Agile Career Progression

As a Supply Chain HR, I often ask candidates the classic question: “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” It’s a staple of interviewing. But recently, a candidate for a Demand Planning role gave an answer that completely reframed my thinking. He paused and said, “Honestly, a rigid 5-year plan feels like a long-range forecast in a volatile market—bound to be inaccurate. I prefer to think of my career like an S&OP cycle. I have a strategic direction, but I review and pivot quarterly based on new 'demand signals'—like emerging tech, industry needs, and my own learning.” This was a profound moment for me. It perfectly captured the shift we’re all experiencing. The era of a linear career path is over. We can't just climb a pre-defined ladder anymore. The data supports this: the half-life of a professional skill is now estimated to be just five years. The expertise that makes us valuable today could be half as relevant by 2030. That conversation taught me that the most promising professionals don’t have a map; they have a compass and the agility to navigate. It changed how I look for talent. My key takeaways were: ↳ Build a Portfolio, Not Just a Path: Focus on acquiring a diverse portfolio of capabilities rather than chasing a single title. What skills are you adding to your toolkit this quarter? ↳ Embrace Agile Planning: Your career requires constant recalibration. Are you actively seeking feedback and scanning the horizon for the "AI in planning" of tomorrow to adjust your course? ↳ Nurture Your Network: In a system defined by change, our professional relationships are our most reliable supply lines for insights, support, and opportunities. That candidate didn’t just answer a question; he demonstrated a mindset. It’s a reminder that our greatest professional asset isn’t our current plan, but our ability to replan.

Your most valuable skill isn't what you know. It's how quickly you learn what you don't. It's too easy to get stuck in your career by mistaking time in role for expertise. Years of experience mean little if you stop growing, challenging yourself, and embracing new ways of thinking. It happened to me. Don't let it be you. Here are five principles to keep your career accelerating: 1. Embrace the beginner's mindset. Even as you gain experience, stay humble and relentlessly curious. Always be open to new perspectives. → Ask clarifying questions (especially the "dumb" ones). → Challenge your own assumptions first. → Stay open-minded, resist the pull of cynicism. The most successful people are lifelong learners. 2. Make learning a deliberate habit. Your growth is your responsibility. Don't wait for your company to hand it to you (they often won't prioritise it like you will). → Block out dedicated learning time. → Set specific, achievable learning goals. → Share your insights (teaching solidifies learning). An hour a day of focused learning is a powerful antidote to career stagnation. 3. Actively step outside your comfort zone. Break through plateaus by tackling challenges that stretch your current abilities. → Volunteer for new types of projects. → Systematically acquire complementary skills. → Start before you feel 100% ready (you never will be). If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. Keep pushing. 4. Continuously evolve your thinking. Don't cling to old methods just because they were once effective. → Regularly question established "best practices." → Adapt swiftly when new information emerges. → Be genuinely curious about new tech and approaches. What got you here won't necessarily get you there. 5. Turn knowledge into tangible impact. Action transforms knowledge into experience. → Apply what you learn immediately by creating. → Use side projects as a sandbox for new skills. → Teach others what you know (it deepens your understanding). Don't just consume. Create. Apply. Iterate. Remember: Never stop learning, growing, and stretching yourself. What are you actively learning right now? Share what you're working on in the comments. ♻️ Repost to help someone accelerate their career. ➕ Follow me, Owain Lewis to stay in touch.

One-size-fits-all career paths are dead. For decades, companies have clung to rigid career ladders with generic training programs and predictable promotions. But in today's economy, where our workforce spans more generations, backgrounds, and aspirations than ever, why are we still forcing everyone down the same narrow hallway? Personalized career development plans are good for business. Here's why: ➡️ Higher employee engagement (people actually give a damn about their work) ➡️ Lower attrition rates (goodbye expensive turnover) ➡️ Increased productivity (people working in their zone of genius) Yet most organizations still treat career growth like a standardized test instead of the messy, beautiful, individual journey it actually is. In #HumanizingHumanCapital, Dr. Solange Charas and I push for a fundamental mindset shift: careers should bend to fit employees, not the other way around. Here's how to actually build personalized progression that works: 1️⃣ Demolish the time-based barriers. "Put in X years to earn Y title" is dinosaur thinking. Let employees move up, sideways, pause, or create entirely new paths based on skills and interests. The org chart should be a suggestion, not a prison. 2️⃣ Use people analytics to understand what makes each employee tick. Use technology to map potential career paths by matching actual humans with growth opportunities based on their unique skills and aspirations - not just filling boxes on an org chart. 3️⃣ Ditch the annual performance review with vague "growth goals." Replace it with regular conversations centered on three simple questions: Where do you want to go? What do you need to get there? How can we help? Then actually listen to the answers. The hard truth? Today's talent doesn't really want a rigid predefined ladder. They want a general outline where they can build their own path. Companies that recognize this shift will develop agile, engaged workforces while everyone else wonders why they can't keep people. Is your organization still handing out identical career maps to unique individuals? If so - what's really stopping you from changing? #CareerDevelopment #EmployeeExperience

