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Shirley Santiago
Nov 8, 2019
Training was fun and very informative!
Training was fun and very informative!
Darwin Dogayo
Oct 20, 2019
PSM Class Review
Very helpful class. Recommended for people seeking to take the PSM I certification but have not attended any Agile/Scrum classes before.
Francis Wong Jia Yen
Oct 14, 2019
Thank you!
It was fun and interactive learning sessions with Shirley. Shirley and Jojo were very accommodating to our questions and clarifications. They made sure the class is engaged during our discussions and activities.
Philip Michael de los Santos
Oct 11, 2019
It is a good introduction to Scrum…
It is a good introduction to Scrum framework. It would be better to have more case studies than focusing on exam results
RRSvenningsen
Oct 8, 2019
Great class!
The class was well taught by a very knowledgeable trainer. There was a very good mix between lectures and exercises.
John Eric Dylan Saet
Oct 5, 2019
Excellent course by an excellent trainer!
Shirley Santiago managed the class with composure and was able to answer all the participant's questions with confidence. She is very knowledgeable with Scrum and its concepts and provided a lot of real-world examples. My feeling is that everyone who participated are now more than motivated in their capacity to be change agents in their respective workplace. I would recommend the class to anyone who are currently pursuing an Agile transformation within their organizations.
WARREN A.
Sep 24, 2019
An awesome way to lean PSK!
As usual, Shirley's class was full of insights and learnings. She was able to incorporate some games that allowed the class to have fun while unlocking creativity. Class also had moments to reflect and discuss real scenarios which made the course even more relatable and relevant.
Don Martinez
Sep 19, 2019
I can Practice Right Away
It was a very productive 2 days of learning. Shirley was able to in a short period of time, allow us to learn, own, and practice the principles of Product Ownership. I regret not having gone through this 15 years ago. I have a lot to apply when I get back to work not only for software development but in our day-to-day.
Roberto Atendido
Sep 17, 2019
It's fun and there's no dull moments…
It's fun and there's no dull moments during this training. Ms. Shirley made sure that everyone participate and explained the course thoroughly so that everybody understand. I'm really happy to be part of this Scrum Training.
ANGELYN REMODO
Sep 13, 2019
Highly Interactive
Highly Interactive, very engaging and created a safe environment where everyone can share. Accelerates my learning as a PO.
Noriel Andrade
Sep 10, 2019
There should be more activities on the…
There should be more activities on the PO tools. Other than that, topics coverage is great.
Unknown
Sep 10, 2019
Time well-spent!
i like that the course is not only informative and useful from a theoretical perspective but it incorporates exercises that allow participants to embrace the concepts thru practical application. the trainer is very knowledgeable and provides specific examples that makes each topic relatable. the venue of the training is also very conducive and it was arranged in a very orderly manner.
Olive Castillo
Sep 2, 2019
Feedback on SM class
Program is highly interactive which is quite enjoyable. Everyone was encouraged to participate. Effective way of learning.Thank you.
Lovelyn Febreo
Sep 2, 2019
Excellent Workshop
Excellent Workshop.
Good lectures and practice cases.
Kristine de Mesa
Sep 2, 2019
A very interactive class
A very interactive class! Shirley has prepared interactive lessons and activities to make learning fun and learners engaged.
Byron Baleda
Sep 2, 2019
Very informative
The training was a mix of classroom discussion and interactive activities, which I think helped the class understand the lessons more easily. The discussions were also a mix of theories and real-world scenarios, which will help equip the class in applying the scrum framework in the workplace.
Joyce
Sep 1, 2019
You'll learn a lot in this class
Had a great time with Ms. Shirley's class, just like in the PSPO I. All activities reflect the Scrum framework. It's around 70% activities, so it's very engaging!
Gio Spencer Cortes
Aug 31, 2019
Great content, passionate classmates, and excellent trainers!
Thank you so much for your training, Patricia, Shirley, and Lorenz!
Jeanna Chen
Aug 30, 2019
Good job!
Good job for creating an environment were everyone can participate and learn as a group.
Lemuel Nitor
Aug 29, 2019
Both class days were highly…
Both class days were highly informative, participative and well-organized, helping us absorb the theories and principles behind Scrum, and how they can be applied to our different fields. Kudos to Shirley!
Lorenzo dela Cruz
Aug 28, 2019
The PSM I Training
The training was organized with our company's HR department. It was a very engaging class and everyone was encouraged to participate and be heard. It was conducted very efficiently with all activities keeping to a time-box, which helped all of us realize the value of time (and was a picture of how time-boxes should be employed). Our trainer Ms. Shirley went through the entire Scrum framework, inserting anecdotes here and there which helped me understand the benefits of the Scrum framework.
