Episodes
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Chrissy Fleming: From Tasks to Outcomes, An Agile Cultural Transformation Story
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Chrissy shares her experience transforming a sales-led organization from task orientation to outcome focus. By partnering with the head of tech and implementing OKRs, they created meaningful conversations about team goals and progress. Through initiatives like Demo Days and the creation of team "houses," they successfully shifted the organizational culture while ensuring teams felt ownership of their future.
Self-reflection Question: How can you create meaningful opportunities for your teams to shape their own identity and future?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Chrissy Fleming
Chrissy came to Scrum-Mastering via Product Management and a deep love of seeing teams work together. She spent 15 years in the New York tech scene and is currently an Associate Principal in Business Agility with Turnberry Solutions. She also has her own company where she coaches and helps businesses and technologists with their development.
You can link with Chrissy Fleming on LinkedIn.
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Chrissy Fleming: The Impact of Unaddressed Conflict on Agile Team Health
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Chrissy shares a compelling story about a newly formed team working on retention that struggled with toxic behavior. The presence of a hostile team member created an environment where healthy conflict became impossible, leading to either unhealthy confrontations or complete avoidance. Despite attempts to address the situation, the lack of trust prevented team members from addressing the destructive behavior, ultimately resulting in the team's dissolution.
Self-reflection Question: How do you currently handle toxic behavior in your team, and what steps could you take to build the psychological safety needed for addressing conflicts openly?
Featured Book of the Week: How Toddlers Thrive by Tove KleinHow Toddlers Thrive by Tove Klein explores brain function and human behavior, drawing surprising parallels between toddler development and adult interactions. Chrissy recommends it for its valuable insights into emotional intelligence and human nature, reminding us that in Agile environments, we're fundamentally dealing with human beings and their emotions.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Chrissy Fleming
Chrissy came to Scrum-Mastering via Product Management and a deep love of seeing teams work together. She spent 15 years in the New York tech scene and is currently an Associate Principal in Business Agility with Turnberry Solutions. She also has her own company where she coaches and helps businesses and technologists with their development.
You can link with Chrissy Fleming on LinkedIn.
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Missing episodes?
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Chrissy Fleming: The Hidden Cost of Combined Scrum Master and Product Owner Roles
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this episode, Chrissy shares a critical learning moment from her career when she attempted to juggle both Product Owner and Scrum Master roles simultaneously. This dual role led to a situation where the team began "sandbagging" their estimates due to underlying conflicts with leadership. The situation culminated when a team member completed a supposedly two-month project in just two days, destroying team credibility and ultimately leading to the team's dismissal.
Self-reflection Question: How do you ensure you maintain your authentic voice as a Scrum Master while balancing multiple stakeholder needs?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Chrissy Fleming
Chrissy came to Scrum-Mastering via Product Management and a deep love of seeing teams work together. She spent 15 years in the New York tech scene and is currently an Associate Principal in Business Agility with Turnberry Solutions. She also has her own company where she coaches and helps businesses and technologists with their development.
You can link with Chrissy Fleming on LinkedIn.
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Antti Horelli: Balancing Product Owner Responsibilities with Team Empowerment
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
The Great Product Owner: Sharing Responsibility with the TeamThe great Product Owner excels by being present and actively sharing knowledge with the team. While the PO role can be overwhelming due to its responsibility to abstract complexity from the team, the best POs find ways to share responsibilities appropriately. They understand that their role goes beyond making decisions and includes enabling the team to participate in the product discovery process.
The Bad Product Owner: The Absent Decision MakerIn this anti-pattern, the Product Owner was only available for planning and sprint reviews due to other commitments. This limited availability severely impacted the team's ability to make progress, especially given the complex nature of software development where requirements are discovered rather than pre-defined. The absence of business knowledge during development led to delays and misunderstandings, highlighting how critical continuous PO involvement is for team success.
For tips on how to help PO’s be more present, check out our Sprint PO Checklist which includes tips on how to lead that conversation and a clear set of questions to go through together with your PO.
Self-reflection Question: How can you help ensure more presence and better collaboration between the Product Owner and the development team?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Antti Horelli
Antti is an experienced Agile Coach from Finland, dedicated to empowering teams. With a systems-oriented, empathetic approach, he fosters collaboration and effective communication. With decades in IT, Antti transitioned from technical roles to methodology, where he passionately helps people and teams reach their full potential.
You can link with Antti Horelli on LinkedIn.
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Antti Horelli: Achieving Productive Serenity - Sign of Scrum Master Success
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Antti describes success for Scrum Masters through the concept of "productive serenity" - a state where teams maintain high productivity while remaining calm and focused. This is characterized by frequent small discussions, excited but not stressed team members, and the ability to address challenges with serious calmness. The team operates with the mindset of "be quick, but don't hurry," demonstrating maturity in problem-solving and collaboration.
Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: The Timeline RetrospectiveThe Timeline Retrospective format is particularly effective for longer deliveries or projects, serving as an excellent reflection tool. Antti emphasizes keeping participants active and encouraging them to share "fuzzy" observations that could be early signals for better decision-making. The format helps teams identify patterns and insights that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Self-reflection Question: How can you help your team achieve a state of productive serenity?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Antti Horelli
Antti is an experienced Agile Coach from Finland, dedicated to empowering teams. With a systems-oriented, empathetic approach, he fosters collaboration and effective communication. With decades in IT, Antti transitioned from technical roles to methodology, where he passionately helps people and teams reach their full potential.
You can link with Antti Horelli on LinkedIn.
