The Agile Within

Ever wondered how doing the right thing can transform your leadership style? Join us on "The Agile Within" as we sit down with Nicole Durr, an Agile coach turned strategic business advisor from Cleveland, Ohio, who illuminates the concept of leading with moral authority. From the vibrant melodies of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra to the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nicole not onl...

Unlock the secrets to building a high-performing agile team with evolutionary agilist Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy offers a wealth of knowledge on the fundamentals of creating an agile environment, starting with why it's essential to lay a solid foundation before diving into frameworks. We discuss Jeremy's ten-step approach to agile transformation, emphasizing the importance of understanding...

Have you ever wondered how transforming your mindset could unlock your true potential? Join me as I chat with Melissa Boggs, a celebrated keynote speaker, leadership coach, and employee experience designer, who shares her exhilarating journey from cautious to audacious. You'll be captivated by Melissa's unique roller skating metaphor, which illustrates how moving from cautious to curious...

Experience the transformative power of community on this episode of The Agile Within. Join me and Kellie Tyler, a seasoned Agilist who recently moved to the vibrant city of Nashville, Tennessee. Kellie shares her favorite local spot, Broadway and the historic Acme Feed and Seed, before diving into her incredible journey within the Agile community. Discover how local meetups like Utah Agile, led by...

Ever wondered why your Agile metrics might not be delivering the insights you need? Join us as we sit down with Mark Paul Sabral, an experienced Scrum Master from Sheffield, England, to uncover the hidden pitfalls of over-relying on metrics in Agile practices. Mark’s unique perspective, blending his background in illustration with Agile methodologies, sheds light on the importance of visual thinki...

What if your team could work smarter, not harder? Discover the secrets behind this transformation with product coach David Pereira as he shares actionable insights from his book, "Untrapping Product Teams." Learn how to prioritize learning over rigid processes and explore David's unique "adding by subtracting" approach to streamline workflows and foster collaboration. You&...

What exactly is Collaboration 2.0, and how can it transform the way your team works? Join us on "The Agile Within" as I, Mark Metze, chat with Agile coach and content creator Maria Chec from Barcelona, Spain. We kick things off with Maria sharing her insider tips on must-see sights in Barcelona, like Gaudí's masterpieces, and some invaluable travel advice for navigating this beautif...

Ever wondered how psychological safety can transform your Agile team dynamics? Join me, Mark Metze, as I sit down with Mike Bowler, a seasoned Agile coach with an impressive 20-year journey from developer to expert in human behaviors. We uncover the intricacies of psychological safety from behavioral, psychological, and neuroscience perspectives. Learn how maintaining access to your team's pr...

Ever wondered how to transform overloaded agile teams into efficient, autonomous units? Get ready to uncover the secrets of fast workflow in our conversation with Paul Vanderslot from Rotterdam. As a seasoned software architect for an energy network operator, Paul faced the daunting challenge of a bottleneck team buried under a massive backlog. He shares his personal journey and the emotional toll...

Ever wondered how to transform feedback into a powerful tool for personal and professional growth? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Sat Kaur, an Agile coach and Scrum Master, as she shares her unique philosophy of "Share, Care, and Be Rare." Sat brings her wealth of experience to the table, drawing fascinating parallels between choosing the right dish from a menu and navigat...

Unlock the secrets to landing your dream Agile role with expert insights from career coach Stephanie Cully! Join us as Stephanie shares her extensive knowledge on navigating the challenging job market and transitioning into Agile positions, even from non-tech backgrounds. Learn practical strategies like freelancing on Upwork and Fiverr, and effective networking at local Chamber of Commerce events...

Unlock the secrets to leading with purpose and fulfillment as Sarah Gruneisen, a seasoned leadership coach and former software engineer, joins us to break down the ancient Japanese concept of Ikigai. Discover how aligning what you love, what you’re good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs can transform your approach to leadership and team dynamics. Learn how these intersections—...

Join us in this episode as Suruchi Patke, an experienced Agile practitioner and Scrum team coach, shares her wisdom on mastering the nuanced skill of saying "no". Discover how protecting your team’s autonomy and keeping focus can prevent scope creep and enhance self-management. Suruchi offers practical tips and compelling examples on how to say "no "in a way that builds trust a...

