About Michael
Michael Wallace has been active in software development for over 35 years, as a developer, analyst, project manager, trainer, manager and director. He has worked in small startups and global 50 companies helping teams of 5 to 500 people build software that creates value for the customer.
An internationally published author, Michael has written several books on various business and technology topics. He began using Agile development practices in the late 1990’s as a software delivery director, and for the last fifteen years has focused on building teams using Scrum. He has extensive experience as an instructor on technical topics and as a college graduate school professor.
In addition to being a Professional Scrum Trainer, Michael also works with teams and organizations on Agile and Scrum principles and practices. His classes go beyond the theoretical as he shares his extensive experience both past and present with his students.
While Michael finds that virtual classes can be effective, he still enjoys the opportunity to work with students in-person when given the opportunity.
Michael blogs occasionally at Agile Homebrew.
You can see our complete list of available classes at Improving.com.
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What students say about Michael
Sep 24, 2024
Great Learning Experience
The course was appropriate in terms of techniques and hands on shared during the class.
The whole learning environment was made very collaborative and fun.
People from different background made it more fun to learn.
Sep 13, 2024
Excellent content
Excellent content. The instructor was passionate about the topic and really knew the content.
May 10, 2024
Captivating Content
The course offered numerous interactive elements, such as live discussions, group exercises, and hands-on projects, which facilitated a practical understanding of Scrum methodologies. The positive and collaborative learning environment fostered by the instructors encouraged participation and made the course enjoyable
May 9, 2024
The pacing of the class in 5 hours over…
The pacing of the class in 5 hours over 3 days allowed me time to be there to support my team. The content was easily digestible in easily consumed sections. I feel more confident in applying what I learned in class than I have in years of trainings.
Apr 24, 2024
Top-Notch Class
Mike was able to breakdown a lot of content in an easy, digestible format. His passion for facilitation was contagious and it kept me engaged in the class. This class was very hands-on. Lots of breakout room sessions that lets you put the practice to work. Came away from the class feeling inspired. I no longer feel like a "home-grown" facilitator in my role but now a little more polished. Kudos Mike for a job well done!
Apr 23, 2024
I learned lots of powerful new facilitation tools!
I loved the interactive exercises as well as learning lots of new facilitation tools.
Mar 29, 2024
Michael is wonderful. Course was helpful.
Michael was a major contributing factor to the quality of the course. He was an excellent coach and very personable instructor. For someone who has received a CPSO and has practiced Scrum in an Agile Squad setting for a few years now, the material wasn't earth shattering but still provided excellent reminders of the importance of good habits as well as some finer details. While this wasn't an accelerated course, the content was still helpful and the time was well spent.
Mar 29, 2024
The collaboration and pace was great
The collaboration and pace was great
Mar 29, 2024
I found the class useful and…
I found the class useful and informative.
Mar 12, 2024
Great course, wonderful instructor!
Michael Wallace was a wonderful instructor! It was a long day with a ton of information, but he kept it interactive and enjoyable. I would suggest considering making it a two-day course with more time for breakout sessions, that was the main feedback the rest of the participants had as well. I would take trainings from Michael in the future!
Mar 12, 2024
Very details and engaging.
Micheal is very experienced and engaging throughout the class.
Feb 8, 2024
Well focused course with case studies to consolidate knowledge of the EBM guide.
Mike Wallace, the instructor, connected with the class before the course date to provide some brief preparation work, which was useful. He also guided the group very well through the exercises and presentation of the material. The material itself is concise and the course allows for good understanding on how to apply it.
Dec 7, 2023
The class was good
The class was good. It was great that Lisa changed it up a bit and caught us off guard with her role playing! Thanks!
Dec 7, 2023
Informative and Enlightening
Informative and Enlightening
Dec 7, 2023
I thought the course was done well and…
I thought the course was done well and informative.
Only negatives would be that some of the material felt like Product Owner versus Scrum Master.
Nov 30, 2023
Great class!
This class was incredibly valuable in comprehending the role and framework, offering an in-depth understanding. The trainer's exceptional skill in elucidating complex concepts, coupled with their extensive real-world experience, made the learning experience truly exceptional!!!
Nov 13, 2023
Interactive and Enjoyable
The instructor was fun and very knowledgeable. Michael was able to provide past experience and include the Scrum guide to help facilitate any real world problems the individual(s) were having in their current job. The class was fun, the days went by quick which was nice. The Mural experience was fun and interactive with the other Team members which made the experience that more enjoyable.