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Antti Horelli: Balancing Delivery Pressure with Agile Transformation
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Antti shares his experience leading an agile transformation across three siloed organizations: development, QA/testing, and support. The transformation involved establishing cross-functional teams and implementing visual management through a comprehensive planning wall. Despite initial progress with joint planning days and rolling wave planning, the pressure to deliver led to reverting to traditional project management approaches. This story highlights the challenge of maintaining agile principles while under delivery pressure and the importance of focusing on reliable delivery rather than agile for agile's sake.
Self-reflection Question: How do you balance the need for immediate results with long-term agile transformation goals?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Antti Horelli
Antti is an experienced Agile Coach from Finland, dedicated to empowering teams. With a systems-oriented, empathetic approach, he fosters collaboration and effective communication. With decades in IT, Antti transitioned from technical roles to methodology, where he passionately helps people and teams reach their full potential.
You can link with Antti Horelli on LinkedIn.
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Antti Horelli: The Challenge of Breaking Silos, And Building Collaborative Agile Teams Remotely
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Antti shares a story about a team of solo workers who struggled to collaborate effectively. Despite having technical expertise, the team faced challenges in delivering value due to conflicting views on "good tech work" and communication issues. The remote working environment further complicated their interactions, ultimately leading to the team's dissolution. This experience emphasizes the importance of focusing on team cohesion and establishing clear ways of working, especially in distributed teams.
Featured Book of the Week: "Lean, Resolving the efficiency paradox"Antti recommends "This is Lean: Resolving the Efficiency Paradox” by Modig et al., an approachable book for its clear explanation of flow efficiency versus resource efficiency in Scrum and Kanban. The book helped him understand the counterintuitive benefits of optimizing for one-piece flow and completing single value-delivering items, offering valuable insights for process improvement.
Self-reflection Question: How can you help your team transition from individual work patterns to effective collaboration?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Antti Horelli
Antti is an experienced Agile Coach from Finland, dedicated to empowering teams. With a systems-oriented, empathetic approach, he fosters collaboration and effective communication. With decades in IT, Antti transitioned from technical roles to methodology, where he passionately helps people and teams reach their full potential.
You can link with Antti Horelli on LinkedIn.
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Antti Horelli: The Three-Day Sprint Planning Nightmare - Learning from Agile Failure
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this episode, Antti shares a critical learning moment from his early Scrum Master days when a sprint planning session extended to three days due to poor preparation. The team discovered that backlog items were much larger and different than expected, while unexpected background decisions further complicated the planning. This experience highlighted the vital importance of proper refinement work and maintaining clear communication channels about decisions affecting the team.
Self-reflection Question: How do you ensure your team has sufficient context about upcoming decisions while avoiding information overload?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Antti Horelli
Antti is an experienced Agile Coach from Finland, dedicated to empowering teams. With a systems-oriented, empathetic approach, he fosters collaboration and effective communication. With decades in IT, Antti transitioned from technical roles to methodology, where he passionately helps people and teams reach their full potential.
You can link with Antti Horelli on LinkedIn.
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BONUS: Gojko Adzic on Optimizing Products for Long-Tail Users (Agile Online Summit 2024 Replay)
In this BONUS episode, we revisit Gojko Adzic’s insightful interview at the Agile Online Summit 2024. Gojko, an award-winning author and software expert, unpacks the principles behind his latest book, Lizard Optimization, offering a fresh perspective on improving product usability by addressing the needs of long-tail users. From learning from unexpected user behaviors to refining products with a systematic approach, this episode is filled with practical tips for product teams and Agile practitioners.
What is Lizard Optimization?Drawing from his experiences as a product developer, Gojko introduces the idea of Lizard Optimization. He discusses how observing unexpected user behaviors led him to refine his SaaS tools like Narakeet and MindMup. By focusing on usability challenges and unusual patterns, he has turned serendipity into actionable insights.
“Users aren’t stupid—they’re just finding creative ways to get value from your product. Listen to them.”
Gojko explains the inspiration behind the metaphor of the “Lizardman constant,” a concept from a Scott Alexander blog post. He describes how this principle applies to product optimization: understanding and addressing the 4% of surprising, unexplainable behaviors can uncover opportunities for innovation.
“The job isn’t to judge users—it’s to explore why they’re doing what they’re doing and how we can help them succeed.”
The High-Level Process of Lizard OptimizationGojko outlines the systematic process described in his book to leverage unexpected user behavior:
Observe Misuse: Identify how users deviate from expected patterns.
Extract Insights: Focus on one unexpected behavior as a signal.
Remove Obstacles: Help users achieve their goals more easily.
Monitor Impacts: Detect and adjust for unintended consequences.
“Start monitoring for the predictable but unexpected—those hidden gems can unlock your next big feature.”
Practical Advice for Product TeamsFor teams ready to apply these concepts, Gojko emphasizes the importance of expanding observability tools to include product metrics and not just technical ones. He shares how tracking unpredictable user actions can inspire impactful changes.
“About a third of what we do delivers value—focus on finding where unexpected value lies.”
Recommended Resources
To dive deeper into these ideas, Gojko recommends:
Trustworthy Online Controlled Experiments by Ron Kohavi
Evidence Guided by Tim Herbig
LizardOptimization.org
“Experimentation and evidence-based decision-making are the keys to building better products.”
Closing Thoughts: “Look for the Unexpected”Gojko’s parting advice for Agile practitioners is simple yet powerful: Look for the unexpected. By embracing surprises in user behavior, teams can transform minor inconveniences into major opportunities for growth.
