Crystal Abunaw
Laurel,MD
Summary
An Experienced Scrum Master and Coach with over 5years experience in leading cross-functional teams in delivering high-quality software products. Proven ability to facilitate all Agile ceremonies and implement Scrum framework to improve team collaboration, productivity and deliver projects on time and within budget. Adept at identifying and removing impediments/roadblocks that impede team progress and coach teams to improve their skills in Agile methodologies. Strong communicator and problem-solver with a track record of leading high-performing teams and delivering exceptional results.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Scrum Coach/ IT Project Manager
FreddieMac
Mclean, VA
04.2022 - 03.2024
- Managed large-scale software development and enhancements, data management, and software integration projects through SDLC between 7 Agile development teams and operations teams
- Facilitated all sprint planning, backlog refinement, sprint reviews, sprint retrospectives and daily stand-ups
- Guided Product Owner to track features, prioritize backlogs throughout development
- Removed impediments and protect team members from interruptions and distractions maximizing productivity by 30%
- Coordinated the translation of business requirements into detailed specified user stories
- Created SOPs to train and guide scrum masters and product owners helping them understand and practice Agility
- Promoted Agile quality practices, coordinated across organization, and serve as a resource to answer questions
- Used Scrum framework to review agile maturity (AMA) and create coaching plans to build and improve scrum teams
- Improved team morale by 20% by leading team-building activities, fostering open communication, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement
- Lead Agile development team with automating application deployments, scaling and managing delivery of over 5+ applications using the UI Angular component library
- Created documentation for over 100 releases for software enhancements, implementing new features, database schema changes, break fixes and security vulnerabilities
- Reviewed KPI’s and OKR’s with teams
- Tracked and communicated tableau metrics and Agile metrics which may include team velocity and sprint/program Increment (PI) progress within Scaled Agile (SAFe) Framework
- Facilitated PI planning and summarize the PI objectives, roadmaps and publish them to provide visibility and transparency to portfolio teams, leadership teams and stakeholders
- Facilitated Inspect and adapt workshops across the Agile Release Train (ART) as back up RTE (Release Train Engineer)
- Optimized the flow of value through the ART and solution train using a variety of tools, including program and solution Kanbans
- Facilitated briefings to senior leadership and capture actions resulting from meetings and requests
- Created reports and visualizations to communicate complex data findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Initiated product release readiness, periodic readiness and deployment guides reviews before deployments
- Collaborated with software developers to put in request for SAST & FOSS to highlight security vulnerabilities and create user stories to remediate any underlying security flaws
- Manually created ServiceNow tickets per release and convey updates on the release activities
- Scheduled the CAB (Change advisory board) meetings to get approvals on release, manage deployment schedules and mitigate any roadblocks.
Scrum Master/ IT Project Manager
Toyota Financial Service, TFS
Dallas, TX
01.2021 - 02.2022
- Fostered and maintained quality communication between developers, product stakeholders and 4-5 software tool vendors used by development team and consumers of Toyota payment process
- Facilitated all Sprint Planning, Sprint Demos, Sprint Retrospectives, Daily Standups, Release planning for API integration and Backlog Refinement
- Facilitated all third-party correspondence (Zuora) and performed daily, weekly, and monthly status updates on projects to internal and external leadership
- Coached Agile development teams on Agile best practices and protected them from outside distractions, impediments, or team conflicts and maintained focus on product backlog and project timeline
- Supported and liaised with Product owner to maintain and prioritize product backlog
- Successfully managed project dependencies, resulting in a 20% reduction in project risk increasing Agile development teams’ productivity by 30%
- Managed teams’ Jira scrum board and review metrics (velocity, burndown, burnup charts) to ensure clarity and full transparency regarding sprint health and team performance against commitments
- Oversaw and coordinated all phases of testing and enablement of new features added to Toyota pay application.
