Agile and Project Management - DrunkenPM Radio

Endava set out to reinvent how IT services get delivered in an AI-native world. Dava.X.AI is the group inside Endava driving that shift. Miro is the workspace they're building it on. Together they've shipped Davaflow — an AI engagement lifecycle that runs from signal to explore to govern to evolve, with humans and agents working alongside each other the whole way.
On the latest drunkenPM Radio, Matt Cloke (CTO, Endava), Joe Dunleavy (Global Head of Dava.X.AI), and Dave Ross (Evangelist at Miro) talk about how the three came together, what real partnership looks like when two roadmaps quietly merge into one journey, and what it took to actually make it work.
Full episode is live.

Takeaways
- Reframe from value capture to value creation — don't use AI to make existing processes 10–15% better, reimagine the work entirely from an AI-first perspective.
- IT services hit its "ChatGPT moment" two years ago when clients and analysts started asking Endava why they were needed if AI could just write the code.
- AI is becoming a method, not a tool — just as Agile organized humans to do work, this new method organizes agents and the people working alongside them.
- The technology question is largely settled; the change management question isn't — quality has hit the inflection point, and what remains is the human shift, much like Waterfall-to-Agile.
- DavaFlow runs in four phases — Signal, Explore, Govern, and Evolve — moving from identifying the right problem, through virtual personas and prototypes, to governing agent output, to evolving in production.
- Chat is the wrong interface for most of this work — humans are visual creatures, and tools like Miro give LLMs context that a chat box never could.
- AI-driven work can produce better traceability than humans ever did — every decision and prototype connects back through the chain of thought, what Joe called "traceability on steroids."
- Anyone can buy the tools — what separates enterprise work from vibe-coding chaos is policy-as-code, defined skills, and human-in-the-loop checkpoints.
- Adoption happens in baby steps, not the full vision — showing people the end of the journey overwhelms them, so start at signal and layer in each next step.
- The hardest part is the identity question — engineers liked writing code and designers liked crafting prototypes, and the shift is a growth-mindset problem, not a skills problem.

Links from the Podcast
Endava: https://www.endava.com/
Dava.X.AI https://www.endava.com/dava-x/dava-x-ai
Miro: https://miro.com/index/

Upcoming Miro Canvas Events
Main Canvas 2026 landing page: https://canvas.miro.com/
Register for the streaming event on May 19 where Joe will be speaking:  https://canvas.miro.com/sanfrancisco/virtual-keynote
Register for the in-person event on May 19th in San Francisco where Joe is speaking live:  https://canvas.miro.com/sanfrancisco
Register for the in-person event on June 2nd in London where Matt will be speaking live: https://canvas.miro.com/london
Register for the in-person event on June 16th in Sydney where Wesley Fagan the APAC SVP for Strategy and Chief Design Officer at Endava will be speaking live: https://canvas.miro.com/sydney

Contacting the Guests
Matt Cloke https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcloke/
Joe Dunleavy https://www.linkedin.com/in/joedunleavy/
Dave Ross https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmross/
Dave Prior https://linktr.ee/mrsungo

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Endava and AI Transformation
08:54 Navigating the AI Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities
17:52 The Evolution of Miro and AI Integration
24:00 Dava Flow: The AI Engagement Lifecycle
25:49 The Power of Visual Context in AI
27:03 Enhancing Contextual Understanding with AI
29:12 Temporal Dimensions in Decision Making
31:27 Navigating Change in Organizational Mindsets
35:40 Demonstrating Value to the C-Suite
38:13 Embracing the Future of Work
41:09 Amplifying Human Creativity with AI

In this engaging conversation, Dave interviews Nic Sementa about his new book, 'Breathing Ego,' which serves as a guided workbook for leaders under pressure. Nic shares his journey from a young salesman to a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of managing egos in leadership. He discusses the balance between servant leadership and command-and-control styles, the impact of AI on leadership dynamics, and the transition from being an entrepreneur to an employer. Nic also reflects on his failures and the lessons learned, advocating for radical self-responsibility in leadership. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of leadership, responsibility, and self-perception. They discuss the importance of taking ownership of one's role as a leader, the challenges of navigating ego, and the necessity of creating safe spaces for teams. The dialogue emphasizes the value of empowering employees through trust and the significance of self-kindness in leadership. The speakers also reflect on the entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the lessons learned from failure and the importance of resilience.

