Unfortunately, saying thank you seems to be an afterthought more and more. So at least once a month, I will take a few minutes to publicly appreciate someone that has had an impact on me.
This round: Women Agilists
I hear this sentiment often, “Agile was all men to start.” I can’t speak from 2001-2006. But I thought I would take time to appreciate the women that helped me learn early in my Agile journey (starting in 2007 immediately first year or two). There are even more women later but I wanted to really acknowledge the shoulders that I stand on – that helped invite me in – that challenged me – that supported me directly or indirectly that first couple of years.
It’s crazy because I knew this sentiment was always wrong or at least misleading. But as I started writing out each woman from those early years, I’m now nervous that I’m forgetting someone as I kept thinking of more and more. Maybe I just sought out these voices, which would make sense but for me, but women agilists have always been present and powerful in this community. Yes, always more but I want to appreciate their impact to where I stand today.
And to still keep this post short, I’m just going to list names and not an individual statement for each person here. But please know that as I thought of them… I thought of a session, a book, a conversation, a memory that stays with me all these years. Also, they are not listed in any particular order…
- Jean Tabeka, Pollyanna Pixton, Pat Reed, Rebecca Wirs Brock, Rebecca Larson, Linda Cook, Mary Poppendieck, Deborah Preuss, Gabrielle Benefield, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Lisa Crispin, Janet Gregory, Jutta Eckstein, Michelle Sliger, Esther Derby, Diana Larsen, Lyssa Adkins, Linda Rising, Johanna Rothman, Ellen Gottesdiener, Laurie Williams, and Ainsley Nies.
I may just keep updating this post as another amazing early woman pops into my memory of their impact and influence. I am so grateful. I hope that I have continued to pay forward as more women continue to make an enormous difference in this world.