Joseph Pierce

Although I started my career in the military and spent two decades working with the US army, I am not a fan of inflexibility. In fact, it is a common misconception that the command-and-control structure means that military people are rigid in their thinking.  

It was the leaders who mentored me that inspired my agile journey. They valued action over deliberation and detailed planning and were experimenting with agile practices without even knowing it. So, I took some of those ideas and began to challenge traditional ways of working. 

I had many varied roles in the army, but before I left, I was the leader of a military science department with more than 120 students under my wing. This experience ignited my passion for education. What I love about agile is that it places significant importance on curiosity and continuous learning. 

As a trainer and consultant at SoftEd, I get a thrill out of teaching and supporting people and organisations in various stages of their own agile journey. As well as sharing my knowledge and experience, I love getting the opportunity to learn from my students. I believe that knowledge sharing is how you build strong and connected agile teams.  

For a successful transformation, you need high-performing teams. I get so excited when I see organisations creating environments where motivated people can build their technical expertise, welcome diverse backgrounds, challenge assertions and assumptions, ask the right questions, and work collectively to build the team’s knowledge. 

When I am not at work, I am either deep-sea fishing or riding my motorcycle to new and exciting places. I’m also an avid reader, and I have a family who means the world to me. Family time is like reflection time in agile – it is a moment of taking stock. 

My certifications: 

• ICAgile Authorised Instructor   
• ICAgile Certified Professional (ICP)
• ICAgile Certified Professional – Agility in HR (ICP-AHR)   
• Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Certified, PMI^®  
• Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^® Certified, PMI^®
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)^®, Scrum Alliance^®
   

My education: 

• Master of Business Administration, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Master of Science, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Bachelor of Science in Economics, United States Military Academy