Michelle Anne Bautista
Aug 10, 2019
Wonderful experience!
I learned a lot during this training. I first experience Agile practices when I was rolled on into a project that practices them. During that time, I had no idea about Scrum and Agile. I had to do some guess work on my part.
This training helped me understand a lot. Scrum won't be effective unless you know the values that goes along with it.
Shirley was a great trainer who were willing to answer a lot of our questions.
Jordan Paul Panlaqui
Aug 10, 2019
Worthwhile training
I have learned a lot from this class.Ms. Shirley was excellent on how she delivered the class discussions and activities. The members of class were connected from day 1 to day 2 because we enjoyed all the activities and the lecture session also. During the activities, I felt that I am like working on a real project and we were able to demonstrate on how we work on a scrum. Thank you for this training, it was really effective.
Edward
Jul 29, 2019
Great trainer
Great trainer, patient and willing to answer all questions ask by the class. Had a lots of fun during the class.
Sheue Ying Lum
Jul 28, 2019
Informative and Interactive learning…
Informative and Interactive learning experience! 5-star is an understatement for Ms. Shirley
Vince
Jul 27, 2019
interactive class
the most interactive class I had (plus points for memorizing our names - making it feel more personalized)
Javi de Gorostiza
Jul 27, 2019
Class was fast-paced but doable
Class was fast-paced but doable. The instructor was insightful and her class was challenging. I especially appreciated her calm but precise way of handling the class discussions, as we generally start and end on time. Also passed the exam! Taking the class was great practice and really drilled down the fundamentals.
Gio Spencer Cortes
Jul 27, 2019
A 5-star training experience
Interactive learning and simulations using real life scenarios are easily relate-able and highly relevant.
Trainer (Shirley Santiago) is also approachable and the session is very engaging and informative.
Yvonne
Jul 26, 2019
great session!
The activities were stimulating and it was easy to communicate and relate to the trainer
-Ron
Jul 26, 2019
PSPO 1
She's a great trainer. She made sure that we understand the Scrum Framework.
Aries
Jul 24, 2019
Shirley is very experienced and…
Shirley is very experienced and explained the concepts in a very simple manner. I loved that we learnt by doing and not by death of powerpoint. This was one of the most useful trainings I've been to. Jojo was also good support to all of us throughout.
Paviter Kaur
Jul 17, 2019
Great facilitator!
Thank you Shirley for being our PSM trainer. I am very privileged to be one of your students. I was able to understand every little details about your Scrum - framework - values - etc. The two days were too short. Hoping to get in touch with you soon for my PSM II. :)
Richard Fiesta
Jun 24, 2019
The class is very interactive and our…
The class is very interactive and our instructor teaches us well. We can see her dedication for us to pass the certification exam and she's very keen on answering our questions regarding the training.
Mond
Jun 12, 2019
Eye-opener
The course helped me deepen my Agile mindset as a leader, and has inspired me to work more actively with the Agile transformation in our company. The course provided several practical yet simple tools to use.
Shirley’s vast experience in working with a multitude of companies’ Agile transformation helps give perspective to one’s own struggles.
Tommy Corbett
Jun 11, 2019
PSM I (May 27-28, 2019, Manila, Philippines)
The course helps you practice and have a good grasp of the concepts in Scrum.
Melson Kaizan Acedillo
May 28, 2019
Kudos!
Kudos for a very well-facilitated PSM I class! The interactive and experiential course delivery was highly engaging. As such, concepts were easily understood and more importantly, learning was fun!
Grace Feraer
May 28, 2019
interactive class
interactive class, trainer is highly skilled with scrum agile knowledge. Trainer give the example of agile thru some practices in the class. I also get to know the scrum basic rules from it
Renaldo Karyadi
May 28, 2019
PSM 1 Training
It was a great class with a great trainer. Such an amazing experience
Yulius Wayan Adi Utama
May 22, 2019
Ms Shirley is an outstanding teacher
Ms Shirley is an outstanding teacher. She remains calm and steady even though some of us were clowning around (I'm sorry!). Through the class, my Scrum knowledge was refreshed and I also picked up on techniques like Liberating Structures. Thank you Ms Shirley for being an effective mentor in my Agile journey. Now, I hope I'll pass that exam! :D
Carla Chua
May 22, 2019
Loved it!
I learned a lot in this PSM II training. I specially liked that it's very interactive and it has more focus on effective coaching techniques and tools. Shirley is an awesome instructor: she explains the concepts very clearly to the class and always relates it to real world examples. I highly recommend this course to experienced Scrum Masters!
Paulo Jose Rodriguez
May 17, 2019
I find the course very effective as it…
I find the course very effective as it was customized based on the Scrum knowledge and level of exposure that the trainees had. Hands on exercises also helped in quickly understanding the Scrum principles. Kudos to Shirley and the rest of the BHP Scrum Masters!
