Agile Humans Lean Coffee Meetup

Dear Agile Humans,

We are thrilled to invite you to our 69th meetup! This time, we are discussing the core of Scrum methodology – the Product Backlog, so be sure to save the date: 7th November at 6:30 p.m.
Spend a cosy Thursday evening with our wonderful speaker, Vladimir Jovanovic, who will provide valuable insights from his professional career and teach you how to elevate your product backlog management.
Have you ever found it difficult to keep your Product Backlog under control?

Effective Product Backlog management is crucial for delivering high-value products in today’s fast-paced agile environments. This meetup will provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of professional Scrum practices to enhance your Product Backlog management. We will explore essential techniques and strategies for maintaining a well-organised and prioritised backlog.

Key topics will include:

• The role and responsibilities of a Product Owner in backlog management
• Techniques for refining and prioritising backlog items
• Effective stakeholder collaboration and communication
• Strategies for balancing immediate needs with long-term goals

You will gain actionable insights to improve your backlog management practices, ensuring your teams remain focused, efficient, and aligned with their product vision. This session is ideal for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Agile practitioners looking to enhance their skills and drive greater value in their projects.

Vladimir will generously share key strategies, tips, and insights to help you keep your Product Backlog neat, focused, and effective. Be sure to RSVP – see you soon!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Vladimir Jovanović is a Professional Scrum Trainer dedicated to fostering an understanding of Scrum and helping teams and organisations maximise their effectiveness through Scrum practices. He holds a degree in Information Systems Engineering and an MBA, providing technical knowledge and business acumen to bridge the gap between IT and strategic business objectives. His discovery of the power of Scrum and Agile as an engineer led him to pursue leadership roles in the software industry.

With extensive experience as a Scrum Master, Vladimir has honed his skills in value delivery, software development, and team leadership, delivering successful outcomes for individuals and organisations alike. Beginning as a Software Engineer, Vladimir transitioned into roles as a Scrum Master and later into Operations and Delivery Management, using his technical expertise to enhance team performance and ensure successful project delivery.

With 18 years of software development, telecommunications, and information technology expertise, he brings a well-rounded perspective from various industries to tackle challenging problems and drive creativity.

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Bossy or Brilliant? Exploring Personalistic Leadership Styles and the Complex Problems They Create in Governance and Business

### A milestone session with Natasha Lindstaedt

Welcome to the 70th Agile Humans meetup!
As we celebrate this special occasion, we reflect on the incredible journey we’ve taken together in exploring cutting-edge ideas that shape agile methodologies and organisational success. Mark your calendars for December 5 at 6:30 p.m. and join us online to explore this important topic that can provide you with priceless insights into leadership dynamics, empowering you to foster a healthier, more productive work environment.

In this milestone session, we’re honoured to introduce Natasha Lindstaedt, a Professor of Government at the University of Essex and a globally recognized voice on leadership and governance. Her expertise offers a fresh perspective on a critical question: What defines effective leadership? And how do personalistic styles of leadership hinder organisational progress?

In today’s dynamic workplace, leadership plays a pivotal role in influencing team dynamics, productivity, and innovation. When leadership is driven by authoritarian tendencies, the consequences can be severe. Natasha Lindstaedt will guide us through an in-depth exploration of how personalistic leadership styles in governance and business manifest in the corporate world—and why they can be detrimental to long-term organisational health.
Key Topics:

• Challenges of authoritative leadership: How do authoritarian leaders create environments that stifle innovation and foster fear?
• The cost of toxic leadership in business: How certain leadership styles undermine collaboration and creativity, resulting in poor organisational performance.
• Positive leadership alternatives: What styles of leadership bring out the best in employees?
• Lessons from our governments: Governance structures in authoritarian regimes can offer critical lessons for business leaders. Natasha will draw fascinating connections between governance and business, offering insights on how leadership shapes both political and corporate systems.

Whether you're a long-time member or new to the agile community, this meetup with Natasha Lindstaedt promises valuable insights, dynamic conversations, and a chance to connect with fellow enthusiasts. Don’t miss out on this special event—let’s celebrate and learn together!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Natasha Lindstaedt is a Professor of Government at the University of Essex. She received her Ph.D. in Comparative Politics and International Relations from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on authoritarian politics, development, state building, violent non-state actors, and human security.
She is the author of many books in these areas, including: Democratic Decay and Authoritarian Resurgence (Bristol University Press, 2021), Democracies and Authoritarian Regimes (Oxford University Press, 2019), Global Politics and Violent Non-State Actors (Sage, 2017), and Dictators and Dictatorships (Bloomsbury, 2011).
She has consulted for the European Union External Action Service, IDEA International, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Western Asia (UNESCWA). Her latest book is Human Security in Disease and Disaster (Routledge, 2021).

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