The Five Most Popular Talks and Workshops
15 February 2024
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Scott M. Graffius is an Agile project management practitioner, consultant, thinker, creator, award-winning author, and international public speaker. Content from his books, talks, and more have been featured and used by Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Project Management Institute, IEEE, National Academy of Sciences, Yale University, Adobe, Torrens University Australia, UK Sports Institute, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Boston University, Bayer, Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Galway Ireland, United States National Park Service, and others.
Conference organizers, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities invite him to speak on topics at the intersection of Agile Project Management, Business, and Technology. To date, Graffius has presented talks and workshops at 89 conferences and other events across 25 countries. He uses everyday language and vibrant custom content to make complex topics clear and understandable, and he provides audiences with practical information they can use. His sessions are highly rated by attendees and organizers alike.
The top five talks and workshop topics are highlighted next.
High Performance Teams
High Performance Teams is first on the list. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. The following provides a general overview.
Strategic Alignment
Strategic Alignment is second on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
Agile
Agile is third on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
AI Development
Successful AI Development is fourth on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
Video Game Development
Successful Video Game Development is fifth on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
Those are the top five topics for talks and workshops.
Before concluding this article, we’ll also point out a new topic which is becoming increasingly popular. It’s “Agile for Unicorns.” This session is limited to corporate events for privately-held companies valued at US $1 billion or more. To learn more, check out the information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Agile-for-Unicorns---v24012907.pdf.
Visit Scott’s Public Speaker page for a detailed listing of events, testimonials, and more.
Scott speaks around the world. To book him for your conference or other event, complete a speaker engagement request form or email him.
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, thinker, creator, multi-award-winning author, and international public speaker. Founder and CEO of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™, he has generated over $1.9 billion for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, Yale University, Tufts University, and others. He delights audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile project management, AI, Tech leadership, video game development, strategic alignment, the science of high performance teams, and more. To date, he's presented sessions at 89 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
Connect with Scott on:
About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Scott M. Graffius's award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps the reader:
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
About Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
© Copyright 2024 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Scott M. Graffius is an Agile project management practitioner, consultant, thinker, creator, award-winning author, and international public speaker. Content from his books, talks, and more have been featured and used by Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Project Management Institute, IEEE, National Academy of Sciences, Yale University, Adobe, Torrens University Australia, UK Sports Institute, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Boston University, Bayer, Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Galway Ireland, United States National Park Service, and others.
Conference organizers, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities invite him to speak on topics at the intersection of Agile Project Management, Business, and Technology. To date, Graffius has presented talks and workshops at 89 conferences and other events across 25 countries. He uses everyday language and vibrant custom content to make complex topics clear and understandable, and he provides audiences with practical information they can use. His sessions are highly rated by attendees and organizers alike.
The top five talks and workshop topics are highlighted next.
High Performance Teams
High Performance Teams is first on the list. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. The following provides a general overview.
- Title: Talks or workshops on High Performance Teams may be called “Navigate the Phases of Team Development with Speed and Agility” or “Want Happier and More Productive Teams?” or another title.
- Description: Help your teams go farther, faster! Perhaps you’re heard about the phases of team development: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. But are you aware of the unique behaviors specific to each phase? What exactly should you do during each phase to help the team (Agile or otherwise) tackle challenges, make progress, and become successful? If you are a leader (or aspire to be one), a member of a team (or may be in one in the future), or are just looking to develop your skills, this talk (with a fresh angle: 0% theory, 100% real-world-based) will give you a practical framework with actionable tips for working in and leading teams successfully. You'll learn about the five phases—Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning—including detailed descriptions of each along with proven strategies for addressing challenges or issues which may occur along the way. You'll understand how to use the model to your advantage by effectively navigating all of the phases with speed and agility, from team set-up to the after-party! The presentation draws on the speaker’s first-hand, real-world experience, with his guidance supported by additional research, recommendations, and coverage from the Project Management Institute, IEEE, Google, NASA, and others.
