Category: THE BACK STORY

The Back Story – Fiona Royall

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It’s our monthly interview with one of our ADAPTOVATE team from around the world. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our employee’s own story with you.

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This month we interview our senior consultant in Melbourne, Fiona Royall.

1. First up – how long have you worked with us?

1 year

2. Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

I was looking for new opportunities through my networks and ADAPTOVATE was recommended to me by a friend. I started out my career working for corporates but after a few years identified consulting as the area I would like to work in. Before joining the ADAPTOVATE team I’d already been working in digital consulting for a couple of years. I was intrigued by ADAPTOVATE as I had never worked in a start-up environment before, I have previously worked with large organisations. The team also put me through my paces across the interviews so I respected their due diligence and got a window into what the way of working and culture would be like. The relationship ADAPTOVATE has with BCG was a drawcard.

3. How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

As I grew in my career, I gained a good idea around what I wanted. I started out in marketing and through that landed in digital marketing. I enjoyed digital because it was constantly changing so it kept things interesting. I knew I wanted to travel, to be able to work across industries and companies to gain as much experience as possible and learn. I had also seen companies struggle with change brought on by digital so wanted to be able to apply what I had learned to help other companies on their journeys. So I began to explore opportunities in digital consulting. Now what I do is broader than ‘digital’ and more encompassing of innovation and transformation. I wouldn’t change my journey.

4. How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

ADAPTOVATE is supportive of work-life, I would not be here otherwise. You are able to have honest discussions with leadership and the team around it which makes a huge difference. It can be a struggle at times, mostly when travelling as you are away from home, your loved ones and routines so it can throw things off balance if you allow it. I try to balance work with my ‘real’ life by managing expectations of those I work with and being protective of my life outside of work. It is of critical importance to me; being able to maintain a life outside of work makes me a better person when I am at work as I’m more rested, energised, happy and healthy.

5. With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

At home, I have a stand that can sit on top of a table that allows me to work standing up which allows me to not be stuck sitting all day. I have a portable stand that I take everywhere that means my screen is eye level, with a keyboard and mouse. I have also recently invested in blue light glasses. I learnt the hard way how important it is to have good ergonomics. I like to be organised, and I also try to change locations where I can, so I might start my day working out of a local cafe before heading home. When I work from home (and more generally) I aim to get outside over my lunch break and go for a walk to get some air and recharge ahead of the rest of the day. I return much better for it.

6. Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

I do. I tend to look for Spotify playlists that are suitable background music that doesn’t distract or overwhelm the people in the room. Their Office Playlist usually works well.

7. How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

What stands out is the ability to connect with people all around the world. There are also productivity gains which ideally allows people to focus on higher-value activities or frees up time and capacity. I’m a big proponent of quality output over hours worked. I have many concerns about the impact of technology: ethics, misinformation, privacy and use of personal data, and the impact on how we interact with the world (if you look up while on public transport you will likely see everyone glued to their phones).

8. Strategic Foresight allows companies to detect changes early and ensure action is taken quickly. Which companies have you seen able to change and adapt quickly. (and hopefully using Agile methods to do so)

Amazon stands out for being able to adapt their business model over time and embracing agile. You can read more on the agile side of things here https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2019/06/02/how-amazon-became-agile

9. What does success mean to you personally?

I aspire to be good at what I do, enjoy what I’m doing and whatever follows, follows.

10. Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Nothing. I trust she will find her own path.

Fiona Royall sitting at Yosemite

For more monthly interviews with our ADAPTOVATE team, you can visit here.

The Back Story – Slawek Koziol

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Each month we interview one of our ADAPTOVATE team from around the world. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our employee’s own story with you.

This month we interview our senior consultant in Warsaw, Slawek Koziol. Slawek is based in Poland,  however his current project engagements have taken him to a number of Western European Countries, as well as the Middle East.

 

THE INTERVIEW – 10 QUESTIONS.

  1. First up – how long have you worked with us?

I just hit my half-year mark. I started in July 2019.

 

  1. Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

I started my professional career in consulting, to find myself one day in a situation when a client asked me to put my money where my mouth is and actually take a hands-on role in implementation of concepts I helped to develop. That was a beginning of a wild roller coaster ride – I learned banking inside-out from some of the most talented people in the business.

Eventually, I found myself leading large scale transformations and assuming responsibility for significant part of day-to-day business operations. The thing I always loved the most, however, was working in direct contact with people and helping them grow.

ADAPTOVATE gave me a chance to come back to consulting and use the knowledge and experience to work directly with client teams and help grow the Warsaw office.

 

  1. How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

Experience from both consulting and client slide broadened my perspective and put many useful tools in my toolbox. I learned something from each and every one of the talented people I met along the way. I’d like to think that there’s a little bit of them in me. I consider myself very lucky. No, I wouldn’t have done things differently. No regrets.

 

  1. How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

There’s only so many hours in a day and you only have a finite amount of energy you can spend working. That energy has to come from a good source so dedicating enough time to healthy sleep, food, exercise and space for thinking is essential. The thing I get the most positive kick from though is my family – my partner and two daughters.

I’m mostly only home for the weekends but it’s the girls who make sure my energy cup overflows. (Kudos to all the wonderful women out there who juggle many roles and responsibilities at home with such mastery and grace – you never get enough credit for it from your guys!)

