Agile Mentors Podcast Brian Milner and Guests

Join Brian and Mike Cohn as they dissect the vital roles and responsibilities of the product owner, from story mapping to stakeholder management. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to sharpen their Agile skills and understand the nuanced demands of a product owner.


Overview

In this insightful episode, Brian and Mike Cohn explore the multifaceted role of product owners in Agile development, discussing everything from market analysis and vision creation to the nuts and bolts of sprint planning and retrospectives.


Emphasizing flexibility and adaptability, Brian and Mike offer a comprehensive look at how product owners can excel by focusing on strategic planning and fostering strong team dynamics. This episode is essential for product owners seeking to enhance their impact in Agile environments and drive successful outcomes.


Listen Now to Discover:

[1:07] - Brian welcomes special guest Mountain Goat Software and Agile Alliance founder Mike Cohn. 

[1:31] - Brian introduces Mountain Goat Software’s What Happens When for a Product Owner, and Mike flips the script, setting Brian, as the creator, into the guest seat on this episode.

[3:16] - Join Brian as he explores the vital, behind-the-scenes efforts of product owners that set the stage for Scrum success, all before the first sprint begins.

[6:24] - Brian explains the dynamics of crafting a product vision, clarifying how much responsibility lies with the product owner and how much is shared with the team.

[7:46] - Brian offers expert guidance on the optimal timing for creating a story map within the Scrum process.

[9:46] - Brian and Mike explore the optimal quantity of backlog items to have ready before adding them to a sprint.

[13:45] - Join Brian as he explains the importance of setting a product goal in Scrum, detailing how it enhances functionality and guides the development process.

[17:03] - Brian invites you to download Mountain Goat Software’s What Happens When for Product Owners, a comprehensive guide designed to support your Scrum journey.

[17:43] - Brian explains how to effectively integrate road mapping into the Scrum process, ensuring it adds valuable foresight and preparation without causing shortsightedness.

[19:55] - Mike suggests a strategy for managing stakeholders who overemphasize the product roadmap, offering a creative approach to preserve the flexibility and adaptability that effective road mapping allows.

[22:48] - Brian delves into the critical role and strategies of effective sprint planning, essential for driving successful Scrum projects.

[24:20] - Brian offers his perspective on the significance and involvement of the product owner in the daily scrum, detailing their role and contributions.

[26:15] - Mike recounts a memorable story about receiving exceptionally impressive customer feedback at trustworthy.com, highlighting the impact of genuine client interactions.

[28:30] - Brian emphasizes that the product owner is an integral part of the team and its goals, underscoring their collaborative role rather than being separate.

[29:18] - Brian explores the crucial involvement of the product owner in the backlog refinement process, detailing their responsibilities and impact.

[30:48] - Brian explains why he views the sprint review as the product owner's event and offers strategies for executing it effectively.

[32:17] - Brian delves into the product owner's essential participation in the retrospective, emphasizing that their insights and experiences are crucial for the team's growth and improvement.

[34:10] - Brian outlines ways the product owner can proactively prepare for the next sprint, ensuring a smooth transition and effective planning.

[35:27] - Brian discusses a key pitfall that product owners should avoid to ensure success in their role.

[37:35] - Brian shares a big thank you to Mike for taking over this episode of the show.

[37:57] - Do you have feedback or a great idea for an episode of the show

Join Brian and Marisa Smith as they dive into the world of developer advocacy, the challenges of agile methodologies in data engineering, and the vital role of open-source communities. Discover how to better support and communicate with your developers in this insightful episode!


Overview

In this episode, Brian Milner interviews developer relations expert Marisa Smith to explore the vital role of developer advocates in bridging the gap between companies and their users.


Marisa shares her insights on the challenges of communicating with developers, emphasizing the need to create a welcoming environment for questions and feedback. She also discusses the unique difficulties developers face when implementing agile methodologies, particularly in the realm of data engineering.


They highlight the significance of open-source communities in fostering innovation and collaboration and provide a preview of Marisa's upcoming talk at Agile 2024 on enhancing data pipelines with SQLMesh.


Listen Now to Discover:

[1:08] - Join Brian in an engaging conversation with Dr. Marisa Smith, PhD, Developer Relations Expert, Developer Advocate, and Speaker.

[2:43] - Marisa Smith sheds light on the crucial role of a developer advocate, explaining how they bridge the gap between developers and the wider community.

[3:49] - Brian digs into common mistakes in how we communicate with developers and poses the question: what are we getting wrong in our interactions?

[5:57] - Marisa outlines the hurdles developers face in a Scrum team environment, shedding light on common obstacles.