- Key learning benefits: This talk will help you develop and enhance the contributions you make to your organization by being able to: (1) Understand the five stages of team development: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. (2) Learn the characteristics of each phase. (3) Apply proven strategies to help handle challenges or issues experienced by the team. By doing so, you'll advance the team's happiness, productivity, and success.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Team-Development---v24012907.pdf.
Strategic Alignment
Strategic Alignment is second on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
- Title: Talks or workshops on Strategic Alignment may be called “10 Ways to Score and Prioritize Project Proposals Based on Multiple Factors, Including Strategic Alignment” or “10 Ways to Achieve and Sustain Strategic Alignment” or another title.
- Description: How does your organization assess proposals for new projects? Is there a well-defined scoring and prioritization process—based on alignment with the business’ strategic objectives and other key factors—to quickly and easily identify the objective value of each proposal (including how important it is relative to other initiatives)? If the answer is “no,” keep reading. If the answer is “yes,” you are likely to find practical information and examples in this talk to adapt and adopt to improve the process at your organization.
- Key learning benefits: This talk will help you develop and enhance the contributions you make to your organization by being able to: (1) Understand the benefits of scoring and prioritizing project proposals based on strategic alignment and other key factors. (2) Identify selection and prioritization criteria appropriate for your unique organization, leveraging the flexible framework and some or all of the 10 factors presented during the talk. (3) Put the practical, actionable information presented to use. During the session, we will run an example project proposal through the process, step-by-step. And you will receive a summary "cheat sheet" digital download that you can reference as a guide to help implement or improve this process at your organization.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---10-Ways-Strategic-Alignment---v24012907.pdf.
Agile
Agile is third on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
- Title: Talks or workshops on Agile may be called “Are You Realizing All the Benefits from Agile?” or “Agile Scrum Helps Innovators, Disruptors, and Entrepreneurs Develop and Deliver Products at Astounding Speed Which Drives Competitive Advantage” or another title.
- Description: Organizations are increasingly embracing Agile to best meet their shifting business needs and successfully manage projects. Potential business benefits from Agile include faster delivery and ROI, rapid response to change, higher satisfaction, and continuous improvement. All of which supports innovation and helps drive competitive advantage. Are you realizing all of the benefits? This session will cover the full lifecycle of the most popular Agile approach, Scrum. You will be presented with practical information including top factors from successful implementations—based on the speaker's first-hand experience and 116 sources, including the PMI, IEEE, Google, Agile Alliance, and others—you can use to gain more benefits from Agile.
- Key learning benefits: How you will benefit: (1) Gain a high-level understanding of the Scrum framework-from vision through release. (2) Learn the roles, responsibilities, tools, and techniques unique to Scrum. (3) All of which are inclusive of top factors from successful implementations, which you can put to use to help you get more benefits from Agile.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Agile-Benefits---v24012907.pdf.
AI Development
Successful AI Development is fourth on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
- Title: Talks or workshops on Successful AI Development may be called “What Successful AI Development Teams Have in Common” or “Fueling the Development of Innovative and Life-Changing AI Solutions” or another title.
- Description: Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a transformative force across a growing number of industries, revolutionizing how we live, work, and interact. From improved medical diagnoses to self-driving cars, and more, AI systems have become integral to our daily lives. Behind these cutting-edge, life-changing solutions are AI teams with a combination of skills. This session reveals exactly how the fusion of technical skills and soft skills within AI teams fuels the successful development of innovative and effective solutions. Informed by “In the AI era, soft skills are the new hard skills” (from Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on Business), “Soft skills are becoming a key focus” (from Computerworld), “Don’t underestimate the power of a team dynamic – your product becomes the result of it” (from Microsoft), and “Competencies like teamwork are crucial” (from MIT), this talk also delivers a deep-dive on essential team development skills based on the science of high-performing teams. Scott’s talk draws from his work with AI development teams as well as research and coverage from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, Google, IBM, IEEE, Microsoft, Software Engineering Institute, and many others. The usable information can provide you, your teams, and your organization with a competitive advantage.
