Lars Wagner
Verified Expert in Project Management
Project Manager
Brussels, Belgium
Toptal member since September 8, 2023
Lars is an accomplished senior agile coach with various certifications in coaching and Agile management methodologies. He worked as a scrum master and agile and leadership coach in the banking and tech industries, using the OKR, Obeya, Katas, design thinking, LeSS, and SAFe approaches to drive organizational change. Lars excels in coaching senior leaders to thrive personally and become agile professionals, aiding both individuals and organizations in their agile journey.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Agile
- Agile Coaching
- Coaching
- Executive Coaching
- Facilitation
- Lean
- Objectives & Key Results (OKRs)
- Scrum
Work Experience
Senior Agile Coach
Proximus
- Set up an Obeya room, which enabled a 360° view of strategy, portfolio, OKRs, and risks.
- Implemented Agile practices in a product management department focusing on the organizing around the flow principle.
- Used the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) in software design and maturation.
Agile Coach and Senior Leadership Coach
ING Belgium
- Worked with an Obeya approach, getting a 360° view of strategy, portfolio, OKRs, and risks to support continuous improvement and quarterly planning.
- Built high-performing teams through effective facilitation and coaching techniques.
- Introduced OKRs as a management concept, integrating it into an Obeya framework.
Senior Agile Coach
RBC
- Introduced the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) in a new business unit.
- Synchronized the SAFe planning interval (PI) across different Agile Release Trains.
- Trained scrum masters and product owners in the Agile and SAFe methodologies.
Scrum Master and Agile Coach
Proximus
- Implemented the Scrum framework in a pilot project targeting training and facilitation.
- Rolled out Scrum from one team to an entire department.
- Established an Enterprise Scrum (ES) team to implement and scale Scrum and Agile methodologies companywide.
Project History
OKRs Introduction in Business Banking
Introduced OKRs as a leadership system in a business banking department.
In a department with 120 people distributed across 14 teams, I introduced OKRs as a concept. I first trained people on using OKRs and facilitated OKR definitions and follow-ups. This helped gain clarity over the target goals and the current situation.
Obeya Setup in Business Banking
Introduced the concept and usage of an Obeya room as a management system.
By establishing an Obeya room, we achieved a 360° view of strategy, portfolio, OKRs, risks, and impediments. I set up an initial visual Obeya room and established a process for updating data. I also facilitated the ceremonies to make data-based collective decisions.
Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Implementation
Introduced and established the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) in a business unit.
I first trained people in the Agile, Scrum, and SAFe approaches. Then, I established the relevant ceremonies, facilitated the sessions, introduced PI planning, and established continuous improvements, ensuring the teams would become independent and self-sufficient moving forward with the newly established processes and procedures.
Education
Master's Degree in Economics, Business and IT
University of Wuppertal - Wuppertal, Germany
Certifications
Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
International Coaching Federation
Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) Fundamentals
CRR Global
Integral Master Coach
Integral Coaching Canada
Leadership Circle Profile Certification (LCPC)
Leadership Circle
Training from the BACK of the Room Certified Trainer
Bowperson
Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II)
Scrum.org
Certified LeSS Practitioner
The LeSS Company
SAFe Program Consultant
Scaled Agile Inc.
ISTQB Agile Tester Extension
ISTQB — International Software Testing Qualifications Board
PRINCE2 Foundation
APMG International
Lego Strategic Play Facilitator
Strategic Play
Certified Scrum Professional (CSP)
Scrum Alliance
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Scrum Alliance
Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
Scrum Alliance
Skills
Tools
Zoom, Miro, MURAL, Jira
Paradigms
Scrum, Agile, Agile Software Development, Design Thinking, Kanban, Lean, Software Testing, Microservices
Industry Expertise
Banking & Finance, Telecommunications
Platforms
iObeya
Other
Coaching, Training, Agile Coaching, Scaling, Scrum Master, Facilitation, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Mindfulness, Lean Startups, Lean IT, Teams, Operational Assessments, Less, Agile Software Testing, IT Projects, Project Management, Contract Testing, Scrum Coaching, Leadership & Coaching, Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), PI Planning
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