Chris, ‘True Agility’ Expert
SA | CSM | CSPO | STE | RTE | SM | PMP
SAFe Certified & Scrum Alliance Certified
Introduction
For over two decades, I’ve empowered high-performing agile teams to deliver top-tier IT/Business initiatives.
Bringing out the best in others, through collaboration and continuous improvement, energizes me. Additionally, making products better… easier, faster, more powerful, and intuitive is a passion.
Leading numerous innovative product deliveries spans from mid-scale projects in a family-owned business to large-scale endeavors at Fortune 100 companies such as Ryder, Waste Management, AT&T, General Electric, Cigna Healthcare, and Global Atlantic Financial Group.
True Agility: A Clear Opportunity and Need
One morning, while performing some online research, I came across an article on HBR.org titled “How AI will Transform Project Management.”
"A staggering truth emerged: nearly 7 out of 10 projects end in failure, inflicting trillions of dollars in losses upon companies worldwide. This shocking fact underscored the need for True Agility and became a call to action that I am well prepared to answer."
True Agility: How AI (ChatGPT) Defines It
“True Agility” refers to the genuine ability of an individual, team, or organization to swiftly and effectively respond to changing circumstances, embrace uncertainty, and adapt their strategies, processes, and behaviors accordingly. It goes beyond the superficial adoption of agile methodologies or practices and encompasses a deep understanding and integration of agile principles into the organization’s culture and mindset. True agility enables continuous improvement, collaboration, innovation, and the delivery of value to customers in an sustainable manner. – BINGO
True Agility: Living, Understanding and Embracing It
Heavily invested in Product & Project Management since the early 1990s and completing my first of several SAFe courses in 2014, I vividly recall attendees being asked, ‘What did we learn about agile?’ My immediate response was, ‘I’ve always been agile’. To this day, true agility remains among the primary keys to project success!
Examples: see the Brainstorming page.
Note: SAFe and Scrum are both widely embraced agile frameworks and each are an excellent starting point. It’s however imperative to acknowledge no framework is a one-size-fits-all solution. Experience has shown that agile methodologies yield greater value when tailored to the unique circumstances of the organization, specific project(s), and often, even on a team-by-team basis.
This reality presents an enormous opportunity that’s frequently misunderstood, met with resistance and greatly undervalued.
Key Point: There is a massive difference between 'Doing Agile' vs. 'Being Truly Agile' and the latter is my forte.
True Agility: Knowledge and Experience
Holding several SAFe, Scrum Alliance, PMP, Six Sigma certifications. Plus thousands of hours of research reading, learning and growing.
“True Agility leads to an opportunity filled career”
After graduating college, I joined Ryder Truck Rental enjoying a whirlwind of increased responsibilities and earned multiple promotions.
By the age of 25, I was a Senior Business/IT Project Manager, reporting directly to Ryder’s Executive Vice President of Operations and Fleet. Over the next three years, I traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada. My objective was to gather requirements, build support for, and oversee the roll out a 100% custom web-based software program built from scratch into 600+ locations.
Like all projects, I oversaw this effort step-by-step and challenge-by-challenge, in an agile way!
Hence, the ‘I’ve always been agile’ response above.
Ryder was just the beginning. Throughout my career, I’ve been offered many wonderful opportunities from respected companies. Perhaps not surprisingly, I’ve gravitated towards those with strong leaders who are supportive and engaged.
The most rewarding situations are those where I collaborate with great people, address a genuine need, and make a real difference.
True Agility: Theoretical vs. Practical Application
Whether it’s SAFe, Scrum or another agile framework, mastering the theory of agility is one thing; but applying it effectively is quite another.
Pro Tip: Degrees, certificates, glitzy presentations and smooth talking mean absolutely nothing unless the agile solutions meet your unique needs. Achieving success demands the unwavering capacity to ‘muddle through the madness,’ uncovering opportunities at every turn.
True Agility: Bottom Line
“Results Matter“
Take Action Today: Connect with Chris – 203.560.3132
Let’s turn your agile aspirations into reality!
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