David Bulkin is an amazing instructor! I have taken several certification classes, and David is by far the best and my most favorite instructor ever. David is highly knowledgeable and extremely personable. He easily kept the entire class engaged the entire 16-hour session by making everyone feel included. David also made the material easily digestible by presenting a fantastic breakdown of the information along with relevant real-life examples and experiences. I was not initially excited about taking this class since it was a weekend session. Also, the class happened to fall on the same week that I moved into my new home. However, the time flew by extremely fast. During the time I was in attendance for David's class, I did not think about the many boxes that were sitting around my new home waiting to be unpacked. That says a lot about David and his teaching style. I never actually saw David take a break during the class sessions. The students recognized David as an expert in his field and used their breaks to seek advice or gain more golden nuggets of wisdom from him. David is also a very positive person with great energy, which makes him extremely approachable. If possible, I will definitely take more of David's classes.

I'm a new Product Manager at a tech startup and this was my first Scrum training. Prior to this course I read Scrum, by Jeff Sutherland and worked on a Scrum team for 2 months. I really enjoyed the level of interaction that my instructor, Dave Balkin, included in the course! I expected the course to directly address the application of Scrum from the perspective of a Product Owner. In addition to this, the course was also about how Product Owners can deliver better products through Scrum. I was very impressed with Dave's deep understanding of product roles and agile principles. There are a lot of instructional providers in the market. I'll stick with GrowLeanAgile for all of my future Scrum training and certifications. I highly recommend this family of agile courses to anyone looking to break into agile roles or refresh their Scrum skills. These will be especially valuable to fellow military veterans making the pivot into the private sector or adopting Scrum into their teams.

FIrst impression with Grow-Lean was their webpage That was amazing. I mean a training site that answered all my questions before I got there. Well done. The class was great. I am Scrum Master and I was looking for practical knowledge that I could apply in my job. I am not just looking to get certs. This was a great class for that. If you want the answers, then Scrum may not be for you. This course helps you think and be confident that you will work with your teams to help them get better. David Bulkin, the instructor, was fantastic. He has a vast amount of Agile experience, and still comes off genuine and relatable. He told personal stories that supported the instruction as well as stories that created a great atmosphere. I enjoyed my fellow students as well. We had time to interact and learn from one another. Let me sum it up. I am really glad I took the class. Jeff

I didn't know what to expect because I had never before taken an online class. At no point did I feel disengaged or feel that I was in a virtual class. David Bulkin is a fantastic instructor, offering guidance and helpful hints, while agilely managing the chats. The course content was clear, concise, and comprehensible. The class was set up so that I was able to learn a lot in a short period of time. It provided information that was useful in the context as to how I will be using it. After taking this class, I now have a better understanding of Agile and Scrum methodologies. This class more than met my expectations and is the reason why, I believe, I scored a 98% on the exam on my first attempt. I look forward to taking additional courses offered by Grow-Lean and hopefully with this instructor. R. Brian Perdue Certified Scrum Master

This week I had the pleasure of taking the Certified Scrum Master course given by David Bulkin of Grow-Lean LLC. He was without a doubt, one of the best instructors I have ever had. It was definitely not your typical training class. David is extremely knowledgeable and shares his wealth of experience in a manner that captures the attention of all participants. He cares about the students and does everything possible to ensure that everyone will pass with ease. I can attest to that since I completed the class yesterday and passed the test this afternoon, with flying colors and plenty of time to spare. David is extremely personable and made what some would call “dry” material, actually interesting and definitely FUN! I’d highly recommend David’s classes to anyone who wants to actually learn, not just pass the exam!!

This was a refresher CSM course for me. My initial experience with Grow Lean was in 2015 with David Bulkin, as my class instructor in an in-person classroom setting. I was not sure whether an online environment would be beneficial for learning. But I have to command David for clarity of communicating key Agile concepts, ability to effectively train his audience via a remote setting and just an unbridled enthusiasm for Agile methodology. David is a master motivator, who keeps all of his class attendees engaged, participating and learning while have fun! Grow Lean is clearly the best in the business and David Bulkin proved this yet again. I appreciated an opportunity to enhance my knowledge of Agile methodology and looking forward to an Advanced CSM class next month!

This class (CSM Certification) was perhaps the best delivered course I have taken in my career. Mr. Balkin was a master at presenting the material, including and engaging all of the class participants to ensure that learning was taking place, not merely knowing how to answer test questions. It was fun and interesting. Another notable observation - David Balkin was available from the beginning of the class start all the way to the ending and beyond. I don't think he ever left his teaching post. We were able to ask questions and clarifications during all of the breaks and even after the close of the day. I am HAPPY to recommend Grow-Lean and specifically Mr. David Balkin for any class course they offer!

