100% Live - Online
Small class size with a trainer that co-created the CSPO Certification.
With the Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) you build on the CSPO and grow your ability to establish and communicate an actionable vision, rapidly test hypotheses, work effectively with stakeholders, and manage the backlog using a host of advanced techniques.
Unlike sessions offered by others, our A-CSPO is a true advanced session that is 100% live, completely interactive and slide-free.
The course uses Mural in a unique way that has been a huge hit with students and helps you stay fully engaged from beginning to end. We explore topics through exercises that drive deep discussion and you will learn from the industry’s most experienced A-CSPO Trainers, as well as from other advanced attendees. You leave ready to implement techniques the next day.
Great training experience. Arlen is a knowledgeable trainer with vast experience in consulting. He brings various tools and exercises to help get the point across. It is a rich learning journey through his training sessions.
The A-CSPO course with instructor Arlen Bankston was everything I had hoped for. We learned new ways of approaching backlog prioritization, story refinement, sprint reviews and more. The class was dynamic and engaging. Arlen did a great job of tailoring content to the questions and interests of attendees.
Excellent A-CSPO course delivered by Arlen Bankston. Well presented, packed with useful information, high quality visuals, and interactive, engaging team exercises. Arlen brings solid industry experience with relevant stories and scenarios to support the course content. Highly recommend.
Arlen Bankston took my A-CSPO course and this was the first Scrum course that I recommended to other people because I absolutely loved it. The way he conducted the exercises helped me understand concepts. We also had a small exercise with David Bulkin which was also worth it.
My instructor, Arlen, was phenomenally knowledgeable and added a little bit of color to each section of the course. The way he connected each aspect of the material (by grounding the lessons in his past experience) made the class engaging and led me to seek out *more* courses he was leading.
Arlen Bankson is a fantastic instructor with a massive amount of experience. It made learning new tools and techniques easier because he could recall real examples to make the content more relatable. I will use Grow Lean and Arlen for my CSP-PO and SM.
I had the privilege of attending Arlen's A-CSPO training, and I must say it was an exceptional learning journey that far surpassed my expectations! Arlen's shared invaluable insights and tips on the Product Owner role. I highly endorse Arlen to anyone seeking to elevate their Product Owner knowledge to new heights.
This comprehensive training program exceeded my expectations in terms of content, delivery, and value. The course content was well-structured and covered a wide range of topics essential for an advanced Scrum Product Owner role. One aspect that truly stood out was the quality of the instructor, Arlen Bankston. Not only does he possess extensive practical experience as a Product Owner, but he was able to present complex concepts in a clear and engaging manner. He encouraged active participation, fostered discussions, and shared valuable real-life examples that enriched the learning experience. Grow-Lean's online training for the Scrum Alliance Advanced Scrum Product Owner Certification (A-CSPO) exceeded my expectations in terms of content quality, expert instructors, interactive learning materials, and overall value. I highly recommend this company and training program to anyone seeking to enhance their skills as a Scrum Product Owner and achieve advanced certification.
Arlen was great. The training really highlighted the items that you should be doing as a good Product Owner. The instructor was sure to take time to ensure everyone knew the skills, and assignments given. Took time to allow for open discussion, that helped foster a safe emotional space. You could ask and give answers without feeling like you would be judged. 10 / 10 would recommend this class to anyone.
Arlen was amazing, he took the time and effort to answer every question that I asked and others asked. I would definitely sign up for a course with him again.
Arlen was AWESOME in the CAL E & O course. I took away tons of stuff to try out with my organization. I will be back! I'll also send some colleges your way.
It was a great class and Arlen was an excellent instructor. He adapted and adjusted the focus of the course as we went to make sure that everyone in the class got the most they could out of it.
David Bulkin and Arlen (Grow-Lean) are great instructors! I've already taken part on three certifications provided by them, and am every time grateful that I took the time to do it. They have a lot of experience and thrive on teaching us how to use Scrum on an real-life Agile Environment! Would recommend to anyone!
Arlen is a wonderful instructor and comes prepared to coach up and down. He brings a wide variety of domain knowledge, practical shared experience, and remains open to ideas from students. A class is only as good as the instructor leading it. Thank you!
The entire course was well structured and started with asking attendees what they wanted from the course. Arlen made sure to check in multiple to make sure we were covering the topics we asked for from the beginning. I found the exercises to be very well thought out and beneficial to applying the techniques and topics reviewed.
Arlene was very much experienced and knowledgeable instructor who answered all our questions. Provided us opportunities to work on product. All the different breakout sessions helped us a lot.
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!
Arlen is knowledgeable and clearly explained all the concepts
Great course. Interactive and very interesting. Arlen Bankston was a great instructor.
ARLEN IS A GREAT INSTRUCTOR! Scrum is about people > process, and Arlen made everyone feel like they were a part of the training! GREAT TRAINER!
