SPECIAL EDITION: Agile Uprising's Industry-Shaking Announcement (#432)
Agile Uprising Podcast
In this special episode, host Andy Cleff breaks explosive news about the Agile Uprising's hostile takeover of the entire agile establishment. Listen as he reveals how the community-driven coalition has acquired PMI, Agile Alliance, ISO, and Scrum.org in one fell swoop—and why their surprise acquisition of Cologuard might be the most disruptive move of all. Learn about the immediate changes to certification processes, the dramatic condensing of the Scrum Guide, and the coalition's "more than generous offer" to Scaled Agile. This episode will leave you either cheering for the revolution or...
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Creating Great Teams: A Decade of Learning
Agile Uprising Podcast
Remember when letting people choose their own teams seemed completely radical? (I sure do!) A decade ago, Sandy Mamoli and David Mole pioneered "self-selection" at Trade Me in New Zealand, sparking a movement that would challenge conventional wisdom about team formation. In this reunion episode, we dive deep into their journey from initial experiment to proven practice. Drawing on a decade of experience across industries, cultures, and continents, Sandy and David share how self-selection has evolved to meet modern workplace challenges. What you'll learn: Why trust, ownership, and vision are...
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Beyond Agile Theater w Gene Gendel: Organizational Design
Agile Uprising Podcast
In this Agile Uprising pod, co-hosts Andy Cleff and Adrew Leff conclude a trilogy with Gene Gendel by examining why organizational design must be the foundation for sustainable agility. Drawing on his experience as a transformation agent, Gene challenges the common approach of starting with mindset change and explains why structural changes must come first. The discussion brings together insights from the previous episodes about HR policies, financial structures, and product orientation to provide leaders with practical guidance for creating an environment where agility can truly flourish. ...
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The Kenny Rogers Corollary
Agile Uprising Podcast
One of the hardest decisions we make as professionals is knowing when it's time to leave a job. This week we sit down to compare notes on how we make our decisions, and what references or heuristics we use to help ensure we're making the right choice. Enjoy!
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Rediscovering Natural Human Organization w Simon Holzapfel
Agile Uprising Podcast
In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, host Andy Cleff chats with Simon Holzapfel about how humans organized and learned together before industrial-age practices disrupted our natural patterns. Through examples from anthropology, biology, and neuroscience, they explore what ancient societies and our own biology can teach us about effective collaboration at scale. The conversation challenges common assumptions about organizational hierarchy and control, suggesting that agile principles aren't new inventions, but rather a rediscovery of how humans naturally work and learn...
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The Ripple Effect: Making Sense of Complex Change with Patrick Verdonk
Agile Uprising Podcast
When you find yourself drowning in change metrics and conflicting feedback from multiple transformation initiatives, how do you make sense of it all? Join Agile Uprising Host Andy Cleff and his guest Patrick Verdonk as they explore why traditional change frameworks alone aren't enough in today's complex organizations. Patrick, an experienced change facilitator and author of "", shares insights from his research and practical experience on how different change models interact and influence each other. Using Nokia's transformation journey as a backdrop, they discuss how change agents can...
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Beyond Agile Theater w Gene Gendel: Product Centricity
Agile Uprising Podcast
In this Agile Uprising pod, Andy Cleff welcomes back Gene Gendel to dive deep into what true product orientation means beyond surface-level changes. Gene unpacks common misconceptions about product-centric organizations and explores the 'productization saga' - where companies relabel components without meaningful structural change. The conversation examines how work breakdown, team structure, and budgeting practices impact genuine product focus, offering practical insights for organizations seeking authentic transformation. Contact Info LinkedIn: Twitter: Website: Meetup...
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Bad Sh!t Managers Do: Moving From Management to Leadership with Dr. Steve Martin
Agile Uprising Podcast
Join host Andy Cleff and his guest Dr. Steve Martin, author of "" for an honest and often humorous exploration of the journey from management to true leadership. Drawing on his diverse background - from Disney cast member to Fortune 100 consultant - Steve shares practical insights on how to impact behavior, build trust, and empower teams. Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned leader, you'll discover why managing isn't just about what you do, but how you shape the environment around you. Plus, find out what marathon running can teach us about sustainable leadership...
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Beyond Agile Theater w Gene Gendel: Organizational Enablers
Agile Uprising Podcast
In this Agile Uprising pod, co-hosts Andy Cleff and Jay Hrcsko chat with Gene Gendel about how HR policies and financial structures can either enable or constrain organizational agility. Gene shares insights from decades of experience helping organizations navigate the challenges of traditional performance management and budgeting practices. Drawing from his work as an 'Agile Theater Recovery Specialist,' Gene explores why these organizational structures are critical starting points for meaningful transformation and how leaders can begin turning potential constraints into enablers of change. ...
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A Rumination on the Cathedral
Agile Uprising Podcast
This week Jay goes solo to talk about something that's been on his mind lately...cathedrals. If you've got an open mind you might get something out of this one. Enjoy. If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a review, a rating, or leave comments on iTunes, Stitcher or your podcasting platform of choice. It really helps others find us. Much thanks to the artist from who provided us our outro music free-of-charge! If you like what you heard, to find more music you might enjoy! If you’d like to join the...
info_outlineRemember when letting people choose their own teams seemed completely radical? (I sure do!) A decade ago, Sandy Mamoli and David Mole pioneered "self-selection" at Trade Me in New Zealand, sparking a movement that would challenge conventional wisdom about team formation.
In this reunion episode, we dive deep into their journey from initial experiment to proven practice. Drawing on a decade of experience across industries, cultures, and continents, Sandy and David share how self-selection has evolved to meet modern workplace challenges.
What you'll learn:
- Why trust, ownership, and vision are the three rivers that power successful self-selection
- How the practice adapted from in-person to remote/hybrid environments
- What traditional banks and cutting-edge startups have in common when it comes to team formation
- Where self-selection is headed in an era of AI and fluid team structures
- Practical steps to start your own self-selection journey
Whether you're a seasoned agilist or new to the concept, this episode offers fresh insights into how organizations thrive when people choose their teams. (And yes, we'll answer that burning question: "But what if people make the wrong choice?")
Learn More
- Articles, videos, quick start guides, case studies, and more on Self Selection
- About Nomad8, a restless group of passionate people with complementary skills and a shared belief in continuous improvement.
Related stuff:
- 2017 Podcast: Creating Great Teams via Self Selection
- Dynamic Reteaming
- Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate and Compete in the Knowledge Economy by Amy Edmonson
- Team Topologies
About the Agile Uprising
- If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a review, a rating, or leave comments on iTunes, Stitcher or your podcasting platform of choice. It really helps others find us.
- Much thanks to the artist Krebs from Machine Man Records who provided us our outro music free-of-charge! If you like what you heard, check out these links to find more music you might enjoy!
- If you’d like to join the discussion and share your stories, please jump into the fray at our Discord Server!
- We at the Agile Uprising are committed to being totally free. However, if you’d like to contribute and help us defray hosting and production costs we do have a Patreon. Who knows, you might even get some surprises in the mail!