Grow-Lean LLC provides learning course for all industries using agile methodologies. I took the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) course. I really enjoyed learning from David Bulkin (trainer), his ability to walk our class through the course layout was a great experience and useful. Grow-Lean LLC CSPO class widened my knowledge base for understanding how to work the product backlog in reasonable (sizable) bits within Sprints through team collaboration, communications, and documenting valuable user stories and test cases. All that I learned is applicable in my current role as a Product Owner. I look forward to increasing my knowledge and taking future courses through Grow-Lean LLC.

Course content was excellent, engaging, and very well-presented. David did a masterful job of facilitating interactive group workshops from a virtual environment, giving attendees hands-on engagement in trying out the tools and techniques taught in his class. My biggest takeaway, however, is that David is intensely invested in making sure that you get the value out of this course that you expect. Due to a conflict, I had to miss the last 90 minutes of the course. Since it was close to the holidays, David had availability the following week, and set up a 90-minute meeting with me to personally go over the course material that I had missed. Very impressed by his dedication.

The class was excellent! David knowns his topics, presents well with examples, and explains things when questions are proposed. He utilized tools, such as Mural, very well with breakouts and activities. Although the class was 9-5, it had built in breaks and activities that kept us engaged without the meeting be a drain or feeling as though it was dragging on. The use of Mural was great; I had experience with Miro in the past and other whiteboards, but using Mural was an excellent way to get experience using a new tool. The course also discussed other tooling options and comparisons that we can use in our own daily processes.

A colleague recommended choosing Grow-Lean and David Bulkin’s CSM and CSPO classes over the other options, and I’m very glad that I listened! We covered the learning objectives and essentials while diving deeper to gain a better understanding of Scrum and the Scrum Master and Product Owner skills needed to progress in our respective Agile journeys, including exploration of common work applications and challenges. David’s experience inspires classes that are energetic, interactive, and packed with value. Each time I left feeling well prepared to implement what I learned. Bonus tip: try the book club & Agile Open Forum events!

I took a virtual 2-day CSM course with David Bulkin from Grow-Lean. I liked how he sent us pre reads ahead of time to help us make the best of the in-class time. The training was very engaging, interactive and had deep content. The games and examples were thought provoking and helped in a deeper understanding of scrum rather than highlighting just the scrum framework. Grow-Lean's sample tests in addition to David's instructions/explanations in class, made the actual CSM test very easy. I highly recommend Grow-Lean to anyone who is looking to understand Agile and Scrum and get many techniques in the implementation of Scrum.

Nothing but THE BEST ONLINE CLASS SECTION I ever attended, if I can give Don Patti 10 stars I will because I was new to scrum and it shows in my class responses the first day but after that, on the second day scrum became more easier and I can boast that after the class I am where I need to be but all praise goes to Don Parti explanations, videos and the way he grouped the class makes it fun and helpful. It helps me a lot and I responded to everything like a scrum professional on the second day with no fears or worries like the first day. All I can say is THANK YOU Don Patti ????????

David hosted a fun and informative class and he kept me engaged during the two days. I really enjoyed learning from someone with a wealth of knowledge and experience and appreciated the extra time David was willing to spend 1:1 to address any extra concerns and learning opportunities. David, you gave great advice during the class, went above and beyond the learning objectives, and helped me achieve my ACSM. I will definitely recommend your classes to my colleagues and look forward to attending another class in the future. Thank you!

Had the pleasure to take Donald Patti's Certified Scrum Master training, and as always his structure and content delivery makes it very easy to follow intense course work. There are many simulations and group exercises discussed through Miro board with Zoom breakout rooms for team discussions. Don makes his class very engaging, and quite entertaining with metaphors and real life examples. I previously took his SAFe POPM class and I personally find him to be a tremendous teacher. Highly recommend taking Don's classes.

I did the Scrum Alliance CSM course on April 24-25, 2021 with this institution. David Bulkin is an effective Scrum Trainer. He understands that new material is not immediately registered in the brain and so he repeats and asks questions in different ways just to get us thinking. I appreciate his methods. He is also energetic. The course materials were useful and I am of the impression that he gauges his sessions based on the experience of his audience which is good. I plan to do the A-CSM with him.

I took a virtual 2 day CSM Course with David, who is really amazing at keep us as engaged as an in-person class with interactive exercises and partner work. Very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and earnestly wanted his students to become aspiring scrum experts in the real world, not just to pass the test. It was also interesting to learn from classmates how Scrum can be applied to industries outside of tech. Highly recommend David and Grow-Lean!! Will be signing up for other classes in the new year!