[12:00] - Marisa explores the hurdles in developer communication, offering insights into improving dialogue and understanding.

[12:55] - Mountain Goat Software offers Working on a Scrum Team, a private class to help Scrum teams foster a team dynamic that supports the whole team, including bridging the gap in communicating with developer teams.

[15:00] - Marisa discusses how SQLMesh has empowered data engineers to streamline their tasks, sparking a sense of 'Marie Kondoing' their work.

[24:11] - Marisa emphasizes the vital importance of open-source developer communities for fostering innovation and teamwork.

[26:51] - Brian shares a big thank you to Marisa for joining him on the show.

[27:50] - We invite you to subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast. Do you have feedback or a great idea for an episode of the show? Great! Just send us an email.

[27:54] - If you’d like to continue this discussion, join the Agile Mentors Community. You get a year of free membership into that site by taking any class with Mountain Goat Software, such as CSM or CSPO. We'd love to see you in one of Mountain Goat Software's classes, you can find the schedule here.


References and resources mentioned in the show:

Dr. Marisa Smith, PhD

Join the SQLMesh Community

Agile 2024

SQLMesh

Working on a Scrum Team

Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast

Mountain Goat Software’s Private Training

Certified ScrumMaster® Training and Scrum Certification

Certified Scrum Product Owner® Training

Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule

Join the Agile Mentors Community


Want to get involved?

This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. 



Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one.
Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com


This episode’s presenters are:

Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work.


Marisa Smith is a Developer Relations expert who bridges the gap between the community and development teams, addressing probl

Join Brian Milner and McCaul Baggett as they explore the power of empathy and storytelling in successful Agile transformations. Learn McCaul's five-step approach to effective communication and discover strategies to overcome common pitfalls in organizational change.


Overview

In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner sits down with McCaul Baggett, Chief Agile Officer at CAVU, to discuss the intricacies of communicating change within organizations.


They delve into common pitfalls in Agile transformations and highlight the importance of empathy and storytelling in engaging teams. McCaul shares his five-step approach to effective communication, emphasizing the power of testimonials and spreading awareness.


Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical tools for navigating and leading successful Agile transformations.


Listen Now to Discover:

[1:10] - Join Brian as he welcomes McCaul Baggett, Chief Agile Officer at CAVU and a master of Agile transformation, to delve into the secrets of successful Agile transformation.

[3:15] - McCaul emphasizes the critical role of storytelling in engaging and guiding teams through the process of Agile transformation.

[5:57] - Brian addresses a common challenge in Agile transformations: navigating the unknown and its impact on team dynamics.

[8:01] - McCaul explains how effective communication and a compelling narrative can help teams grasp their value during a transformation.

[10:40] - McCaul advocates for going beyond the basic 'why' by incorporating testimonial narratives to create more meaningful connections.

[14:39] - Brian suggests using these tools to foster empathy, advocating for their use in both top-down and bottom-up approaches when initiating a transformation.

[16:29] - Dive into Mike Cohn's book, Succeeding with Agile, for practical advice on navigating your transformation. Discover strategies for communication, overcoming resistance, and other key aspects of Agile success.

[17:54] - Brian inquires about effective ways to connect with and engage resistant individuals within the team.

[22:49] - Join McCaul and Brian as they discuss the importance of creating specific best practices that suit the unique needs of this particular team and organization.

[28:07] - Brian shares a big thank you to McCaul for joining him on the show.

[28:33] - Join Brian in attending Agile conferences to connect with and learn from Agile experts and peers, fostering valuable discussions and insights.

[29:53] - If you’d like to continue this discussion, join the Agile Mentors Community. You get a year of free membership into that site by taking any class with Mountain Goat Software, such as CSM or CSPO. We'd love to see you in one of Mountain Goat Software's classes, you can find the schedule here.

[30:35] - We invite you to subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast. Do you have feedback or a great idea for an episode of the show? Great! Just send us an email.


References and resources mentioned in the show:

McCaul Baggett

Communicating Change Made Easy with McCaul Bagget and Tom Bullock

Succeeding with Agile by Mike Cohn

Agile 2024

Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast

Certified ScrumMaster® Training and Scrum Certification

Certified Scrum Product Owner® Training

Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule

Join the Agile Mentors Community


Want to get involved?

This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input.



Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one.
Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com


This episode’s presenters are:

Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improv

Join Brian as he discusses the crucial elements of sustainable agility with Leor Herzfeld, Agile Coach and CEO of Integral Agile. Dive into the human side of sustainability and discover the 14 dimensions essential for creating a culture that truly engages.