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!
Arlen is a skilled facilitator and brings a wealth of experience to the table. This enriches the experience significantly.
Great training with lots of additional, personalized material. Arlen was terrific.
Arlen was excellent and brought some excitement to the course. Perfect blend of practical exercises, class discussion and instructor lead information.
One of the better Agile courses I have taken. The content was very well presented, interesting, and useful. The format was engaging and interactive, and it moved at a smart pace (I didn't doze off once). The instructor (Arlen) clearly put a lot of effort into preparing the course material/resources. I would definitely recommend.
Key Details
A unique A-CSPO course taught by a highly engaging agile product management expert
Live and Interactive
This live online workshop is based on two and a half decades of lean and agile experience by a lauded entrepreneur and presenter with deep user experience and product management experience.
- You utilize a variety of custom-built tools and techniques while learning about the mechanisms behind each.
- You leave ready to use these tools in your own environment.
Engaging and Practical
- Explore real-world scenarios and case studies
- Participate in deep simulation and engaging games
- Hear stories from the instructor’s agile consulting and leadership experience
- See how tools like the ones used in class can also be used in product development to both create and communicate a vision and the details to get there
- Leave ready to advance your product development through pragmatic tips and stories from the instructor’s 25 years consulting experience, as well as learning from often equally experienced fellow students.
Deep and Customized
The result is like a private consulting experience, just more fun.
We assesses personal situations and dynamically reorient towards creating practical paths forward for each participant. As such, to get maximum benefit and to receive the certification you should have a minimum of one year’s experience in a product role.
Grow Your Career, Grow Your Organization
What You Learn
The samples shown below have embedded exercises. You are seeing the result. Most topics start with an exercise followed by deep discussion and problem solving.
Develop a Product Mindset
Develop a Product Mindset
Think Like a Product OwnerA successful PO is open-minded, thoughtful, and collaborative, prioritizing learning through research and experimentation.
Per the "Darth Vader" exercise sample, we examine the evil, but common, dysfunctional behaviors that PO's exhibit. This helps you reflect and improve your approach.
Improve Your Soft SkillsLearn to hone your active listening, facilitate (yes, PO's need to facilitate) and apply collaborative decision-making to harness the collective intelligence of diverse stakeholders
Discover Market Segments
Discover Market Segments
Understand Potential CustomersLearn how to systematically engage with potential customers to uncover unmet needs and pain points through various techniques including structured interviews, surveys, website analytics and user observation.
Find Your FocusIf you try to make your product right for everyone, it won't serve anyone. The example exercise is used to learn about segmenting customers with shared characteristics so you can tailor your product to them.
Create an Effective Strategy
Create an Effective Strategy
Understand Product Market FitThe sample canvas builds on the Lean Canvas™. We start with an exercise of growing our ice cream shop with custom flavors. Through this engaging activity you understand how to validate customer needs and assess product market fit for your different customer segments .
Develop Product StrategiesWe review several additional tools for developing a coherent strategy, including positioning statements, story maps, and experience maps.
Define the Details
Define the Details
Induct from the Bottom UpThe sample learning material is from our FLUID™ meta-model. A PO uses FLUID™ to discover, prioritize and plan product development. Step 4 of the model provides guidance on induction, working from the bottom up, to add to and change our plans while validating and adjusting our strategy. W
View Details from Different AnglesWith induction, we look at happy and unhappy paths, and create test scenarios that cover the various ways users can interact with your product.
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.
Use your mouse wheel, or finger to choose a discount, then click on it.
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.
What You Learn
Key learning areas in the Advanced-CSPO
Facing a hardship?
We’re offering extra support.
When we lift each other up, we all rise to new heights
We have heard from many students about their challenges with job loss and the fear of it.
We have expanded our discounts from now through March 15, 2026, to help you keep moving forward.
Deep discounts are available for:
- Students, Vets, Active Military
- Groups and Not-Profit-Organizations
- Individuals facing financial hardship
Browse our upcoming sessions, pick a session, and select the “Discounts” link to apply.
Let’s navigate this journey together.
Exclusive Bonus - One on One Coaching
60 minutes with agile expert Arlen Bankston or David Bulkin
To ensure transformative value beyond certification, we are offering an exclusive bonus a complimentary 60-minute, one-on-one coaching session to the first 10 registrants of each session.
This will help you translate your newly acquired knowledge into actionable strategies for your team, your organization and yourself.
Secure your spot now and seize this unique opportunity to work directly with an industry expert.
No Outside Work Required
Get Certified by taking the class
Earn your certification in a 100% live, online class, with no additional / outside work required. We do ask that you read the Scrum Guide which is at most 30 minutes of time.
The class has 20 exercises followed by discussion and reflection about real-world opportunities and challenges.
Avoid offline study and low interaction training by signing up today.
