The Agile CEO

In the season finale of The Agile CEO, JJ Sutherland reflects on the biggest lessons from Season One and revisits the question that started it all: Is Agile dead? Drawing on stories from leaders across industries—and his own "aha" moment from his time as NPR’s Baghdad Bureau Chief—JJ explores how Agile’s principles continue to thrive and evolve.

He shares how Agile transformed a team of journalists into a high-performing unit during the Arab Spring, showcasing its power to create a culture of continuous improvement, rapid learning, and responsiveness to change. JJ also recaps key insights from the season, including why starting small, leading with conviction, and focusing on outcomes—not processes—are essential to driving real results.

If you’re a leader navigating complex challenges, this season finale is packed with actionable takeaways to help you harness Agile’s potential. And as we look ahead to Season Two, the possibilities for applying Agile principles are more exciting than ever.

In this episode of The Agile CEO, JJ Sutherland sits down with Dr. David Levine from Ariadne Labs to explore how Agile methodologies, especially Scrum, are transforming healthcare. Featured in the 10th anniversary edition of Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time, Dr. Levine shares how his team used Agile principles to scale the Home Hospital model—bringing hospital-level care into patients' homes.

Dr. Levine explains how Agile helped his team speed up the process by 20%, while fostering collaboration across different healthcare organizations. He also talks about the challenges of implementing Agile in a complex field like healthcare, and how they created knowledge products to enable hospitals to replicate their success on a larger scale.

If you’re a leader looking to scale innovation, especially in high-stakes industries like healthcare, this episode will give you practical insights into how Agile can drive real results.

In this episode, JJ sits down with Darrell Rigby, partner at Bain & Company and author of Doing Agile Right, to explore why Agile is about driving real results, not just adhering to methods. Darrell reveals some of the deadly misperceptions surrounding Agile—where leaders often go wrong by turning it into a bureaucratic process or focusing too much on the framework rather than the outcomes.

They dive deep into the common pitfalls organizations face when adopting Agile and how to avoid these traps by keeping the focus on innovation, adaptability, and delivering measurable business results. Darrell explains how Agile, when done right, empowers companies to move faster, break down silos, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders seeking to get Agile right and avoid the missteps that can derail even the best intentions. If you're ready to lead with purpose and unlock the true potential of Agile, Scrum Inc. can help guide the way.

Welcome to The Agile CEO, hosted by JJ Sutherland, CEO of Scrum Inc.

In this episode, JJ is joined by Ganesh Jayaram, Chief Digital and Information Officer at American Airlines and former executive at John Deere, to reveal how bold, calculated risks are the key to driving real business transformation. Featured in the 10th Anniversary edition of Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time, Ganesh shares the inside story of leading Agile transformations that took both organizations to new heights—modernizing legacy systems, improving efficiency, and delivering tangible results.

They dive deep into why now is the time to embrace risk, leverage Agile at scale, and propel your organization ahead of the competition. Ganesh unveils key metrics like "time to understanding, decision, and execution" that empower leaders to make faster, smarter decisions and pivot effectively in high-stakes environments.

This episode is a must-listen for any leader looking to ignite innovation, build resilience, and take their organization to the next level. If you're ready to make bold moves and transform your business, Scrum Inc. can help you take that first step.

Welcome to The Agile CEO, hosted by JJ Sutherland, CEO of Scrum Inc. In this episode, JJ sits down with Brad Freitag, CEO of Claris, an Apple company, to discuss what it truly means to 'Lead with Conviction.'

Featured in the 10th anniversary edition of Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time, Brad shares Claris' transformational journey from a traditional waterfall organization to embracing Agile and Scrum@Scale to accelerate innovation and growth. Together, they delve into the challenges of scaling Agile in a global company, building a culture of transparency, and empowering teams to turn resistance into momentum.

Tune in to discover Brad’s leadership insights on creating an ecosystem that supports rapid feedback and continuous learning, and learn how conviction can guide your organization through transformational change.

Welcome to The Agile CEO, hosted by JJ Sutherland, CEO of Scrum Inc. and co-author of Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time.

In this episode, JJ talks with Jeff Sutherland, co-creator of Scrum, about how AI is reshaping the way we work. They discuss why AI isn’t just another tool, but a partner that can take team performance to the next level.

Jeff shares real-world examples of how AI and Agile together create a powerful combination, driving innovation and helping teams move faster. If you’re not tapping into the potential of AI, you risk falling behind. This episode is packed with insights on how to leverage AI in your Agile processes to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

Tune in for a forward-thinking conversation about the future of work, and learn how you can bring AI into your own Agile teams.

Welcome to The Agile CEO, hosted by JJ Sutherland, CEO of Scrum Inc. and co-author of Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time.

In this episode, JJ sits down with Jeff Johnson, former Chief Technology Officer and Assistant Director at the FBI, to discuss the Sentinel project—a $400 million initiative that Jeff turned around using Agile and Scrum in the face of immense bureaucratic challenges.

Jeff shares how he made bold decisions to restructure workflows, reduce headcount, and prioritize incremental progress, ultimately delivering results under budget and ahead of schedule. His story is a powerful example of how Agile can drive success even in the most challenging environments.

Tune in for insights on leading radical change, motivating teams, and applying Agile principles to complex transformations, whether in government or large organizations.

Connect with Jeff Johnson: Jeff Johnson.

Welcome to The Agile CEO, hosted by JJ Sutherland, CEO of Scrum Inc. and co-author of Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time. In this debut episode, JJ tackles the bold question: “Is Agile dead?” Far from it. Drawing on decades of experience and scientific foundations, JJ argues that Agile is alive and more crucial than ever for today’s fast-changing world.

He discusses the ongoing relevance of Agile principles, from their roots in empirical process control to their application in organizations like the Royal Navy and cutting-edge AI-driven industries.

Listeners will hear stories from leaders across diverse sectors—from missile development to music streaming—who have implemented Agile to drive transformation and resilience. As JJ explains, agility isn’t just about teams; it’s about creating an adaptable operating model at the organizational level. Whether you're a seasoned Agile practitioner or new to the world of Scrum, this series will provide you with practical lessons and actionable insights to future-proof your organization.

Introducing The Agile CEO by Scrum Inc., a brand new podcast hosted by JJ Sutherland. This series explores how Agile thinking is transforming industries and driving success across various sectors. In each episode, top leaders share actionable strategies to help you lead, innovate, and scale your business.

Subscribe now to gain insights that will empower your next bold leadership move and drive measurable outcomes in today’s fast-changing world.

Learn more: www.scruminc.com