Ruth Cervania
May 13, 2019
Very Good Training
Recommended for those who is transitioning to Agile Project Management. The session was interactive and is focused on learning by doing. The trainer designs each session based on her participants skills, experience and needs.
Galle Catane
May 12, 2019
Amazing class!
I was expecting a typical classroom lecture class just like any other training but it was very engaging. Every concept was related to actual field experiences which made everything easier to understand. Great way learn!
Sam Christopher Dela Cruz
Apr 25, 2019
Thank you, Ms. Shirley!
Ms. Shirley did a great job in allowing her students to act as scrum masters on their own. She's empowering everyone to participate and learn not only on words but more on actions thru activities and scrum simulation. I'm recommending her to people who don't have ideas about scrum coz you will learn a lot about it during the 2-day course. She was also able to answer my concerns about Scaled Agile Framework that's why I'm more than satisfied. Thank you, Ms. Shirley! :)
Ruby
Apr 12, 2019
Awesoooome!
Awesome Trainer! We've learned a lot about this course and how complex environments would benefit from the Scrum framework vs. the Traditional (Waterfall) Methodology. Thank you!
Mhelmie C.
Mar 24, 2019
Training was fun and memorable
Training was fun and deep dive sessions really stimulated our minds and our hearts. Lots of learning and realizations. Great experience!
Don Martinez
Mar 15, 2019
Great start as for an aspiring Scrum…
Great start as for an aspiring Scrum Master.
Prior knowledge of Scrum is highly advised to fully appreciate the class
Ramon Alfredo Bautista
Mar 10, 2019
Direct applicability to organizations…
Direct applicability to organizations dealing with the development of product innovations to meet the dynamic change of the market and business directions
ariel villasenor
Feb 25, 2019
Professional and content-rich training
The 2-days course was interesting, full of interactions and productive discussions. I have learned may new things which I believe will help me in my daily work life.
Maxim Zapara
Feb 25, 2019
Good class to help you to understand…
Good class to help you to understand role of the Product Owner
Tetat Uthailert
Feb 24, 2019
The topic was very relevant and the…
The topic was very relevant and the instructor demonstrated her mastery of the subject very well
Kevin Francisco
Feb 21, 2019
Great experience!
Class was fun and engaging. Class size was perfect not too big and not too small. It gave everyone the opportunity to share their experiences and ask questions without worrying that it might affect the total time of the training. Also Ms. Shirley (trainer) was very accommodating with all the questions we have.
Dale Castillo
Shirley's Certifications
Shirley's Bio
Shirley is an accomplished Professional Scrum coach having trained over 2,000 consultants. She has 20 years of extensive experience and has been practicing professional Scrum for over 12 years.
A Scrum Master, Product Owner, Agile Transformation Coach and a Scrum.org Professional Scrum Trainer influencing development across different organizations in Southeast Asia.
She is an experienced Oracle Certified Enterprise Architect in the Information Technology industry mainly in architecture, application integration, development and product support. She has vast experience in Enterprise Application Integration particularly on Java Enterprise Edition component technologies and distributed application systems.
Being a Big Data Hadoop Developer and trainer, she is also instrumental in building Big Data capability.
She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and master’s degree in Information Systems (with honors) from the University of the Philippines. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of the Philippines.
Shirley is the Founder and CTO of Agile Code Consulting Co., a Scrum.org Professional Training Network (PTN), provider of Scrum.org training courses.
Spoken Languages
- Filipino
- English
Courses taught by Shirley
See What My Students Say
Nov 8, 2019
Training was fun and very informative!
Training was fun and very informative!
Darwin Dogayo
Oct 20, 2019
PSM Class Review
Very helpful class. Recommended for people seeking to take the PSM I certification but have not attended any Agile/Scrum classes before.
Francis Wong Jia Yen
Oct 14, 2019
Thank you!
It was fun and interactive learning sessions with Shirley. Shirley and Jojo were very accommodating to our questions and clarifications. They made sure the class is engaged during our discussions and activities.
Philip Michael de los Santos
Oct 11, 2019
It is a good introduction to Scrum…
It is a good introduction to Scrum framework. It would be better to have more case studies than focusing on exam results
RRSvenningsen
Oct 8, 2019
Great class!
The class was well taught by a very knowledgeable trainer. There was a very good mix between lectures and exercises.
John Eric Dylan Saet
Oct 5, 2019
Excellent course by an excellent trainer!
Shirley Santiago managed the class with composure and was able to answer all the participant's questions with confidence. She is very knowledgeable with Scrum and its concepts and provided a lot of real-world examples. My feeling is that everyone who participated are now more than motivated in their capacity to be change agents in their respective workplace. I would recommend the class to anyone who are currently pursuing an Agile transformation within their organizations.