- Key learning benefits: How you will benefit: (1) Understand technical skills and soft skills leveraged by successful AI teams to develop innovative and effective solutions. (2) Understand the essential team development skills based on the science of high-performing teams. (3) Understand specific techniques including how to apply them to advance the happiness, productivity, and success of teams.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---AI---v24012907.pdf.
Video Game Development
Successful Video Game Development is fifth on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
- Title: Talks or workshops on Successful Video Game Development may be called “The Science of High-Performance Video Game Development Teams” or “Level-Up Your Team: Science-Backed Strategies for High-Performance Video Game Development” or another title.
- Description: Behind every great video game is a team of creative and technical wizards. Creators, storytellers, designers, artists, developers, testers, and others collaborate and leverage a diverse range of hard skills (also known as technical skills) and soft skills (also known as interpersonal skills) to craft an exceptional end-product. Of the many skills, one — a soft skill — is paramount. Activision Blizzard and other premiere developers and publishers of entertainment experiences identify teamwork as critical for the successful development of video games. Informed by Scott’s first-hand work with video game development teams as well as research and coverage from Activision Blizzard, Gameloft, International Game Developers Association, Microsoft, Rockstar Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Ubisoft, and others, this talk delivers a deep-dive on the essential teamwork skill based on the science of high- performing teams. The information can provide you, your teams, and your organization with a competitive advantage!
- Key learning benefits: How you will benefit: (1) Understand that a confluence of both hard skills and soft skills (notably, teamwork) are crucial. (2) Learn the five phases of team development and recognize the identifiable characteristics of each phase. (3) Learn how to apply strategies to improve teams' efficacy, happiness, and success.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Video-Game-Development---v24012907.pdf.
Those are the top five topics for talks and workshops.
Before concluding this article, we’ll also point out a new topic which is becoming increasingly popular. It’s “Agile for Unicorns.” This session is limited to corporate events for privately-held companies valued at US $1 billion or more. To learn more, check out the information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Agile-for-Unicorns---v24012907.pdf.
Visit Scott’s Public Speaker page for a detailed listing of events, testimonials, and more.
Scott speaks around the world. To book him for your conference or other event, complete a speaker engagement request form or email him.
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, thinker, creator, multi-award-winning author, and international public speaker. Founder and CEO of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™, he has generated over $1.9 billion for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, Yale University, Tufts University, and others. He delights audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile project management, AI, Tech leadership, video game development, strategic alignment, the science of high performance teams, and more. To date, he's presented sessions at 89 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
Connect with Scott on:
About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Scott M. Graffius's award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile frameworkโScrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- ๐ง๐ท Brazil
- ๐จ๐ฆ Canada
- ๐จ๐ฟ Czech Republic
- ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark
- ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland
- ๐ซ๐ท France
- ๐ฉ๐ช Germany
- ๐ฌ๐ท Greece
- ๐ญ๐บ Hungary
- ๐ฎ๐ณ India
- ๐ฎ๐ช Ireland
- ๐ฎ๐ฑ Israel
- ๐ฎ๐น Italy
- ๐ฏ๐ต Japan
- ๐ฑ๐บ Luxembourg
- ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico
- ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands
- ๐ณ๐ฟ New Zealand
- ๐ณ๐ด Norway
- ๐ช๐ธ Spain
- ๐ธ๐ช Sweden
- ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland
- ๐ฆ๐ช UAE
- ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom
- ๐บ๐ธ United States
- ๐ More countries
About Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- ๐ฆ๐บ Australia
- ๐ฆ๐น Austria
- ๐ง๐ท Brazil
- ๐จ๐ฆ Canada
- ๐จ๐ฟ Czech Republic
- ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark
- ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland
- ๐ซ๐ท France
- ๐ฉ๐ช Germany
- ๐ฌ๐ท Greece
- ๐ฎ๐ณ India
- ๐ฎ๐ช Ireland
- ๐ฏ๐ต Japan
- ๐ฑ๐บ Luxembourg
- ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico
- ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands
- ๐ณ๐ฟ New Zealand
- ๐ช๐ธ Spain
- ๐ธ๐ช Sweden
- ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland
- ๐ฆ๐ช United Arab Emirates
- ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom
- ๐บ๐ธ United States
- ๐ More countries
© Copyright 2024 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Agile for Unicorns: 7 Keys to Thrive; Scott M. Graffius’ Workshop
16 June 2025
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Introduction
Scott M. Graffius—a globally recognized technology leader, award-winning author, and sought-after international speaker—has inspired audiences at conferences and other events across 25 countries. In his 94th session, “Agile for Unicorns,” delivered on 16 June 2025, he unveiled powerful strategies for privately-held startups valued at $1 billion or more to thrive in high-stakes environments. This article shares select highlights from that transformative session, while the complete set of detailed strategies and actionable guidance is available through his workshop.
