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Certified Agile Leader® 1 Badge

Certified Agile Leader® 1

Taught by: Aaron Kopel
Project Brilliant, LLC
No lectures. No slide marathons. Two days of markers, flip charts, and honest talk about leading through change with CST and best-selling author Aaron Kopel. Printed workbook and coaching included. Rated 5.0/5 by 10,000+ people trained.
[email protected]
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 16 hours |
 Start Aug 2, 2027 UTC
$999
Register

Course details

Location

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In-Person

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9286 Schulze Dr, West Chester Township, OH 45069, Cincinnati, OH 45069, US

Schedule Details

Monday, August 2 | 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM UTC
Tuesday, August 3 | 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM UTC
Max number of students: 40

Certified Agile Leader 1 workshop with Aaron Kopel, Project Brilliant

Certified Agile Leader 1 (CAL 1™) · 2-Day Workshop

The leadership class people still talk about years later.

Markers instead of slides. Conversations instead of lectures. You leave with your certification, a workbook full of your own thinking, and a clear plan for how you will lead differently on Monday.

Save my seat

Video not loading? Watch it on Vimeo.

Why this class feels different

Most certification classes feel like reading a manual out loud. This one feels like a working session with a sharp colleague who happens to carry a fistful of markers.

✓ Drawn live, not read off slides. Aaron sketches every idea on a flip chart as the group builds it together. You watch the whole picture come together, and that is why you remember it. No PowerPoint. Ever.
✓ You do the work in the room. Short bursts of teaching, then you practice: games, real leadership dilemmas, and honest conversations with peers who face the same pressures you do.
✓ A workbook that is unfinished on purpose. You get a printed workbook at the start of class. You fill it in as you go, so you leave with notes in your own words instead of a slide deck you will never open.
✓ Built for real organizations. Ideas come from Aaron's best-selling book Unlocking Momentum and his work with CIOs and senior leaders in large organizations, where budgets, politics, and legacy systems are part of the job.

A look inside the room

Photos from a recent class. Expect to spend a lot of time on your feet.

Teams racing the clock on a hands-on build exercise Three students working together on a build challenge
Two students moving sticky notes across a taped task board Students filling in their workbooks during an exercise

What you will be able to do

  • Explain what agile leadership is, and is not, in plain language
  • Tell complicated problems from complex ones, and lead each the right way
  • Shift from directing work to enabling people, without losing accountability
  • Build an environment where teams take ownership and perform at their best
  • Lead people through change, including the changes AI is bringing to every role
  • Choose a few practical changes to make in your own leadership right away

Everything included with your seat

 Certified Agile Leader 1 badge

Before class

  • Nothing to pack: your printed workbook is waiting for you on day one
  • Access to the Project Brilliant on-demand learning platform with course content and resources to get a head start

In class

  • Two full days of hands-on, highly interactive learning
  • Templates and AI toolkit you can use at work the next day

After class

  • Certified Agile Leader 1 (CAL 1™) certification plus a 2-year Scrum Alliance membership
  • SEUs (Scrum Educational Units) toward your next certification
  • A one-hour 1:1 coaching call with Aaron to work through a real leadership challenge
  • Group office hours with Aaron and fellow alumni
  • Email access to Aaron when questions come up on the job
  • Continued access to the on-demand platform for refreshers

What past students say

★★★★★ Rated 5.0 out of 5 by more than 10,000 people trained over 10 years.

A full class smiling around the city they built together during a hands-on exercise

“It brought us together to have the deeper conversations that we never take time for in our hectic day-to-day work environment. We were able to focus and think clearly about our "why", really understand each other's intent, and talk about how all the pieces fit together.”

Larry A., Vice President, MedXcel

“The energy, the pace, the environment, the collaboration, the trainer, the discussions, the hand-drawn visuals, the workbook, the timing, and even learning how to properly tear a post-it note off a pad... it was all absolutely perfect.”

Josh B., IT Leader, Fox Sports

“I completely misunderstood the mindset of Agile and Scrum for 10 years. No wonder it never felt right to me... we were just totally off the mark, even though we thought we were doing all the important parts. This 2-days set me on a new path. Now I get it, and I'll never look back!”

Stephanie M., Tech Lead, Staples

“Extremely professional and educational course... by far the best I have been a part of. The coaches take time to make sure everyone in class understands concepts and fills the course with a great deal of team activity. Best of all no PowerPoint slides. Highly recommend!”

Eric P., IT Director, PNC Bank

“Best training of any kind I've ever experienced. And it IS an experience! Everything is choreographed for a purpose - to enhance the learning, long term retention, and to make it all fun.”

Melanie B., Scrum Master, Capital One Financial

“I didn't think it was possible to train people without PowerPoint, but here it is. Never a PowerPoint slide in sight. It was all exercises and talking with each other. The two days just flew by, and I was a little sad it was over so fast!”

Jamie S., Product Owner, Salesforce

“I was very intimidated coming in as the only non-experienced person from my company. The content was extremely beneficial and the facilitator made it a very safe, collaborative, and friendly environment. It was great!”

Emily C., Product Owner, Farm Bureau Insurance

Meet your trainer

Aaron Kopel

Aaron Kopel

Certified Scrum Trainer® · Founder & CEO, Project Brilliant

Aaron Kopel became a Certified Enterprise Coach® (CEC®) in 2016 and a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®) in 2017 after more than 10 years as an Agile practitioner, Scrum Master, product owner, and Agile coach and trainer, working in organizations ranging from tech startups to 85,000-person corporations. Aaron holds countless certifications in Agile, AI, facilitation, coaching, team building, and organizational change.