 

  1. With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

I really don’t need an office to do my work. Over the years I’ve learned to work anywhere where I can open my laptop. Living with three girls and two (female) dogs in a mid-size apartment has got me fighting a losing battle for shelf and table space at times.

I would often work on a windowsill, a barstool or a couch. If I’m lucky, I’ll get a small part of the kitchen table that’s not cluttered with my girls’ stuff or dog snacks. I keep telling myself that one day I’ll get my man cave filled with boys’ toys and a proper desk. Like a Batcave. Only smaller. Much smaller. And yes, it’ll be organized.

 

  1. Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

Music has always been an important part of my life. I have played a couple of instruments myself since I was a kid. Before streaming era I used to carry several iPods with me all the time. They were my most prized possessions – filled with many gigabytes of my life.

For workshop and training sessions I sometimes let the group choose the music they want. Sometimes I pick the music myself. It always goes with the emotions I’m after. It could be anything – a catchy dance tune, something with thought provoking lyrics or a popular film score.

 

  1. How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

I feel sad every time I see technology replacing human interaction. I strongly feel that technology should encourage and enrich human interaction instead of replacing it. Some say humanity will actually end up being the “biological boot loader for AI”. That we are larvae unknowingly morphing into beautiful machine-butterflies.

Though it might be unavoidable at some point, I find that future rather gloomy and the notion concerning. But before any of that actually happens, we will have to deal with an era of technology- augmented humanity. Already we have all the global knowledge available at our fingertips. Accessing information is no longer a problem. It’s how we use it that matters. Can we use it in an ethical way? For the benefit of humanity?

I subscribe to Einstein’s thoughts on widening our circles of compassion (somehow we have been evolutionary conditioned and restricted to our own personal desires and affection for only a few persons nearest to us). I believe our restricted circles of compassion are the root of all evil of this world. Imagine what would happen if we could significantly widen them. I hope that technology at some point will enable us to do that. Seeing people unite through social media for a good cause warms my heart. I wish we could see more of that. I like to entertain that thought.

I subscribe to Einstein’s thoughts on widening our circles of compassion ...I believe our restricted circles of compassion are the root of all evil of this world. Slawek Koziol in our latest The Back Story interview - up now Click To Tweet

 

  1. Strategic Foresight allows companies to detect changes early and ensure action is taken quickly. Which companies have you seen able to change and adapt quickly. (and hopefully using Agile methods to do so)

It’s not the strongest who survive but those who can adapt to change. Change happens fast and adaptability seems to be the main competitive advantage now. One of my favourites is still Netflix, though there are many other non-obvious examples from traditional industries like oil&gas, banking or retail.

My all-time personal favourite is Lockheed’s Skunk Works, who employed agile ways of working long before agile was a thing and made history with some of the most iconic designs and technology that remains awe-inspiring decades after it was introduced. One thing for sure, embracing agile ways of working is not a fad – it’s a way to survive and thrive in the current business world.   [editor:  If that’s got you thinking head over to the official Skunk Works website to read up on them more ]

 

  1. What does success mean to you personally?

Sharing and enjoying the sense of growth and accomplishment with other people. Period.

 

  1. Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Always look for people smarter than you and learn from them. Stay true to yourself. Have faith. Be kind and generous. Don’t take life too seriously. And have fun!

 

 

The Back Story – Tan Tiong Yeow

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Our Monthly interview with one of the ADAPTOVATE team. Each month we ask one of our team from around the world to answer a few questions. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our stories with you.

This month we interview our senior consultant in Singapore, Tan Tiong Yeow.

  1. First up – how long have you worked with us?

9 months

  1. Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

I was previously in human capital consulting, helping clients tackle challenging issues in people and organization. I was very fortunate to be involved in a digital organization transformation project with a Filipino client. In the project, we redesigned an organization that drives Agile ways of working in three areas of structure, capability, and leadership. We were also able to stand up a couple squads to test, learn and refine in the journey. This piqued my interest in Agile and coincidentally was approached by Simmy (Adaptovate’s talent scout). (editor: You can find Simmy here on Linkedin)  I decided to accept the opportunity and I would say that it has been a very fulfilling 9 months in Adaptovate.

  1. How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

In my career, I was able to cross paths with people from diverse backgrounds, culture, and experiences.  That really helped me to broaden my perspective and learn to appreciate there’s always a reason behind the way people behave the way they did, even at times when it seemed illogical. I wouldn’t have done things differently but I would have taken more initiative in the past to make more connections with people.

  1. How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

I believe in work life integration rather than work life balance. When you know that your work is developing you to be a better person professionally and aligned with your interest, the line between work and life is blurred. Nevertheless, it is important to me to be present in whichever situation, be it in work discussions or at a dinner with my loved ones and friends.

  1. With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

I usually work in the kitchen at home. I like working in environments with natural sunlight and the kitchen works for me. Furthermore, the assurance that food is nearby always makes me more at ease and relaxed. In terms of keeping it tidy and organized, since I like to clear the kitchen top before cooking because I want to keep my laptop away from the smoke and grease, that worked pretty well in ensuring that I don’t end up with a messy work area at home.