Unicorns—private startups valued at $1 billion or more—face unique challenges in applying Agile. While Agile’s core values remain essential, the high-stakes world of unicorns—characterized by rapid growth, constant change, and intense investor pressure—demands tailored approaches. To succeed, unicorns must adapt Agile principles to their dynamic environment without compromising its core values.
Unicorns Must Tailor Their Agile Implementation Across Seven Areas for Maximum Impact
โ 1. Hypergrowth Dynamics
Unicorns typically operate in a hypergrowth environment, where:
Why it matters: Agile implementations can falter under rapid expansion. For example, a unicorn doubling its engineering team in six months may outgrow Scrum. To stay effective, Agile must scale quickly—using frameworks like Scrum of Scrums, SAFe, or other models—while avoiding bureaucracy that stifles innovation.
โ 2. Innovation vs. Execution Balance
Agile prioritizes iterative delivery, but unicorns must balance relentless innovation with:
Why it matters: Unicorns often need hybrid approaches—blending Agile with Lean Startup or Design Thinking—to balance creativity with consistent execution. Innovation cannot come at the cost of stability, and vice versa.
โ 3. Distributed and Multidisciplinary Teams
As unicorns grow, they often become globally distributed with cross-functional teams spanning:
Why it matters: Agile ceremonies and tools must adapt to and support distributed teams. Implement asynchronous standups, timezone-aware planning, and collaborative virtual kanban boards to stay aligned. Prioritize culture, trust, and clarity to bridge distances.
โ 4. Founder-Driven Culture
Many unicorns are deeply influenced by their founders, who may be visionary but resistant to processes.
Why it matters: Agile must resonate with the founder’s vision. Agile isn’t about enforcing processes; it’s about amplifying innovation and customer focus. Leaders and coaches must frame Agile as a catalyst for speed and creativity, or it risks being dismissed as bureaucratic red tape.
โ 5. Technical Debt Accumulation
Speed often wins in the early days. But fast delivery can leave behind a trail of:
Why it matters: Teams must integrate regular refactoring, solid Definition of Done criteria, and other best practices to maintain sustainable velocity. Agile isn't just about just speed; it's about sustaining a good pace and going far.
โ 6. Constant Change (Teams, Tools, Markets)
High turnover, rapid team scaling, evolving markets, and tool churn can mean:
Why it matters: Agile frameworks must be resilient to flux. Use modular team structures, continuous backlog refinement, and flexible planning cadences. The goal is stability within change, not avoidance of change.
โ 7. Metrics and Outcomes Obsession
Unicorns are usually data-obsessed and under constant pressure to demonstrate business impact.
Why it matters: Agile teams should align sprint goals with measurable outcomes—not just story points. Track metrics like:
Delivering business value must become a shared goal across all Agile teams.
Conclusion
Agile isn’t just possible in unicorns—it’s essential. But thriving at scale requires a tailored and evolved approach for:
Unicorns should be resilient, adaptable, and strong enough to withstand storms while supporting rapid, towering growth. Want to supercharge your unicorn’s agility? Bring in Scott M. Graffius for his “Agile for Unicorns” interactive workshop and unlock:
Complete a speaker engagement request form or email Graffius.