“The unexpected is where innovation begins.”
About Gojko Adzic
Gojko Adzic is an award-winning author, speaker, and product creator. His books, including Lizard Optimization, Impact Mapping, and Specification by Example, have become essential reads for Agile practitioners and product teams worldwide. Gojko is a 2019 AWS Serverless Hero, the winner of the 2016 European Software Testing Outstanding Achievement Award, and the 2011 Most Influential Agile Testing Professional Award. He has also co-founded several successful SaaS tools, including Narakeet, MindMup, and Votito.
You can link with Gojko Adzic on LinkedIn.
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Ville Reijonen: Overcoming the Part-Time Product Owner Trap The Bad Product Owner: The Part-Time PO Disaster
Ville describes a scenario where a company assigned a part-time Product Owner (PO) to manage software development. The PO’s inconsistent availability led to poor communication and a lack of feedback loops. Ville explains how this anti-pattern can derail a project and shares tips, such as scheduling regular meetings to ensure that the PO remains actively involved in supporting the team. A strong PO presence is crucial for maintaining alignment and driving product success, and Ville discusses some possible mitigating actions we can take to make sure that even part-time PO’s are available for the team.
Reflection Question:
How can you support a Product Owner who struggles with availability to ensure your team gets the guidance they need?
The Great Product Owner: The Master CommunicatorIn contrast, Ville shares an example of an exceptional PO who excelled at communication and collaboration. This PO consistently collected and shared feedback, held regular one-on-one meetings, and fostered a culture of transparency and understanding. Ville emphasizes that a great PO proactively builds relationships and maintains a consistent cadence of interactions to stay informed and guide the team effectively.
Self-reflection Question:
How can you support your PO so that they learn to communicate and engage with the team better?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Ville Reijonen
Ville is a seasoned Agilist and pattern enthusiast. He has co-authored two books—one on distributed machine control system patterns and another on Scrum patterns. Ville is passionate about discovering patterns in various contexts and currently works as a freelance coach, empowering individuals and teams by fostering focus and understanding.
You can link with Ville Reijonen on LinkedIn.
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Ville Reijonen: How To Use Agile Retrospectives To Help Teams Focus On Continuous Growth
For Ville, true success as a Scrum Master is achieved when the team and the PO can independently manage their development process. He shares how he tracks team progress, conducts one-on-ones to provide tailored support, and uses subtle nudges to guide the team toward autonomy. Ville emphasizes the importance of understanding where individuals are in their learning journey and helping them achieve their goals by continuously assessing and adjusting support strategies.
Self-reflection Question:
What steps can you take to help your team become more self-sufficient?
Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Spider Web GamesVille highlights the use of spider web graphs (aka radar graphs) as a way for teams to reflect on their progress in different areas. This format creates a visual representation of strengths and areas for improvement. Ville explains how role-playing and simulation games can foster team cohesion and help teams identify behaviors that can be applied to their daily work. By engaging in playful yet insightful activities, teams can foster collaboration and enhance retrospectives.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Ville Reijonen
Ville is a seasoned Agilist and pattern enthusiast. He has co-authored two books—one on distributed machine control system patterns and another on Scrum patterns. Ville is passionate about discovering patterns in various contexts and currently works as a freelance coach, empowering individuals and teams by fostering focus and understanding.
You can link with Ville Reijonen on LinkedIn.
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Ville Reijonen: Why Organizational And Scrum Patterns Are Essential for Leading Change
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Ville shares how patterns provide a structured approach to implementing change in organizations. During informal chats with colleagues before the pandemic, Ville would share useful patterns to build common understanding. He explains how patterns create a shared language that helps teams internalize concepts like Scrum roles and processes. Ville recommends ScrumBook.org as a resource for sharing patterns and insights with colleagues. By using patterns, Scrum Masters can foster more effective change processes and create a cohesive vision for their teams.
Self-reflection Question:
How do you use patterns to enhance your team’s approach to change?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Ville Reijonen
Ville is a seasoned Agilist and pattern enthusiast. He has co-authored two books—one on distributed machine control system patterns and another on Scrum patterns. Ville is passionate about discovering patterns in various contexts and currently works as a freelance coach, empowering individuals and teams by fostering focus and understanding.
You can link with Ville Reijonen on LinkedIn.
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Ville Reijonen: Overcoming Code Ownership Silos in Agile Teams
Ville describes a team that had divided code ownership, where members were reluctant to share or modify each other’s work. This fostered fear, mistrust, and a defensive approach to development. Ville explains how this pattern of component segregation led to silos and distrust. He outlines actionable steps for rebuilding trust, such as adopting robust testing practices, implementing an internal open-source model, and encouraging ensemble programming. By fostering a culture of shared ownership, teams can collaborate more effectively and develop higher-quality software.
Self-reflection Question:
How can testing and collaboration frameworks help build trust within your team?
Featured Book of the Week: “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” by Peter DruckerVille recommends Peter Drucker’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a timeless classic that provides a comprehensive understanding of the purpose of business—creating and retaining customers. Ville shares how this book, which he encountered during a case-study-based innovation course, shaped his approach to thinking about innovation in the big picture. He emphasizes how important it is for Scrum Masters to view their work through a broader lens to support product and customer success.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Ville Reijonen
Ville is a seasoned Agilist and pattern enthusiast. He has co-authored two books—one on distributed machine control system patterns and another on Scrum patterns. Ville is passionate about discovering patterns in various contexts and currently works as a freelance coach, empowering individuals and teams by fostering focus and understanding.
