startups Archives - Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Simina Fodor: From Corporate to Startup—Navigating the Scrum Implementation Gap

In this episode, Simina shares a critical failure story from her transition from corporate settings to a startup environment. Believing she had all the necessary tools and experience, she attempted to scale up Scrum practices too quickly with developers who weren’t familiar with the framework. Instead of starting with fundamentals and understanding where team members were in their Agile journey, she made assumptions based on her corporate experience. Simina emphasizes the importance of a proper discovery phase for Scrum Masters when joining new teams, especially in dynamic startup environments where roles are still evolving and significant change is occurring.

Self-reflection Question: How might your previous experiences be creating blind spots when you join a new team or organization?

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About Simina Fodor

Simina is a career rebel with a passion for bold moves. From HR to Agile delivery, she’s ditched the rulebook to inspire others to build careers that ignite passion. No apologies, no detours—just fearless pivots and real talk about creating work that truly fires you up.

You can link with Simina Fodor on LinkedIn.

Gosia Smoleńska: How OKRs Transformed Our Goal-Setting Process

Gosia shares her experience leading a startup through significant change by introducing a goal framework and implementing OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Initially resistant, the company transitioned to quarterly reviews and goal-setting processes. Teams were tasked with defining their contributions, leading to greater collaboration and understanding of their roles. Regular retrospectives and actionable feedback refined the approach, while tools like Monte Carlo simulations and WIP limits helped maintain focus. This story emphasizes that driving change requires adaptation and continuous learning.

Self-reflection Question: How do you ensure that goal-setting frameworks support your team’s focus and growth?

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🔥 In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching! 🔥

Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.

🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.

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About Gosia Smoleńska
Gosia has worked in IT since 2013, growing from a manual tester to roles in QA, project management, and scrum mastery. She shares agile knowledge passionately and helps build start-up cultures. Her expertise spans Scrum, Kanban, NEXUS, and Lean.

You can link with Gosia Smoleńska on LinkedIn.

CTO Series: Scaling Success – A Deep Dive into Leadership, Technology, and Team Building with Santeri Kangas

In this episode, Santeri Kangas, a seasoned CTO and CISO, explores the complexities of leading tech organizations through various stages of growth. Santeri shares his journey from a developer to an influential leader in cybersecurity, AI, and cloud transformation, offering valuable lessons on scaling businesses, aligning technology with business goals, and fostering collaborative teams.

From Developer to Leader: Santeri’s Evolution in Technology

“I grew into what I am through a series of pivotal moments, each shaping my approach to leadership and technology.”

Santeri began his career as a developer, gradually advancing to roles such as architect, and eventually leading large-scale cybersecurity operations at F-Secure. He reflects on the challenges of dealing with exponential growth in malware, which pushed him to develop innovative, algorithm-driven solutions. This early experience highlighted the importance of integrating technology with broader business goals and set the foundation for his leadership philosophy.

“Leadership in tech is about growing with the challenges and continuously adapting your approach to meet evolving needs.”

Scaling Startups: Building the Right Team for Success

Continue reading CTO Series: Scaling Success – A Deep Dive into Leadership, Technology, and Team Building with Santeri Kangas