Igniting the Agile Spirit: The Honor and Legacy of the CEO Award

Within a year and a half of becoming a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST), I have successfully coached 235 CEOs to achieve their Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification. Many of them have demonstrated exceptional performance within their organizations, promoting Agile thinking and embedding it into their corporate cultures, thereby creating remarkable Agile success stories. The establishment of the Global Top Agile CEO Award aims to honor these outstanding CEOs, showcase their achievements to the world, and inspire other corporate leaders from around the globe to join the movement.

Within a year and a half of becoming a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST), I have successfully coached 235 CEOs to achieve their Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification. Many of them have demonstrated exceptional performance within their organizations, promoting Agile thinking and embedding it into their corporate cultures, thereby creating remarkable Agile success stories. The establishment of the Global Top Agile CEO Award aims to honor these outstanding CEOs, showcase their achievements to the world, and inspire other corporate leaders from around the globe to join the movement.

The 14 winners of the 2024 Global Top Agile CEO Award pose for a group photo with the founder, Dr. Long-Hung Chou (front row, fifth from the left), and former Premier Dr. Mao Chi-Kuo (front row, fourth from the left)
The 14 winners of the 2024 Global Top Agile CEO Award pose for a group photo with the founder, Dr. Roger Chou (front row, fifth from the left), and former Premier Dr. Mao Chi-Kuo (front row, fourth from the left)

List of Awardees: Representatives of Benchmark Enterprises and Outstanding CEOs

This year’s awardees include Ms. Cellina Yeh, President of Pfizer Taiwan, and Mr. Chung-Che Kuo, Director of Formosa Builders Inc. With 800 employees, Formosa Builders Inc is the largest construction company in southern Taiwan. These leaders have implemented Agile thinking within their organizations, setting a benchmark for their industries. The full list of awardees is as follows:

The list of this year’s awardees is as follows (arranged by the number of strokes in their names):

  1. I-Ching Chu, Business Solution Lead, SAS Taiwan
  2. Bright Wu, Executive Director, Taiwan Regional Cyber Risk, Aon Taiwan
  3. Youe-Ping Lee, Director, 4th River Management Office, Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs (Second Prize)
  4. Yu-Tang Shen, General Manager, Guojyu Fire Safety Equipment Co., Ltd.
  5. Vincent Wei-Chung Lin, General Manager, Yuan-Chih Management Consulting Co., Ltd.
  6. Chi-Tsung Chang, General Manager, Fast Bridge Information Services Co., Ltd.
  7. Chung-Che Kuo, Construction Director, Formosa Builders Inc. (Third Prize)
  8. Shu-Min Chen, Beautifruits Co., Ltd.
  9. Yen-Hui Chen, Chief Executive Officer, Front-Eco Technology CO., LTD.
  10. Hu-Mu Chen, Chairman, ESG Global Federation
  11. Arvin Huang, Founder & Brand Design Director, Existence Design Co., Ltd.
  12. Cellina Yeh, Country Manager, Pfizer Taiwan (First Prize)
  13. Yi-Lang Tsai, Chief Executive Officer, Shield eXtreme Co., Ltd.
  14. Joe Lou, Chief Executive Officer, Wavenet Technology CO., LTD.

Award Presentation Process: Creating Professionalism and Ceremony

To ensure the ceremony was both solemn and grand, last year’s inaugural event featured a morning forum followed by an afternoon banquet and award ceremony. However, the dual themes ended up diluting the focus. This year’s event adopted a more relaxed approach, combining the award presentation with the banquet. Additionally, former Premier Dr. Mao Chi-Kuo was invited to share his Agile management experience from the Taipei Lantern Festival, adding an inspiring touch to the occasion.

Day 3 of RSG: Agile CEO Award Ceremony and Banquet. A total of 230 people attended the banquet and award ceremony. Most attendees were from different groups than the 100 participants of the morning's World Café session.
Day 3 of RSG: Agile CEO Award Ceremony and Banquet. A total of 230 people attended the banquet and award ceremony. Most attendees were from different groups than the 100 participants of the morning’s World Café session
I presented a certificate of appreciation to former Premier Dr. Mao Chi-Kuo, thanking him for accepting our invitation and delivering a brief yet inspiring speech to the attendees.
I presented a certificate of appreciation to former Premier Dr. Mao Chi-Kuo, thanking him for accepting our invitation and delivering a brief yet inspiring speech to the attendees

Highlights of the Award Ceremony: Specially Designed Ritual Movements

The award ceremony lasted only two hours, but the preparation spanned six months. Eleven awardees took the stage one by one to display the symbolic “33355” hand gesture and raise their glasses with both hands, adding a sense of ceremony. This was followed by the presentation of awards for third place, second place, and first place, along with group photos. The atmosphere was both solemn and celebratory.