Overview

In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner sits down with Leor Herzfeld to unpack the concept of sustainable agility from a deeply human perspective.


They explore why external changes often fail and how a focus on individual health—encompassing safety, autonomy, mastery, purpose, and accountability—can lead to genuine, lasting transformation within organizations.


Leor shares practical tools for leaders looking to foster an environment that supports continuous agile practices and nurtures employee engagement. Listen in as they discuss how to achieve a resilient and thriving workplace.


Listen Now to Discover:

[1:01] - Join Brian as he explores the vital role of sustainability in Agile methodologies with expert guest, CEO of Integral Agile and author of the upcoming book Reimagine Transformation, Leor Herzfeld.

[2:09] - Leor delves into the meaning of human sustainability, explaining its significance and impact.

[4:33] - Brian discusses the inherent resistance to change, noting that even positive transformations require adjustments.

[5:22] - Leor poses the shift from thinking about only the holistic, healthy Agile culture and team to focusing on a healthy individual. 

[7:14] - Brian and Leor explore what sustainability and sustainable pace practices entail in real-world scenarios.

[10:03] - Leor examines the reasons behind employees' lack of engagement in their organizations and work environments.

[11:49] - Leor discusses 14 key aspects of individual health that are essential for creating a sustainable and healthy environment at both individual and organizational levels.

[14:03] - Leor shares a tool to assess the Agile health of your team or organization.

[14:53] - Enhance your team's performance with Mountain Goat Software’s specialized private training, including exclusive classes for leaders that accommodate their busy schedules. Dive into training that promises to elevate your team and organizational health, ensuring success across the board. You can email the Mountain Goat Software team for detailed information.

[16:43] - Leor shares how he measures the sustainability and health of the teams and organizations he works with.

[18:46] - Brian highlights a frequent issue encountered in classes: Agile teams feeling unsupported by their organization's culture.

[22:27] - Leor delves into the evolving landscape of the Agile world, exploring how shifts can foster greater organizational support and, thereby, sustainable environments. 

[28:58] - Brian shares a big thank you to Leor for joining him on the show.

[29:52] - If you’d like to continue this discussion, join the Agile Mentors Community. You get a year of free membership into that site by taking any class with Mountain Goat Software, where we get right into the good stuff and have some deep discussions. We'd love to see you in one of Mountain Goat Software's classes. You can find the schedule here.

[30:17] - We invite you to subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast. If you have feedback or a great idea for an episode of the show, send us an email. We can’t wait to hear!


References and resources mentioned in the show:

Leor Herzfeld

Integral Agile

Integral Agile Health and Happiness Assessment

Reimagine Transformation by Leor Herzfeld, David Hersey, Ben Williams, and Julio Pizarro

Organizational Transformation: A Case Study For Creating A Cross-Functional Team Of Teams (Art) Aligned To A Value Stream

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink

Agile For Leaders

Mountain Goat Software’s Private Training

Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast

Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule

Join the Agile Mento

Join Brian for the 100th episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast as he dives into the future of Agile with fan favorites Scott Dunn and Lance Dacy. Listen in as they explore the evolving role of AI, the continuous need for leadership innovation, and the Agile community's journey towards greater accountability and effectiveness.


Overview

In the 100th episode, our expert panel celebrates by examining the latest trends and enduring challenges in the Agile industry.


They discuss the critical need for organizations to adapt and innovate, particularly through leadership and management strategies that foster high-performing teams.


This episode is a deep dive into how embracing change and technological advancement can propel the Agile industry forward, ensuring that organizations not only survive but thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.


Listen Now to Discover:

[1:10] - Join Brian in a special celebration of the 100th episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, featuring a look forward to future innovations in Agile!

[1:43] - Brian kicks off the landmark 100th episode with a forward-looking panel on Agile and Scrum's future, featuring experts Scott Dunn and Lance Dacy.

[4:01] - Listen in as Brian asks the panel to share their insights on emerging trends within Agile and Scrum, setting the stage for a thought-provoking conversation.

[4:15] - Lance highlights key trends including solutions for scaling challenges, the integration of AI in Scrum, and innovations in leadership and management.

[6:54] - Scott emphasizes the enduring impact of Agile and Scrum in driving organizational enhancements.

[11:36] - Lance underscores the critical need for leadership and management to adopt innovative approaches and acknowledge generational changes to effectively engage and support their teams.

[13:30] - Addressing the provocative statement that 'Agile is dead,' Brian explores its implications on the real-world demand for Agile compared to its perceived necessity.

[14:50] - Brian, along with Scott and Lance, urges the Agile community to recognize its shortcomings and learning experiences, which they believe may be contributing to negative perceptions of Agile, and how the community could approach it differently.