Our trainer, Arlen, gave me an incredible experience. I appreciated the way he translated industry-specific terms into broader vocabulary so that people from different professional backgrounds could really connect with the content. He paced the curriculum perfectly to fit our needs and was mindful of creating space for us to interact. The session was a perfectly sized learning environment - intimate enough to have meaningful interactions, but enough variety to make every activity feel fresh.

To be very honest, I thought this is going to be just like other certifications I attended: CSPO and A-CSPO where we'd sit and talk about the basics of PO role and learn about 5-10% of new stuff. This class completely exceeded my expectations. Arlen was an amazing mentor. I learned plenty of new stuff: different PO techniques and tools, how to think like a PO person from different angles I've never encountered in my career so far. This was definitely a course worth attending.

This was another great course provided by David Bulkin! The content was conveyed in a way that was easy to understand, and the ability to work with other class members via breakout rooms helped me practice what was taught. The pace of the course was good, and the structure of the course kept me interested the entire time. I definitely learned a lot from this course; and will apply it to my current job. I plan to take another course from David in the near future!

I took the CSM course virtually with Grow-Lean for 2 back-to-back days. Donald Patti, who was our trainer, clearly articulated the CSM concepts and highlighted the practical practices that a Scrum Master would implement in the industry. Don kept the session very engaging and encouraged participation from all students. Highly recommend this course with Don if you are pursuing a CSM certification or want to increase your knowledge on Scrum/Agile topics.

Chris Doss did an awesome job teaching the class, keeping everyone involved. I think the pre read material was perfect for people like me with zero scrum experience. The only thing I would have liked to do was mix up the groups when we were paired up. We had a small class size and would have benefited from pairing with others as well. I highly recommend this course for anyone looking to learn more about scrum/agile framework.

Grow-Lean's Certified Scrum Master training provided by David Bulkin is fun and engaging. David does a great job at encouraging students to think outside the box and use teamwork to tackle all the unique situations one may encounter in the workplace instead of just trying to apply the same repeatable steps in all cases. I left this training not only with tools and techniques but the mindset to apply Scrum. Would recommend!

David was a fantastic facilitator. The two days flew by quickly and everyone was engaged in the conversation. David effectively used Mural to create fun activities and made sure everyone had a voice and participated. There was also enough humor to keep learning fun and interesting, but not enough to be a distraction. I would absolutely take another course with David and Grow-Lean. Overall, this was a wonderful experience.

David (and Don) were great instructors, probably the best virtual hosts I've experienced. David's enthusiasm and passion for both the topic (PO) and teaching in general were infectious, and he had the whole group interacting well. My only change would be around the length and mixing it in with a working day - the 8.5 hours could have used maybe a few more quick breaks to check emails and ensure nothing has burned down.

Highly interactive two day course focusing on many of the pillars of the Product Owner role. Many of the skills being shared were not only communicated, but more importantly, demonstrated during the course. Would highly recommend for POs just getting started and in their first years within the role to hear other perspectives. Many of the exercises are usable tools for day to day work within the role, thank you!

Arlen was a wonderful class leader. He kept the class interesting by including historical stories about where concepts came from, productive breakout sessions and timely coffee/lunch breaks. He was also very nimble and adjusted content on the fly as questions came up. I would definitely recommend this class to any leaders interested in learning more about Agile methodologies and how best to support their teams.

This is one of the best PD courses I've ever taken. It moved at a good pace, covered all relevant points, and had relevant group exercises. It was obvious the instructor, Donald Patti, was incredibly well versed in the subject details with plenty of life experience to pull examples from. I would highly recommend this course for anyone either working as a Scrum Master or someone transferring into this role.

I enjoyed taking my Certified Scrum Product Owner course from Grow-Lean with David Bulkin. He was a great instructor and easily created a solid and interactive course that allowed us to be engaged and learn/deepen our knowledge on the subject with ease. It was also a great experience to take this course with my classmates as we shared experiences and had a great time doing the hands-on exercises together.

The A-CSM session was perfect, not boring, at a good pace, with good content, good discussion, and the application of and chance to share and evaluate real world experiences. This is the second course that I have taken with David Bulkin. He is a terrific instructor and the reason that I have and will continue to choose GL over the competition. Please continue to develop your process and offerings.

The A-CSM class perfected the fit for the continuation of the CSM class. The materials and class structure, already built on an established baseline, provided a deeper-dive and advanced understanding of utilizing additional SCRUM techniques in a competitive Agile world. David Bulkin provides a very enriched approach to learning with accentuated student involvement. Great class and great instructor!

Would you like to have an in-depth discussion about the principles of SCRUM, rather than just studying a bunch of text and taking quizzes? I found the discussion a really effective tool to understanding these concepts and applying them to real world scenarios. The materials and practice quizzes were really helpful too and prepared me for the CSM certification. I'd definitely recommend this program!