More
Continue reading for:
Scott M. Graffius has Delivered Talks and Workshops at 84 Conferences and Other Events Across 25 Countries
Scott M. Graffius—a globally recognized technology leader, award-winning author, and sought-after international speaker—has inspired audiences at conferences and other events. Including his “Agile for Unicorns” workshop on 16 June 2025, he's delivered 94 sessions across 25 countries.
The 25 countries include: Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
๏ฟผHis 94 sessions are detailed here and summarized next (most recent shown first).
Graffius uses everyday language and vibrant custom content to make complex topics clear and understandable, and he provides audiences with practical information they can use. His sessions are highly rated by attendees and organizers alike.
Committed to giving back, Graffius delivers a set amount of work pro bono (no charge) to non-profits and charities.
Visit https://scottgraffius.com/publicspeaker.html for details, including a listing of prior and upcoming engagements, testimonials, his rate card, booking information, and more.
Booking inquiries: Complete a speaker engagement request form or email Graffius.
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is an AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leader, researcher, author, and speaker. Along the way, he spearheaded initiatives that have generated over $2.3 billion in impact for organizations across tech, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and beyond. The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. To date, Graffius has conducted 94 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.
The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Protocol Book | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email
Introduction
Scott M. Graffius—a globally recognized technology leader, award-winning author, and sought-after international speaker—has inspired audiences at conferences and other events across 25 countries. In his 94th session, “Agile for Unicorns,” delivered on 16 June 2025, he unveiled powerful strategies for privately-held startups valued at $1 billion or more to thrive in high-stakes environments. This article shares select highlights from that transformative session, while the complete set of detailed strategies and actionable guidance is available through his workshop.
Unicorns—private startups valued at $1 billion or more—face unique challenges in applying Agile. While Agile’s core values remain essential, the high-stakes world of unicorns—characterized by rapid growth, constant change, and intense investor pressure—demands tailored approaches. To succeed, unicorns must adapt Agile principles to their dynamic environment without compromising its core values.
Unicorns Must Tailor Their Agile Implementation Across Seven Areas for Maximum Impact
โ 1. Hypergrowth Dynamics
Unicorns typically operate in a hypergrowth environment, where:
- Teams scale rapidly,
- Product lines expand quickly, and
- Market demands shift frequently.
Why it matters: Agile implementations can falter under rapid expansion. For example, a unicorn doubling its engineering team in six months may outgrow Scrum. To stay effective, Agile must scale quickly—using frameworks like Scrum of Scrums, SAFe, or other models—while avoiding bureaucracy that stifles innovation.
โ 2. Innovation vs. Execution Balance
Agile prioritizes iterative delivery, but unicorns must balance relentless innovation with:
- Delivering reliable product updates, and
- Meeting board and investor expectations for growth and stability.
Why it matters: Unicorns often need hybrid approaches—blending Agile with Lean Startup or Design Thinking—to balance creativity with consistent execution. Innovation cannot come at the cost of stability, and vice versa.
โ 3. Distributed and Multidisciplinary Teams
As unicorns grow, they often become globally distributed with cross-functional teams spanning:
- Engineering,
- Product, and
- Marketing,
- And more.
Why it matters: Agile ceremonies and tools must adapt to and support distributed teams. Implement asynchronous standups, timezone-aware planning, and collaborative virtual kanban boards to stay aligned. Prioritize culture, trust, and clarity to bridge distances.
โ 4. Founder-Driven Culture
Many unicorns are deeply influenced by their founders, who may be visionary but resistant to processes.
Why it matters: Agile must resonate with the founder’s vision. Agile isn’t about enforcing processes; it’s about amplifying innovation and customer focus. Leaders and coaches must frame Agile as a catalyst for speed and creativity, or it risks being dismissed as bureaucratic red tape.