WARREN A.
Sep 24, 2019
An awesome way to lean PSK!
As usual, Shirley's class was full of insights and learnings. She was able to incorporate some games that allowed the class to have fun while unlocking creativity. Class also had moments to reflect and discuss real scenarios which made the course even more relatable and relevant.
Don Martinez
Sep 19, 2019
I can Practice Right Away
It was a very productive 2 days of learning. Shirley was able to in a short period of time, allow us to learn, own, and practice the principles of Product Ownership. I regret not having gone through this 15 years ago. I have a lot to apply when I get back to work not only for software development but in our day-to-day.
Roberto Atendido
Sep 17, 2019
It's fun and there's no dull moments…
It's fun and there's no dull moments during this training. Ms. Shirley made sure that everyone participate and explained the course thoroughly so that everybody understand. I'm really happy to be part of this Scrum Training.
ANGELYN REMODO
Sep 13, 2019
Highly Interactive
Highly Interactive, very engaging and created a safe environment where everyone can share. Accelerates my learning as a PO.
Noriel Andrade
Sep 10, 2019
There should be more activities on the…
There should be more activities on the PO tools. Other than that, topics coverage is great.
Unknown
Sep 10, 2019
Time well-spent!
i like that the course is not only informative and useful from a theoretical perspective but it incorporates exercises that allow participants to embrace the concepts thru practical application. the trainer is very knowledgeable and provides specific examples that makes each topic relatable. the venue of the training is also very conducive and it was arranged in a very orderly manner.
Olive Castillo
Sep 2, 2019
Feedback on SM class
Program is highly interactive which is quite enjoyable. Everyone was encouraged to participate. Effective way of learning.Thank you.
Lovelyn Febreo
Sep 2, 2019
Excellent Workshop
Excellent Workshop.
Good lectures and practice cases.
Kristine de Mesa
Sep 2, 2019
A very interactive class
A very interactive class! Shirley has prepared interactive lessons and activities to make learning fun and learners engaged.
Byron Baleda
Sep 2, 2019
Very informative
The training was a mix of classroom discussion and interactive activities, which I think helped the class understand the lessons more easily. The discussions were also a mix of theories and real-world scenarios, which will help equip the class in applying the scrum framework in the workplace.
Joyce
Sep 1, 2019
You'll learn a lot in this class
Had a great time with Ms. Shirley's class, just like in the PSPO I. All activities reflect the Scrum framework. It's around 70% activities, so it's very engaging!
Gio Spencer Cortes
Aug 31, 2019
Great content, passionate classmates, and excellent trainers!
Thank you so much for your training, Patricia, Shirley, and Lorenz!
Jeanna Chen
Aug 30, 2019
Good job!
Good job for creating an environment were everyone can participate and learn as a group.
Lemuel Nitor
Aug 29, 2019
Both class days were highly…
Both class days were highly informative, participative and well-organized, helping us absorb the theories and principles behind Scrum, and how they can be applied to our different fields. Kudos to Shirley!
Lorenzo dela Cruz
Aug 28, 2019
The PSM I Training
The training was organized with our company's HR department. It was a very engaging class and everyone was encouraged to participate and be heard. It was conducted very efficiently with all activities keeping to a time-box, which helped all of us realize the value of time (and was a picture of how time-boxes should be employed). Our trainer Ms. Shirley went through the entire Scrum framework, inserting anecdotes here and there which helped me understand the benefits of the Scrum framework.
Michelle Anne Bautista
Aug 10, 2019
Wonderful experience!
I learned a lot during this training. I first experience Agile practices when I was rolled on into a project that practices them. During that time, I had no idea about Scrum and Agile. I had to do some guess work on my part.
This training helped me understand a lot. Scrum won't be effective unless you know the values that goes along with it.
Shirley was a great trainer who were willing to answer a lot of our questions.
Jordan Paul Panlaqui
Aug 10, 2019
Worthwhile training
I have learned a lot from this class.Ms. Shirley was excellent on how she delivered the class discussions and activities. The members of class were connected from day 1 to day 2 because we enjoyed all the activities and the lecture session also. During the activities, I felt that I am like working on a real project and we were able to demonstrate on how we work on a scrum. Thank you for this training, it was really effective.
Edward
Jul 29, 2019
Great trainer
Great trainer, patient and willing to answer all questions ask by the class. Had a lots of fun during the class.
