Agile Open Forum

David Bulkin is a managing director and head of training services at Grow-Lean. He assists teams as a coach / mentor; delivers training, and builds product. He has trained 20,000 students, and impacted thousands via public speaking and coaching. Unlike many trainer/coaches, he continues to build systems.

David delivers training, including the CSM, A-CSM, CSPO and A-CSPO courses; and has trained over 20,000 students with over 10,000 of them being with the Scrum Alliance.

David mentors and coaches teams and individuals.

He does all of this while actively building software, filling various roles at different times, including designing, coding, testing, PO and Scrum Master (think about that, someone who does what they teach).

David's commitment to helping others, combined with his continued work as a team member, positions him to deliver practical perspective that will help you boost your career.

David's thought leadership in 2009 on progressive elaboration for agile requirements influenced what is now known as refinement (entering Scrum in 2011). David has successfully applied agile to manufacturing, marketing, sales, finance, and other areas outside of IT. He was an independent reviewer of the original PMI-ACP body of knowledge that fed the creation of the PMI-ACP Exam and has worked on the exam questions for the Certified Scrum Master Exam. David’s broad background ensures you are getting up-to-date ideas to apply.

David is an industry veteran with 40 years of product development experience. In 2001, David's eBanking Team at JP Morgan Chase implemented agile with Kent Beck, the Father of Extreme Programming (XP), and perhaps also Agile, was the team coach. In addition to eBanking, David was also responsible for Online Account Opening, Insurance and Retirement Services.

David's deep experience, his high energy level, and his continued hands-on work helps David stays practical and level headed. He is able to understand your needs so you benefit from his experience.

Bilingual Agile Coach & Trainer with over 10+ years of successful experience in software development and Agile methodologies. Recognized consistently for performance excellence and contributions to success in various industries. Skilled in building rapport with leadership and stakeholders, building cross-functional teams, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, and the ability to think outside the box.

In 2020, Chris began his agile journey with Grow-Lean by obtaining the CSPO. Since then, he has consistently collaborated with the Grow-Lean team to enhance alumni services. Chris's joint efforts have led to the introduction of innovative tools, such as online quizzes, which not only prepare students for certification exams but also enrich their overall learning experience. Committed to supporting both alumni and the broader agile community, Chris English and Grow-Lean have initiated complimentary services and events. Among these are the Agile Open Forum and the Agile Open Community, both designed to assist individuals regardless of where they stand in their agile journey.

I discovered Computers and Technology very early; playing Chip’s Challenge with my father using a Windows 95 Compaq Laptop is my earliest memory as a 3-year-old. The excitement of technology and gaming hasn’t waned in over 26 years.

I love enabling customers with unique solutions that support their product, compliance, and business goals. My favorite part of the day is providing customers with top-tier engagement and partnership and seeing the impact of my efforts on their programs. Receiving 5-star reviews while increasing contract billables multi-fold is my proudest achievement. Supporting remote, diverse, and multicultural teams as a Program Manager is exceptionally satisfying.

It is fascinating to navigate through complex requirements, be it for 3D Printing tools and techniques, Agile practices, or PCI DSS Compliance requirements. Leveraging institutional and instinctual knowledge and relevant data helps me efficiently support my customers’ needs. My success, skills, and growth so far can be easily attributed to my focus on ensuring my customer needs are prioritized to be best of my ability.

Humankind cannot gain anything without giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. These words have rung true for me for many years. From the first move away from family in Mumbai to the United States for grad school to my first job in Virginia, far away from close friends, another move to Canada last year. It has been a remarkable romantic experience for me personally and professionally. Not to mention the fantastic craft beer scene in Illinois, Virginia, and now Ontario!