PASADENA | Make Agile Your Own

Strategy = Business Acumen

Make Agile Your Own: Adapt it To Succeed In A Client-Centric Environment

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Given the technological advancements and increased demand for solutions that are fast and effective, software development projects have become increasingly complex. Often, you may find yourself noting that more engineering teams have moved away from the traditional waterfall methodology and toward the flexibility that an agile framework offers. Agile involves practices such as incremental and iterative development, shorter release and iteration planning cycles and adaptation, and ongoing alignment with company goals and customer needs.

Although an agile approach yields many benefits, it also comes with certain limitations when directly applied in a client-facing environment. It can be difficult for clients to adapt to new work models. Implementing agile practices can be challenging and less appealing to clients who have long been influenced by the plan-driven waterfall model.

Agile is not a one-size-fits-all solution for all projects. In many cases, adopting a hybrid model can help withstand real-world challenges. In the presentation, Chris will talk about an alternative approach to software project management and a way to implement professional service projects within a client-centric enterprise framework.

Speaker

Leadership is about impact, influence, and inspiration. Christopher Yang is no stranger to these things, and with a proven track record of innovation in the technology and project management sphere, he knows firsthand the importance that strategic leadership can play in the success of any organization. As the Vice President of Engineering at Corporate Travel Management (ASX: CTD), he is at the helm of a large group of highly skilled technical team members and is deeply involved with technology both internally and externally to develop, maintain, and enhance CTM’s travel products.

In addition to his career, Chris is a member of the Forbes Technology Council, where he frequently contributes to Forbes.com on topics related to technology, business strategy, technical project management, and entrepreneurship. Chris is also a part-time instructor in the Department of Engineering and Technology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Here, he develops and delivers post-baccalaureate curricula, spearheading the development of UCLA Extension’s first agile project management certificate program. In addition to his teaching, Chris loves continuing to hone his communication skills as a sought-after keynote speaker. He enjoys working on this passion by providing lectures on technology and project management to help train future generations of leaders. Chris is also a member of the Tech Coast Angels, the leading and most active angel investing network in the United States. As a member of the Outreach and Events committee, Chris manages TCA’s relationship with universities, accelerators, and VCs on a consistence basis and is responsible for planning and organizing events in Los Angeles to increase TCA’s exposure to both potential new members and startups.

Chris thrives on training future generations on the importance of leadership, technology, and project management. Armed with the wisdom and knowledge gained at the University of Southern California, Christopher holds four degrees: MBA, Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Master of Science in Computer Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Computer Science.

Chris also has a wealth of key certifications, including Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), ICAgile Certified Professional (ICP), ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Coaching (ICP-ACC), Certified Product Manager (CPM), Professional Agile Leadership (PAL I) and ITIL.

Agenda

7:30 - 7:45 Networking, and PMI Announcements
7:45 - 8:45 Presentation

PDUs

1 PDU - Strategic Business Management

Meal

Bring Your Own Breakfast
Café in Parson’s building, on the right side of the lobby as you enter on the first floor east side. Coffee, Soda, Snacks available for sale.

Location & Parking

Parsons Corporation
100 W Walnut St
Pasadena, CA 91124

You can enter the Parsons open lot from the far west entrance on Walnut Street. Take a ticket when you come in.
Park anywhere on the WEST side of the building in the open parking lot.
When you go through the WEST entrance, there will be a security desk on your right side.