โ 5. Technical Debt Accumulation
Speed often wins in the early days. But fast delivery can leave behind a trail of:
- Technical debt,
- Fragile architectures, and
- Lack of scalability.
Why it matters: Teams must integrate regular refactoring, solid Definition of Done criteria, and other best practices to maintain sustainable velocity. Agile isn't just about just speed; it's about sustaining a good pace and going far.
โ 6. Constant Change (Teams, Tools, Markets)
High turnover, rapid team scaling, evolving markets, and tool churn can mean:
- Frequent reorganizations,
- Goal pivots, and
- Shifting team dynamics.
Why it matters: Agile frameworks must be resilient to flux. Use modular team structures, continuous backlog refinement, and flexible planning cadences. The goal is stability within change, not avoidance of change.
โ 7. Metrics and Outcomes Obsession
Unicorns are usually data-obsessed and under constant pressure to demonstrate business impact.
Why it matters: Agile teams should align sprint goals with measurable outcomes—not just story points. Track metrics like:
- Experimentation velocity (e.g., A/B test frequency),
- Conversion uplift (e.g., user sign-up rates),
- Time-to-market (e.g., feature release cycles), and
- Customer retention (e.g., churn rate).
Delivering business value must become a shared goal across all Agile teams.
Conclusion
Agile isn’t just possible in unicorns—it’s essential. But thriving at scale requires a tailored and evolved approach for:
- Scale without rigidity;
- Fast without chaos;
- Vision-aligned, yet customer-driven; and
- Disciplined, but never at the expense of innovation.
Unicorns should be resilient, adaptable, and strong enough to withstand storms while supporting rapid, towering growth. Want to supercharge your unicorn’s agility? Bring in Scott M. Graffius for his “Agile for Unicorns” interactive workshop and unlock:
- Actionable insights to enhance team performance;
- Tailored tools for sustainable, scalable agility; and
- A visionary roadmap to align strategy and innovation with execution.
Complete a speaker engagement request form or email Graffius.
More
Continue reading for:
- Scott M. Graffius has Delivered Talks and Workshops at 84 Conferences and Other Events Across 25 Countries,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.
Scott M. Graffius has Delivered Talks and Workshops at 84 Conferences and Other Events Across 25 Countries
Scott M. Graffius—a globally recognized technology leader, award-winning author, and sought-after international speaker—has inspired audiences at conferences and other events. Including his “Agile for Unicorns” workshop on 16 June 2025, he's delivered 94 sessions across 25 countries.
The 25 countries include: Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
๏ฟผHis 94 sessions are detailed here and summarized next (most recent shown first).
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
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- ๐ฑ๐น DevDays Europe 2024 Conference
- ๐ฆ๐ช Private event
- ๐ซ๐ท Private event
- ๐ซ๐ฎ W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference - Helsinki
- ๐ฌ๐ง Conf42 Quantum Computing Conference
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
- ๐บ๐ธ DevOps Institute's SKILup Day
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- ๐จ๐ญ DevOpsDays Geneva Conference
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- ๐บ๐ธ Microsoft 365 Virtual Marathon Conference
- ๐จ๐ฆ BSides Vancouver Cybersecurity Conference
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
- ๐ณ๐ต Agile Nepal Conference
- ๐บ๐ธ D.C. Cybersecurity Professionals
- ๐ฎ๐ช Ireland Chapter of PMI
- ๐ฌ๐ท Greece Chapter of PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ California Inland Empire Chapter of PMI
- ๐ฌ๐ง Private event
- ๐ญ๐บ Budapest Chapter of PMI
- ๐ฆ๐บ Private event
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- ๐ฉ๐ช Microsoft Teams Community Day
- ๐บ๐ธ Delaware Valley Chapter of PMI
- ๐ฆ๐ช UAE Chapter of PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
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- ๐บ๐ธ DevOps Experience Conference
- ๐ฆ๐ฒ Frug'Agile Conference Armenia
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
- ๐บ๐ธ IEEE Day
- ๐ง๐ท Private event
- ๐ฌ๐ง BSides Newcastle England InfoSec Conference
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- ๐ง๐ท Agile Trends Gov Conference
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- ๐บ๐ธ Florida Suncoast Chapter of PMI
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- ๐บ๐ธ Central Virginia Chapter of PMI
- ๐ธ๐ช Private event
- ๐ฑ๐น DevOps Pro Europe Conference
- ๐บ๐ธ Southwest Virginia Chapter of PMI
- ๐ฌ๐ง Private event
