KEYNOTE SPEAKER
JAY BOISSEAU, Ph.D
CEO, Co-founder
VIZIAS
Jay will explore how agility must evolve. His expertise in AI, leadership, and strategic adaptability will challenge Agile practitioners, leaders, and teams to think bigger, move faster, and stay customer-focused while embracing change.

KAA 2025 SPEAKERS
CAROLYN BABB
Founder and President, Starpath Consulting, LLC
Productive Conflict: A Transformative Workshop
- with Jed Walker
Category: Team | Format: Workshop
The word “conflict” is enough to cause stress for most people. We avoid it, ignore it, bury it, run from it, or fight it. But at what cost? Failure to embrace healthy conflict destroys teams, causes inefficiencies, bogs down productivity, reduces quality, and inhibits results. This immersive and highly interactive workshop, anchored in Everything DiSC® and The Five Behaviors®, challenges your mindset and opens your eyes to the possibilities born from productive conflict. You will learn techniques to approach contentious situations and turn conflict into a productive means of communication.

PETE BEHRENS
CEO and Founder, Agile Leadership Journey
Relearning Leadership: 6 Lessons I Wish I Learned Sooner
Category: Leadership | Format: Presentation
Leadership takes us to places we’ve never been, and as such it’s a risky venture with potential failure at every turn. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t be prepared for the journey. This is a talk told through personal stories of Pete’s leadership and the leaders he has engaged with throughout his career. It's rooted in key repeatable mistakes both he and other leaders he’s coached face. Pete hopes that by sharing his failures in leadership you might equip, enhance, and enjoy your own leadership journey.

ERIC CUSSEN
Partner, Chief Transformation Officer, Agile Velocity
Why Product Should Be Your Biggest Champion of Agility - with Marc Story
Category: Product | Format: Presentation
We’ll share a real-world story illustrating why Product Managers should take the lead in driving Agile practices, shifting the focus from just technology teams to product delivery as a whole. Through this narrative, we will discuss the realized risks of a low-collaboration, long-delivery project and we’ll make a compelling case for why incremental delivery and fast, actionable insights are critical—and why it’s time for Product Managers to insist on the results that only Agile can deliver. By the end of the talk, you’ll understand why Product, not just Tech, should own the push for agility in today’s fast-paced development landscape, and how different things can be if the product organization is the driver behind adopting and mastering Agile capabilities.

RANDY HALE
Agile Transformation Coach, Agile Velocity
Product Leaders:
What's In Your Way?
Category: Product | Format: Presentation
Product leadership is a rewarding but challenging role, requiring mastery of diverse skills and the ability to navigate a complex ecosystem. In this session, we’ll explore the key hurdles product leaders face, from internal barriers like mindset, skill, and knowledge gaps, to managing the dynamics of their teams and relationships with bosses. Beyond direct control, we’ll discuss external challenges such as misaligned technology leadership, organizational system dysfunction, and navigating uncooperative peers and stakeholders. This talk offers actionable insights and approaches to help product leaders identify and overcome these obstacles, empowering them to thrive in their roles and drive meaningful impact within their organizations. Whether you’re a seasoned product leader or aspiring to step into the role, this session will equip you with tools to tackle what’s standing in your way and thrive in one of the most demanding roles in any company.

DAVID HENDRAWIRAWAN
Research Analyst, Eckerson Group and Adjunct Faculty Member, UT Austin
Omni Agilist:
Leveraging Generative AI to Redefine Agile Roles
Category: AI | Format: Presentation
Generative AI is transforming how Product Managers (PMs) contribute within Agile teams, enabling them to extend beyond their traditional roles. With tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Balsamiq AI, PMs can write user stories, prototype UX/UI designs, code basic features, automate tests, and analyze data—becoming Super PMs who accelerate Agile workflows and reduce dependencies. This evolution presents significant opportunities for productivity, decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration. However, it also brings challenges such as team role redefinition, maintaining quality, and ethical use of AI. In this session, attendees will explore how to harness these tools effectively, address challenges around team dynamics and accountability, and establish a path forward into AI-driven product management. Learn actionable strategies to integrate AI into Agile practices while fostering collaboration and innovation, ensuring PMs thrive as empowered leaders in the AI era. This talk will inspire Agile teams to embrace the future of work.
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CANDASE HOKANSON
Business Architect and PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner, ArgonDigital
AI-Driven Product Owners: The Evolution of Collaboration and Decision - Making in Agile Teams
Category: AI & Product | Format: Presentation
Has AI revolutionized your Agile practices yet? This session focuses on how Product Owners can integrate AI into everyday Agile practices. We’ll cover everything from how AI-driven tools can enhance team collaboration and decision-making, to becoming adaptable in rapidly changing environments. Participants will learn to create Virtual SMEs with AI and uncover tips and tricks to streamline Agile processes. This talk is designed for Product Owners who are beginner to intermediate-level AI users. Attendees will uncover practical strategies and immediately implementable tips and tools. This will help participants’ teams become more agile and deliver value at an increased pace.

NICHOLAS IVANECKY
Leader of B2B Buying, Amazon
Mastering the Art of a
Global GTM in Your Team
Category: Product | Format: Presentation
Launching global products requires navigating diverse markets, cultures, and stakeholders, all while maintaining agility in execution. At Amazon, we leverage Agile strategies to successfully deliver products at scale across multiple geographies. In this session, we’ll explore how to craft a robust global Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy that balances speed and quality. Learn to apply Agile frameworks for collecting and integrating global feedback, streamlining launches, and iterating quickly. We'll also dive into strategies for working effectively with cross-functional stakeholders and building strong relationships with your tech teams to align on shared objectives. Walk away with actionable insights, tools, and real-world examples to master the art of scaling Agile for global GTM success. Whether you're launching your first international product or refining your approach, this session will equip you to lead your team confidently into new markets.