Love it or Learn Again
for Free Guarantee™
Ensure Your Quality
Want more value from the session we will work with you to make it happen with options including a free retake and/or one-on-one support.
Get the best quality training from a provider you can trust.
What You Get
Everything you need to take your product management journey to the next step.
Earning Your Certification
The Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO)
At present there is no examination required to achieve the Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) Certification. Taking the session earns your A-CSPO if you meet the requirements outlined below.
- Attend at least 14 hours of class time.
- Have a Scrum Alliance® CSPO Certification.
- Can validate at least 12 months in the role of a Product Owner, or PO Coach over the last five years.
The advanced certification will differentiate you, but more importantly the deep learning will allow you to interview with confidence and apply advanced techniques in the work place.
The A-CSPO also allows you to pursue Certified Scrum Professional Product Owner (CSP-PO) certification, which completes the Path to CSP.
Upgrade and Expand Your Agile Toolbox
Beyond the Basics
The PO role is challenging and misunderstood. We demystify the process and equip you with the strategies to succeed. We draw from decades of experience and provide innovative problem-solving techniques. You leave with new ideas and practical solutions.
This is a trick question. They’re all important, but for different reasons, and require different information to order properly. Making it even more difficult some items fit with, or depend on, others, making prioritization even more difficult. We’ll show you how to balance innovation, iteration and operation work at both a strategic road-map and tactical sprint level, prioritizing each using situationally specific tools.
How do you deal with unplanned mid-Sprint changes?
We’ll practice several techniques from the lean and product management communities for dealing fluidly and systematically with emergency and unplanned work. We’ll also help you prepare for fixed date deliveries, ensure the team has appropriate time to deal with technical debt and process improvements, and show how to avoid both over- and under-committing within the sprint.
Does your Sprint Review fail as a true product feedback loop and put participants to sleep?
It doesn’t have to be this way. Learn some unique tricks for bringing interactivity, life and practical worth to a session that often functions as little more than a status check to turn it into a session where we align and adjust future plans. You will also learn patterns for running large-scale reviews with many interdependent teams.
Why Choose Grow-Lean?
Longest tenured trainers, smaller classes and higher quality.
- Small group of elite, experienced, experts.
- The highest quality for a fair price.
- Caring customer support before and after training.
- Interactive class experience.
- Everything is included. No hidden fees!
- Trainers are practitioners, not talking heads!
- Unique exercises, templates and approaches.
- Small class size so you get personal attention.
Practice Quizzes
There is no certification exam, but these quizzes help reinforce what you learn
There is no exam for your certification, but you can still get significant benefit from our practice quizzes as they help ensure you know the basics so your classroom experience can focus on the big picture.
- The practice quizzes are active learning that increases retention.
- They apply what cognitive science calls retrieval practice.
- Retrieval practice makes learning challenging which helps you remember the material.
If you have time prior to the session use them as a refresher. Or perhaps, during the session you notice some weak spots and review the quizzes post class to fill in the knowledge gaps.
Everything is Included
No surprise fees
Be careful of the company you pick. With Grow-Lean everything is covered including the certification fees, practice exams a free class retake (within 120 days), and you receive additional discounts off of your next session, including the Certified Scrum Professional Product Owner (CSP-PO).
There are no surprise costs when you register or accept your license and we have a user friendly transfer and cancellation policy.
Session Schedule
Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO)
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Mon, 9 Mar to Tue, 10 Mar 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Mon, 16 Mar to Tue, 17 Mar 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Thu, 2 Apr to Fri, 3 Apr 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Thu, 23 Apr to Fri, 24 Apr 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Mon, 27 Apr to Tue, 28 Apr 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Mon, 18 May to Tue, 19 May 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Mon, 8 Jun to Tue, 9 Jun 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Thu, 11 Jun to Fri, 12 Jun 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Mon, 15 Jun to Tue, 16 Jun 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST) Online - 2 days Discounts |
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Mon, 9 Mar 9:30 AM (EST) |
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Tue, 10 Mar 5:30 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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Mon, 16 Mar 9:00 AM (EST) |
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Tue, 17 Mar 5:00 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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Thu, 2 Apr 9:30 AM (EST) |
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Fri, 3 Apr 5:30 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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Thu, 23 Apr 10:00 AM (EST) |
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Fri, 24 Apr 6:00 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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Mon, 27 Apr 10:30 AM (EST) |
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Tue, 28 Apr 6:30 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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Mon, 18 May 9:00 AM (EST) |
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Tue, 19 May 5:00 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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Mon, 8 Jun 9:30 AM (EST) |
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Tue, 9 Jun 5:30 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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Thu, 11 Jun 10:30 AM (EST) |
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Fri, 12 Jun 6:30 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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Mon, 15 Jun 9:00 AM (EST) |
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Tue, 16 Jun 5:00 PM (EST) |
Online - 2 days |
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