Benard Koech
@benardkoech
Experienced Scrum Master and Agile expert
What I'm looking for
I am a Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified SAFe® 6 Practitioner, and accomplished Agile Project Manager with nearly a decade of experience spanning diverse sectors, including payments and banking, logistics, EdTech, and SaaS solutions. My career journey reflects a passion for transforming challenges into opportunities through Agile excellence and innovative leadership.
Over the past six years, I’ve specialized in agile coaching, scrum management, and product delivery, honing my ability to foster collaboration within cross-functional, global teams. My mission has always been to champion Agile principles, driving organizations toward enhanced efficiency, continuous improvement, and customer-centric solutions. By leveraging a servant-leader philosophy, I empower teams to reach their full potential, unlocking creativity and delivering optimal product outcomes.
My journey began with a solid foundation in software development, which provided me with deep technical insights that now guide my strategic decision-making. This background fuels my commitment to delivering high-quality products, supported by CI/CD processes and data-driven methodologies. I'm passionate about creating sustainable team structures and robust processes that ensure quality, security, and rapid delivery, always aiming to exceed customer expectations.
I have successfully led teams across various industries and cultures throughout my career, navigating complex projects with tools like Jira and Azure DevOps. My extensive experience working with international teams—from the US and UK to Africa and beyond—has enhanced my cultural intelligence and adaptability, which are key assets in today’s interconnected world.
Beyond technical expertise, I believe in the power of communication and collaboration. I prioritize engaging stakeholders at all levels, ensuring transparency and alignment with organizational goals. My leadership style is defined by empathy, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
My goal remains the same in every role: to drive impactful change, foster continuous growth, and build products that matter. As I continue my journey, I am committed to mentoring others, promoting Agile best practices, and contributing to a future where innovation and teamwork thrive.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Senior Scrum Master
KCB Bank Kenya
Oct 2023 - Present (1 year 8 months)
Leading the Agile transformation journey within the Enterprise and Internal Applications team, focusing on core banking system enhancements and internal application integrations. Facilitating Scrum ceremonies and ensuring effective team collaboration to deliver valuable products.
Senior Scrum Master/Project Lead
Sendy Ltd
Nov 2022 - Sep 2023 (10 months)
Coaching teams on SAFe Agile practices and facilitating key ceremonies. Monitoring and optimizing agile processes while coordinating with stakeholders to manage risks and ensure alignment with business objectives.
Senior Scrum Master
Andela - Inchape Digital
Jul 2023 - Sep 2023 (2 months)
Supporting Agile practices and transformation for Inchape, a leading automobile distributor. Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver valuable products and aligning with leadership on project progress and risks.
Scrum Master/Delivery Lead
Azenia Technology/Equity Bank Group
Aug 2021 - Aug 2022 (1 year)
Coaching Scrum teams and facilitating Agile transformation. Collaborating with product managers and stakeholders to ensure high-quality product delivery using Scrum and Kanban methodologies.
Scrum Master/Project Lead (Consultant)
Raise Impact Technologies Inc
Apr 2021 - Jul 2022 (1 year 3 months)
Facilitating Scrum events and coaching teams on Agile principles. Managing service requests and ensuring timely delivery of projects while developing product roadmaps.
Product Development Lead
Ardech Technologies Ltd
Nov 2020 - Mar 2021 (4 months)
Driving product strategies and collaborating with cross-functional teams to build digital products. Conducting user research and managing data pipelines for business insights.
Scrum Master
Medbook Limited
Dec 2019 - Oct 2020 (10 months)
Acting as a facilitator and coach to promote Agile values within teams. Leading meetings and discussions to improve productivity and delivery.
Software Development Lead
Medbook Limited
Jun 2020 - Oct 2020 (4 months)
Leading product development and technical teams in healthcare and insurance projects. Managing requirements analysis and ensuring quality delivery.
Deputy Manager (Technology)
Centum Learning Limited-Africa
Sep 2016 - Sep 2018 (2 years)
Managing client requests and overseeing content development. Generating reports and ensuring effective content delivery and impact assessment.
Lead Developer
Centum Learning Limited Africa
Apr 2015 - May 2016 (1 year 1 month)
Designing and developing computer applications while training new developers on standards and procedures. Leading the development of learning management solutions.
Software Consultant
ITECH
Mar 2015 - Apr 2015 (1 month)
Designing and developing reporting systems for gender-based violence cases. Translating user requests into technical functions and training users on system usage.
Software Developer
All in One East Africa
Sep 2014 - Dec 2014 (3 months)
Developing and updating security systems and workflows. Translating systems from German to English and updating applications from desktop to web.
Software Support Specialist
Pi Consulting Service Limited
Aug 2014 - Sep 2014 (1 month)
Providing technical software support to clients and generating business intelligence reports. Debugging and troubleshooting system issues.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Nexford University
Master of Business Administration, Business Administration
2024 -
Pursuing an MBA with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, aimed at integrating AI technologies into business strategies and operations.
Scaled Agile Inc
Certification, Agile Practices
2023 - 2023
Achieved certification as a SAFe® 6 Practitioner, demonstrating knowledge of the Scaled Agile Framework for enterprise-level agile practices.
Scrum Alliance
Certification, Agile Methodologies
2020 - 2020
Earned the Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) certification, validating expertise in Scrum methodologies and practices.
Africa Nazarene University
Bachelor of Business and Information Technology, Business and Information Technology
2010 - 2014
Completed a Bachelor of Business and Information Technology, focusing on the intersection of business and technology to drive innovation.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Social media
Job categories
Skills
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