Nov 11, 2023
PSM 1 Training
PSM 1 Training
Michael Wallace is knowledgeable and an excellent PSM 1 trainer. He was able to keep all the participants listening and actively involved in the training. He answered all the questions raised by the participants. The pace of the training was comfortable for my learning. He covered the material in a 3-day online training. I really enjoyed it. For me the knowledge he provided really helped me learn PSM 1. I would recommend PSM 1 training with Michael Wallace.
Oct 24, 2023
Great job Michael Wallace
Great job Michael Wallace! This was the first run of the PSPBMS class. You were successful in helping us explore the learning objectives, opening up conversations and dialogue while still keeping us on track for the day. Thank you!
Sep 21, 2023
The class layout was really good
The class layout was really good, and I enjoyed the breakout sessions and the organized use of Mural. However, the class was a little large for me, and felt overwhelming at times. Plus, there was so much information, I felt it could have been 2 days.
Aug 25, 2023
Well Worth the Time
The class was very interactive and encouraged all to think outside their world and roles.
Aug 10, 2023
Thank you for all the examples and…
Thank you for all the examples and knowledge you shared with us!
Jul 20, 2023
Excellent course
Michael is an excellent trainer. The course content is robust and well organized, though best absorbed if you have a background in Scrum through practice.
Jun 30, 2023
Interactive class
The class was very informative and highly interactive with multiple small group break out activities.
May 18, 2023
Online Course is Just as Engaging as In Person
I was originally concerned with taking an online course, and signed up for the in person class on May 10-11, but due to low enrollment it was cancelled. Improving assured me that the online class would be just as engaging as in person, and it was! Michael Wallace was an amazing instructor and kept us engaged the entire time. While I still would've preferred in person, the online course was excellent. I took the assessment today (after taking the online course May 16-17) and passed!
May 18, 2023
Mike is a very experienced Scrum…
Mike is a very experienced Scrum Master. That helps a lot to answer questions about the framework and how to get the best of every team.
May 11, 2023
Enjoyable and informative
The small class size (in person), open back-and-forth discussions, and most of all that group exercises made this a great class. Enjoyable and informative.
May 6, 2023
I enjoyed the class and learned so…
I enjoyed the class and learned so much. The best part of the class was the collaboration and interaction with my fellow students and colleagues. Being the youngest in the class allowed me to gain so much knowledge from others expertise and experiences.
Mar 24, 2023
The instructor was very inclusive.
The instructor was very inclusive.
Mar 10, 2023
Michael is a fabulous instructor
Michael is a fabulous instructor
Feb 17, 2023
Great class
Great class!
Jan 18, 2023
Excellent Class
Great presenters, content, and classmates!
Jan 8, 2023
Good presentation and workshop
Good presentation and workshop
Jan 5, 2023
Excellent Class
Class was well organized. The presentations and exercises were efficiently planned and very easy to follow along.
Dec 28, 2022
Amazing trainers and course content
Both trainers had an amazing energy through the course. They cleared doubts from all participants and where open to allow discussions between the attendees in order to provide a great outcome
Dec 24, 2022
PSPO training
Good understanding and an overview for PSPO was provided.
Dec 22, 2022
An outstanding Scrum class experience
Outstanding experience! Great examples, wonderful engagement with the students.
Dec 21, 2022
The course was dynamic and complete
The course was dynamic, fun and the study material was excellent.
Dec 21, 2022
Class exercises were great!
Class exercises were great!! On hands training with excellent and very professional trainers
Dec 19, 2022
Michael was clear and descriptive while…
Michael was clear and descriptive while teaching the PSPO class. His real life examples made the class fun and easier to understand. Thanks Michael!
Dec 17, 2022
Instructors and Course were amazing.
Instructors and Course were amazing.
Dec 11, 2022
PSK Great Learning Experience
This was my first scrum class and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The PSK training class was very insightful, informative and engaging. Michael Wallace is a great instructor.
Dec 8, 2022
Scrum with Kanban was very informative class
I enjoyed the PSK training class very much and Michael Wallace was a very good instructor. I enjoyed the real world cases he shared with the class, and collaborating with my fellow classmates in their experiences with Kanban.
Oct 28, 2022
Great class and instructor
Our instructor was great at leading the class through the discussion as well as patient while we asked a lot of questions and challenged ideas that were presented. Excellent class. I appreciated learning the pure ideas of Scrum.