[24:10] - Brian encourages you to try out Goat Bot, Mountain Goat software’s Scrum & Agile AI tool. This free tool is trained to handle all your Agile and Scrum queries—start asking your questions today!

[25:58] - The panel explores the impact of AI on enhancing agility in organizational practices in estimating, development, and so much more.

[32:20] - Brian stresses the importance of using AI as a tool to support, not supplant, discussing ways it can improve rather than replace human efforts.

[43:23] - Brian shares a big thank you to Scott and Lance for joining him on the 100th episode of the show.

[43:44] - Brian thanks you, the listeners, for your support and shares his excitement for the future of the show, inviting you to send us your feedback or share your great ideas for episodes of the show. Just send us an email.

[44:57] - We invite you to like and subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast.

[45:16] - If you’d like to continue this discussion, join the Agile Mentors Community. You get a year of free membership into that site by taking any class with Mountain Goat Software, such as CSM, or CSPO, or Better User Stories Course. We also have Advanced Certified ScrumMaster® and Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner®, where we get right into the good stuff and have some deep discussions. We'd love to see you in one of Mountain Goat Software's classes, you can find the schedule here.


References and resources mentioned in the show:

Scott Dunn

Lance Dacy

Goat Bot

Certified ScrumMaster® Training and Scrum Certification

Certified Scrum Product Owner® Training

Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner®

Advanced Certified ScrumMaster®

Mike Cohn’s Better User Stories Course

Mountain Goat Software Certi

Join Brian Milner and Hunter Hillegas as they unveil Goatbot, Mountain Goat Software's latest AI innovation designed to transform how we access and learn from Agile and Scrum resources. Tune in to hear Hunter delve into the intricate process of developing and testing this AI platform.


Overview

In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian and Hunter Hillegas, Mountain Goat Software’s CTO, dive deep into the capabilities of Goatbot, an AI-powered tool that makes accessibility of reliable Agile and Scrum knowledge easier.


Developed by Mountain Goat Software, Goatbot answers queries using the company’s extensive array of training materials, blog posts, and articles, ensuring that users receive precise and reliable information.


The discussion also covers the rapid advancements in AI technology, exploring its burgeoning role in coding and testing. Join Brian and Hunter as they explore how Goatbot was created, its impact on learning Agile methodologies, and the exciting future of AI in software development.


Listen Now to Discover:

[1:05] - Brian welcomes our beloved Chief Executive Officer at Mountain Goat Software, and creator of Goatbot, our Agile & Scrum AI, Hunter Hillegas.

[4:06] - Hunter explains how he and the team were able to make an AI platform to answer Scrum and Agile questions accurately every time.

[7:07] - Hunter talks about the experience of working with and developing AI from a long-term programmer's perspective.

[10:35] - Hunter and Brian share that Goatbot is available, accessible, and free on the Mountain Goat Software website.

[12:25] - Hunter walks through the process of creating Goatbot and some of the challenges the team faced to bring it to life.

[15:42] - Brian invites you to come on over and test out Goatbot, run it through its paces, and tell us what you think. Goatbot is free to use and specifically programmed to answer all your Agile and Scrum questions. Ask away!

[17:23] - As a technologist, Hunter talks about the parts of AI that are exciting and interesting in the tech world.

[19:05] - Brian points out the pace that AI technology is improving, underscoring its impact on setting new standards of improvement industry-wide.

[22:36] - Hunter shares his approach to integrating AI tools in his coding and testing processes, highlighting when they're beneficial and when they're not.

[28:46] - Brian shares a big thank you to Hunter for joining him on the show.

[29:30] - Brian shares the array of complimentary tools available at Mountain Goat Software, including Relative Weighting, as well as those tailored for users in the Agile Mentors Community, such as Planning Poker.

[30:41] - If you want to ask a question or provide feedback on Goatbot, email hello@mountaingoatsoftware.com

[31:06] - We invite you to subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast. Do you have feedback or a great idea for an episode of the show? Great! Just send us an email.

[31:39] - If you’d like to continue this discussion, join the Agile Mentors Community. You get a year of free membership into that site by taking any class with Mountain Goat Software.


References and resources mentioned in the show:

Hunter Hillegas

Goatbot

Mountain Goat Software’s Free Tools

Mountain Goat Software’s Relative Weighting Tool

Mountain Goat Software’s Planning Poker

Mountain Goat Software

Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast

Join the Agile Mentors Community


Want to get involved?

This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input.



Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one.
Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com


This episode’s presenters are:

Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experie