The Chicken or the Egg Debate Is Over, but Your Agile Career Has Just Begun Earlier today I was asked a question that many aspiring SMs, POs, RTEs, and other Agile practitioners struggle with: "How can I get a job without experience when I can’t get experience without a job?" It was presented as an unsolvable paradox - the classic "chicken or the egg" dilemma. But ironically, the solution is recognizing that this isn’t a paradox at all. The egg came first. Science has spoken. That's it. Debate over. Long before the modern chicken existed, its evolutionary ancestors were laying eggs. At some point, a mutation occurred in one of those eggs, and the first true chicken hatched. So why do people still think there’s a debate? Because they’re asking the wrong question. And if you’re stuck in the “no experience, no job” loop, chances are, you’re doing the same. The Agile Job Market is Evolutionary The idea that you need a job to gain experience is outdated. Careers don’t progress in perfectly linear steps, especially Agile careers. Experience is an evolving process. The egg (practical exposure) comes first. The chicken (formal role) follows. Always in that sequence. Don't wait for an employer to give you experience. Start incubating your egg right now. Create opportunities. Build Experience Without the Job Volunteer: If you work in an Agile organization, get involved. Politely insert yourself. You don’t need a title to help facilitate PI Planning; support ART events; or assist in managing epics, features, or backlog refinement. That's hands-on experience, even if your job description doesn’t officially include it. Join Agile Communities: Engage with like-minded professionals. Attend meetups, Lean Coffee sessions, or conferences. Join LinkedIn groups and Slack communities for Agile practitioners. Shadow experienced SMs, RTEs, and SPCs. Active participation shows your commitment and exposes you to real-world challenges, solutions, and... hiring managers. Contribute: You don’t have to be a "recognized" expert to post your thoughts. Share insights, write about what you're learning, and engage with Agilists online. Documenting your journey may help establish credibility. Create Your Own Experience: Organize a PI Planning simulation with peers. Practice backlog refinement and sprint planning in a study group or with AI. Master Jira, Rally, or Azure DevOps by tracking personal tasks or mock work items. Showing initiative makes a difference. The Market Rewards Adaptation Careers, like evolution, favor those who adapt. Employers aren’t looking exclusively for candidates with the right job title. They’re looking for those who can demonstrate real-world understanding of Agile principles and practical experience. If you’re waiting for a formal job to validate your abilities, you’re looking at it backwards. Start by doing the work, and the role will follow. In other words, start incubating your egg now. The right Agile role will, ahem… hatch.

Gone are the days when climbing the corporate ladder from the bottom up was the only way to achieve career success. Today, there are countless ways to grow your career beyond the traditional route. I’ve navigated various paths myself, from making lateral moves and starting a side business to diving into the gig economy and taking a career break. While each direction is unique, they’ve all helped me build a career that aligns with my own goals and values. Here are a few ways careers can go in all directions: 🔄 Lateral Moves: Instead of just chasing promotions, consider moving sideways to acquire new skills, explore different roles, or shift industries within your current organization. ⬇️ Entrepreneurship: If starting your own business or side hustle excites you, you can pursue these opportunities alongside your current job for personal fulfillment and financial independence. ⬆️ Portfolio Careers: Manage a mix of part-time, freelance, or consulting roles across various fields to create a diverse and flexible career. ➡️ Remote and Freelance Work: Embrace remote work and the gig economy to collaborate with multiple clients or employers, offering you flexibility and varied income streams. ⬅️ Skill-Based Paths: Focus on building and mastering specific skills rather than aiming for traditional job titles. Choose roles and projects that align with your expertise and passions. ↪️ Global Opportunities: Take advantage of international career opportunities, such as working abroad, collaborating with global teams, or serving international clients. 🔀 Nonlinear Progression: Careers no longer need to follow a strict upward trajectory. It’s perfectly fine to take breaks, focus on family, pursue further education, or make unconventional moves that fit your personal and professional goals. No matter where your career journey takes you, remember that it should reflect your passions and aspirations. You have the power to define success on your own terms. -- -- -- -- -- -- If you’re ready to explore these options and navigate your career path with confidence, I’m here to help! Sign up for personalized coaching to gain clarity, set goals, and create a plan that fits your unique journey. DM me "DIRECTIONS" or visit the link at the top of my profile!