Pre-Dinner Presentation "From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Turning Around Our Failed Agile Transformation"

Samant Kumar is a multiple award-winning Portfolio Manager and Agile Program Manager at Capgemini, with over 20 years of experience in Agile Program and Project Management. He holds certifications such as SAFe SPC, PMI-ACP, ICP-ACC, A-CSM, CSM, and CSPO, and is known for his expertise in agile coaching, leadership, and driving successful project outcomes.

Samant is a prominent speaker at conferences like Agile 2024, Agile Tour Vilnius 2024, PMI Houston 50th Conference. He has served as a judge at global events such as the Stevie Awards, Johns Hopkins Product Management Club competition. His accolades include the Titan Award, Globee Award, Global Recognition Award, and Claro Award. Samant has contributed to several publications featured in prominent platforms such as Scopus, UT Dallas Project Management Symposium, IGI Global Publishing, Dzone and PEX Process network. Samant is an AI Ambassador at AI frontier Network and published many AI articles at AItimejournal. Samant Kumar's multidimensional expertise and dedication establish him as a great asset in the domains of Agile and project management, embodying leadership and innovation in his professional endeavors.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samant-kumar-374a091a8/

Topic Synopsis:

Agile transformation promises speed, adaptability, and collaboration—but our initial journey proved that without alignment, culture change, and the right leadership support, the promise can quickly unravel. This session recounts the real-world story of how our Agile initiative initially faltered due to poor implementation, resistance to change, and unclear objectives. More importantly, it shares how we recalibrated our strategy, re-engaged our teams, and rebuilt trust to turn failure into a sustainable Agile success story. Whether you're starting an Agile journey or struggling mid-transformation, this session offers grounded insights and practical steps to get back on track.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the root causes of Agile transformation failure including leadership gaps, lack of team buy-in, and misaligned processes.
2. Demonstrate actionable recovery strategies that helped rebuild momentum and establish lasting Agile principles.
3. Highlight the importance of cultural change and continuous learning as foundational elements for a successful Agile turnaround.

PDU Triangle:

1 Ways of Working PDU

Ways of Working Technical

Dinner Presentation "Feedback Without Fear: Handle Communication Well to Build Trust"

Dori Eversmann, owner of Resilient Relationships, is a Speaker, Facilitator, and Coach focusing on Communication Skills and Leadership Presence. She works with leaders and new managers committed to building cultures of healthy communication and creating teams with high trust (so people don’t quit!)

Dori has built a successful career spanning business and nonprofit leadership. She founded, grew, and sold an accounting services company while also dedicating more than two decades to leadership roles in nonprofit organizations. Through these experiences, she discovered that effective communication is the key to engagement, collaboration, and team success. She may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Topic Synopsis:

Strong teams thrive on effective communication. Yet even experienced leaders can struggle to listen well under pressure, missing opportunities to connect, align, and inspire. In this session, Dori reveals the biggest barrier to effective communication and how successful leadership shows up in the way we listen and respond. You’ll gain practical tools for active listening and feedback that foster collaboration, strengthen relationships, and help your team make aligned decisions.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the #1 barrier to effective communication and how to overcome it
Become a skilled, active listener (so others will want to hear what you have to say!)
Give and receive feedback in a way that builds trust and drives progress