  1. Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

Music helps to change the mindset of the clients when they step into the room. It signals to them that this is not their usual meeting and keep them loosened up in the session. I have a playlist that I have refined over the years for workshops with clients. It is a mix of oldies and modern pop to cater to participants of most ages.

  1. How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

Technology has tremendously helped us connect better with loved ones far away but at the same time, it is also putting distance with those that are close by. In pursuing adoption of technology in communication, we need `to be cognisant that we are not replacing face-to-face human interaction with virtual ones. Ultimately, nothing beats having a chat with people over a meal and coffee.

  1. Strategic Foresight allows companies to detect changes early and ensure action is taken quickly. Which companies have you seen able to change and adapt quickly. (and hopefully using Agile methods to do so)

I’m really impressed with how Microsoft has transformed itself over the years. Windows operating system was deemed to be a more inferior OS than the likes of MacOS and Linux. However, in the recent Windows 10 OS, it was able to compete head to head and even managed to convert a few of those Apple loyalists over. Furthermore, it also diversified into hardware development and expanded its cloud computing services. This really demonstrates that even a behemoth like Microsoft is also able to undergo transformation and reinvent itself fundamentally.

  1. What does success mean to you personally?

Success means that I am able to look back with no regret and look forward excitedly to what the future holds.

  1. Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Put myself outside of my comfort zone more often. Stretch myself to be more sociable and make more friends.

“My weekend escapade with my dog while on a Bangkok client case”

 

You can read more interviews with our team here 

The Inner Story – Technology and Humanity

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The Inner Story 2019 series.

What’s the Inner Story series? These are the hidden stories from our The Back Story team interviews in 2019.  When we went back and looked at all our interviews over the past year we noticed some powerful themes surfacing.    So we thought what better way to count down to 2020 than share some of these with you.   

 

THE INNER STORY – THE PREVIOUS ROLES AND WHAT I’VE LEARNED QUESTION

We asked our team how they thought technology has best helped humanity and do they have any concerns about our future?

 

Caitilin Studdert -Project Lead, ADAPTOVATE, Australia.

Yep, technology which provides a ‘voice’ for those who don’t have one, is incredible. Even social media I’m not afraid of as I’ve been exposed to it for so long and am aware of the messy parts and best bits. The concerns are mostly environmental and I’m hoping I’m supporting this as best I can. When I  am appalled, are in rare scenarios where technology replaces interaction and empathy.

Chelsea Bates – Principal, ADAPTOVATE, Australia.

Yes it has helped connect us, although always been contactable has its downsides. I love being able to call and see my friends and family who live overseas and interstate. The future of AI is fascinating and I am interested in how governments and organisations are dealing with the ethics of AI.

Steve Walton – Project Lead, ADAPTOVATE, USA.

I think technology enhances everything. Enhances the negatives as well as the positives. We can have too many gadgets or use too many tools and make our life difficult. My recommendation is to stay aware of what tools are out there but changes only every year or so to let people get used to using them. The concern I have for the future is that we forget to bring everyone along. We have a huge potential to develop a future in which technology enables greater social inclusion, as we simplify interfaces and potentially make access to services less expensive.

Brigitte Odgers-Jewell – Project Lead, ADAPTOVATE, Singapore.

It’s hard to keep up with technological advances and all that AI is doing for humanity. I am so grateful that I can connect with my family at any time, from anywhere and on any devise. It has made my choice to move to Asia and leave my family in Australia so much easier. To know that I can not only talk to them but see them at the click of a button is very comforting. There are countless people around the world that have to leave their families to go and work in far off destinations this technology makes it a little easier.

I am not really concerned about the future from a technology perspective. We are adaptive, creative and inquisitive creatures. What does worry me are our world leaders and governments keeping up. There needs to be a plan to keep people relevant and embrace technology at the same time.

Katy Hughes – Consultant, ADAPTOVATE, Australia.

Technology has helped humanity in more ways than I can possibly describe or do justice to in this short interview – it impacts almost everything we do on a day to day basis. As someone who lives in a different hemisphere to the majority of my friends and family, the ability to feel connected to them is what I value most, and technology allows me to do so. I don’t think technology should be something humanity feels threatened by, as long as it is treated with the respect it deserves – it should be used to enhance our lives not replace humanity.

Michal Bak – Principal, ADAPTOVATE, Poland.

I am watching closely the development of AI. But I always look at it from the human perspective – what does it mean for us, humans? how will our jobs and professions change? what kind of new skills will be required? I want to be able to help people and organisations adapt to the new reality

Kayla Cartwright – Senior Consultant, ADAPTOVATE, USA.

Technology has democratized knowledge in a way that makes me hopeful for students who might not have access to information or experiences based on where they live. At the same time, I have great concerns about how technology is going to impact kids’ (and adults’) ability to relate to one another and interact across lines of difference.

 

You can read more interviews with the team at THE BACK STORY

The Inner Story – Previous Roles and What I’ve Learned

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The Inner Story 2019 series.

What’s the Inner Story series? These are the hidden stories from our The Back Story team interviews in 2019.  When we went back and looked at all our interviews over the past year we noticed some powerful themes surfacing.    So we thought what better way to count down to 2020 than share some of these with you.   