Oct 20, 2022
Great content and great collaboration
Great content and great collaboration
Oct 20, 2022
A must for those who wants to scale
This is not the first class I take with Michael ;) It's always insightful hearing his expertise in the topics he brings to his classes and the way he conducts them.
Oct 14, 2022
Great class and instructor
Michael did an excellent job with the class
Oct 11, 2022
Michael was able to provide solid…
Michael was able to provide solid examples to reinforce the material making it an enjoyable experience. The exercises with fellow classmates was super helpful equate how scrum fits and can be used in our organization.
Oct 5, 2022
Micheal is really good and enaging us…
Micheal is really good and enaging us with real life examples and discovery sessions to learn the nuances of product management
Sep 22, 2022
Great class with experience that gave me the confidence to own the Product Owner role!
Great class that gave me the knowledge and confidence to excel in my new role of Product Owner! The experience and stories of the trainer were essential in my learning and I am glad that I got the instructor that I did. Will definitely be looking into other classes to get more knowledge around the Scrum processes.
Sep 21, 2022
The perfect complement for a Scrum Master
Scrum.org should release a training to form Agile Coaches and I think this new course is an step toward it. There is a lot of content and techniques and is the perfect complement for a Scrum Master. Mike conducted this treaining with excellence.
Sep 21, 2022
Great exercises and great discussion
Great exercises and great discussion
Sep 21, 2022
Excellent instructor
Great class! Michael Wallace is excellent
Sep 8, 2022
Michael is a great facilitator
Michael is a great facilitator. The class is very informative with real world examples and I liked the interactive delivery style.
Sep 2, 2022
This class was fantastic and engaging
This class was fantastic and engaging. I learned so much about myself both personally and professionally through all of the discussions and activities. Michael was a great facilitator!
Sep 2, 2022
This is not a re-deux of Scrum basics
This is not a re-deux of Scrum basics - this course will make you think! Great for anyone who is looking to upskill or refresh their application of Scrum. You will leave thinking "I could do more!"
Aug 24, 2022
Excellent instructor!
Excellent instructor!
Aug 16, 2022
Senior Technology Product Manager
Great experience with a great instructor
Aug 13, 2022
Very informative and easy to stay…
Very informative and easy to stay involved.
Aug 12, 2022
This was an informative class
This was an informative class. I appreciated the format, real-world examples, fast pace, and collaboration in large and small teams.
Jul 25, 2022
This class provided me with a great…
This class provided me with a great foundation of scrum understanding on my journey to becoming a scrum master.
Jul 15, 2022
Amazing experience with Michael Wallace
We had an amazing experience with Michael Wallace as our trainer. We've learned about the application of Scrum theory and principles to improve product management in a fun and interactive way, with loads of real world, down to earth, examples.
Jun 30, 2022
Great class!
Michael Wallace was a great instructor. Really enjoyed this class!
Jun 29, 2022
Great experience
Our instructor kept us pretty interactive throughout the session. We were able to learn many things hands on especially through exercises where we read charts and reviewed data.
Jun 7, 2022
I loved this class!
I loved this class, both for the content and concepts I learned in it and for the interactive delivery style that helped me learn from fellow classmates. Blake and Michael were awesome in their teaching and coaching techniques. It was fun and eye-openingly edifying.
May 21, 2022
Highly recommended class
A class with Michael and Blake is always refreshing. I loved the interactions created among other experienced Scrum Master. Lots of excercises and insights. Highly recommended.
May 19, 2022
Great PSM II course with Michael and Blake
I'm glad I chose the PMS II with Michael and Blake. They kept my attention, and the pace of the course was perfect. The two days flew by. The activities and attendee interactions helped increase my scrum knowledge.
May 19, 2022
Great Interactive class to learn all about scrum
It was a helpful session to brush up the scrum knowledge and got opportunity to interact with people across the world and got to learn from their experiences.
The trainers were very interactive and answered all the questions the group had.
May 3, 2022
Very Good Class
I was able to learn the key principles of Scrum Master.
May 2, 2022
Good class
The class was good.
Apr 29, 2022
It's one thing to try and study/learn…
It's one thing to try and study/learn Agile on your own. This class simplifies and unclutters the process! The presentation led through a logical and linear path for a solid introductory understanding of Agile. Michael was an excellent instructor, definitely portrayed the scrum principles and encouraged active participation. We were actually a pretty solid team by the time the class was over! I definitely enjoyed the time spent for this class and would highly recommend it!