- ๐ฑ๐บ Luxembourg Chapter of the Project Management Institute
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- ๐บ๐ธ Monterey Bay Chapter of PMI
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- ๐ณ๐ฟ New Zealand Chapter of PMI
- ๐ฎ๐ช Private event
- ๐บ๐ธ Southern Nevada Chapter of PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ California Institute of Advanced Management
- ๐ฆ๐บ Private event
- ๐ฌ๐ง Scottish Summit
- ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland Chapter of PMI
- ๐จ๐ฆ ConFoo Developer Conference
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
- ๐จ๐ฟ DevConf.CZ Conference
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
- ๐บ๐ธ California Inland Empire Chapter of PMI
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- ๐ฉ๐ช Private event
- ๐บ๐ธ Alaska Chapter of the PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ North Alabama Chapter of PMI
- ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands Chapter of PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
- ๐ฎ๐ณ Microsoft M365 Saturday Coimbatore Conference
- ๐ฌ๐ท IT Pro Dev Connections Conference
- ๐ฎ๐ณ Microsoft Azure Community Conference
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- ๐ซ๐ท Private event
- ๐บ๐ธ Los Angeles Chapter of PMI
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- ๐จ๐ฆ Project World / Business Analyst World
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- ๐บ๐ธ California Inland Empire Chapter of PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ Techstars Startup Week Conference
- ๐บ๐ธ California Central Valley Chapter of PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ Private event
- ๐บ๐ธ California Inland Empire Chapter of PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ California Central Coast Chapter of PMI
- ๐บ๐ธ Los Angeles Chapter of PMI
- ๐ฌ๐ง Private event
Graffius uses everyday language and vibrant custom content to make complex topics clear and understandable, and he provides audiences with practical information they can use. His sessions are highly rated by attendees and organizers alike.
Committed to giving back, Graffius delivers a set amount of work pro bono (no charge) to non-profits and charities.
Visit https://scottgraffius.com/publicspeaker.html for details, including a listing of prior and upcoming engagements, testimonials, his rate card, booking information, and more.
Booking inquiries: Complete a speaker engagement request form or email Graffius.
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is an AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leader, researcher, author, and speaker. Along the way, he spearheaded initiatives that have generated over $2.3 billion in impact for organizations across tech, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and beyond. The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. To date, Graffius has conducted 94 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.
The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Protocol Book | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email
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How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, June 16). Agile for Unicorns: 7 Keys to Thrive; Scott M. Graffius’ Workshop. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-for-unicorns---7-keys-to-thrive---scott-m-graffius-workshop.html. 
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
"Agile for Unicorns" is ™๏ธ and © Scott M. Graffius.
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
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Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Update on 9 September 2025
This article includes: "The goal is stability within change, not avoidance of change." Here's additional information on that excerpt.
"The goal is stability within change, not avoidance of change" means that success isn’t about trying to freeze things in place or avoid change altogether. It’s about maintaining steadiness and focus while change is happening. Stability here doesn’t mean everything stays the same. It means adaptation and progress can occur without losing balance. That’s important because in today’s world, change is constant. Markets shift. Technology evolves. Customer needs change. The organizations that thrive are the ones that build flexibility into their way of working. In practice, that involves strong foundations (such as clear values and goals) combined with adaptable processes and mindsets (such as iterative planning and built-in feedback loops), enabling resilience in the face of whatever comes next.
Copyright
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Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.