Scrum Master
T.E connectivity
Harrisburg, PA
07.2018 - 12.2020
- Lead Agile team in the development of cloud-based solution to enhance the data center back-up
- Utilized Scrum methodologies, Scrum Values and consistently facilitated effective sprint planning, daily standup meetings, retrospectives, backlog refinement meetings and release planning sessions
- Collaborated with both the Product Owner (PO) and Product Development Managers (PDMs) to ensure sprint commitments are aligned to backlog priority, well-defined, and achievable
- Continuously monitored sprint health and reduced number of impediments/blockers by 50% and increased team ability to deliver high-quality features by introducing Scrum of Scrums (SOS)
- Assisted in team development while holding teams accountable for their commitments and leveraging organizational resources to improve capacity for project work increasing the average time to deliver new features by 20%
- Managed task management tool and dashboards/metrics to ensure clarity and full transparency regarding sprint health and team performance against commitments
- Provided transparency to the team and stakeholders frequently with detailed updates
- Mentored the team to self-manage and adhere to scrum principles
- Implemented an Agile methodologies program to measure and improve team performance, resulting in a 20% increase in team efficiency.
Human Resources Generalist
Howard University Hospital
Washington, D.C
04.2013 - 05.2018
- Assisted in the development and implementation of personnel policies and procedures
- Prepared and maintained the employee handbook and the policies and procedures manual
- Maintained extensive employee relations responsibilities including coaching, conducting investigations, performance management and corrective actions
- Assisted in evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals
- Recommended new approaches, policies, and procedures to continually improve efficiency of the department and services performed
- Developed and maintained affirmative action program, maintained other records, reports and logs to conform to EEO regulations
- Counseled managers on the day-to-day management issues that arise to ensure appropriate and consistent application of Provision’s policies and procedures
- Strategically partnered with leadership to manage complex business issues including legal/employee relations, regulatory compliance, and organizational development
- Created and implemented radiant policy and procedures in the areas of performance management and organizational development.
Education
Master of Arts - Human Resources Development
Bowie State University
Bowie, MD05-2018
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
Bowie State University
Bowie, MD05-2013
Skills
- Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
- Risk Management and Mitigation
- Leadership and Team Building
- Technical Analysis
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Backlog Management
- Communication and Facilitation
- MS office suite
- Tableau
- ServiceNow
- Visio
- Agile Estimation & Agile transformation
- Agile methodologies - Scrum, Kanban, XP, FDD
- DevOps
- SDLC
- Confluence
- JIRA/Atlassian
- Conflict resolution
- Agile Software Development
- Project Management
- ATDD &TDD
- Adaptability, creativity, and innovation
- Servant Leader, Facilitator
- Forecasting/ Business analysis
- Communication Channel (Slack, Zoom, WebEx, Microsoft teams)
- Strategic planning and Time management
- Problem solving and Decision making
- Continuous improvement
- Fluent in French & English
Certification
- Professional Scrum Master (PSM I)
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
- Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM)
- LUMA Certified Practitioner
- Project Management (PMP) – In progress
Timeline
Scrum Coach/ IT Project Manager
FreddieMac
04.2022 - 03.2024
Scrum Master/ IT Project Manager
Toyota Financial Service, TFS
01.2021 - 02.2022
Scrum Master
T.E connectivity
07.2018 - 12.2020
Human Resources Generalist
Howard University Hospital
04.2013 - 05.2018
Master of Arts - Human Resources Development
Bowie State University
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
Bowie State University
Similar Profiles
Nomika MalaeNomika Malae
Software Engineer at FreddieMacSoftware Engineer at FreddieMac
Heather BarrowHeather Barrow
Accounting Specialist/Accounts Receivable at FreddieMacAccounting Specialist/Accounts Receivable at FreddieMac
Rebecca A. LopacinskiRebecca A. Lopacinski
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE CLIENT ENGAGEMENT, Business Development at FreddieMacACCOUNT EXECUTIVE CLIENT ENGAGEMENT, Business Development at FreddieMac
Pallishree MishraPallishree Mishra
Software Developer in Test at FreddiemacSoftware Developer in Test at Freddiemac
Lonell WilliamsonLonell Williamson
Senior Closeout Specialist - Project Manager at Jefferson Solutions – Department of Transportation Federal Railroad AdministrationSenior Closeout Specialist - Project Manager at Jefferson Solutions – Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration