Agile Boss AgileBoss

Sam Fowler, is a Chapter & Tribe lead from Genesis New Zealand. Genesis is an energy provider and retailer in New Zealand. Sam brings us learnings from decades long commitment to continuous improvement in the organisation and uniquely how ‘agile transformation’ was approached in an energy company including the traditional oil & gas business. We also get a good insight into how an agile business leader thinks, creates supportive environments and empowers he’s team to continuously grow delivery and as professionals.

One of the key differences in Genesis applied agile business management is their Business Cadence. Sam gives us a unique insight into how strategic planning is integrated into agile delivery cadences, product management and then competitive reviews.



People & Companies


Sam Fowler - Digital Tribe lead & Scrum Master Chapter Lead
Bhargavi Kotte - Scrum master
Genesis Energy


Learning Resources


Lean Six Sigma 
5 Dysfunctions of a team



The Agile Boss Podcast is created and hosted by Stephanie BySouth, an agile business leader committed to liberating people to deliver better business outcomes.

Show note source: https://www.stephaniebysouth.com/agile-boss-podcast-episodes/episode-2-tessa-tierney

Our Agile Boss in Episode 2 is Tessa Tierney, Product Director of Spark Telecommunications in New Zealand.

Nominated and introduced by Ammar Sagban for her inspirational agile leadership.

Sparks Agile Transformation has been a successful investment for the entire organisation. We chat everything from the original inspiration to the executive restructure into an agile squad and the unplanned benefits of shifting the values from "loudest voice wins to every voice matters.” We’ll also learn about the business leadership challenges to address in an agile transformation; including, moving the company to distributed decision making, redefining how value management is practiced to ensure ongoing commercial grit, shifting product portfolio management, the operational costs of transformation and the sustainable bottom line benefits to the business.

“understand the value of your burn rate”
“agile leadership is not for the faint hearted” Tessa Tierney


People Mentioned


Tessa Tierney - Product Director Spark New Zealand

Leadership Squad Spark New Zealand

Simon Moutter - Managing Director of Spark New Zealand from 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2019

Ammar Sagban - Agile Coach Spark


Companies Mentioned


McKinsey & Company

ING Bank Netherlands

Spark New Zealand 

Spark Diversity & Inclusion Blue Heart Pledge


Learning Resources


McKinsey & Company ING Agile Transformation

Edelman Trust Barometer


Books


Twice the work in Half the time Jeff Sutherland

Dare to Lead Brene Brown

Leaders Eat Last Simon Sinek


Terminology

“Sheep Dip” - a common New Zealand term often used as a metaphor to explain ‘putting something into the centre focus’ or 'dropping you into the middle of a situation' often with no preparation.

Note: There are approximately 27 Million Sheep and just under 5 Million Humans in New Zealand; hence, the common metaphorical references in their language. Sheep dipping is actually an agricultural process for medicating sheep against pests.

Jody shares insights from 20 years experience in management with great companies such as INTUIT in the USA; a $7 Billion dollar FinTech Company that revolutionised tax preparation, grew QuickBooks, Mint for personal financial management, serving up a financial ecosystem to over 50 Million Customers, essentially leading the Fintech revolution for two decades. And more recently as Head of Agility with the largest online fashion store in Australia & New Zealand, the Iconic.

We learn about the revolutionary practice of silicon valley such as Lean StartUp, Design Thinking, Agility and a people first mindset. “take care of the customers, take care of the people and the profits will follow” Scott Cook. Jody shares how INTUIT turned these practices into the wining formula for their successful business.

Jody also shares her insights from being Head of Agility helping companies transform their practices and culture to create their own winning formulas.

This episode is recorded during the 2020 Global Pandemic online. Jody provides tools & tips on how business managers can practically reduce their teams stress; role model the behaviours they want to see and what you can do to uplift your agile business management capabilities.



People & Companies


Scott Cook, Founder INTUIT
Eric Ries, Author Lean StartUp
www.intuit.com
www.iconic.com.au

Practices & Methodologies


Design Thinking (originally called Design with Delight)
Lean Startup

Books


Love Works - Seven Timeless Principles For Effective Leaders by Joel Manby
An Everyone Culture - Becoming a Deliberately Developmental by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey
Brave New Work by Aaron Dignan

Learning Resources


YouTube - How to revolutionise the Way We Work by Aaron Dignan
Podcast - Running an effective workshop with Jody Weir hosted by Moe Kiss and the Analytics Hour

Show notes available online; https://www.stephaniebysouth.com/agile-boss-podcast-episodes/episode-1-jody-weir-head-of-agility-iconic

Welcome to the Agile Boss Podcast where we talk to agile business leaders about their strategies, tactics and experiences in leveraging agile. 

In our first season we travel around the world speaking to line managers, people leaders, product managers, directors of operations, and gurus from silicon valley. Each leader brings a unique perspective to the challenges that agility has helped them overcome, the practical tips on how they are improving culture and the practices that are making a difference to their companies bottom line. 

Everyone we interview is nominated by someone they worked with. We ask people to nominate their favourite Agile Boss; someone they admire -managers who are leading us to work better, stress less, and make a difference.



I'd love to interview your favourite Agile Boss!