JOSEPH KENNEDY
Scrum Master and Product Owner
Sprints & Squirrels:
Servant Leaders of Neuroblended Teams
Category: Team | Format: Presentation
Is everyone on your team seen and heard on their terms? Or do you prefer and defer to the outspoken? Join us as we explore how servant leaders can effectively navigate neuro-diverse Agile teams. Discover how traditional coaching methods often overlook the unique needs of introverted and neurodivergent individuals. What is lost when we hear only part of the team? Drawing from personal experience, this talk will delve into concepts to create a more inclusive work environment.

LELAND NEWSOM
Agile Coach, S&P Global Ratings
Design Agile Teams for Success:
Reduce Dependencies and Optimize Delivery
Category: Team | Format: Presentation
Dependencies are silent productivity killers that hinder value delivery, slowing the flow of work and creating unpredictable delivery timelines. While many organizations invest heavily in managing dependencies through coordination meetings, tools, and adding roles, these approaches often fail to address the root cause. This session dives into the dependency types and their cumulative impact on organizational agility and delivery predictability. Using real-world examples, we’ll explore how shifting the focus from managing dependencies to eliminating dependencies improves predictability, reduces risk, and accelerates delivery. We’ll challenge the “two-pizza team” rule, exploring when larger, well-structured teams can reduce external dependencies and outperform smaller teams. Attendees will gain practical, data-driven insights to design adaptable, high-performing teams and experiment with team size and structure. We’ll focus on embracing continuous improvement and adaptive practices to improve predictability, streamline delivery, and uncover better ways of working to deliver greater value.

DHAVAL PANCHAL
Founder, Evolve Agility
Generative vs. Prescriptive:
Comparing Agile Scaling Frameworks
Category: Scaling | Format: Presentation
Do you wonder which Agile Scaling framework fits your organization's purpose? Why do some so-called Agile scaling frameworks revert your organization to the waterfall? In this talk, you will learn the difference between generative and prescriptive mechanisms. As a community, we have frankly struggled with scaling agile. The imperative to safely scale agile could not be greater, and yet we are at the precipice of reverting to plan-driven mechanisms. This session is a master talk for seasoned practitioners. You will learn about fat-tailed statistical characteristics to grasp the perils facing large-scale digital transformations. We will review dependency management structures in popular scaling frameworks so you can understand why prescriptive practices lead to outsized negative outcomes. You will apply generative practices to your organization's Agile scaling situation and take one actionable step to improve your success with scaling Agile.

REESE SCHMIT
Principal Agile Coach and Trainer, Rethinking Agility
Agile Systems for ADHD:
Using Agile Methods for Life
Category: Team | Format: Presentation
Managing life with ADHD can feel overwhelming, but Agile methods can help you create systems that bring clarity, organization, and focus to the chaos. In this practical session, you'll discover how to apply Agile practices like Kanban boards, timeboxing, and prioritization to manage daily tasks, improve productivity, and reduce stress. Through step-by-step demonstrations, you'll learn how to set up a personal Kanban board, break down overwhelming tasks into manageable pieces, and use timeboxing techniques to stay focused and complete tasks efficiently. Whether you're navigating work, home responsibilities, or personal projects, these Agile strategies will give you the tools to stay organized and productive. By the end of the session, you'll have actionable strategies and resources to apply Agile systems in your life, making it easier to manage ADHD-related challenges and stay on top of your to-do list.

MARC STORY
Agile Transformation Coach, Agile Velocity
Why Product Should Be Your Biggest Champion of Agility - with Eric Cussen
Category: Product | Format: Presentation
We’ll share a real-world story illustrating why Product Managers should take the lead in driving Agile practices, shifting the focus from just technology teams to product delivery as a whole. Through this narrative, we will discuss the realized risks of a low-collaboration, long-delivery project and we’ll make a compelling case for why incremental delivery and fast, actionable insights are critical—and why it’s time for Product Managers to insist on the results that only Agile can deliver. By the end of the talk, you’ll understand why Product, not just Tech, should own the push for agility in today’s fast-paced development landscape, and how different things can be if the product organization is the driver behind adopting and mastering Agile capabilities.

JED WALKER
Database Architect & Engineer
Productive Conflict: A Transformative Workshop
with Carolyn Babb
Category: Team | Format: Workshop
The word “conflict” is enough to cause stress for most people. We avoid it, ignore it, bury it, run from it, or fight it. But at what cost? Failure to embrace healthy conflict destroys teams, causes inefficiencies, bogs down productivity, reduces quality, and inhibits results. This immersive and highly interactive workshop, anchored in Everything DiSC® and The Five Behaviors®, challenges your mindset and opens your eyes to the possibilities born from productive conflict. You will learn techniques to approach contentious situations and turn conflict into a productive means of communication.

DANIEL WALSH
Principal Consultant and Partner at FiveWhyz, LLC
Navigate the Narrative Landscape:
Measuring Change Through Stories
Category: Team | Format: Workshop
In a world of constant change, sense-making and narrative inquiry equip leaders with tools to navigate complexity. This session explores how these methods uncover patterns and organizational dynamics through shared experiences. Sense-making blends data with qualitative insights, reducing bias by letting participants interpret their own stories. By connecting personal narratives to targeted questions, this approach provides authentic insights that drive cultural change and track progress. Patterns from these stories offer leaders actionable intelligence, highlighting trends and behaviors within organizations. This workshop demonstrates how to use sense-making and narrative inquiry to identify patterns, measure change, and guide interventions. Participants will learn to apply these methods for retrospectives or progress assessments, linking qualitative insights with data to support transformation.