Sheue Ying Lum
Jul 28, 2019
Informative and Interactive learning…
Informative and Interactive learning experience! 5-star is an understatement for Ms. Shirley
Vince
Jul 27, 2019
interactive class
the most interactive class I had (plus points for memorizing our names - making it feel more personalized)
Javi de Gorostiza
Jul 27, 2019
Class was fast-paced but doable
Class was fast-paced but doable. The instructor was insightful and her class was challenging. I especially appreciated her calm but precise way of handling the class discussions, as we generally start and end on time. Also passed the exam! Taking the class was great practice and really drilled down the fundamentals.
Gio Spencer Cortes
Jul 27, 2019
A 5-star training experience
Interactive learning and simulations using real life scenarios are easily relate-able and highly relevant.
Trainer (Shirley Santiago) is also approachable and the session is very engaging and informative.
Yvonne
Jul 26, 2019
great session!
The activities were stimulating and it was easy to communicate and relate to the trainer
-Ron
Jul 26, 2019
PSPO 1
She's a great trainer. She made sure that we understand the Scrum Framework.
Aries
Jul 24, 2019
Shirley is very experienced and…
Shirley is very experienced and explained the concepts in a very simple manner. I loved that we learnt by doing and not by death of powerpoint. This was one of the most useful trainings I've been to. Jojo was also good support to all of us throughout.
Paviter Kaur
Jul 17, 2019
Great facilitator!
Thank you Shirley for being our PSM trainer. I am very privileged to be one of your students. I was able to understand every little details about your Scrum - framework - values - etc. The two days were too short. Hoping to get in touch with you soon for my PSM II. :)
Richard Fiesta
Jun 24, 2019
The class is very interactive and our…
The class is very interactive and our instructor teaches us well. We can see her dedication for us to pass the certification exam and she's very keen on answering our questions regarding the training.
Mond
Jun 12, 2019
Eye-opener
The course helped me deepen my Agile mindset as a leader, and has inspired me to work more actively with the Agile transformation in our company. The course provided several practical yet simple tools to use.
Shirley’s vast experience in working with a multitude of companies’ Agile transformation helps give perspective to one’s own struggles.
Tommy Corbett
Jun 11, 2019
PSM I (May 27-28, 2019, Manila, Philippines)
The course helps you practice and have a good grasp of the concepts in Scrum.
Melson Kaizan Acedillo
May 28, 2019
Kudos!
Kudos for a very well-facilitated PSM I class! The interactive and experiential course delivery was highly engaging. As such, concepts were easily understood and more importantly, learning was fun!
Grace Feraer
May 28, 2019
interactive class
interactive class, trainer is highly skilled with scrum agile knowledge. Trainer give the example of agile thru some practices in the class. I also get to know the scrum basic rules from it
Renaldo Karyadi
May 28, 2019
PSM 1 Training
It was a great class with a great trainer. Such an amazing experience
Yulius Wayan Adi Utama
May 22, 2019
Ms Shirley is an outstanding teacher
Ms Shirley is an outstanding teacher. She remains calm and steady even though some of us were clowning around (I'm sorry!). Through the class, my Scrum knowledge was refreshed and I also picked up on techniques like Liberating Structures. Thank you Ms Shirley for being an effective mentor in my Agile journey. Now, I hope I'll pass that exam! :D
Carla Chua
May 22, 2019
Loved it!
I learned a lot in this PSM II training. I specially liked that it's very interactive and it has more focus on effective coaching techniques and tools. Shirley is an awesome instructor: she explains the concepts very clearly to the class and always relates it to real world examples. I highly recommend this course to experienced Scrum Masters!
Paulo Jose Rodriguez
May 17, 2019
I find the course very effective as it…
I find the course very effective as it was customized based on the Scrum knowledge and level of exposure that the trainees had. Hands on exercises also helped in quickly understanding the Scrum principles. Kudos to Shirley and the rest of the BHP Scrum Masters!
Ruth Cervania
May 13, 2019
Very Good Training
Recommended for those who is transitioning to Agile Project Management. The session was interactive and is focused on learning by doing. The trainer designs each session based on her participants skills, experience and needs.
Galle Catane
May 12, 2019
Amazing class!
I was expecting a typical classroom lecture class just like any other training but it was very engaging. Every concept was related to actual field experiences which made everything easier to understand. Great way learn!
Sam Christopher Dela Cruz
Apr 25, 2019
Thank you, Ms. Shirley!
Ms. Shirley did a great job in allowing her students to act as scrum masters on their own. She's empowering everyone to participate and learn not only on words but more on actions thru activities and scrum simulation. I'm recommending her to people who don't have ideas about scrum coz you will learn a lot about it during the 2-day course. She was also able to answer my concerns about Scaled Agile Framework that's why I'm more than satisfied. Thank you, Ms. Shirley! :)
Ruby
Apr 12, 2019
Awesoooome!
