100% Live - Online

Love it or Learn Again for Free Guarantee™, small class size, experienced trainer

Price
1,395 USD until 9 Jan
Certification Fees Included
Date
Two 8.00-hour sessions
Thu Jan 9 - 9:30 AM (EST) to
Fri Jan 10 - 5:30 PM (EST)

Agile leadership isn’t about knowing frameworks. It’s about making a real impact.

The CAL 1 certification helps you break through political, cultural, and structural barriers to build stronger, more adaptable teams and organizations.

Led by Arlen Bankston, a 25-year agile veteran, this deeply interactive course gives you the tools to tackle leadership challenges head-on. Through discussions, exercises, and real-world examples, you'll gain practical insights you can apply immediately.

Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, LeSS, FAST—we don’t just cover agile methodologies; we help you understand when and how to use them. Learn how to empower teams, drive adaptability, and avoid common pitfalls that slow organizations down.

Walk away with confidence. Earn your CAL 1 certification and badge, but more importantly, gain the skills to lead with clarity, navigate complexity, and help your organization thrive in today’s unpredictable world.

4.89 - 206 reviews
5.00 - 82 reviews
4.90 - 872 reviews

Your Path to Agile Leadership Success

Everything You Need to Know About CAL 1

Master Agile Leadership with CAL 1

The Scrum Alliance Certified Agile Leader® 1 (CAL 1) workshop is designed for leaders looking to launch or enhance agility at both the team and organizational level.

Led by an experienced executive with over 20 years of real-world transformation experience, this course provides practical, no-nonsense insights from someone who has worked with companies across both the private and public sectors since the genesis of the agile movement.

No question will go unanswered. You’ll engage in discussions that tackle real-world challenges—ensuring you leave with the clarity and confidence to drive meaningful change in your organization.


Why This Course Matters for Leaders

Great leaders don’t just manage change. They drive it. The CAL 1 workshop equips you with the mindset, focus, and behaviors needed to lead agile transformations effectively.

In today’s complex and fast-changing world, agile leadership isn’t optional. It’s essential. You’ll learn why agile methods matter, how to track their impact, and what it takes to cultivate a truly adaptive organization.

We explore proven strategies for driving change in an iterative and incremental fashion, giving you the tools to influence agility at every level from teams to enterprise-wide transformation.


What You Will Experience

The CAL 1 workshop explores the evolution of agile methods and how they differ from traditional approaches like waterfall. We also examine the common hybrid models many organizations use, where upfront planning is blended with agile execution.

Through interactive case studies, thought experiments, and pattern-based exercises, you’ll see agile leadership in action. Real-world examples of organizations that have successfully customized agile approaches will illustrate the flexibility and creativity that informed leadership can unlock.


Gain Hands-on Experience With:

  • Visualizing and optimizing value streams
  • Comparing different ways to structure and connect teams
  • Exploring strategic and tactical measurement methods
  • Applying agility beyond development teams
  • Understanding unique approaches to prioritization for projects and features
  • Learning effective change management strategies

Every class is unique—your trainer leverages deep experience and a vast library of custom content to address the specific needs of the group in real time.

Uplift Your Future Discount.
Get the best discounts specific to your situation

At Grow-Lean, we understand that job loss and financial hardships can be overwhelming. Many of our customers and community members have shared their challenges, and we want to help.

For a limited time, we are providing even deeper discounts, making it easier for you to continue learning and advance your career. This program applies courses taking place between now and 15 March 2026 and includes early bird (automatically applied), alumni, groups (3+ at one or many events), hardship, out of pocket, student, teacher and military. Apply for a discount on the session date you are interested in.

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Choose an Experienced Trainer


Arlen Bankston

CST | CSP-SM | CSP-PO | CAL | A-CSM | CSM | A-CSPO | CSPO | LSS MB | SAFe SPC5

Arlen Bankston, a pioneering figure in the agile movement, was one of the first to integrate lean systems thinking and user experience practices with agile software development methodologies. His innovative approach has left a lasting impact on the field.

