The (mis)adventures of an agile coach
In my quest for personal growth, I have found that true growth comes from embracing all of my facets. These days, self-discovery has a starring role in my adult life. The older I become, the closer I feel to becoming a complete person. Life experiences have coloured what used to feel like a blank slate. … Read more
“Know thyself”, the age-old saying reminds us. It beckons us to explore our desires, motives, strengths, and even our deepest vulnerabilities. I recently took a short break, during which I penned a few articles. One titled “The State of Discomfort” examines how discomfort can catalyze positive personal and professional transformation. These writings flow from me … Read more
I have often heard the term ‘white-passing’ used to describe me. People look at my build and complexion, and they see a European, perhaps with a touch of Mediterranean. Yet, I have always identified as someone of mixed heritage. Upon closer inspection, there’s a hint of something else. A round face that tans a bit … Read more
Last year was a whirlwind of new experiences for me – a new job, three courses and writing a lot for this blog. Despite the challenges, I persevered and made significant progress in my personal and professional life. As summer approaches, I am excited to take a step back, unwind, and focus on my personal … Read more
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; – John Donne I want to open up about a topic that means a lot to me. For over a year now, I’ve been reflecting on the phrase “no man is an island”. This … Read more
Today marks the one-year anniversary of my blogging adventure. I found my interest for Scrum a few years ago, and one year ago I decided that starting a blog would be a wonderful opportunity to share my knowledge. Despite the fact that I only received two (!) comments on my blog entries, I am appreciative … Read more
There are valid reasons why a company would want to implement Scrum. Scrum is widely used in many businesses, particularly in IT. However, why would a company want to implement Scrum? Are there any misunderstandings? And what is the reason that resonates with me the strongest? Adopting Scrum for invalid reasons (and its dangers) Scrum … Read more
Three weeks ago I attempted my first try at the Professional Scrum Master III (PSM III) assessment. Today I got the results back, and I sadly did not pass. I got a score of 68.8%, where 85% was required to pass. Although I am a bit disappointed, I am actually very happy that I undertook … Read more
As we are in the final days of 2022, I can’t help looking back to this eventful year. It’s the year that I made great leaps and bounds as a Scrum Master and Agile professional. I started this blog in April this year, documenting my journey of growth; I continued on teaching my peers essential … Read more
The last half year I was preoccupied with a very important question: what is next? I have been putting a lot of work in planning my professional and private life. Recently I made the step towards a full-time appointment as a Scrum Master, shedding my skin as a digital project manager for good. But where … Read more
So today marks the last day of work at the digital agency that has been my employer for the last three years. I have found a new challenge as a full-time Scrum Master at an international software company, with multiple Scrum Teams in the Netherlands, Portugal and Australia. That’s right, I’m stepping out of the … Read more
It was 2012, I was 27 years old and I felt as if I was at the zenith of my career. It was the year of change and ambition, of standing in the limelight. Of attending award shows and even taking the stage at a TEDx event. I rode on a high, and I loved … Read more
Let me tell you a little story about assertiveness as a (digital) project manager. Don’t underestimate the power of No. Although this topic is not really related to Scrum, I would like to share a life lesson that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. In my career as a digital project manager, I have … Read more
One of my favorite activities is teaching (potential) Product Owners about their roles and responsibilities in the Scrum Team. One of the most important things I try to help them understand, is “time is rigid, scope is flexible”. And it’s true, in the (Scrum) projects I have been working on at a digital agency for … Read more
Two titles proudly appear at the top of my LinkedIn profile: Project Manager and Scrum Master. It turns out that I am not the only one who fulfills these dual roles and I have noticed a lot of ambiguity about the difference (and the overlap) between the roles. I would like to take you through … Read more