In this insightful interview, Marina Alex shares her journey from a successful sales executive to an agile coach, discussing the challenges faced during the pandemic, the importance of adapting to market changes, and strategies for agile professionals to find new opportunities in a shifting landscape. She emphasizes the need for the agile community to broaden its reach beyond IT, focus on measurable results, and leverage local relationships to build a sustainable coaching and consulting business.

Key Topics

- Market shifts and the decline of traditional agile coaching
- Strategies for finding clients outside of IT and enterprise
- The importance of measurable results and ROI in agile consulting
- Building relationships with local businesses and community engagement
- The role of AI in transforming small and medium businesses


Chapters

01:52 Introduction to Agile Coaching and Personal Journey
06:59 The Shift in the Agile Market
11:49 Reframing the Agile Value Proposition
19:44 Building Self-Organizing Teams in Non-IT Businesses
26:54 Implementing Agile Practices in Diverse Environments
28:49 Implementing Change in Traditional Environments
30:02 Setting Measurable Business Goals
31:51 The Role of a Coach in Business Transformation
34:19 Starting as a Local Coach
34:37 Optimizing Your LinkedIn Presence
37:26 The Importance of Practical AI Knowledge
40:33 Simplifying AI for Local Businesses
45:35 Finding Clients in Your Community

LINKS

Sway 2.0 AI Modern Consulting Blueprint
Class begins April 6, 2026
Sign up here: https://www.swaysystem.com/sway-2026-Programs
The promo code DAVE takes $250 off!

Contacting Marina
Marina Alex's Guide to Finding Your First Client in SMB - https://example.com/marina-alex-guide
LinkedIn Profile of Marina Alex - https://linkedin.com/in/marinaalex
Sway System by Marina Alex - https://example.com/sway-system

Contacting Dave
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mrsungo

Dave’s upcoming classes:
Certified Scrum Master https://tinyurl.com/mu74rwuc
Certified Scrum Product Owner https://tinyurl.com/mpw6p622
PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)® Boot Camp and Exam Prep https://tinyurl.com/3znzpt7j
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® Boot Camp https://tinyurl.com/bdebrrrb