Esther Derby
ÜberConf
Denver · July 17 - 20, 2018
Author of 7 Rules for Positive Productive Change. Co-author of Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management and Agile Retrospectives.
I draw on four decades of experience leading, observing, and living organizational change. I work with a broad array of organizations. My clients include both start ups and Fortune 500 companies.
Based on experience and research, my approach blends attention to humans and deep knowledge of complex adaptive systems.
I have been called one of the most influential voices within the agile communities when it comes to developing organizations, coaching teams, and transforming management. My work over many years has influenced coaches and leaders across many companies.
Background
I started my career as a programmer. However, over the years I’ve worn many hats, including business owner, internal consultant and manager. From all these perspectives, one thing was clear: individual, team, and even organizational success depends greatly on the work environment and organizational dynamics. As a result, I have spent the last twenty-five years helping companies shape their environment for optimum success.
My formal education includes an MA in Organizational Leadership and a certificate in Human Systems Dynamics.
Follow me on Twitter @estherderby
Presentations
Six Rules for Change
Change is often much slower than hoped for, and more painful than anticipated. In the end, you may be left with feelings of frustration and dismay rather than the benefits you hoped for. How can we make change–whether it’s adopting Scrum at the team level, or agile at the enterprise level–more successful, and more enlivening?
Through my work with many organizations, I’ve distilled six principles for successful transformation. In this talk, we’ll explore these principles and how the support profound change.
Creating an Environment for Successful Team
Some teams seem to have some mysterious chemistry from the beginning. Other teams wallow, bicker, and slog their way to uncertain results. What makes one team soar, and another stumble? It's not just chance.
In this session, we'll explore the essential ingredients that result in that mysterious “chemistry.” For example, we’ll examine the prerequisites for cohesion, and factors that pull teams apart. We'll look at myths and realities of software teams.
You'll gain tools to assess your agile team, and insights on how to adapt the environment for growing great teams.
Learning Outcomes:
Identify the essential elements for great teams.
Strategies to adapt the environment to improve the chance of team success.
Identify common pitfalls for agile teams.
Creating an Environment for Successful Team
Some teams seem to have some mysterious chemistry from the beginning. Other teams wallow, bicker, and slog their way to uncertain results. What makes one team soar, and another stumble? It's not just chance.
In this session, we'll explore the essential ingredients that result in that mysterious “chemistry.” For example, we’ll examine the prerequisites for cohesion, and factors that pull teams apart. We'll look at myths and realities of software teams.
You'll gain tools to assess your agile team, and insights on how to adapt the environment for growing great teams.
Learning Outcomes:
Identify the essential elements for great teams.
Strategies to adapt the environment to improve the chance of team success.
Identify common pitfalls for agile teams.