Currently, Arlen is a sought-after coach and trainer, specializing in advanced courses such as the Advanced CSPO, Certified Scrum Professional PO, Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster, Certified Agile Leadership Essentials and Team, as well as custom sessions including the Grow-Lean Remote and Hybrid Work. His expertise extends beyond the realm of software, exploring Lean, Six Sigma, BPM and other process management and systems thinking approaches to provide organizations with a comprehensive perspective.

Arlen's journey in the agile world began with his early involvement in the Scrum Alliance (member number 41) and as one of the first Certified Scrum Trainers . He further expanded his knowledge by becoming a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt during his six-year tenure leading a Lean-Agile practice. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found the consultancy LitheSpeed, which he successfully led for fifteen years before joining Grow-Lean.

Known for his thought leadership and dynamic, entertaining, and practical training style, Arlen has trained and mentored thousands of ScrumMasters, Product Owners, team members and executives. He designed the Agile Leadership Academy to address the leadership and structural challenges that many successful companies still face.

Arlen's client list spans across every industry and includes notable names such as RBC, Monster, Marriott, NBC Universal, CNBC, NGA, Capital One, T. Rowe Price, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the Armed Forces Benefits Association. His book “HR and the Agile Organization” provides valuable insights on how human resources departments can adapt to support organizations striving for adaptability while enhancing employee engagement and retention.

CAL 1 Learning Objectives

Master the core principles and values of agile leadership. Understand your role in promoting them so you can think and lead with agility.

The Growth of Agile

Today’s markets are volatile, unpredictable, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). Agile methods address these challenges by using tight, effective feedback loops to maximize learning, limit risk, and increase return on investment.

Why Agile Leadership

Agile methods were created to support adaptation without sacrificing quality in software development. However, delivering great products and services requires end-to-end agility - going beyond technology teams and into marketing, sales, operations, and beyond.

Agile leaders drive better collaboration and coordination across an organization, leading to higher product value, improved quality, faster delivery, and stronger employee engagement.

What Agile Leadership Entails

Agile leadership requires flexible approaches to planning, tracking, and managing work that align with diverse work portfolios. There is no one-size-fits-all method. Leaders must adapt based on their unique environment.

Effective feedback loops and a growth mindset are critical to driving agility at scale and sustaining long-term success.

Becoming an Agile Leader

The best agile leaders combine self-awareness, empathy, and a deep understanding of their business and customer environment. This enables them to apply situational leadership, adjusting their style to fit the context.

They drive lasting change by fostering self-organizing teams that take ownership, experiment, and continuously improve.

What You Get

Beyond great learning, you receive a free retake, exclusive alumni benefits, a two year Scrum Alliance membership, and more.

100% Live, Instructor-Led Training
Unlike other trainings that rely heavily on pre-recorded content, our sessions are fully live and interactive.
No Surprises
No hidden fees, no extra steps. Just a seamless certification process with everything included.
Certification Fees Included
Your certification fees are fully covered. No additional costs required.
Two-Year Scrum Alliance Membership
Receive a two year membership to the Scrum Alliance, the world's largest non-profit agile certifying body.
Two-Year Certification Renewal
Extend the validity of all your Scrum Alliance Certifications for two years with no additional fees or SEU requirements.
16 PMI Professional Development Units (PDUs)
Earn 16 PDUs from the Project Management Institute (PMI) to help fulfill your continuing education requirements.
One Free Class Retake (within 120 days)
Want to reinforce your learning? Retake the class once within a 120 days at no extra cost.
Alumni Discount Program
Take a course priced at $225+ and get 5% off your next class. Discounts increase with each additional course, up to 25% off.

Everything You Need is Included

No last minute charges or hidden fees

Be careful of the company you pick. With Grow-Lean everything is covered, including the certification fees , and a free class retake (within 120 days). You also receive additional discounts off of your next session with us.

There are no surprise costs when you register or accept your license and we have a user friendly transfer and cancellation policy.

Why choose our training?

A 100% Live Online Workshop That's Engaging and Effective.