Key Takeaways

- Ego management is crucial for effective leadership.
- A healthy ego is necessary for personal and professional growth.
- The book 'Breathing Ego' is designed for leaders managing others.
- AI can serve as a double-edged sword in leadership dynamics.
- Transitioning from entrepreneur to employer changes risk tolerance.
- Failures in management can lead to valuable lessons.
- Radical self-responsibility is key for leaders.
- The journey of leadership is about playing the game, not just winning.
- Legacy involves creating a strong family and business to support each other.
- Leadership involves taking responsibility for the team's challenges.
- Self-perception can be influenced by the ego and external validation.
- Creating safe spaces requires a proactive approach from leaders.
- Empowering teams means trusting them to perform without micromanagement.
- Failure is a crucial part of the learning process for entrepreneurs.
- The journey of entrepreneurship often involves overcoming significant obstacles.
- Self-kindness is essential for effective leadership and team dynamics.
- Understanding one's limitations can enhance hiring practices.
- Conflict resolution skills are vital for maintaining team harmony.
- The narrative of self-worth should not be tied to external validation.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nic Sementa and His Book
02:19 Nic's Background and Journey
04:42 The Concept of Ego in Leadership
08:04 Managing Egos: Balancing Leadership Styles
12:57 The Role of AI in Leadership
15:43 The Journey from Entrepreneur to Employer
20:50 Learning from Failures in Management
23:58 Radical Self-Responsibility in Leadership
24:55 The Role of Leadership in Responsibility
25:44 Navigating Ego and Self-Perception
28:02 Creating Safe Spaces as a Leader
30:00 Empowering Teams Through Trust
32:04 Embracing Failure as a Learning Tool
34:19 The Journey of an Entrepreneur
36:24 The Importance of Self-Kindness in Leadership

Nic’s Book
Breathing Ego https://tinyurl.com/2c4mhvmp

Contacting Nic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic-sementa-2753242b/

Contacting Dave
https://linktr.ee/mrsungo

Links from the Intro
Systems of Imperfection - Discovering Your Superpowers
https://www.gsgvan26.com/agenda/session/1821410

Ai Readiness for Project Managers
https://beforeaiready.com

Recording of Gain Confidence as an AI Ready Project Manager
https://maven.com/p/4ac5d0/gain-confidence-as-an-ai-ready-project-manager

In this episode, Stu and Dave discuss the power of storytelling, the impact of AI on project management, time management strategies, upcoming training sessions, and their activities at the Vancouver Scrum Gathering.

Global Scrum Gathering Vancouver 2026 - May 3-6
https://www.scrumalliance.org/events/global

Dave's Sessions

Gain Confidence as an AI Ready Project Manager - April 28 11 AM Eastern https://maven.com/p/4ac5d0/gain-confidence-as-an-ai-ready-project-manager

AI Ready Project Manager One Day Accelerator - May 23
https://maven.com/c4g-academy/ai-ready-project-manager

Dave's Scrum Certification Classes:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/dave-prior-classes-4758623

Stuart's Sessions
Visual Thinking for Effective Collaboration - April 27
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/stuartyoungtrainingltd/2090279

All Stu's upcoming classes
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/stuartyoungtrainingltd

Find Stuart https://linktr.ee/stuartliveart

Find Dave https://linktr.ee/mrsungo

No One Is Coming to Save You: The Power-Ups you need to surf the chaos

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yv7chp54
Leanpub: https://leanpub.com/surfthechaos

Braden Cundiff joins Dave to explore some of the emerging ways AI tools can be used to support project management, including RAG and CAG approaches. During the interview they cover what they are, how they are different, and how they can transform organizational processes. The discussion covers practical applications, ethical considerations, and strategies for learning AI effectively.

Key Topics

Differences between RAG and CAG in AI
Practical applications of AI in project management
Ethical considerations in AI deployment
Strategies for learning and adopting AI technologies

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Project Management
00:55 Meet the Expert: Brayden Cundiff and BloomFilter
01:56 BloomFilter's Role in AI and SDLC Integration
03:52 AI as a Scrum Master: Enhancing Agile Processes
05:09 Limitations of ChatGPT for Project Contexts
05:37 Understanding RAG and CAG Approaches
18:27 Differences Between RAG and CAG Explained
23:05 Implementing CAG for Consistent AI Responses
29:01 Security, Bias, and Ethical Considerations in AI
34:06 Learning AI: Resources and Strategies
42:46 Closing Remarks and Next Steps

LInks

AI Ready for PMs - One Day Accelerator https://www.beforeaiready.com/
BloomFilter AI - https://bloomfilter.ai

Contacting Braden
Braden’s Book - Flip: Projects to Products: A Problem Playbook https://tinyurl.com/599y6fpf
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braden-cundiff-52479121/

This episode explores the integration of AI into enterprise, project management in the AI era, and future skills needed to thrive alongside AI. Guests share insights on AI readiness, skill development, and upcoming training opportunities.

Takeaways

AI readiness programs provide valuable insights into enterprise AI adoption
Project managers need to adapt to AI-driven workflows or risk obsolescence
Developing visual thinking skills enhances communication and collaboration in AI contexts

Chapters

00:00 Skills in the Age of AI
02:16 The Role of Project Management in AI
03:41 Future Trends and Skills Investment
05:04 Systems of Imperfection Podcast Introduction
06:29 Visual Thinking and Communication

Links

AI Ready Certification by C4G Enterprises - https://maven.com/c4g-academy/ai-ready
Systems of Imperfection Podcast - https://systemsofimperfection.riverside.com/
The Responsive Chord by Tony Schwartz https://tinyurl.com/4sb4kcvj

Find Stuart 
linktr.ee/stuartliveart

Find Dave 
linktr.ee/mrsungo
To get a discount on upcoming classes just email [email protected]

No One Is Coming to Save You: The Power-Ups you need to surf the chaos
Amazon: tinyurl.com/yv7chp54
Leanpub: leanpub.com/surfthechaos

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