Embracing New Horizons: My Journey Beyond Bank of America

By: Ron Smith

As I reflect on my time at Bank of America, I can't help but feel immense gratitude for the opportunities I had and the incredible people I had the privilege to work with. The journey has been nothing short of transformative, both for me personally and for the teams I had the honor to lead.


When I first joined Bank of America as a contract employee within the Global Investigations organization (GIN), it was initially planned as a one-year engagement. After being told I would be extending my tenure for another six months, my peers and managers encouraged me to explore new opportunities within the bank, particularly in roles as an RTE (Release Train Engineer) or Senior Agile Coach at the end of my tenure. It was an exciting prospect. Unfortunately, my journey took an unforeseen turn with early contractor mass releases.

My journey within GIN was marked by incredible achievements and personal growth. I had the privilege of working with a dedicated team, and together, we embarked on a mission to bring maturity to our processes and practices. We embraced agility, aligning our goals with the broader vision, and solidifying Agile principles that would shape our future.

One of the highlights of my time at Bank of America was the opportunity to work closely with Business Analysts (BAs) and Product Owners (POs). I played a pivotal role in clarifying and enhancing the BA's role, mentoring POs, and aligning everyone with Agile values and practices.

Our efforts bore fruit as we witnessed a measurable increase in predictability and value delivery. It was a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team. On another front, I had the privilege of taking a siloed enabler team, which had been grappling with bottlenecks and Agile delivery challenges, and transforming them into a high-performing Agile team. Our focus shifted to continuous delivery, and we embraced Agile practices that aligned us with our goals.

During my tenure, I initiated and hosted the Scrum Master Community of Practice (COP) at the train level, contributing to the collective learning and growth of our Agile community. I also played a role in documenting best practices for Product Owners (POs) and onboarded new Senior Agile Coaches and Release Train Engineers (RTEs). Mentoring existing and new Scrum Masters, both within and outside our organization, was a gratifying experience.

As I bid farewell to my colleagues and embark on new adventures, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the warmth, camaraderie, and shared commitment to excellence that defined my time at Bank of America. I've gathered some heartfelt parting comments and recognition from my managers and peers. You can read through some here: DOCUMENT



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