Awesome Trainer! We've learned a lot about this course and how complex environments would benefit from the Scrum framework vs. the Traditional (Waterfall) Methodology. Thank you!
Mhelmie C.
Mar 24, 2019
Training was fun and memorable
Training was fun and deep dive sessions really stimulated our minds and our hearts. Lots of learning and realizations. Great experience!
Don Martinez
Mar 15, 2019
Great start as for an aspiring Scrum…
Great start as for an aspiring Scrum Master.
Prior knowledge of Scrum is highly advised to fully appreciate the class
Ramon Alfredo Bautista
Mar 10, 2019
Direct applicability to organizations…
Direct applicability to organizations dealing with the development of product innovations to meet the dynamic change of the market and business directions
ariel villasenor
Feb 25, 2019
Professional and content-rich training
The 2-days course was interesting, full of interactions and productive discussions. I have learned may new things which I believe will help me in my daily work life.
Maxim Zapara
Feb 25, 2019
Good class to help you to understand…
Good class to help you to understand role of the Product Owner
Tetat Uthailert
Feb 24, 2019
The topic was very relevant and the…
The topic was very relevant and the instructor demonstrated her mastery of the subject very well
Kevin Francisco
Feb 21, 2019
Great experience!
Class was fun and engaging. Class size was perfect not too big and not too small. It gave everyone the opportunity to share their experiences and ask questions without worrying that it might affect the total time of the training. Also Ms. Shirley (trainer) was very accommodating with all the questions we have.
Dale Castillo
Upcoming Classes by Shirley
See all upcoming classesClasses Attended by Shirley
Latest Blogs by Shirley
See all blogs
Shirley Santiago
Everyone has a story to tell. Some write their stories in books, some in blogs, and some confine them in their hearts. I feel I have a beautiful story that is meant to be shared with the world.
Nov 17, 2018
Read blog
Shirley Santiago
Time went by so fast since my last Global Professional Scrum Trainers Face-to-Face Meeting at the Scrum.org Headquarters. My jetlag's now gone but the feelings from that awesome experience still lingers on. Allow me to share my takeaways from the last F2F: Mentorship.
(This blog was co-written by Shirley Santiago and Jill Graves.)
Mentorship: From Mentee’s Point-of-View
Shirley's Point-of-View
In the beginning, traveling on this PST journey felt like taking the road less traveled. There are ups and downs, multiple stops, different trails traversed, that often made it challenging for friends and family to comprehend why it was important for me to continue on this path. To help me along the way, I had someone who has had the same experience together with the support from family and friends.
If you have read my previous post, you might have heard about Jill Graves. She has been my mentor since 2014. I don’t think I would be in this community if not for her encouragement and patience. I was at the crossroads of pursuing PST, but she, Peter Gotz, Steve Porter and Gunther Verheyen, were there to keep me going. I haven’t seen Gunther since the first time I saw him in the Train-the-Trainer event in 2015 but whenever I attend an F2F, I think of Gunther and the impact his support made on me. His one liner email that said, “I will help” changed my life and the lives of the many that I get to work with. But that's another story and I will save it for my next post.
So why do I talk about my mentors in my blogs? It’s for the reason they they have made the biggest impact on my profession and on how I deal with the people I get to meet in my day-to-day life. According to Thesaurus, “mentorship is a state of being an informal teacher”. But experiencing it will be the only way to fully comprehend the meaning. My fellow PST, Char Beier, recently said, “Mentorship is a relationship”.
Jill defined for me what MENTORSHIP is. Graduate school and my PST journey happened in parallel. Jill was there for me from the very start. I got my master's degree the same month that I got accepted as a PST. Jill was miles away during my graduation, but she was there in spirit. This one is for my family and for Jill Graves. And I'm proud that she's my mentor. We made it, Jill.
Jill now heads one of the three Mentorship Tracks in the Scrum.org PST community, together with her PSF Co-steward Rich Visotcky.
In this photo are Jill Graves and Todd Miller, who is signing up in the PST Mentorship Program.
On the left is Jeff Bubolz, a new PST that we’ve recently welcomed in the community. Chad Beier, right, was his mentor in his journey.
Mentorship: From Mentor’s Point-of-View
Jill's Point-of-View
If I were completely honest with myself – and Shirley – I would have to admit that I didn’t really understand the ins and outs of the mentor role. I did know that the PST journey is long and difficult. I did know that my own journey was eased by a fellow Canadian PST who agreed to mentor me through the process. And once my own process was completed, I knew I wanted to pay it forward to a future trainer candidate.
Enter Scrum.org, who supported the mentorship initiative and introduced me to Shirley. Two strangers, living across the world from each other.