You can link with Ville Reijonen on LinkedIn.
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Ville Reijonen: Building Trust Between Teams and Product Owners During A Challenging Rewrite Project
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this episode, Ville shares a story from a full system rewrite project where conflicts between the Product Owner (PO) and the team created significant challenges. The lack of collaboration led to a stressful big-bang release with numerous post-launch issues. Ville explains how misaligned team dynamics can derail progress and highlights the importance of involving beta users and advocating for customer-centric testing. He also shares practical tips, such as engaging antagonistic testers to uncover potential flaws early and fostering PO-team collaboration to build trust and resilience.
Self-reflection Question:
How can you foster a culture of collaboration between the PO and the team to avoid conflicts during critical projects?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Ville Reijonen
Ville is a seasoned Agilist and pattern enthusiast. He has co-authored two books—one on distributed machine control system patterns and another on Scrum patterns. Ville is passionate about discovering patterns in various contexts and currently works as a freelance coach, empowering individuals and teams by fostering focus and understanding.
You can link with Ville Reijonen on LinkedIn.
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CTO Series: Engineering Leadership, Automation, and Trust with Dan Hollinger
In this CTO Series episode, we sit down with Dan Hollinger, an accomplished engineering leader passionate about fostering empathy, transparency, and trust in tech teams. Dan shares pivotal lessons from his career, from building scalable automation systems to navigating complex leadership challenges. We cover key strategies for aligning tech initiatives with business goals, fostering collaboration, and ensuring long-term technical health.
Defining Leadership Through Automation and Empowerment“Enable your humans to focus on the interesting work—automation should take care of the rest.”
Dan recounts his transformative experience at CCP Games, makers of EVE Online, where a robust test automation system changed his perspective on scaling technical processes. This role introduced him to the power of automation in freeing up engineers to focus on more exploratory and impactful tasks. He emphasizes how empowering self-directed teams with high-level vision statements enables creativity and innovation.
Building Self-Correcting Processes“Always retro your processes—don’t let them run on autopilot.”
Dan explains the importance of self-correcting processes, using the SEV (Side Event) system as an example. He highlights how retrospectives can improve response times and prevent future crises. For Dan, consistent reviews are the key to maintaining agile, resilient systems that adapt to evolving needs.
Bridging the Gap Between Business and Tech“There are no enemies—treat your colleagues like allies working toward a common goal.”
In cross-functional environments, Dan’s mantra is to focus on the project and maintain open communication. Drawing from his experience in gaming, where multiple departments collaborate on creative projects, he underscores the importance of empathy and curiosity. Asking questions and breaking down solutions into smaller, reviewable pieces can diffuse conflict and build trust.
Future-Proofing Through Strategic Roadmapping“The lifespan of the solution dictates the scope of the work.”
Dan shares his approach to strategic roadmapping by considering the expected longevity of technical solutions. He gives an example of building a feature flag system for a game studio that needed to support a long-term vision while adapting to a new game engine. His advice: break large goals into smaller, adaptable increments that align with future changes.
Navigating Leadership Challenges During Organizational Change“Trust is your greatest currency during periods of uncertainty.”
Dan reflects on a particularly challenging period when a leadership change caused a significant exodus of engineers at his company, leaving him with only one engineer. Despite the setback, Dan leaned into transparency and empathy, earning the trust of departing team members, which helped him transfer knowledge and rebuild the team.
Expanding the Scope of Leadership“My role expanded from leading an engineering team to caring about the morale of the entire company.”
A surprising revelation for Dan was realizing the broader impact of his leadership on non-engineering teams. He discusses how this shift required him to listen to and support colleagues across all departments, emphasizing the value of empathy-driven leadership.
The Book That Shaped Dan’s Leadership Approach“The DORA metrics help us measure what really matters for technical health.”
Dan highlights the book Accelerate by Nicole Forsgren et al., which introduced him to the DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) metrics. These metrics help organizations measure software delivery performance and technical health, offering a data-driven approach to evaluate progress and identify improvement areas.
About Dan Hollinger
Dan Hollinger is a proven engineering leader who champions empowerment through support, empathy, and transparency. He fosters a culture of trust, prioritizing alignment over dictation. Technically adept, Dan advocates for automatable solutions and a blameless environment, ensuring his team thrives both personally and professionally in a collaborative space.
You can link with Dan Hollinger on LinkedIn. -
CTO Series: Mastering the CTPO Role, Katrina Clokie’s Guide to Tech and Product Leadership
In this BONUS episode, we sit down with Katrina Clokie, a seasoned leader in strategy, change management, and building inclusive teams. Katrina shares pivotal moments in her career, offers practical leadership insights, and discusses her role as Chief Technology and Product Officer (CTPO), where she’s balancing innovation with business objectives. Whether you’re an aspiring tech leader or looking to sharpen your leadership toolkit, Katrina’s wisdom will inspire you to embrace growth, resilience, and collaboration.
Defining Moments in Leadership“Look for roles you can’t fully do yet—it’s the best way to grow.”
Katrina reflects on a transformative moment early in her career when a mentor from the shipping industry encouraged her to seek out challenging roles that would push her growth. This advice set her on the path to engineering management and C-level leadership. She shares how fostering curiosity and pursuing conversations about topics she didn’t yet fully understand has kept her continually learning.
“Ask yourself: where do I feel stretched? That’s often where the best growth opportunities lie.”