One of fewer than 30 people in the world to hold all three

Certified Scrum Trainer® badge

Certified Scrum Trainer®

 Certified Enterprise Coach® badge

Certified Enterprise Coach®

 Certified Team Coach® badge

Certified Team Coach®

5.0/5

average class rating

10,000+

people trained

Top 30

fewer than 30 people worldwide hold Scrum Alliance's top three certifications

#1

Amazon best-selling author

As the CEO of Project Brilliant, Aaron is known as the Momentum Locksmith®. He guides CIOs and IT leaders to unlock momentum in their enterprise by optimizing organizational design, elevating strategic leaders, and creating high-performing teams.

As a trainer, he is well known for his engaging and interactive workshops that simplify complicated business and leadership topics through creative live-drawn visuals, memorable stories, and witty humor. He is the author of “Unlocking Momentum”, reaching Amazon #1 Best Seller status in 6 Business and IT categories. He is the host of the Unlocking Momentum and Unlocking AI Value podcasts. He is a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), the Forbes Business Council (FBC), and is one of fewer than 30 people in the world to achieve the top three Agile industry certifications from the Scrum Alliance.

Prior to founding Project Brilliant, Aaron won 2 National Science Foundation grants, and was a 2-time tech startup founder. He earned his BA from Wartburg College (Business & CIS double major), and his MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He has visited more than 60 countries, rocked out at 45 Pearl Jam concerts, and lives in Carmel, IN with his amazing wife and their two teenagers.

Aaron Kopel holding his book Unlocking Momentum

Unlocking Momentum

The CIO's Keys to Accelerating Change and Becoming a Strategic C-Level Partner. #1 Amazon Best Seller in 6 Business and IT categories.

Get the book on Amazon

Aaron's work has helped teams at PNC Bank, Lincoln Financial, Capital One, Eli Lilly, Bloomberg, Salesforce, HOKA, UGG, and many more.

Ready to unlock momentum in your organization?

Seats are limited so everyone gets to participate. Full refund up to 7 days before class, and free transfers to a future class anytime.

Register now

Frequently asked questions

Is there a test?

No. You earn your CAL 1 certification by attending both full days and taking part in the class. After class, Scrum Alliance emails you to accept your certification.

Do I need agile experience first?

No. This class is about leadership, not process. Leaders brand new to agile ideas and leaders who have been at it for years both get a lot out of it, and the mix makes the conversations better.

How is this different from CSM or CSPO?

CSM and CSPO are about roles on a team. CAL 1 is about the leaders around those teams: how you set direction, make decisions, and create an environment where teams can do their best work.

When do I get my workbook?

On day one. Your printed workbook is handed out when class starts, so there is nothing to bring or wait for.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

Life happens. You get a full refund if you cancel at least 7 days before class, and you can transfer to any future class at no charge, anytime.

Can I bring my leadership team?

Yes, and we encourage it. We also run private classes for a single organization, in person or live online, tailored to your leadership challenges. Reach out and we will put together options.

How do I convince my boss to pay for this?

Make it about what your team gets, not the certificate. Three points usually do it. First, you come back with a plan: you leave with specific next steps for your team, not just notes. Second, it is two days for a skill you will use for years, plus a recognized Scrum Alliance certification, SEUs, and a 2-year membership. Third, the support keeps going after class with a coaching call, office hours, and email access to Aaron. Offer to share what you learned with your team when you get back. If it helps, email [email protected] and we will help you make the case.

Still have questions?

Email us at [email protected] or call 877-227-5568. You will get a real answer from a real person.

Save my seat

Two full days, built around doing rather than listening. Every topic is drawn live, then worked through in small groups using your real situations. Class runs both days with regular breaks; exact times are in the schedule above.

Day 1  Leading yourself
Introductions & agenda Meet the group and set goals for the two days
Why leadership has to change What is different about leading when change is constant
Complicated versus complex Why the playbook that built your career may now be slowing you down
From controller to catalyst The leadership mindset that creates momentum instead of bottlenecks
Your leadership habits Spot your default patterns and when they help or hurt
Safety and trust Create an environment where people speak up early
Day 2  Leading teams and the organization
High-performing teams What great teams have in common and how leaders help them get there
Structure that helps Organize teams and decisions so work flows instead of waiting
Leading change Bring people with you rather than pushing change at them
Leading in the age of AI What AI changes for leaders and their teams, and what it does not
Your Monday plan Leave with specific changes to make in your own leadership

This class is for you if other people's work depends on your decisions, whatever your title.

Executives and senior leaders
CIOs, VPs, and directors leading organizations through change and looking for more speed with less chaos.
Managers of teams
People managers who want teams that own their work instead of waiting for direction.
Emerging leaders
High-potential people stepping into bigger roles who want to start with the right habits.
HR, L&D, and transformation leaders
Who shape how leaders grow and how the organization changes.
Agile coaches and Scrum Masters
Who work closely with leaders and want to speak their language.

No prior agile experience required. You bring the leadership challenges. We bring the tools to work through them.

Bringing your leadership team? Leaders who learn together change together. Ask us about private classes for your organization.

Be there, all of it

Scrum Alliance requires full attendance for certification, so plan to join both days from start to finish. Please clear your calendar for both days.

Jump in

This class runs on participation. Expect to talk, draw, work in small groups, and share your own examples. Nobody gets put on the spot, but everybody gets involved.

Before class

  • Log in to the on-demand learning platform using the link in your welcome email
  • Think of a real leadership challenge you are facing. We will use it.

On the day

  • Arrive about 15 minutes early to get settled
  • Your printed workbook is handed out when class starts. Markers, sticky notes, and everything else are on us too.
  • A laptop is optional. You will spend most of the time on your feet and at the flip charts.
  • Venue details and parking information arrive in your welcome email

Reviews

4.60 out of 5.0 stars
rating icon showing 4.60 stars. (5 ratings) TrustPilot logo

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