The training offered by Grow-Lean for the Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster was a master class on advanced scrum methodologies and theory. The material compiled and presented by Arlen Bankston was high quality and it was clear that we were in great and experienced hand for the subject matter. I highly recommend this course for all who have chosen Scrum mastery as their career choice.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course and I couldn't have had a better trainer. David knows his stuff and forces you to think deeper than just surface level. I am totally new to the Agile Framework and Scrum methodologies and this was an excellent course for a beginner. I can't wait to take the more advanced courses. I am not it the IT field, but the training can be used across multiple disciplines.

David Bulkin's class for Certified Scrum Master was great. He presented the material in a way that was easily understandable and was energetic in doing so. Class size was only 11 people so he could spend time answering questions. He was also able to explain the material in ways relatable to my current position. I would highly recommend this class to anyone that is considering it.

Love taking courses with David. This was my second course through Grow-Lean. The first class was the Certified Scrum Master in person pre-pandemic. The Certified Product Owner course was completed in a very engaging virtual course. I highly recommend taking any of their courses as the whole team is very collaborative. I will likely take another course with Grow-Lean in the future.

David is an amazing coach of agile and general leadership. Where many teachers will provide textbook observations, David provides practical advice based on real experiences. I always feel that I come away with tactical improvements that I can make as a leader and coach for my own teams. He also has a unique ability to make even a virtual training engaging and totally fun.

Grow Lean provided me with outstanding training. My instructor was personable, knowledgable, and engaged with the class. I felt like I left with a small group of new friends as well as a certificate. I feel much more confident as a product owner after going through this training. I've already gotten job offers that are directly tied to my training with Grow Lean.

Excellent structure to the training, forward-looking, real type scenarios, very professional and knowledgeable. The class is very engaging, especially now with Covid, with all being remote. The knowledge will stay with you, I was able to apply concepts that I’ve to learn during the training the next day, and it has already improved in my way of approaching Agile.

Don did an amazing job instructing the class over the course of a two-day period in preparation for not only the CSM exam, but to assume the duties of a Scrum Master at the conclusion of the course. I highly recommend Don’s course as he remains engaging and energetic throughout the class. I passed the CSM exam immediately following the course with a 98%.

The class was fascinating and fun; the activities and interactions between participants in the call were really nice and always keeping the ides of Scrum in practice. The use of visuals and images to support the ideas and concepts is great to help to retain the information. I had so much fun and I will recommend it to my friends and colleagues.

If possible, I would have given six stars. As usual, David just doesn't stick to the Scrum Alliance material, but goes to the bottom of topics and shares his rich expertise and insight during the class which helps us to get a better grip on it. The lively debate and conversation that he drives is very much enjoyable and is a bonus. Thanks David.

Great course! The content was very relevant and the way it was presented made it immediately applicable. The collaborative nature of the course also enabled for more meaningful delivery of the concepts AND different perspectives on how to apply it. Arlen is great and I would definitely attend another session led by him in the future. Thanks!

I enjoyed taking my Advanced ScrumMaster course from Grow-Lean. David was a great instructor. He created a very interactive course that furthered our knowledge of Scrum and made us reflect on how we can better our own teams. I also enjoyed taking the course with my classmates because sharing their experiences helped evolve my thinking even more.

Of the scrum alliance classes I've taken thus far Arlen's CSP-PO class was by far the best. It was apparent that he knew/created the materials he taught from, he shared a great many personal insights, and he created an environment that encouraged the rest of the class to share their experiences and be heard. Would train with Arlen again.

I attended the 2-day session with David during the weekend. It was amazing to learn and get a few agile concepts refreshed with David and the class. The class was just the right size of 10 people allowing David (instructor) to provide an individual focus for each of us. I personally would recommend this course to anyone willing to learn CSM.

This was an excellent class. There are several educational options out there, and I am glad I chose this one because Arlen's real-life experience and skill in designing this course made it valuable and fun. It was two days, and Arlen made it so relevant and interesting, I would be happy to spend many more days learning from him! Thank you!

Amazing introduction to scrum and agile frameworks. As a part of a start-up, we needed solutions that could scale and provide the same agility we needed to innovate. DP at Grow lean kept the class engaged, wasn't afraid to provide feedback and correction in a humorous and meaningful way, and inspired students to pursue and agile mindset.

What an amazing course! David Bulkin did an job engaging our class and providing us with the information we need to pass the exam. But he also took time to provide tips and techniques that would help us become true practitioners of scrum. He provided us with scenarios in and out technology to help us apply scrum in multiple ways.

I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for Donald Patti and his expertise in teaching the Scrum class this past weekend. I passed the exam today and was very confident thanks to him! His “hands on approach,” detailed course materials and interactive learning style made it a lot of fun! Thanks again Donald! Marcy Kravit