 

THE INNER STORY – THE PREVIOUS ROLES AND WHAT I’VE LEARNED QUESTION

We asked our team has their previous experience and career helped define where they are now? Would they have done things differently?

 

Caitilin Studdert -Principal, ADAPTOVATE, Australia.

Absolutely. I use every single part of my career experience daily. I’ve had numerous temporary roles and some very long term positions as well. It’s the people I’ve interacted with in the roles that have taught me the most, not the function or the responsibility of that role. I’ve had some incredible bosses and for each of them I could recite their mantra and often do daily in my work still.

What would I do differently ? I would recognise that my failures (in projects and in job applications) have taught me more than my successes. My first job as a 14 year old as a casual taught me as much as any professional job I’ve had since. no regrets on career: my choice of marketing initially was brilliant as it enabled me to focus on people and teams, and now in consulting I’m surrounded by people, teams and aspirational goals which I love.

 

Chelsea Bates – Principal, ADAPTOVATE, Australia.

My career has taken a curved path with new opportunities and skills to learn with each role. I moved from accounting to sale across industries and with small private companies to large ASX organisations. They have all helped with the different skills needed for the role I am now in. On reflection, I wouldn’t have done anything differently as I have learned so many new things and had the opportunity to work with so many fantastic people.

 

Steve Walton – Project Lead, ADAPTOVATE, USA.

My previous career included being part of an industrialised project management system. I was always the rebel, seeking ways to do things differently. It became natural to implement Agile processes and mindsets whenever I could. My reputation was one of: *Strong prioritisation – to ensure we focused on the most valuable work by removing distractions of work that would never be done *Removing waste – Identify what didn’t need doing and simplifying process *Extreme visibility – showing the status of all our work to drive conversations about progress and blockers I would have spent more time talking about why I was making the changes.

Consulting has taught me about the importance of bringing a wider group of people along the journey of change.

 

Brigitte Odgers-Jewell – Principal, ADAPTOVATE, Singapore.

My entire life has been about trying new things. Travel and adventure have been a passion from a very young age. I spent time in hospitality running restaurants and bars in my youth. I spent a couple of years running a dive resort and then went on to travel the world on cruise ships as a photographer and later a croupier. These jobs gave me great insight to people and culture all around the world. It was a wonderful time. In 2004 I was introduced to corporate life when I took on the roll of Webmaster for a Bank in Queensland. This organisation would introduce me to Agile and the rest is history. Learning and experimenting was expected and encouraged. The friends that I made at work are still my best friends today to the point where we still get together and have reunions around the world. It is true, the teams that play together stay together! I’ve seen what good looks like and it boils down to leadership at every level. Looking back, I think I made some good choices and took whatever opportunities I saw, I’m happy with that.

 

Katy Hughes – Senior Consultant, ADAPTOVATE, Australia.

I came into the industry straight out of university, joining a graduate scheme at a large company. Being exposed to so many different types of people, opportunities and ways of working meant I learnt an incredible amount in a very short period of time. Working in such a large organisation across a variety of projects I quickly learned the basics of project work, what I did and definitely didn’t want to do and what kind of person I aspired to be. Personally, I don’t think there’s much I would have done differently career wise. Having early exposure to some incredibly talented people made me understand the value of respect, integrity and hard work in this industry so I make sure I carry these values with me every day.

 

Michal Bak – Principal, ADAPTOVATE, Poland.

I have always been eager to try new things and that for sure defined where I am today. Accepting new challenges and then relentlessly focusing on delivering impact became part of my DNA. In addition, working for different organisations in different countries and cultural contexts helped me become more sensitive and humble. Would I do things differently? I don’t think so… I always try to take decisions based on my best current knowledge, and then take full responsibility for them

 

Kayla Cartwright – Senior Consultant, ADAPTOVATE, USA.

Sure, there are a few times I would have liked to either fail faster/ learn faster. All in all, I think each job I’ve done, from restaurant jobs in high school to working as a science teacher, to living and working in new countries— each experience has allowed me to focus on building relationships and achieving results for ‘customers’ in any environment. So I wouldn’t change toooo much.

 

You can read full interviews with our team at THE BACK STORY

The Back Story – Kayla Cartwright

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Our Monthly interview with one of the ADAPTOVATE team. Each month we ask one of our team from around the world to answer a few questions. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our stories with you.

This month we are  excited to interview one of our latest team members –  Kayla Cartwright – a senior consultant based in Los Angeles.

  1. First up – how long have you worked with us at the time of the interview?

Just about a month

  1. Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

A bulk of my career has been in leadership development and coaching, though I more recently have focused on consulting, transformation, and client experience in financial services. ADAPTOVATE seemed like the perfect place to put all of that together and keep learning + growing!

  1. How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

Sure, there are a few times I would have liked to either fail faster/ learn faster. All in all, I think each job I’ve done, from restaurant jobs in high school to working as a science teacher, to living and working in new countries— each experience has allowed me to focus on building relationships and achieving results for ‘customers’ in any environment. So I wouldn’t change toooo much.