What if the key to unlocking your team's full potential lies in understanding the unique ways our brains function? Join us in this fascinating episode of The Agile Within, where we sit down with Anita Kalmane-Boot, a Scrum Master from Eastern Netherlands, who sheds light on the critical importance of neurodiversity in Agile teams. Anita breaks down the differences between neurotypical and neu...

Unlock the secrets to a happier, more cohesive work environment with Antoni Tzavelas, keynote speaker and Chief Happiness Officer at Smiling Bowtie. We kick things off with Antoni sharing his love for Toronto's vibrant coffee culture, and then he dives into his revolutionary Happiness Blueprint through the IMPACT model—Inspiration, Mindset, Power (empowerment), Alliance (relationships), Care...

Ever wondered how agile methodologies can intersect with sustainability to address some of the planet's most pressing challenges? Join us in this episode of The Agile Within with guest Maryse Meinen, Chief Philosopher, Sustainability and Product Development Enabler at Practical Agile. We explore the vital role agilists can play in mitigating environmental impacts, particularly within the fast...

Strap in for a riveting exploration of the unspoken tensions that ripple through Agile teams, as I, Mark Metze, converse with our esteemed guest Lakshmi Ramaseshan. We're peeling back the layers of conflict avoidance, a topic many shy away from, yet one that seeps into the crevices of teamwork, threatening to undermine our collective efforts. Lakshmi doesn't just share her experiences; s...

Embark on a transformative journey with Dave Westgarth, a former psychology graduate who charted an unexpected course into the heart of Agile methodologies. Our latest episode takes you through Dave's compelling shift from academia to the front lines of the tech industry, where he learned to harness his adaptability and thirst for continuous learning as a catalyst for success. From navigating...

Unlock the full potential of your team with wisdom from Agile luminary Petula Guimaraes as we dissect the world of Agile frameworks on The Agile Within. Prepare to traverse the cultural and professional landscapes that shape the Agile methodologies. Venture beyond the generic applications of Scrum and SAFe and learn why these frameworks may not be the silver bullet for organizational transformatio...

Unlock the secrets to Agile transformation with master certified coach Cherie Silas from Tandem Coaching Academy , as we delve deep into the heart of organizational change in this enlightening conversation. Prepare to have your perspective shifted as we discuss how to discern a company's true intentions behind the pursuit of Agile, and why understanding the difference between Agile training a...

Unlock the secrets to becoming an exceptional Scrum Master with Kat Buckwalter, whose expertise spans neuropsychiatric research to business analysis. This episode isn't just about clarifying what a Scrum Master does; it's about catapulting them from underrated facilitators to the MVPs of the Agile world. Kat and I, Mark Metze, dissect the multifaceted skill set—from CEO-level strategic t...

Unlock the secrets of powerful team synergy as we sit down with Angela Agresto, a facilitation maestro from the picturesque city of Duluth. Angela lets us in on the transformative influence of expert facilitation, a craft that stretches far beyond the confines of a simple meeting. It's the cornerstone of every successful team, creating a space where each individual feels valued, heard, and co...

Uncover the transformative power of Agile roles and how they can revolutionize your team's dynamics with the guidance of Jessica Bahr, a seasoned Scrum Master from Austin, Texas. Jessica joins us on The Agile Within to reveal the hidden strengths of Scrum Masters, their pivotal role in enabling team success, and the fulfillment derived from serving rather than shining in the spotlight. We pro...

Embark on a transformative exploration of Agile leadership transitions with the esteemed Daria Bagina, where we unravel the pivotal role of technical understanding for effective Agile leadership. The picturesque charm of Toronto sets the backdrop for our insightful conversation, highlighting the necessity for leaders to be 'technical enough.' As we wade through the nuances of Agile roles...

Join forces with Mark Metze and Andrew Mitchell as we traverse the landscape where traditional project management merges with the dynamism of Agile. With Andrew's 30 years of experience at the helm, learn how the blend of these two worlds enhances the Scrum Master's toolkit, adapting to an ever-shifting economic terrain post-pandemic. It's an exploration of growth, flexibility, and...