My Story

A few years ago, I was stuck in a toxic, fear-driven culture—fear of layoffs, losing key people, or simply being yourself. The one bright spot? The team I built. We created a space of trust, transparency, and psychological safety, grounded in Agile and Scrum practices I’d honed over 25 years. That’s when I realized: I wanted to lead as a Servant/Agile Leader.

I dove into books on modern leadership, left that job, and sought a company with strong culture and Agile values. I approached leadership like a craft—learning, experimenting, and growing. I embraced the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) world, especially during COVID, by shifting my mindset: letting go of control, encouraging risk-taking, and creating space for others to thrive.

I made retros more meaningful with metrics, brought stakeholders into sprint reviews, and fostered team ownership through early epic sizing. I encouraged feedback, set personal goals, and saw myself less as a boss and more as a gardener—nurturing growth.

Certified Agile Leadership and Management 3.0 courses deepened my self-awareness and emotional intelligence. I learned to coach, not just mentor—guiding others to their own answers. That shift was powerful. It freed me from needing to have all the answers and empowered others to grow.

Today, I lead with purpose, support my teams with intention, and share what I’ve learned to help others grow too.