The Role of CTPO: Combining Technology and Product Strategy“We needed both a unified vision and an efficient structure to remain competitive.”
Katrina discusses why her company created the CTPO role and how it reflects the size and growth stage of the organization. With no prior head of product, Katrina leaned into her experience while recognizing the importance of partnering with skilled product managers. She emphasizes the importance of having clear accountabilities and embracing growth within the role.
“The key is knowing when to lead and when to lean on your team’s expertise.”
Aligning Tech Strategy with Business Objectives“Trade-offs are inevitable—make them strategically, not reactively.”
At Fergus, Katrina implemented clear guardrails, such as avoiding a complete rewrite of their decade-old monolith, focusing instead on retiring components that hindered stability and developer experience. She shares how they allocate 60% of engineering capacity to strategic initiatives and 40% to ongoing business needs, ensuring tech and business priorities stay aligned.
“Guardrails help teams make decisions that align with the big picture without constant oversight.”
Fostering Cross-Functional Collaboration“Healthy conflict is necessary—escalation usually signals a breakdown in structure.”
Katrina describes how she structured cross-functional teams with clear goals and metrics to foster collaboration and ensure diverse perspectives are represented. She highlights the importance of empathy and role-modeling constructive conflict resolution at senior levels.
“A well-designed structure turns potential conflict into productive problem-solving.”
Roadmapping with Flexibility and Focus“Roadmaps should guide—not handcuff—teams to long-term commitments.”
Katrina’s approach to roadmapping balances transparency and adaptability. By reserving only 60% of capacity for roadmap initiatives and keeping annual plans intentionally light, her teams can pivot when necessary without overcommitting. Frequent, smaller releases (up to 160 changes per month) help deliver value continuously.
“Leave room in your roadmap to handle surprises without derailing progress.”
Scaling Teams During Rapid Growth“Avoid constant recruiting—it can burn out your leaders and upset team dynamics.”
Drawing from her experience at Xero, Katrina advises against an “always-on” recruitment strategy, which can overwhelm hiring managers and disrupt team cohesion. Instead, she recommends batch hiring and partnering with finance and talent teams to manage hiring budgets in stages.
“Hiring in waves allows teams to stabilize and thrive, rather than constantly adjusting.”
Overcoming the Challenges of Growth and Constraints“Shifting from hyper-growth to steady growth meant saying ‘no’ more often and being precise.”
Katrina shares how transitioning from an environment of rapid scaling to a more constrained SaaS company required a shift in her approach to decision-making. She focused on making the business context clear to her team, fostering trust and transparency in her decision-making process.
“When people understand the ‘why’ behind constraints, they’re more likely to trust the process.”
Recommended Reads for Tech LeadersKatrina shares the books that have shaped her leadership journey:
Resilient Management by Lara Hogan
The Manager’s Path by Camille Fournier
The Engineering Executive’s Primer by Will Larson
“Great leadership isn’t innate—it’s learned through mentorship, reflection, and resources.”
Scaling Your Influence as a LeaderFrom her experience at global companies to her current role, Katrina’s insights on transparency, collaboration, and strategic trade-offs provide a blueprint for navigating the complexities of tech leadership.
“Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about empowering your team and staying open to learning.”
About Katrina Clokie
Katrina Clokie is a respected leader in strategy, change management, and building inclusive teams. A keynote speaker at international conferences, she is passionate about leadership and communication. Her book, A Practical Guide to Testing in DevOps, has reached over 7,000 readers. In 2018, she was a finalist for New Zealand’s Inspiring Individual of the Year Award.
You can link with Katrina Clokie on LinkedIn.
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CTO Series: How Open Strategy and Agile Practices Drive Success at NorthCode With Ismo Aro
In this BONUS episode, we sit down with Ismo Aro, CTO and partner at NorthCode, to delve into the transformative power of Open Strategy in the tech world. Ismo shares his journey from corporate roles at Nokia and Ericsson to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, and he unpacks how his approach to leadership evolved with the rise of agile methodologies, test automation, and cloud transformation. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to modernize their company’s strategy and foster a culture of transparency and co-ownership.
Pivotal Career Moments: From Waterfall to Agile Mindset“When I joined the agile pilot team, it felt like discovering the way software development should always be done—release early, get feedback fast, and improve continuously.”
Ismo reflects on his early days at Nokia, where he began as a test engineer in a traditional waterfall environment. He describes how the shift to agile methodologies transformed the way teams communicated and collaborated. When he joined a pilot project for Scrum, he realized the value of fast feedback loops and early releases. This experience laid the foundation for his future focus on continuous integration and test automation.
Key Takeaway: Adopting agile frameworks can improve workflows by shortening feedback loops and promoting direct communication.
The Essence of Open Strategy“Open Strategy means involving everyone in shaping the direction of the company—not just receiving updates but truly co-creating the future.”
At NorthCode, Open Strategy is a cornerstone of their operations. Ismo explains how they empower employees by making strategy-building a transparent and collaborative process. The company’s structure includes a parent company and subsidiaries where employees are also co-owners. Revenue-sharing ensures that when the business succeeds, everyone benefits directly.
Key Elements of Open Strategy:
Transparency: Strategy is made visible through a kanban board and KPIs accessible to all.
Ownership: Subsidiary team members can own up to 80% of their company.
Profit-sharing: 80% of client revenue goes to the subsidiary, and dividends are shared annually.
“By aligning incentives and opening up the strategy process, you create a culture where employees don’t just work for you—they work with you.”