  1. How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

I think I have a strong “balance”, probably because this is VERY important to me. I prefer to think about work-life “integration” instead of balance. If you can be part of an organization that aligns with your values and allows you to bring your true self to work, then integration is much easier. I’ve been happy to find that here at ADAPTOVATE so far. On a more tactical note, I prioritize and focus on outcomes so that I make sure I use my time wisely; I aim and usually get 8 hours of sleep and try to spend lots of time with my loved ones (including my pup!), usually enjoying good food, hiking or going to the beach.

  1. With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

Organized. Empty desk except for a massive monitor which has done wonders for my posture. Large cup of coffee and water. Single spiraled notebook. White pen (it’s a thing).

  1. Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

Definitely! Music sets the tone, so I often try to be pretty intentional about matching the song to the objective/theme of a workshop and/or the local crowd. In general though, I am a fan of Motown classics that people want to sing along to, and lively Latin music to wake people up.   (editors note: we’ve added some Motown Classics, and lively Latin music to our official ADAPTOVATE Workshop playlist – you can access here)

  1. How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

Technology has democratized knowledge in a way that makes me hopeful for students who might not have access to information or experiences based on where they live. At the same time, I have great concerns about how technology is going to impact kids’ (and adults’) ability to relate to one another and interact across lines of difference.

  1. Strategic Foresight allows companies to detect changes early and ensure action is taken quickly. Which companies have you seen able to change and adapt quickly. (and hopefully using Agile methods to do so)

Netflix has transformed their operating model in a way that the surrounding environment had been slow to respond to (I live 15 min from Hollywood, for context). It’s also been fun to be a client with this lense watching companies such as Rover, Instacart and Pandora transform their offerings and features quickly to adapt to the market.

  1. What does success mean to you personally?

Enjoying and learning in as many moments as you can. There’s a popular American beachy musician named Jimmy Buffet; I try to live my life by one of his song lines (among many): “If we didn’t laugh we would all go insane”. (editors note:  Song is “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” – you can listen here)

  1. Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Eat less candy. Wear more sunscreen. Be nicer to your sister 😉

Kayla with her pup Wallace (center) and a friend’s pup getting ready to celebrate the annual pirate festival, Gasparilla, held every February in Tampa, Florida, USA.

 

 

The Back Story – Michal Bak

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Our Monthly interview with one of the ADAPTOVATE team. Each month we ask one of our team from around the world to answer a few questions. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our stories with you.

This month we are really excited to interview our Managing Director andPrincipal in our office in Warsaw, Poland –  Michal Bak

First up – how long have you worked with us?

I have been working for 3 months now (joined in June 2019) (editor: at time of interview).

Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

Before joining Adaptovate, I was working at a major management consulting firm. I got passionate about people, change and large scale transformations. I was involved in advising businesses around the world. Adaptovate offered me an opportunity to do the job that I loved and also to get involved in setting up a new office. Talking to founders convinced me that it might be a fair new challenge and much fun.

How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

I have always been eager to try new things and that for sure defined where I am today. Accepting new challenges and then relentlessly focusing on delivering impact became part of my DNA. In addition, working for different organisations in different countries and cultural contexts helped me become more sensitive and humble. Would I do things differently? I don’t think so… I always try to take decisions based on my best current knowledge, and then take full responsibility for them

Accepting new challenges and then relentlessly focusing on delivering impact became part of my DNA. Michal Bak - The Back Story interview. #agile Click To Tweet

How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

I believe there is only one “life” – I don’t make a distinction between work life and personal life. I try to see my life as a whole and act upon it. That means that I take advantage of every moment and anything that my life brings to me, and at the same time relentlessly follow my passions

With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

I consider my computer to be my office. I can then bring it with me wherever I go. Is my desktop well organise?… Well… I am probably not setting a best practice here… 😉

Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

Music is a very important part of my life. It is my source of energy. I like sharing it with teams. Recently, I am into different types of electronic music. I would choose a set depending on the mood and on particular needs. However, good house music is always a powerful way to get people started! (editor:  You can view the Adaptovate Workshop playlist here – it includes one or two electronic music tracks).

How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

I am watching closely the development of AI. But I always look at it from the human perspective – what does it mean for us, humans? how will our jobs and professions change? what kind of new skills will be required? I want to be able to help people and organisations adapt to the new reality

Strategic Foresight allows companies to detect changes early and ensure action is taken quickly. Which companies have you seen able to change and adapt quickly. (and hopefully using Agile methods to do so)

I like watching what Mercedes has recently been doing to its cars. I don’t remember anyone talking about this brand a few years ago and now I hear about it everywhere. It is praised for its design, for technological advancement, for performance. I think they found a way to adapt their full package in a way that made them very attractive

Michal Bak

What does success mean to you personally?

Being happy with your life. Being able to say “I’ve had a good life”

Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Go for it, take decisions even if they are tough, and be ready to accept the consequences

The Back Story – Katy Hughes

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Our Monthly interview with one of the ADAPTOVATE team. Each month we ask one of our team from around the world to answer a few questions. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our stories with you.

Katy Hughes

1. First up – how long have you worked with us?

9 months

2. Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

After living in London for over 8 years I wanted a change of scenery, luckily, my partner got offered a fantastic job opportunity in Australia, 5 weeks later we had moved! In London I had worked as a consultant and knew it was the career path I wanted to pursue. With so many great opportunities for growth ADAPTOVATE was a perfect fit!