Apr 14, 2022
Mike is knowledge of the PSK is…
Mike is knowledge of the PSK is excellent. Amazing instructor. I gained a lot from his PSK class. I strongly recommend him.
Apr 13, 2022
Worth it!
The course material was well laid out. Michael was an engaging instructor. Time well spent, I feel I learned a lot to take back to my teams and organization.
Mar 18, 2022
Useful and Engaging
I really enjoyed the class with Michael Wallace on 3/15-3/16. I had only rudimentary knowledge of Scrum, but he was able to teach it and help the class apply it and understand its importance. Michael does a lot of small group sessions that helps students use Scrum, not just memorize it. I really appreciated the class materials, my fellow students, and Michael Wallace (and Scrum Trainer in Training, Ed Utley)!
Mar 14, 2022
Good Course!
Good Course!
Mar 11, 2022
This was a great class 🌟
This was a great class. Micheal was thorough in presenting the material. His experience and insight in the field gave me useful tools to implement at my workplace. I definitely recommend.
Mar 10, 2022
Great info on Scaling Scrum
The class was a great way to see alternatives to the current scaling being used at my client. Exercises related easily to the business world and the materials flowed well to help the students understand how to use the framework, along with information to deal with the need of customization to each situation. Use of online materials was easy to navigate and kept the participants involved with the instructor and other class participants through use of breakout rooms. Highly recommend!
Feb 12, 2022
Loved the format of the class
Loved the format of the class! Easy to follow the vast amount of information that was being provided. Thank you so much!
Jan 29, 2022
Thanks Blake
I was so excited to come back to Blake's class. I took PSM class first and after getting the certification I knew he will be the right trainer to take this PSM II class. I recommend him so hard, his classes are so entertained and dynamic, he keeps you focus and motivate you to participate and share. The final flavor is that you not only learn but enjoy while learning...
Jan 27, 2022
Great class
Great class! Really liked the exercises and the conversation with other Scrum Masters from other companies. The class helps you to reset to the foundational concepts of the Scrum Framework while at the same time thinking through how it ties to realistic situations that are not specifically covered in the Scrum Guide but can be addressed with empiricism. Instructors were great, class dynamic was good and really good use of virtual learning. Highly recommend
Nov 19, 2021
Great content and course
Great content and course! Thanks Michael and Blake. I really appreciate the advice and tips you shared with us.
Aug 17, 2021
Thanks for all the learning!
Thanks for all the learning!
Aug 12, 2021
Really enjoyed my PSM class facilitated…
Really enjoyed my PSM class facilitated by Michael Wallace! Highly recommend!
Aug 11, 2021
Good Experience
I have a very good class experience it was really well presented and interactive session now I have a better background about Scrum framework and the Scrum master role.
Jun 28, 2021
Excellent PSK Class by Michael Wallace
The PSK class that I recently took taught by Michael Wallace was a wonderful explanation of how to increase flow and predictability for Scrum teams. I'd dabbled around the edges of Kanban for years, read a few books but had no real experience. Now I have a far better understanding of how Kanban can be used with Scrum and the potential benefits. The instruction was well paced, the materials and group exercises were practical and supported learning. I feel more prepared now to take the next step of sharing with the teams with whom I work.
Jun 22, 2021
This class is worth the time and money…
This class is worth the time and money commitment! I learned so many things I can immediately take back to my company and implement. It was also very engaging in the online format.
May 21, 2021
The class was good especially to learn…
The class was good especially to learn how to utilize Kanban while utilizing Scrum so that both work as they should.
Mar 23, 2021
This class was masterfully delivered by…
This class was masterfully delivered by Mike and Ty.
Mar 11, 2021
Blake taught the PSMII class exceptionally well.
Blake McMillan did an incredible job with this training. I could see he knew the topic very well based on his training materials and his real-world experience which he often used in his teachings. This course was different that other Scrum.org trainings. It is much less about absorbing knowledge and much more about deeper dives into applying what we learn. The use of Mural and Zoom break out rooms really helped to make these activities very collaborative.
The schedule of this course and the material was done very well. Nothing seemed rushed, and nothing was skipped. Timing of breaks was managed very well and made sure we were always fresh and alert to be productive. Much of the work involved break-out rooms and the time dedicated to those was always the right amount. Blake allowed us plenty of time during lunch to be able to eat and address any work issues we might be needing to manage.
