Kimberly Dykes

I am a former developer turned Scrum Master.  With over 20 years in the software development business, I love Agile.  It's the way we should have been working long ago!  

I began my technology career after earning a bachelors degree in CIS from Arizona State University.  My first job was working as a software developer in Seattle, WA for SAFECO Insurance.  After gaining on-the-job knowledge, I went back to the Valley of the Sun.  As a consultant, I began a project for American Express where I used my education and previous work experience to work on mainframe applications.  After 3 short months as a consultant, American Express hired me as a permanent employee.  

It was at American Express where I worked my way up the ladder from an entry-level programmer to a lead programmer responsible for a team of developers.  That is when Agile came to American Express.  After being a team member in a scrum team as a developer, I discovered I wanted to use my leadership skills as a scrum master.   

Four years later, I began working as an Agile Coach in State Farm's Agile Dojo.