3. How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

I came into the industry straight out of university, joining a graduate scheme at a large company. Being exposed to so many different types of people, opportunities and ways of working meant I learnt an incredible amount in a very short period of time. Working in such a large organisation across a variety of projects I quickly learned the basics of project work, what I did and definitely didn’t want to do and what kind of person I aspired to be. Personally, I don’t think there’s much I would have done differently career wise. Having early exposure to some incredibly talented people made me understand the value of respect, integrity and hard work in this industry so I make sure I carry these values with me every day.

4. How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

Work / life balance is really important to me. Even throughout busy periods in work I try to maintain a good routine of; 1. Exercising – making sure I can exercise 3-4 times a week really helps me focus and release any stress! 2. Working from the office instead of home – as much as possible I work from the office, even if it means staying late! This enables me to separate my home life from my office life 3. Understanding and respecting my teams’ commitments – at the beginning of each project, we get together as a team to outline our team norms, ways of working and commitments. Understanding these upfront and respecting them when they occur ensures the whole team have a good work /life balance!

5. With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

I like to think of my workspace areas as organised-chaos especially when I am focused and on a roll! My top tip for keeping on top of your tasks is to take 5 minutes at the beginning of your day to make a mini Kanban board, writing down all of your ‘to do’ items on post-it notes, moving them to ‘doing’ and ‘done’ when completed. This way you, and those around you, know exactly what you are working on at any one time and you feel great every time you move a task to ‘done’.

6. Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

Sometimes, music is a great tool for inspiration and focus but you don’t want it to act as a distraction, so getting the balance right is key. I will often ask attendees to write down their top 3 songs for inspiration and use these to build the workshop playlist as we go!

7. How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

Technology has helped humanity in more ways than I can possibly describe or do justice to in this short interview – it impacts almost everything we do on a day to day basis. As someone who lives in a different hemisphere to most of my friends and family, the ability to feel connected to them is what I value most, and technology allows me to do so. I don’t think technology should be something humanity feels threatened by, if it is treated with the respect it deserves – it should be used to enhance our lives do not replace humanity.

8.What does success mean to you personally?

Success to me is enjoying what you do and doing it well. As long as I am enjoying what I do I will consider myself successful!

9. Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Always be polite, ask lots of questions and travel as much as possible!

Katy meets one of the locals in Australia

 

The Back Story – Brigitte Odgers-Jewell

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  1. First up – how long have you worked with us?
    3 months

  2. Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

I was looking for my next adventure and Adaptovate ticked all the boxes. Having spent the better part of 20 years in Australia I was raising 2 amazing children with my husband Brett and carving out a corporate career for myself. I have worked with many talented Agile teams across industries since 2007. I love what I do and Business Agility Coaches are in such demand so the career path has served me well.

  1. How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

My entire life has been about trying new things. Travel and adventure have been a passion from a very young age. I spent time in hospitality running restaurants and bars in my youth. I spent a couple of years running a dive resort and then went on to travel the world on cruise ships as a photographer and later a croupier. These jobs gave me great insight to people and culture all around the world. It was a wonderful time. In 2004 I was introduced to corporate life when I took on the roll of Webmaster for a Bank in Queensland. This organisation would introduce me to Agile and the rest is history. Learning and experimenting was expected and encouraged. The friends that I made at work are still my best friends today to the point where we still get together and have reunions around the world. It is true, the teams that play together stay together! I’ve seen what good looks like and it boils down to leadership at every level. Looking back, I think I made some good choices and took whatever opportunities I saw, I’m happy with that.

  1. How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

I’d describe it as work life integration. I’m a mother, wife, daughter, sister and have a full-time corporate career. It’s what I signed up to and it’s up to me to make it work. I work hard and I play hard, I love it! There are a few non-negotiables that get me down if skipped. I try to do 30 minutes of exercise and 10 minutes of meditation 5 days a week before touching any technology. I also try to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. Every now and then a demanding schedule throws a spanner in the works. Being disciplined to get back into routine is hard sometimes but I feel so much better for it. I’m so privileged to be able to go to some amazing holiday destinations around the world every year with my family. I make sure that the batteries are recharged and I’m ready for whatever opportunities await me. On the weekends when I’m home, I make sure I go for a run, long walks and cuddles with Roxy my dog and make time for romance.

  1. With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

Since I’m only home on the weekends my home office is the dinning room table or kitchen bench. We have a very lovely home office with docking station and huge monitor and all the mod cons. Maybe I’m lazy or have FOMO but I just like to be in the middle of the house where I can be part of the action and have my sticky notes laid out, my laptop open and have a glass of wine.

  1. Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

I love to play music during workshops. I haven’t recently but it’s usually some classic disco remix for collaborative, fun activities [editors note – here’s a great Spotify Classics remix collection] and some laid back mellow instrumental tunes when deep thinking is needed.

