Ashfaq A.

I have over 15 years of experience in agile project / program management, release management, and test management; complemented by certifications in SAFe® Lean Portfolio Management, PMI-PMP®, and Professional Scrum Master (PSM). As an experienced servant leader, I have successfully built and nurtured high-performing teams and helped deliver strategic and high-impact projects. I have led cross-functional teams with multiple dependencies and implemented lean and agile methodologies to enhance efficiency and foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. My career highlights include contributing to significant projects at Visma, a prominent cloud development company in Europe, and Nexi (Nets), a leading Fintech company in the region. Throughout these endeavors, I have effectively led teams in successfully delivering complex solutions spanning areas such as Data Analytics, Digital Transformation, and Fintech (eCommerce Payments). Examples of my achievements include: • Digital Products Delivery: I have a background in both traditional project management (PMP certified) and agile management, which helps me pick up the right approach and ways of working to deliver project outcomes successfully. I have successfully orchestrated 20 Program Increments (PIs) in teams distributed across Europe and Asia, managing complex dependencies and ensuring consistent, high-quality releases. I have successfully delivered on-prem and cloud-based Business Analytics and Fintech products to customers across Europe. • Stakeholder Management and Communication: I have a strong track record of cultivating and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, fostering a culture of open and transparent communication. This has been instrumental in aligning project goals with stakeholder expectations, a crucial aspect of managing complex programs in any domain. • Building Empowered Teams: My leadership style is rooted in servant leadership principles, which I have successfully applied to build trusting and safe environments where teams can thrive. This approach has empowered my teams to raise and resolve issues efficiently, ensuring project momentum and high-quality outcomes. • Fostering agility and innovation culture: As a SAFe-certified professional with deep expertise in scaling Agile practices across large teams, I have consistently enhanced delivery processes through Continuous Delivery, DevOps, and Lean methodologies, ensuring both agility and predictability. My successful implementation of Scrum, Kanban, and other Agile frameworks has driven efficiency and innovation, while my contributions to publications like IEEE and Agile Record, as well as speaking at international conferences, underscore my commitment to advancing the field. At Visma, I spearheaded the 'Foster Your Innovator's DNA' initiative, which was showcased at the EuroSTAR Conference, and launched regular hackathons to sustain a culture of creativity and agility.