How Open Strategy Unfolds Annually“We make ideas visible and let them evolve until they’re ready for execution.”
Ismo outlines the company’s approach to strategy using a high-level roadmap and clear metrics to track progress. The focus is on organic growth through subsidiaries, with a benchmark of starting a new subsidiary once a team reaches 20 people. The company also uses “business spikes”—short, low-cost experiments to test new ideas.
Practical Tip: A business spike allows you to explore an idea quickly without committing significant resources, making it easier to pivot when necessary.
Navigating Challenges in Open Strategy“Some people want to co-create, while others prefer to focus on their work—and both are valid.”
Ismo acknowledges that not everyone in the organization is equally interested in strategic discussions, and that’s okay. Open Strategy doesn’t require everyone to participate equally—it provides opportunities for involvement at different levels. The key is fostering an environment where insights and information flow freely from the ground up, rather than top-down mandates.
Key Insight: Open Strategy thrives when participation is voluntary and inclusive, rather than forced.
Measuring Success: KPIs and Transparency“We believe in showing our utilization rates openly because our people have a stake in the results.”
To measure success, NorthCode tracks KPIs such as revenue, profit, and utilization rates. Unlike traditional consulting companies that keep these metrics private, NorthCode shares them openly to build trust and foster a sense of ownership. Monthly meetings focus on tactical updates, while strategic sessions aim to inspire employees to contribute ideas for the company’s future.
Fun Practice: The “nightmare competitor” exercise encourages the team to imagine an ideal competitor and then adopt some of their hypothetical best practices into NorthCode’s strategy.
“When people can see the metrics that matter, they’re more motivated to take ownership of their impact.”
Inspiration from Open Strategy and Business Agility“We take concepts from corporate books and tailor them to fit our context as a growing, agile company.”
Ismo cites two key books that shaped his thinking: Open Strategy and The 6 Enablers of Business Agility. However, he emphasizes the importance of adapting corporate-level concepts to suit smaller, more agile organizations. He believes that while agile is mainstream in software development, many companies remain rigid in their overall strategy.
Recommended Reads:
Open Strategy: Mastering Disruption from Outside the C-Suite by Stadler et al.
The 6 Enablers of Business Agility by Harbott
Key Reflection: Ismo’s approach underscores the importance of agility not just in software but in company operations and strategy-making.
Final Tip: Embrace modern tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) to streamline workflows—but remember, they enhance your work, not replace it.
About Ismo Aro
Ismo Aro is the CTO and partner at NorthCode, specializing in software development and workflow modernization. With experience at Nokia and Ericsson, he has held various roles, from test engineer to entrepreneur. Ismo co-founded NorthCode after selling a previous company and also served as Chairman of the Robot Framework Foundation, contributing to the growth of the widely used open-source test automation framework.
You can link with Ismo Aro on LinkedIn.
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CTO Series: Navigating Growth, A Playbook for Scaling Engineering Teams With Toni Ala-Piirto
In this BONUS episode, we dive into the journey of Toni Ala-Piirto, a seasoned software leader with 15 years of experience designing and implementing distributed systems. Toni opens up about pivotal lessons from his leadership career, balancing tech strategy with business goals, and the nuances of scaling engineering teams during rapid growth. Whether you’re a CTO, a team lead, or a tech enthusiast, this conversation is packed with practical insights.
The Evolution of a Leader: A Journey, Not a Single Moment“Leadership isn’t built in a single defining moment but shaped by many experiences.”
Toni recounts a key challenge early in his career involving a major performance issue for a customer. This experience taught him the importance of viewing systems holistically rather than focusing solely on individual contributions. His “boring” leadership style—marked by forward-thinking and crisis prevention—emphasizes preparation and identifying risks without over-engineering solutions.
Aligning Tech and Business: The Power of Collaboration“Technology vision and business strategy should speak the same language.”
Toni highlights the importance of close collaboration with product managers, sales, and finance to ensure tech strategy aligns with broader business goals. Regular cross-department discussions foster trust and ensure that the product roadmap is both innovative and achievable.
Key Practice: Build relationships with key stakeholders through daily touchpoints to create alignment.
The Roadmap to Success: Vision vs. Execution“Short-term details drive long-term visions.”
Toni explains their approach to roadmapping, with detailed 6-month plans that address “how” to achieve goals and a broader vision for the longer term. This allows the team to stay agile while keeping future innovations in view.
Pro Tip: Avoid spending excessive time on estimations; use past experience to guide epic-level planning.
“The first six months are about execution—the rest is about imagining what’s possible.”
Scaling Teams During Rapid Growth“The true challenge of scaling is transferring knowledge while preserving team culture.”
Toni reflects on the growth journey from a small team to a larger organization. As the team grew, onboarding and knowledge transfer became crucial. His solution? Pair testing and collaborative learning to help developers understand the product deeply, not just the code.
Tactical Tips:
Implement a “test buddy” system for collaborative testing and learning.
Encourage developers to test the product to build domain knowledge and foster cross-functional understanding.
“Your people need to understand the product—not just the code—to scale effectively.”
Maintaining Culture Amid Growth“Growth changes culture—how you hire and lead defines the next chapter.”
Toni shares how adding new team members can shift team dynamics. The key to sustaining a positive culture is hiring individuals who take ownership and serve as role models. Leaders should seek out those who aim to improve the team, not just perform their tasks.
“The best hires don’t just do their job—they make the whole team better.”
Cross-Functional Insights and Learning the CTO Role“CTOs operate at the intersection of tech and business—a shift from pure development.”