  1. How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

It’s hard to keep up with technological advances and all that AI is doing for humanity. I am so grateful that I can connect with my family at any time, from anywhere and on any device. It has made my choice to move to Asia and leave my family in Australia so much easier. To know that I can not only talk to them but see them at the click of a button is very comforting. There are countless people around the world that have to leave their families to go and work in far off destinations this technology makes it a little easier. I am not really concerned about the future from a technology perspective. We are adaptive, creative and inquisitive creatures. What does worry me are our world leaders and governments keeping up. There needs to be a plan to keep people relevant and embrace technology at the same time.

stand up for what you believe, it’s okay to disagree with the majority, not everyone will love you – it’s okay – the one’s that do, really do. Brigitte Odgers-Jewell Click To Tweet

  1. Strategic Foresight allows companies to detect changes early and ensure action is taken quickly. Which companies have you seen able to change and adapt quickly. (and hopefully using Agile methods to do so)

I think the way education is being disrupted is tremendous. Recently I did a course through MIT Sloan. It was an uncomplicated and enjoyable process. I was able to select a subject relevant to my current interest. I received course material, attended lectures, collaborated with peers around the world and submitted assignments from anywhere, at any time and for a reasonable price. Platforms like YouTube have been a one stop shop to learn pretty much anything over the past few years, but I certainly like that there are so many options to learning now and that Universities and other disruptions have embraced the need for options other than brick and mortar class rooms.

  1. What does success mean to you personally?

Being able to spend quality time with my family and friends and knowing that I have contributed in some way to the happiness or success of someone in the word.

  1. Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Keep up the French lessons, learn to play the piano, speak to your father in German, give up the ballet classes (you will never be coordinated), stand up for what you believe, it’s okay to disagree with the majority, not everyone will love you – it’s okay – the one’s that do, really do.

You can connect with Brigitte on Linkedin. 

The Back Story – Steve Walton

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ADAPTOVATE MONTHLY INTERVIEW SERIES

Our Monthly interview with one of the ADAPTOVATE team. Each month we ask one of our team from around the world to answer 10 questions. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our stories with you.

To celebrate July 4th in the US, this month we are speaking with Steve Walton, our project lead in our New York office.

Ok! Our ten questions.

1. First up – how long have you worked with us?

18 months

2. Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

I was in the corporate world, managing enterprise data warehouse and analytics platforms. I wanted to take a new career direction where I worked more directly with people.

3. How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

My previous career included being part of an industrialised project management system. I was always the rebel, seeking ways to do things differently. It became natural to implement Agile processes and mindsets whenever I could. My reputation was one of: *Strong prioritisation – to ensure we focused on the most valuable work by removing distractions of work that would never be done *Removing waste – Identify what didn’t need doing and simplifying process *Extreme visibility – showing the status of all our work to drive conversations about progress and blockers I would have spent more time talking about why I was making the changes. Consulting has taught me about the importance of bringing a wider group of people along the journey of change.

4. How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

This year my life has been crazy in the most exciting of ways. I am someone who gets immersed in the work when they enjoy it and see the benefits of their effort. The last year and a half I have worked with some exciting clients doing things that were going to change their thinking and internal interactions in a way which would enrich the working lives of their staff while simplifying their businesses. During the day I am fully present and work long days. I balance the long days with leaving my work behind when I finish the day. Spending time with those close to me is important to me. I am very thankful for video conferencing to let me be with them when I can’t be there in person.

Steve out and about in New York.

5. With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

My home office is neat and tidy! I have a large monitor in the centre of the desk and usually a couple of different laptops surrounding me depending on which clients I am working with. Spending time to organise your chargers and cables is my tip to making your desk feel neat and tidy. That and make sure you have room for your cup or glass as you stay hydrated.

6. Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

I always favour some daggy 70s tunes to welcome people in, and some 80s disco to get people moving [editor: we found this ‘daggy’ playlist and this 80’s disco playlist on Spotify!  Steve takes no responsibility 🙂 )

7. How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

I think technology enhances everything. Enhances the negatives as well as the positives. We can have too many gadgets or use too many tools and make our life difficult. My recommendation is to stay aware of what tools are out there but changes only every year or so to let people get used to using them. The concern I have for the future is that we forget to bring everyone along. We have a huge potential to develop a future in which technology enables greater social inclusion, as we simplify interfaces and potentially make access to services less expensive.

8. Strategic Foresight allows companies to detect changes early and ensure action is taken quickly. Which companies have you seen able to change and adapt quickly. (and hopefully using Agile methods to do so)

I am interested in the digital-only brands being launched by banks, insurance and telecommunication companies as a way to migrate customers off legacy products and systems. Often their parent companies have systems and organisations so complex they have failed to succeed in simplifying their offer. The approach of offering a cheaper product using simpler and more scalable systems means they can develop a lower cost offer through a lower cost business. If your business model is going to be disrupted, I say be that disruptor yourself.

9. What does success mean to you personally?

Success means the ability to do what I love with confidence and being in the position to choose what some of those things are.

10. Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Be more confident. I am at my best when I am relaxed and enjoying what I do.

 

The Back Story – Chelsea Bates

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ADAPTOVATE MONTHLY INTERVIEW SERIES

Our Monthly interview with one of the ADAPTOVATE team. Each month we ask one of our team from around the world to answer 10 questions. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our stories with you.

This month we are speaking with Chelsea Bates, our Principle in our Melbourne office.

Ok! Our ten questions. (well actually nine this month! We are adapting and innovating)

1. First up – how long have you worked with us?

8 months

2. Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

I had previously been working with a company who delivered software using agile. The opportunity to help companies apply the principles of agile across the broader organisation, and not just within technology, appealed to me as I had seen how engaged and successful the teams had been within technology.

