corporate America still has to learn

Leadership: A skill the US Military gets right and corporate America still has to learn

You've heard the cliches - the military is filled with ruthless leaders who want to hammer down their subordinates into submission. Drew's experience in the US Navy suggests that this isn't true at all. In reality, the military's approach to leadership is far more kinder and gentler when compared with corporate America. In this episode, Drew shares his experiences on both sides of the fence and highlights how focusing on your employees as people helps to create a platoon of highly successful knowledge workers.
Jan 17, 202350:19
Scrum Master 201: Tips, tricks and insights to help your company shift from project to product (featuring Director of Business Agility Mariya Padalko)

Scrum Master 201: Tips, tricks and insights to help your company shift from project to product (featuring Director of Business Agility Mariya Padalko)

Scrum Masters are now more than just a servant leader. In Agile environments: They are coaches, mentors, and facilitators. This week's guest, Mariya Padalko, has been a big proponent of this topic for a long time. Join us to learn what it means to move from a project-based organization to a product-based organization, and how Scrum Masters can help facilitate the transition while building amazing development teams!
Jan 17, 202353:44
Lean Flow: Brad's Lessons from Lean Manufacturing

Lean Flow: Brad's Lessons from Lean Manufacturing

We all know that the roots of agile can be traced back to Lean Manufacturing principles, but that's often not a major focus of most scrum master training. In this episode, Drew interviews Brad to discuss how his past hands-on experiences while working on a manufacturing line have enhanced his ability to visualize Lean Flow and uncanny sense of efficiency.
Jan 17, 202351:40
Let's fight like gentleman, how dare you call me an agile purist!

Let's fight like gentleman, how dare you call me an agile purist!

In this episode, we invite you to a round of light-hearted teasing and poking at Agile Purists, or as we like to call them: Agile Poindexters and Agile Hipsters. Are there people who practice Agile that way? You bet your sweet agile bottom there are. Are they the majority of the people in the agile world? Absolutely not. Join us to learn what it's like to be on the receiving end of being called an agile purist, as well as how to avoid being called this heinous insult in the first place.
Jan 17, 202344:54
Podcast Introduction: What's this agile podcast all about anyway?!

Podcast Introduction: What's this agile podcast all about anyway?!

Hello, and welcome to our very first episode! In this episode, Drew Podwal and Brad Nelson introduce themselves, provide a bit of honest transparency into their learning journey towards starting a podcast, as well as ripping off the proverbial band-aid, so they could just launch the MVP for The Agile For Agilists podcast. This one ain't super pretty, but if you're listening to this, then it means we did something right!
Jan 17, 202339:26