We set-up an initial Skype call and introduced ourselves to each other. We awkwardly talked about what our mentor/mentee relationship could look like. And then we did the only thing that a Scrum Trainer could do. We just jumped in.
Shirley and I began our relationship through regular Skype calls, emails and texts. We had no clue what would evolve but we trusted the process, and ourselves, and just got down to the business of establishing a relationship. We talked about our jobs, our families, our goals and dreams and our objectives.
Some things were just so neat to me – particularly that Shirley and I were 12 hours apart and when we talked, it was a completely different day for her. I was mindblown. I was just settling down for the night and Shirley was already getting ready for work. How cool was that!
On the PST journey, there are a lot of checkpoints. As Shirley prepared, I would offer advice and encouragement. If results required more work, Shirley and I picked each other up and got back to it. And in the end? Success! Shirley is now a valuable member of our trainer community and I couldn’t be prouder.
And another thing. Did you know that it is customary for people from the Philippines to bring presents, "pasalubong" in Filipino? I didn’t. I am enjoying a new found love of mangoes!
Shirley mentioned, above, the support I gave her on her thesis. This is the power of the mentor/mentee relationship for me. This was important for Shirley and so as her mentor, it became important to me. We quickly shifted gears and focused on her thesis. Following another ‘Scrumism’ – do what you need to do. Again – success. One thing I’ve learned about Shirley – there is no stopping this woman. And now? I am going to become her ‘ScrumMaster’ as she begins her PhD journey!! Did I have any clue that this is what our relationship would evolve to? None. And that is the true beauty of mentorship.
Being in the Community
PST Ravi Verma once said, “I have found my tribe”. Yes, I fully agree. Being in this community has been one of the best things this life has given me. Can't believe how blessed I am to be part of this family.
The Journey Continues
Do whatever makes you happy. Go and follow your guts. Make things happen. Mentor someone. Be more open. Blaze new trails in a road less traveled.
Meanwhile, our journey continues.
Aug 22, 2018
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Shirley Santiago
It’s been a year since I joined the Scrum.org Professional Scrum Trainers Community. 2018 marks my fifth year in teaching Scrum. Allow me to reflect on this journey.
In the beginning, I would literally run to another building, which was at least a block away, to meet my colleagues very eager to learn Scrum. I would do this every single day, extending my work hours, but confident that this is all worthwhile.
One time, a colleague asked me in the elevator where I was going. I said I’m teaching Scrum tonight. ”You’re just wasting your time”, he said. I shrugged it off, pretended I didn’t hear it.
But as I was on my way to the other building, it hit me. Is it really a waste of time? What drives this perception?
Time quickly passed by. And soon enough, batches of Scrum students graduated and later became certified. I wasn’t just the company’s Chief Architect anymore, I’ve added Scrum Trainer and Mentor to my profile as well. Both equally fulfilling.
I get touched by people bringing me stuff like garlic, bottled vinegar, nuts, native delicacies, after spending the holidays in the provinces. To be remembered as a teacher warms my heart. It’s simply priceless.
As in any other company, people come and go. But I really appreciate it when they go see me on their last day to say goodbye.
I know each and every student by name, or at least their first name. Even after Scrum training, I get to see them in the office and some would approach me and ask about new Scrum topics. Some would share their experiences and challenges in applying Scrum.
There are those who got inspired, and started mentoring others as well. In my first blog, I referred to this as paying it forward.
I attended the PSM Train-the-Trainer class in Germany many years ago, but I still remember Gunther Verheyen, my trainer, asking me to reflect on what kind of trainer I hope to be. That I was to not look at teaching through its monetary returns but rather find that intrinsic reason on why I do it in the first place.
My friend Steve Porter once told me, this is a journey. And there will be stops along the way; some better than the others. With each stop, we learn a little more, become a little wiser. But there is more – in each stop, we could try to touch someone’s life, by being kind and helpful. In mentoring others through Scrum, I have finally found my purpose.
Jan 18, 2018
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Shirley Santiago
Having been part of this recent activity, allow me to share with you my personal account of my first Global Face-to-Face meeting with the Trainers Community.
Jul 9, 2017
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Shirley Santiago
“Shirley, anything worth having is worth working hard for.”, that was how my friend Steve Porter from Scrum.org put it as I pursued my journey with Scrum.
MY JOURNEY WITH SCRUM
My journey started a few years ago when a friend asked me to provide Scrum training to their organization. I had substantial Scrum experience from my previous projects, and armed with formal Scrum Master training, I immediately proposed a training plan and developed training material. For some reason, the engagement did not materialize. Undeterred, I went ahead and organized a group of consultants within our organization who were interested in learning Scrum. They were going to be my “guinea pigs”, so to speak.