3. How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

My career has taken a curved path with new opportunities and skills to learn with each role. I moved from accounting to sale across industries and with small private companies to large ASX organisations. They have all helped with the different skills needed for the role I am now in. On reflection, I wouldn’t have done anything differently as I have learned so many new things and had the opportunity to work with so many fantastic people.

Some of the team.   L-R Caitilin Studdert,  Alex Rebkowski, Doug Ross, Chelsea Bates at a recent conference where Adaptovate where giving a keynote.

4. How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

The work life balance is great! I have time for regular exercise and time with family and friends. Work life balance is important as I believe you need a balance to be happy with both. Get the balance wrong in one direction and the other suffers.

5. With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

Organised. Upside of not having a huge amount of space at home 🙂

6. Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

We haven’t recently, but we were helping a client last year with a solar project so used a playlist that referred to the sun for every showcase.  Spotify has my last playlist listened to as Happy Beats… 

[editor: as an added bonus we found this page with 60 songs about the sun and sunshine  – 🙂 )

7. How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

Yes it has helped connect us, although always been contactable has its downsides. I love being able to call and see my friends and family who live overseas and interstate. The future of AI is fascinating and I am interested in how governments and organisations are dealing with the ethics of AI.

8. What does success mean to you personally?

Winning as a team! Be it crossing the finish line of the Oxfam trail walk with my team of 4 together or helping a client solve a cool problem together

9. Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?

Travel at any opportunity you get.

Chelsea travelling in Lisbon.

 

You can follow Chelsea Bates on Linked In.

The Back Story – Caitilin Studdert

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ADAPTOVATE MONTHLY INTERVIEW SERIES

Our Monthly interview with one of the ADAPTOVATE team. Each month we ask one of our team from around the world to answer 10 questions. While not in the same league as The Proust Questionnaire – we think it’s a great way to share our stories with you.

This month we are speaking with Caitilin Studdert, a project lead for Adaptovate, based in Sydney.

Ok! Our ten questions.

First up – how long have you worked with us?
Since December 4, 2017 – 18 months

Why did you join us? Were you in the industry previously, or looking for a new career direction?

Looking for a new career direction and knew Doug Ross well and his company ambition.

How has your previous experience and career helped define where you are now? Would you have done things differently?

Absolutely. I use every single part of my career experience daily. I’ve had numerous temporary roles and some very long term positions as well. It’s the people I’ve interacted with in the roles that have taught me the most, not the function or the responsibility of that role. I’ve had some incredible bosses and for each of them I could recite their mantra and often do daily in my work still. What would I do differently ? I would recognise that my failures (in projects and in job applications) have taught me more than my successes. My first job as a 14 year old as a casual taught me as much as any professional job I’ve had since. No regrets on career: my choice of marketing initially was brilliant as it enabled me to focus on people and teams, and now in consulting I’m surrounded by people, teams and aspirational goals which I love.

How do you balance your work life with your ‘real’ life – Do you have a good balance and how important is it to you?

Let’s not pretend, all of us have times where work / life is completely out of whack but fortunately I’ve had great leaders who have acknowledged how important it is to seek it constantly. When I’m involved with a client I obsess over learning about the company and industry because I’m a big believer in the power of preparation. In my ‘real life’ -my family is the bees knees. I run with them, burn perfectly good food with them by mistake, watch great quality trashy TV with them and adore our generous extended family. Without them, I wouldn’t be as gritty and imperfect.

With so many of our team remote working, we always like to ask how do you have your home office/desk set up? Organised or chaos? Any top tips?

Chaos. Top tips: don’t follow my example.

Do you play music during your Agile workshops with clients? What do you recommend on your latest playlist?

I don’t play music often in workshops but if I did it would be the Indiana Jones movie soundtrack…(yep, the dah dah da da…dah da daaaaa version) or the Star Wars theme there’s something inspirational about having a familiar tune and full orchestral blast as you kick off learning something new.

How do you think technology has best helped humanity and do you have any concerns about our future?

Yep, technology which provides a ‘voice’ for those who don’t have one is incredible. Even social media I’m not afraid of as I’ve been exposed to it for so long and am aware of the messy parts and best bits. My concerns are mostly environmental and I’m hoping I’m supporting this as best I can.  I am appalled in rare scenarios where technology replaces interaction and empathy.

Strategic Foresight allows companies to detect changes early and ensure action is taken quickly. Which companies have you seen able to change and adapt quickly?(and hopefully using Agile methods to do so)

I’d actually love to list some of my recent clients, but we are under NDA. I see it regularly and am consistently inspired by it when they are adapting to the market and also to new agile ways of working. Although I’ve never worked within these organisations I’ve loved the global uptake of fitness fun runs with quirky takes (e.g. The Colour Run). I wouldn’t have predicted there would be such a huge market for ‘social’ fitness and am impressed how quickly these companies have reached massive audiences within Australia.

What does success mean to you personally?
Success for me is if any achievement is shared. A celebration on your own is downright boring.

Finally – You’ve time travelled back to your 10- year old self – What advice would you give?
Your imperfections are just perfect. Stick with them.