Is AI Redefining Leadership?

The Agile name can open a door or end a conversation, depending on who’s buying and what they’ve experienced. In this episode, the ACN community examines how disappointing transformations and unclear results have affected demand for Agile. Callers share experiences of applying the principles without using the label, while others point to employers still hiring Agile practitioners. The conversation also turns to AI adoption, where familiar problems with decision making, feedback, and organizational structure keep surfacing. What are customers willing to pay for now, and how can practitioners explain the value they bring?Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka, Diana Larsen, Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills, Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic. For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

AI can make writing code faster, but what happens to the work that follows? In episode 116, the ACN community shares experiences with growing demands on testing, security, maintenance, and support, alongside pressure to add features simply because they’re easier to build. The conversation explores smaller increments, human judgment, and governance that actually guides what agents do. There’s promise in faster experimentation, but the overall payoff remains an open question. How can teams use the time AI saves to create something valuable? The episode also includes a remembrance of ACN cohost Sheila McGrath.Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka, Diana Larsen, Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills, Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic. For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Scaling Agile can leave people spending more time coordinating work than doing it. In episode 115, the ACN community examines the exhaustion that builds when new frameworks sit on top of old systems and people become the glue holding everything together. Practitioners share successes and differing views on how much consistency teams need, where local decisions help, and how organizing around products can reduce dependencies. The conversation returns to shared values, respect for people’s time, and changes we can make from wherever we sit. What are we actually trying to scale, and what is it costing the people doing the work?Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka, Diana Larsen, Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills, Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic. For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Are product operating models a fresh direction or Agile under a new name? In Episode 114, the ACN community explores what’s changing, what sounds familiar, and what it means for Agile practitioners. From connecting teams to customer outcomes to speaking a language leaders understand, the conversation looks beyond labels to what makes organizations work better. We also discuss how AI is reshaping collaboration and why human knowledge, judgment, and accountability still matter.Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka, Diana Larsen, Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills, Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic. For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

 What’s next for Agile coaches when the skills still matter, but the jobs are changing? In Episode 113, the ACN community shares candid career advice for navigating a tougher market, communicating the business problems you solve, and building skills in AI and product delivery. From strengthening your reputation to weighing opportunities with bigger expectations and smaller paychecks, the conversation explores how to find your next step while staying true to your strengths and values. Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka,  Diana Larsen,  Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills,  Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic.  For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit  acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

 Episode 112 explores how AI is reshaping the work of managers, project leaders, and Agile practitioners beyond just writing code. The panel and participants at the ACN live event discuss how automating reports and routine tasks can create room for coaching, better decisions, and stronger human connections, while also risking more surveillance and higher workloads. From accountability and team agreements to helping new engineers develop judgment, the conversation asks how we can use AI to improve work without losing the human experience that makes us better at it. Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka,  Diana Larsen,  Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills,  Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic.  For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit  acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Episode 111 takes an honest look at workplace morale in 2026, as layoffs, AI uncertainty, and constant change strain trust and motivation. Ray and the panel explore what helps beyond pizza parties, sharing practical ways to strengthen agency, recognize meaningful contributions, and create space for people to speak up. It’s a conversation about how leaders and teams can rebuild confidence and help people feel their work matters. Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka,  Diana Larsen,  Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills,  Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic.  For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit  acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Episode 110 is a hopeful, high-energy look at where Agile is actually working today, with real examples from manufacturing, nonprofits, government, and beyond. Ray and the panel cut through the usual negativity to explore how adaptability, collaboration, and a focus on value are still helping teams achieve better results. Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka,  Diana Larsen,  Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills,  Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic.  For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit  acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

In ACN Episode 109, we explored a common question many organizations are asking today: when Agile seems to fail, is Agile really the problem, or is it revealing deeper organizational issues?  In most cases, it is more the organizational dysfunction that Agile is shining a light on. Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka,  Diana Larsen,  Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills,  Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic.  For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit  acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

In this episode, we talk about what it takes to make change stick—especially when “Agile transformation” becomes a label instead of real progress. We cover the common pitfalls, the role of culture and middle management, and why clear goals, real investment, and continuous improvement matter. The takeaway: lasting change comes from resilience, adaptation, and empowered change agents—not a one-time rollout.Join Shawna Cullinan, Jörg Pietruszka,  Diana Larsen,  Sheila Eckert, Sheila McGrath, April Mills,  Hendrik Esser, Ray Arell, and all the callers to the monthly live event as we explore this topic.  For details on the next live event or how to support our show, please visit  acnpodcast.org.Send us Fan MailSupport the show