Toni admits that stepping into the CTO role required him to expand his understanding of business operations, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration. He emphasizes that this broadened perspective is essential for impactful decision-making.
“The biggest shift for me was seeing the business as a whole—not just the tech stack.”
Key Influences: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team“Understanding team dynamics is as crucial as technical expertise.”
Toni cites Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team as a pivotal read. The book shaped his approach to fostering accountability and ensuring team commitment. Toni underscores that accountability isn’t about blame—it’s about ownership and follow-through.
Scaling with a Talent Strategy in Mind“Growth requires not just more people but the right investments.”
Toni discusses integrating talent strategy into roadmaps by aligning with business goals, including company size and revenue targets. Strategic hiring and investment in growth ensure that the team remains equipped to deliver on future plans.
About Toni Ala-Piirto
Toni Ala-Piirto is a seasoned software professional with 15 years of experience leading architecture and design for projects of all sizes. He excels in creating practical, fit-for-purpose distributed systems and is known for his hands-on approach and commitment to continuous improvement. Toni consistently delivers solutions that meet specific project needs while aligning with broader business objectives.
You can link with Toni Ala-Piirto on LinkedIn.a -
CTO Series: Sergey’s Leadership Insights—Bridging Innovation and Strategy as CTO of CrateDB
In this BONUS episode, we sit down with Sergey, the forward-thinking CTO of CrateDB, to unpack his journey from Nokia to CrateDB and his leadership philosophy that blends technical expertise with strategic foresight. We dive into the key moments that shaped his career, the challenges of scaling technology in a competitive market, and how Sergey aligns his team’s efforts with broader business goals while staying adaptable in an ever-evolving tech landscape.
The Defining Moment in Sergey’s Leadership Journey“Being a cheerleader, servant, and strategist for your team creates an environment where innovation can thrive.”
Sergey shares how working at Nokia with an inspiring people manager, Sotiris, influenced his leadership approach. Sotiris embodied servant leadership and made strategic thinking a team-wide responsibility. Sergey reflects on how this mindset helped him approach his current role at CrateDB, emphasizing the importance of not only building great products but ensuring they resonate in the market through thoughtful sales and marketing alignment.
“The best leaders help their teams see what’s next—not just solve today’s problems.”
Navigating Product-Market Fit for Technical Products“For technical products, adoption is not just about features—it’s about connecting with both developers and decision-makers.”
Sergey breaks down the challenges of achieving product-market fit for developer-centric solutions like CrateDB. He explains the dual approach of engaging both top-down decision-makers, like CTOs, and bottom-up developer communities. By drawing from his startup experience, Sergey underscores the importance of building trust and delivering a developer experience that wins over early adopters.
“The real challenge is bridging the gap between leadership adoption and the developers who use the product every day.”
The Impact of AI on Developer Experience“AI’s true transformation lies in how it enhances the products we already use, often invisibly.”
When asked about AI’s current role, Sergey reflects on the potential of AI-powered tools to transform workflows over the next few years. While not yet life-changing for his daily routine, he anticipates that AI’s influence will soon be felt through the optimization of background processes in everyday tools and databases.
“The future isn’t about flashy AI features—it’s about smarter tools that simplify complex workflows.”
Aligning Tech Strategy with Business Goals“A strong strategy needs to be a story that teams can rally around and imagine themselves in.”
Sergey details CrateDB’s unique approach to strategic planning, inspired by open-source RFCs (Request for Comments). Instead of rigid OKRs, they craft stories that clarify priorities and invite feedback from across the organization. He highlights the importance of quarterly check-ins and building checkpoints to validate assumptions along the way.
Key tips in this segment:
Document the assumptions behind the strategy.
Break initiatives into steps to test their feasibility.
Avoid deadline-driven development; focus on value-driven milestones.
Fostering Collaboration Between Tech and Business Units“Collaboration thrives when both sides understand the trade-offs involved in strategic decisions.”
Sergey explains how collaboration between engineering and business leaders is fostered through transparency and communication. Product managers and engineering leads play key roles in advocating for priorities and ensuring alignment across teams. Sergey emphasizes the value of making trade-offs explicit to avoid silos.
“The best partnerships between tech and business come from mutual understanding—not just of goals, but of constraints.”
Staying Ahead with Strategic Roadmapping“A good strategy diagnoses the situation, sets guiding policies, and outlines coherent actions.”
Sergey highlights the importance of competitive intelligence in staying ahead of market trends without reacting impulsively. In the world of databases, long adoption cycles offer the advantage of thoughtful strategic planning. He references the book Good Strategy/Bad Strategy and describes how CrateDB maintains an evergreen list of initiatives that can be prioritized when needed.
“Don’t just chase trends—create a strategy that withstands change by focusing on long-term coherence.”
Overcoming the Challenges of the CTO Role“The CTO role is often ambiguous—define it based on your organization’s needs.”
Sergey candidly discusses the challenge of imposter syndrome and the ambiguity that comes with the CTO title. He outlines two common archetypes: the technical expert versus the team builder and cultural leader. He stresses the importance of adjusting the role to the organization’s maturity and goals.
“Your leadership role isn’t static—adapt your approach to meet your organization where it is.”
Books That Shaped Sergey’s Leadership Approach“Most tech problems are people problems disguised as engineering issues.”
Sergey shares the books that influenced his leadership style:
Peopleware by Tom DeMarco: Reinforces the idea that technical challenges often stem from team dynamics.