The top three awardees were: Cellina Yeh, Country Manager, Pfizer Taiwan (second from the left); Mr. Youe-Ping Lee, 4th River Management Office, Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs (first from the right); and Mr. Chung-Che Kuo, Construction Director, Formosa Builders Inc. (first from the left)
The top three awardees were: Cellina Yeh, Country Manager, Pfizer Taiwan (second from the left); Mr. Youe-Ping Lee, 4th River Management Office, Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs (first from the right); and Mr. Chung-Che Kuo, Construction Director, Formosa Builders Inc. (first from the left)
The top 11 winners of the Global Top Agile CEO Award pose for a group photo with the award founder, the Taiwan Scrum Ambassador.
The top 11 winners of the Global Top Agile CEO Award pose for a group photo with the award founder, the Taiwan Scrum Ambassador

Agile Insights and Award-Winning Video Highlights: Success Strategies of the Winners

After the awards ceremony, the winners participated in media interviews, sharing their “Agile Quotes”—succinct mottos representing their paths to success. Each winner took two minutes to highlight the key factors behind their achievements, focusing on the importance of Agile management. Surrounded by friends and family, they celebrated this moment of recognition.

This year’s trophy, crafted in transparent glass, symbolizes the passing of a torch. Winners raised their trophies high with one hand, akin to Olympic athletes carrying the torch, signifying their commitment to spreading and sustaining the Agile spirit.

A YouTube playlist voluntarily shared by the top Agile CEO winners features numerous practical success stories, offering invaluable insights into real-world Agile applications.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuNFMslGIstyIT_wYBwhX0N-ORjUN6c9v

RSG and the CEO Awards: Seamlessly Integrated Dual Events

The RSG event and the CEO Awards were held at the same venue but catered to different audiences. RSG attracted mid-level and grassroots participants, while the CEO Awards focused on mid-to-senior-level leaders. This arrangement not only ensured a seamless flow between the two events but also provided an opportunity for Agile practitioners at different levels to observe and learn from one another.

On the third morning of RSG, an in-person World Café session was held, with 100 participants actively engaging in discussions.
On the third morning of RSG, an in-person World Café session was held, with 100 participants actively engaging in discussions

Volunteer Contributions: Scrum in Action Behind the Success of the Ceremony

Behind the grandeur of an international-level award ceremony was the long-term dedication of a team of unpaid volunteers, whose hard work brought the event to life. We had a panel of 10 distinguished judges, including a few first-year awardees, and I also invited the RSG Product Owner to join the panel. Their efforts, especially during a continuous holiday and within just three weeks, were instrumental in selecting the best candidates for this year’s awards. Their commitment and efficiency were truly remarkable.

The judging panel conducted several rounds of selection meetings, ultimately finalizing the awardees through a system that was both open and transparent.
The judging panel conducted several rounds of selection meetings, ultimately finalizing the awardees through a system that was both open and transparent

This event was supported by a volunteer team of just eight individuals, who fully embraced the Scrum framework to drive the project forward. Following the five Scrum events—weekly Sprint Planning, Daily Scrums, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives—they ensured smooth progress throughout the project. Despite meetings extending late into the night, the volunteers remained fully committed, contributing their efforts to the success of the ceremony. Along the way, they not only achieved their goals but also forged strong bonds of camaraderie through their shared dedication and teamwork.

The eight volunteers held uninterrupted weekly Scrum meetings, fostering collaboration and commitment. Over time, their shared efforts and dedication transformed them into close friends bonded by a spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose.
The eight volunteers held uninterrupted weekly Scrum meetings, fostering collaboration and commitment. Over time, their shared efforts and dedication transformed them into close friends bonded by a spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose

During the award ceremony, all the volunteers were so focused on their tasks that they had no time to eat. To make up for it, we had a “post-ceremony meal” afterward, celebrating both the success of the event and the team’s hard work.

The hardworking volunteers of the CEO Awards gathered for a meal together after the ceremony. From left to right in the front row: Hsin-Jung, myself, Mi-Jin, Jesse, Jia Jiazi, and Pei-Fan. In the second row, from left to right: Fu-Ling, Ting-Ying, Yi-Wen, and Lindy.
The hardworking volunteers of the CEO Awards gathered for a meal together after the ceremony. From left to right in the front row: Hsin-Jung, myself, Mi-Jin, Jesse, Jia Jiazi, and Pei-Fan. In the second row, from left to right: Fu-Ling, Ting-Ying, Yi-Wen, and Lindy

A PO’s Perspective: A Classic Case of Successful Agile Practice

As the Product Owner (PO), I participated in the volunteers’ Sprint Reviews and received detailed progress updates. The entire event became a shining example of successful Agile practice, demonstrating the practical value of Scrum in event management. This hands-on application of Scrum principles showcased how transparency, iterative progress, and collaboration can lead to exceptional results in real-world scenarios.

Broadcast on Era TV

The program was broadcast on Era TV on November 30, 2024.

The 2024 Global Top Agile CEO Awards Ceremony

At the same time, volunteers used an AI system to convert the content into an international English version, providing both spoken English and English subtitles. After many international friends received the video, they wrote in, expressing their desire to contribute to the CEO Awards.

English Ver_ 2024 Global Top Agile CEO Awards Ceremony TV Program

2024 Top Agile CEO Award: International Media Coverage

2024 Top Agile CEO Award: Domestic Media Coverage

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