The most beneficial part of this training was Blake infectious positive and uplifting attitude he brought to the class. You can tell he enjoys what he does, truly believes in Scrum, and is passionate about enriching others. That positivity carried over into all of the interactions we had with the other students. When the course ended, everyone was in a great mood and to be honest, some seemed almost sad we were at the end of this part of our Scrum journey. Everyone took a moment to connect with each other and share contact info to keep in touch which was nice to see. You don’t always experience that type of conclusion to a training and I am thankful I got to share in the course.
Dec 19, 2020
Excellent Training Course for PSM II
Excellent Training Course for PSM II
Blake and Michael were so professional and made this training so dynamic and learn by practicing with experiences and making comparison between the real practices and the desirable inside of the Scrum framework.
Sep 18, 2020
Great content and a very dynamic course
I really enjoyed this course. Content was great. Blake and Michael challanged us to think and share our ideas and they shared with us their experience using Scrum and Kanban in real life. Time passed without noticed it. Thank you!
Sep 18, 2020
Excellent class and trainers!
I attended the Professional Scrum with Kanban class in mid-September 2020. The class was held virtually and while I was concerned with how this would compare with in-person classes I was blown away by how great it was. Blake and Michael (trainers) kept things lively through relevant exercises and games which allowed the participants to interact and learn from each other. I think I actually prefer these virtual classes now.
As for the content, even though I'm an Agile coach and teach Scrum the Scrum portion of class was a great refresher and brought me back to why we do this. I learned a great deal when we moved more into the Kanban portion and I have some ideas on where and how to implement Scrum with Kanban in my organization.
Blake and Michael were very knowledgeable, funny, and engaging.
I'd definitely recommend this class to anyone looking to add some Kanban practices to their Scrum framework!
Aug 24, 2020
Virtual classes are getting better, however...
The class was great, and it is clear Improving is getting better at delivering virtually vs. in classroom; however breakout groups tackling assignments need some more facilitation efforts to enable hands on learning.
Jul 24, 2020
Amazing
This class was amazing. I learned a lot, mostly about limiting WIP. Michael is an excellent teacher and coach.
Jul 16, 2020
Suggestion
Suggestion: Review the material on metrics and charts before doing the Twig game.
Excellent instructor and class.
Jul 16, 2020
Great Kanban foundations class
Clear and simple Kanban class and how it relates to Scrum with good "real life" examples.
Jun 16, 2020
This was an excellent review of the…
This was an excellent review of the best practices for integrating Kanban into our Scrum team process. It helped us visualize new workflow control strategies for optimizing efficiency, improving our ability to deliver value and increase the motivation for delivering that value.
May 18, 2020
The teachers were good
The teachers were good. If you were already familiar with Scrum, and Kanban there was some repetitiveness. Overall the Mural and Zoom tools worked well, and I enjoyed the breakout sessions.
May 17, 2020
Remote Class Done Great!
Both Michael and Blake did an amazing job covering the PSK topics in a remote working session! Given the difficulties of remote learning, they both went above and beyond in making sure all topics were covered and simulation/real-world applications were covered as well. Very insightful and much appreciated!
Feb 25, 2020
Great class
Great class, very informative. Whether you're a current product owner, working towards being one, or simply want a better understanding of the process and guidelines this class is perfect.
Courses taught by Michael
Applying Professional Scrum
Professional Agile Leadership - Essentials
Professional Agile Leadership - Evidence Based Management
Professional Scrum Facilitation Skills
Professional Scrum with Kanban
Professional Scrum Master
Professional Scrum Master - Advanced
Professional Scrum Master and Professional Scrum Product Owner
Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills
Professional Scrum Product Owner
Scaled Professional Scrum
Other Services by Michael
- Coaching/Consulting
- Immersion Classes
- Private Courses
Upcoming Classes by Michael
See all upcoming classes
Live Virtual
Date: Oct 15-16, 2024
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Oct 22-23, 2024
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
In Person
Date: Nov 5-6, 2024
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
Columbus, OH, United States
Live Virtual
Date: Nov 12-13, 2024
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Nov 26, 2024
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Dec 10-11, 2024
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Jan 14-15, 2025
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Jan 16, 2025
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Feb 4-5, 2025
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Feb 11-12, 2025
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Feb 18-19, 2025
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago
Live Virtual
Date: Mar 4-5, 2025
Language: English
Class Format: Traditional
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM America/Chicago