Drive by Daniel Pink: Highlights the importance of autonomy, mastery, and purpose in motivating teams.
Good to Great by Jim Collins: Explores what makes some companies thrive while others stagnate.
About Sergey Gerasimenko
Sergey is the innovative CTO of CrateDB, leading the charge in real-time analytics and hybrid search. Previously, he was VP of Engineering at MongoDB, shaping the edge device strategy, and at Realm, a leading open-source mobile/embedded database acquired by MongoDB in 2019. With a career spanning groundbreaking roles at Brainly and Nokia, Sergey co-founded two companies and holds a patent. His leadership continues to push the boundaries of tech innovation.
You can link with Sergey Gerasimenko on LinkedIn. -
BONUS: Building Agile Startups with Nick Hughes of Founders Live
Welcome, Agile friends! In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nick Hughes, the founder of Founders Live, a global startup community now operating in more than 100 cities and 50 countries. Our conversation explored what it really takes to build a business and how the principles of agility can help entrepreneurs adapt, iterate, and thrive.
If you’ve ever wondered how to sharpen your message, build resilience in the face of setbacks, and foster meaningful connections in the startup world, this episode is for you!
The Birth of Founders Live“Test, learn, iterate, and grow. That’s how I built Founders Live.”
Nick’s story began over 10 years ago when he noticed something missing in the entrepreneurial world—a supportive community where early-stage founders could connect, learn, and grow together. As a founder himself, he knew firsthand how isolating the startup journey could be.
He decided to experiment with an idea, and it worked. Founders Live has since become a thriving global movement where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, connect with like-minded people, and celebrate innovation in an engaging, fun atmosphere.
Each Founders Live event follows a simple but powerful format: five founders deliver 99-second pitches, followed by four minutes of audience Q&A. Then, the crowd votes on the winner. Add some networking, food, and drinks, and you’ve got a recipe for an unforgettable experience!
The takeaway here? Test small, see what works, and refine from there.
The Power of a 99-Second Pitch“It’s not easy to create your 99-second pitch. But that time frame forces founders to really think: What is my message?”
Nick’s 99-second pitch format is more than a clever gimmick—it’s a forcing function for founders to get crystal clear about their message. In a short window of time, founders must distill their big idea into something precise, engaging, and impactful.
Many founders tell Nick that while it’s nerve-wracking at first, they walk away feeling more confident and impressed with their own ability to communicate under pressure. It’s not just about pitching—it’s about building communication agility and clarity of purpose.
Why Networking and Mentorship Matter“If you figure out ways to help people and open doors for them, it comes back to you tenfold.”
One of the most valuable aspects of Founders Live is its emphasis on connection. Nick shared that many of the most successful founders he knows have built networks by being generous—by “opening doors” for others. Whether it’s offering advice, making introductions, or helping someone troubleshoot a challenge, those who give tend to receive tenfold in return.
His advice for founders? Show up, participate, and look for ways to add value to your community. Authenticity and generosity go a long way in building strong relationships that will support your growth.
Embracing Agility and Resilience“Agility is looking at things as experiments—identify what works, keep that, and stop what isn’t working.”
We also dove into the mindset that helps founders bounce back from setbacks. For Nick, agility means viewing everything as an experiment. When things don’t go as planned, the question isn’t “Why did this happen to me?” but rather “What can I learn from this, and how can I adjust?”
Successful founders are constantly iterating—testing, learning, and evolving. The entrepreneurial journey isn’t a straight line; it’s a cycle of experimentation and improvement. Agility doesn’t just happen in the product—it starts with how you frame your challenges and your willingness to pivot when needed.
Common Misconceptions About Entrepreneurship“We all want creators in the world, but it’s a tough road. You need to build something that adds value before pitching it.”
According to Nick, many first-time founders enter the startup world with unrealistic expectations. Building a business isn’t just about pitching your idea to investors—it’s about creating something valuable, getting traction, and proving adoption first. If you don’t have traction or proof points, you’re burning bridges by pitching too early.
His advice? Focus on solving real problems and showing early growth before you seek funding. When you walk into the room with evidence that people love your product, your pitch becomes much stronger—and much harder to ignore.
Intrapreneurship: Innovating Inside Larger CompaniesNot every entrepreneur is working outside the corporate world—some are internal innovators looking to make a difference within their organizations. For those intrapreneurs, Nick had some great advice: define your opportunity clearly, understand your company’s risk tolerance, and align your goals with measurable outcomes.
If you want to pitch new ideas inside a company, start by identifying what success would look like and communicating that vision effectively. Intrapreneurship thrives when there’s clarity around expectations and potential rewards.
Nick’s Resource RecommendationWhen I asked Nick for a resource recommendation, he shared the book “The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life” by David Brooks. It’s an inspiring read about finding purpose and meaning by building something bigger than yourself—a fitting message for entrepreneurs seeking to create meaningful impact.
We closed with Nick’s final piece of advice: “Test, learn, iterate, and grow. That’s how I built Founders Live.”
This simple but powerful mantra reminds us that agility isn’t just a process—it’s a mindset. Whether you’re launching your own startup or driving innovation within a larger organization, success comes from being open to experimentation and continuous improvement.
About Nick Hughes
Nick Hughes is the founder of Founders Live, a global community and event platform for entrepreneurs, now active in over 100 cities across 50 countries. With a background in founding companies, Nick created Founders Live to foster connection, mentorship, and growth for startups worldwide.
To learn more about Nick and Founders Live, visit FoundersLive.com or connect with Nick Hughes on LinkedIn.
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