SWAPNA ANANTHA
Sydney
Summary
Experienced Scrum Master with proven track record of successfully leading teams in developing high-quality software solutions on time and within budget. Skilled in multiple Agile methodologies, stakeholder management and sprint planning. Highly organized in managing complex projects with multiple deadlines.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
5
5
Certificate
3
3
Domains worked on (Banking, Insurance, Education)
Work History
Scrum Master
IAG
10.2024 - Current
- Managing Phoenix Fraud Analytics application (Palantir Foundry)migration, decommissioning legacy SaS platform
- Leading end-to-end delivery, ensuring on-time and on-budget execution.
- Facilitating Agile ceremonies and tracking project health via JIRA dashboards & Gantt charts.
- Engaging with UI/UX, dev, QA, and client stakeholders to align requirements and drive delivery.
- Identifying risks, dependencies, and blockers across squads; implementing mitigation strategies.
Agile Delivery Manager/Senior Scrum Master
NSW Department Of Customer Service
04.2023 - Current
- Improved team efficiency by implementing Agile and Scrum methodologies for project management.
- Facilitated Scrum framework – sprint planning, backlog grooming, daily scrums, sprint reviews, and sprint retrospectives.
- Guiding Agile release train (ART) teams through various meetings, processes and best practices and ceremonies on an ongoing basis
- Facilitating Scrum of Scrum (SoS) and tracking dependencies and risks across different squads
- Facilitated 3 Squads with 8 - 9 members each for 3 different applications and managed the deliveries and stakeholder communication for each one of them.
- Collaborated with Product Owners to refine requirements and ensure alignment with business goals.
- Coached cross-functional teams on Agile principles, leading to increase in successful project deliveries.
- Led sprint reviews and planning meetings to promote full team engagement.
- Ensuring squad meets commitments for business value, time and cost
- Managed product backlog and supported Scrum framework for monthly sprint releases.
- Worked closely and listened to team members' feedback to identify issues and resolve conflicts.
- Implemented key performance metrics to track team progress and identify areas of improvement consistently
- Collaborated closely with stakeholders at all organizational levels to understand their needs and tailor solutions accordingly within ServiceNow platform.
Scrum Master
University Of Newcastle
11.2022 - 04.2023
- Facilitated Scrum framework - backlog grooming, daily scrums, sprint reviews and sprint retrospectives for 2 squads with 7-8 members each.
- Encouraged & supported the team in cohesion, overcoming impediments and hurdles
- Proactively identified and found ways to resolve issues to prevent distractions and keep projects on track.
- Improved team efficiency by implementing Agile and Scrum methodologies for project management.
- Managed product backlog effectively, prioritizing high-value items for faster completion.
- Led sprint reviews and planning meetings to promote full team engagement.
- Streamlined deployment processes through the use of Azure DevOps pipelines, reducing time to production and increasing efficiency.
Iteration Manager
IAG
11.2021 - 11.2022
- Facilitated Scrum framework - backlog grooming, daily scrums, sprint reviews and sprint retrospectives for 2 squads with 7-8 members each
- Coached teams in Agile practices and provided necessary training to create positive mindset
- Backfill PO / BA as and when necessary
- Encouraged & supported the team in cohesion, overcoming impediments and hurdles
- Proactively identified and found ways to resolve issues to prevent distractions and keep projects on track.
- Good understanding on implementation of Guidewire (migrating the insurance policy to guidewire from heritage systems)
Scrum Master
AIA
07.2020 - 11.2021
- Facilitated Scrum framework - sprint planning, backlog grooming, daily scrums, sprint reviews and sprint retrospectives
- Coached teams in Agile practices and provided necessary training to create positive mindset
- Assist PO in backlog maintenance
- Encouraged & supported the team in cohesion, overcoming impediments and hurdles
- Proactively identified and found ways to resolve issues to prevent distractions and keep projects on track.
Scrum Master / Agile Coach
SpryIQ Technologies
01.2020 - 06.2020
- Coaching the team in required Agile practice and extending support to implement Scrum methodology for newly formed teams
- Facilitate Agile learning sessions for new recruits
- Conduct simulations & Role plays to upskill the existing teams
- Observe and engage with individual team members to identify opportunity to improve Agile performance
- Support the leadership team to establish an effective Agile culture.
Manager, Agile Center of Excellence
Cognizant Technologies
07.2014 - 08.2019
- Leading Multiple scrum teams (Swim lanes) designed across each of the business unit like BFS, Insurance, Retail & HealthCare
- Facilitating Scrum framework across each of the designed swim lane
- Coaching the team in required Agile practice and extending support wherever required
- Collaborating with executive leadership to identify and design the learning program, customised for each business unit
- Crafting the detailed 'WIIFM' statements for the end users to adapt the proposed learning culture
- Frequent interaction with the end user to clarify any issues or concerns faced during learning process
- Track & report the over all progress of the Program (All involved scrum teams)
- Upskilled more than 500 associates in 2 quarters.
Test Manager/Test Lead
Lloyds Bank UK (Contracted through Cognizant)
01.2007 - 08.2014
- Transition of SIT from Business consultants & Accenture teams operating out of London
- Managed team size of more than 60 associates
- Developed and executed comprehensive test plans and workforce breakdown structures for complete systems
- Wrote and optimized test cases to maximize success of manual software testing with consistent, thorough approaches
- Identified and tracked defects with QC & Jira and supported developers in resolving problems by completing additional tests
- Worked alongside management to develop testing and improvement plans
- Trained new test employees on Agile & Testing consents and company guidelines to promote productive and high-quality work
- Worked with supervisors to streamline processes and improve testing capabilities.
Test Analyst
Google Inc. (Contracted through Cybage)
05.2004 - 01.2007
Education
Master of Computer Application (MCA)
Skills
- Agile Methodologies
- ServiceNow
- Digital Applications
- Guidewire
- Scrum Ceremonies
- Effective Leadership
- Coaching
- Emotional Intelligence
- Vendor & Stakeholder management
- SQL
- REST API
- Agile Metrics Tracking
Certification
- Certified Product Owner (CSPO)
- Advanced CSM (ACSM)
- Agile Coach (ICP - ACC)
- Scrum Master (CSM)
- PMI-ACP
- Train the Trainer - Facilitation
- Learner Centric Design (LCD)
- ISTQB
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Scrum Master
IAG
10.2024 - Current
Agile Delivery Manager/Senior Scrum Master
NSW Department Of Customer Service
04.2023 - Current
Scrum Master
University Of Newcastle
11.2022 - 04.2023
Iteration Manager
IAG
11.2021 - 11.2022
Scrum Master
AIA
07.2020 - 11.2021
Scrum Master / Agile Coach
SpryIQ Technologies
01.2020 - 06.2020
Manager, Agile Center of Excellence
Cognizant Technologies
07.2014 - 08.2019
Test Manager/Test Lead
Lloyds Bank UK (Contracted through Cognizant)
01.2007 - 08.2014
Test Analyst
Google Inc. (Contracted through Cybage)
05.2004 - 01.2007
Master of Computer Application (MCA)