Why???

My journey didn't start as a scrum master or the founder of Scrum Master Careers.

I began as a decent student with a streak of rebellion, especially against a particular physics teacher whose pedagogy and personality clashed with mine.

The result was too much time outside the classroom and plummeting grades.

Fast-forward to my professional life, and a similar scenario played out.

My performance waned under a superior with whom I struggled to connect, to put it mildly.

To put it not so mildly: he was an absolute old-school command and control type of manager. Even though he was just a few years older than me.

It was like living through a painfully familiar episode of déjà vu.

This experience led to an epiphany:

It isn't just about the job you're doing, but the environment in which you're doing it.

When people are happy, they are more productive.

Countless studies prove this point, yet this simple concept seemed absent in many workplaces.

This revelation sparked my personal mission:

I want to end workplace suffering for software developers and unleash their highest performance.

Happier developers mean better products which in turn mean better solutions for our society and environment.

And believe me, we must do better in order to save our planet.

But I can’t do it alone.

That’s why I want to create a movement, where joyful workplaces become the norm rather than the exception. A place where people don't just clock in and clock out, but feel invested and motivated.

Thus, "Scrum Master Careers" was born, a platform where I share my insights, experiences, and knowledge.

But, why am I doing this?

I do it to inspire and equip fellow Scrum Masters not only to function as scrum agents aka meeting facilitators, scrum secretaries, you name it - but to transform into mindset developers who foster positive change within their teams.

And that requires quite a different toolset than just a two-day PSM I certification.

With the onset of the pandemic, the urge to do more than just Scrum became apparent.

As remote work, mental health challenges, alcohol abuse, isolation, and many other issues surged, the role of a team coach evolved.

Being a Scrum Master in today's world and doing just what’s in the Scrum guide is not enough anymore.

It's about fostering a supportive, inclusive, and motivating virtual environment where people feel safe enough to open up to their Scrum Master and share their deepest concerns and personal problems.

In the past years, I have taken several additional leadership and coaching trainings. All resulting in the realization how poorly equipped I was with just the PSM I certification.

To share more valuable insights with you and reach more people, I have started a podcast where I invite successful Scrum Masters from various backgrounds to share their stories, insights, and advice.

Each episode explores the different paths to a successful Scrum Master career, showing what's possible when Scrum Masters go beyond their traditional roles to cultivate a work environment that radiates positivity, nurtures talent, and fuels growth.

And with every podcast episode that I release, I donate quality education to those in need via B1G1 Business for Good.

This journey is ours to take, together.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together," an African proverb says.

This podcast and blog are our collective journey, a testament to our shared vision.

So, as we step forward in this journey, I invite you to reflect and ask yourself, "Why do or did you choose to be a Scrum Master?"

Share your reasons in the comments below.

By understanding our 'whys,' we can better shape our 'hows' and 'whats,' moving closer to our goal of creating as many happy workplaces as possible.

Are you ready to join me on this journey?

Subscribe to my podcast, share this post with your colleagues, and let's build happier workplaces, together.