Unlike other programs, this CAL 1 Workshop is fully live and led by world-class agile expert, Arlen Bankston. With decades of hands-on experience, Arlen blends real-world insights, deep discussions, and interactive learning into a dynamic, engaging experience.

What makes this training stand out?

  • Interactive & Engaging: Exercises, real-world case studies, games, short videos, and more.
  • Live Collaboration: Learn from the instructor’s insights and experienced fellow students.
  • From Theory to Action: Bridge the gap between what’s possible and what actually works in business environments.
  • Energy & Retention: Edutainment-based learning keeps you engaged and motivated.

By taking this session, you'll get:

  • Meaningful answers to real-world agile challenges.
  • Practical case studies that show agility in action.
  • Deep, interactive discussions that help you connect learning to your own work.
  • A truly enjoyable experience—because learning should be engaging, not dull.

This isn’t just another training. It’s an experience that fuels your leadership journey.

Earning Your Certification

Become a Certified Agile Leader with the CAL 1 Certification.

Certified Agile Leader 1 Logo

Successfully completing this workshop earns you the CAL 1 certification and makes you eligible to apply for CAL 2. You’ll gain the skills necessary to lead agile transformation and drive real change in your organization.

  • No additional charges. Your certification fees are fully covered.
  • No exam required. Just participate and engage in the learning.
  • Attend a minimum of 14 hours to receive certification.

Session Schedule

Certified Agile Leader 1 (CAL1)


Certified Agile Leader 1

Mon, 9 Feb to Tue, 10 Feb
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (EST)
Online - 2 days
Arlen Bankston

1,395 USD 1,195 USD <br/>until 6 Feb
Discounts



Certified Agile Leader 1

Thu, 5 Mar to Fri, 6 Mar
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST)
Online - 2 days
Arlen Bankston

1,395 USD 1,195 USD <br/>until 6 Feb
Discounts



Certified Agile Leader 1

Thu, 9 Apr to Fri, 10 Apr
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (EST)
Online - 2 days
Arlen Bankston

1,395 USD 1,195 USD <br/>until 21 Feb
Discounts



Certified Agile Leader 1

Mon, 11 May to Tue, 12 May
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (EST)
Online - 2 days
Arlen Bankston

1,395 USD 1,195 USD <br/>until 21 Feb
Discounts



Certified Agile Leader 1

Thu, 4 Jun to Fri, 5 Jun
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST)
Online - 2 days
Arlen Bankston

1,395 USD 1,195 USD <br/>until 21 Feb
Discounts



Certified Agile Leader 1

Mon, 29 Jun to Tue, 30 Jun
9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (EST)
Online - 2 days
Arlen Bankston

1,395 USD 1,195 USD <br/>until 21 Feb
Discounts


Mon, 9 Feb
10:00 AM (EST)
 -  Tue, 10 Feb
6:00 PM (EST)
Arlen Bankston
Online - 2 days
1,395 USD 1,195 USD until 6 Feb
Thu, 5 Mar
9:00 AM (EST)
 -  Fri, 6 Mar
5:00 PM (EST)
Arlen Bankston
Online - 2 days
1,395 USD 1,195 USD until 6 Feb
Thu, 9 Apr
10:00 AM (EST)
 -  Fri, 10 Apr
6:00 PM (EST)
Arlen Bankston
Online - 2 days
1,395 USD 1,195 USD until 21 Feb
Mon, 11 May
10:00 AM (EST)
 -  Tue, 12 May
6:00 PM (EST)
Arlen Bankston
Online - 2 days
1,395 USD 1,195 USD until 21 Feb
Thu, 4 Jun
9:00 AM (EST)
 -  Fri, 5 Jun
5:00 PM (EST)
Arlen Bankston
Online - 2 days
1,395 USD 1,195 USD until 21 Feb
Mon, 29 Jun
9:30 AM (EST)
 -  Tue, 30 Jun
5:30 PM (EST)
Arlen Bankston
Online - 2 days
1,395 USD 1,195 USD until 21 Feb