From Sea to Scrum: How My Journey Shaped My Agile Leadership

 I didn’t discover Agile in a boardroom—I found it in the middle of a crisis.

Years ago, I worked at sea, managing crews, cargo, and crises while being away from family for 8–10 months at a time. Life onboard demanded teamwork, adaptability, and clarity under pressure—qualities I only later realized were at the core of what we now call Agile.

From Deck Plates to Desk Jobs

When I came ashore, I pivoted into financial services. It was a rough start-within my first month, the entire team I joined resigned. Left with just one other junior colleague, we had to deliver results fast. We didn’t have time to “plan everything.” We adapted daily, ran stand-ups before I knew what they were, and collaborated with offshore teams to stay afloat.

This chaos introduced me to the spirit of Agile--not just as a framework, but as a mindset of resilience, iteration, and teamwork.

Discovering Agile on Paper (After Living It)

Eventually, I formally studied Agile: Scrum, Kanban, Lean, Design Thinking, OKRs—you name it. I became certified as a Scrum Master, Product Owner, Enterprise Agile Coach, and even a Design Thinking Practitioner with IBM. What struck me was this:

I had lived Agile before I had learned it.

That made my mission clear: bring Agile to non-tech sectors, where people still see it as a “software thing.”

Agile in Non-Tech: Where It Really Shines

In my work at Kiple, I lead programs for underserved communities-migrant workers, students, and vulnerable groups. These are human-centered challenges, not just product sprints. Yet, Agile fits beautifully:

  • We break down long-term goals into iterative experiments.

  • We co-create with real users using design sprints.

  • We measure outcomes using OKRs.

  • We improve team focus and turnaround time.

Agile is not about sticking to rituals. It's about creating value faster and being responsive to change, whether in fintech, education, or even Sunday school curriculum design.

My Takeaway: Agile is Human

Agile isn’t just about faster delivery. It’s about building trust, embracing feedback, and staying curious. It’s about serving people, not just managing tasks.

From the helm of a ship to the heart of a team sprint, my journey taught me this:

Agility is less about frameworks and more about people.

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