Janet Sullins

Jan Sullins - a Certified Scrum Professional - Scrum Master at Toyota

Updates: Received my Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) certification spring of 2018 and Certified Scrum Professional - Scrum Master certification March of 2019!

I began my Scrum training August, 2016, received my certification as a Scrum Master February, 2017, and my Certified Scrum Product Owner certification in September, 2017. At the start of Sprint 26 I had a party (I don't know - I think 6 months of Scrum is something to celebrate). As Scrum Master, I've learned so much about myself, my team and, most importantly - Scrum. My favorite thing to do is read and learn about Scrum and Agile. My background in IT started in telecommunications when I managed a Nortel Option 81 phone system for a Tier 1 automotive supplier and then worked in store systems support and operations for Borders, Inc. before they closed their doors. That is still one of the saddest days of my life.

My favorite part of working at Toyota, aside from my excellent Scrum team, is meeting my business partners and building relationships with them. I work tirelessly to make sure that they know they have full IT support no matter if it's that they need a new mouse or a new server. It doesn't matter what they need, but that they know they have the support. I love to investigate issues and get to the solution. That is the most satisfying part of my work and a perfect attribute to have for a Scrum Master!

In addition to my work at Toyota, I am a professional violinist and private violin teacher. What I didn't realize is that many of the disciplines I have learned in music transfer beautifully to Scrum. Working as a team with others, being respectful to others and their ideas, respecting time boxes, and methodically working through epics are all very much a part of being a musician.

A great but awful word?: "Scrumafall"  - This to me describes what most people do when they don't fully engage with Scrum and Agile. Kind of like doing the waterfall method written on post-it notes!