After that initial Scrum training, other colleagues became curious. We were not just saving hundreds of dollars from not relying on external trainings, but, more importantly, we were gaining a lot of knowledge from sharing our experiences on different projects. This paved the way to building stronger Scrum teams, while also providing us with the opportunity to get to know each other and align our ways of working. The Leadership team suggested teaching the course from 6PM to 9PM so that more consultants could attend. Since we usually work on either a day shift or a night shift, this was the best window to hold our training sessions.
At first, I had hoped to get 20 people trained and certified in Scrum. I thought initially that this should be enough to jumpstart our organization into Scrum adoption. I even thought that 20 was going to be a difficult feat. A stretch goal. What I really didn’t expect was that this was going to be an evolution.
PAY IT FORWARD CULTURE
Through word of mouth, more of our consultants asked to take the training. I ended up doing 9 training sessions in the first 6 months, including a special session for the management team. Now, I did have a day job, so I could not fathom being able to continue providing Scrum training. But things changed within the organization. After people were trained and certified, they began to pay it forward by coaching the next group of trainees. Management started noticing the benefits of this Pay-It-Forward initiative and eventually gave their full support and even provided sponsorships on the certification exams. This continued until it became the norm.
This same culture also helped our new Big Data program to the point where the organization obtained a Platinum partnership with one of the biggest Big Data companies in the world.
Every successful certification was an important milestone that we celebrated during our Townhall meetings.
MY JOURNEY AS A TRAINER
I can still clearly remember how the leadership team reacted when I said that I needed to go to Stuttgart, Germany for a Train-the-Trainer event with Scrum.org. I had decided to become a Professional Scrum Trainer with the organization, and this was one of their many requirements. The first reaction of the group was a plain “Huh?!!” which to me was neither a rejection nor an approval.
I requested 5-day leave and asked my immediate boss to allow me to travel to Stuttgart. I was determined to bring the Scrum Master training to the Philippines. I wanted my organization to have formal and professional Scrum training courses. I wanted the best. I wanted these courses to be endorsed by Ken Schwaber, one of the co-creators of Scrum. Probably recognizing my persistence, I received formal travel approval and off I went to Germany.
During the first day of training, I realized that I was the only one from the other side of the world. My classmates were from Germany, Spain, UK, Russia, Poland and The Netherlands. I wasn’t prepared for the culture shock but once I adjusted, I started to enjoy learning from the experiences of my trainer classmates; how they adopted Scrum and how they planned to use it to serve in their communities.
From that trip, I also got to know Gunther Verheyen who was our trainer at that time. (Gunther, by the way, is the author of the popular book Scrum - A Pocket Guide.) He eventually became one of my coaches and a mentor in my journey with Scrum.
FAMILY, WORK, BIG DATA, SCHOOL AND SCRUM
After my Stuttgart trip, I took some time off and began to obtain more Scrum Certifications to improve myself as a trainer. I was also finishing graduate school at the same time and juggling my family responsibilities and my normal day job as an architect.
My coach from Canada, Jill Graves, had not heard from me in 5 months and she reconnected with me to see where I was at with my Scrum Trainer goals. I guess she felt that it was time for me to get back to my Scrum Trainer journey. That email was quite timely as I was wrapping up my semester and just about to take my graduate school’s Comprehensive Exam.
Over the next 4 months, I took my Comprehensive Exam, did my thesis, had my Scrum.org peer review, did a few more Scrum trainings and some Big Data Hadoop trainings. Looking back, I would wonder how all that was even possible but I persisted!
I got a lot of help from my colleagues. They volunteered to conduct the trainings, especially in Hadoop. Needless to say I had a lot of sleepless nights but I was able to cope because of my peers. At the most critical time, we found support from one another.
There was a TED talk by Margaret Heffernan entitled “Forget the pecking order at work” wherein she said, “Helpfulness means I don't have to know everything, I just have to work among people who are good at getting and giving help.”. When I heard this, I had goose bumps.
SCRUM IN THE PHILIPPINES
My entry to Scrum.org was a special and unconventional one as some people from the organization would attest. I did not come from a training company. I was from an organization that self-organized to adopt Scrum to help us improve our ways of working. We learned and experienced Scrum through the challenges and successes in our projects. My journey also taught me about a deeper meaning of humility. I welcomed all the feedback I received from my peers and used it to improve myself as a trainer.
Just recently, I received a formal communication from Scrum.org officially welcoming me to their community of Professional Scrum Trainers. It means a lot to our organization and it is a great testament that with team work and a culture of helping each other, we can reach further than we can imagine. We will keep doing Professional Scrum and we will pay it forward to our community in the Philippines.
This blog was first published on January 27, 2017 at http://www.rcgglobalservices.com/blog/scrum-how-it-changed-our-corporate-culture/
Feb 5, 2017
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