The Bring Your Own Directions podcast is back with another insightful episode. This time, Björn (Co-CEO of resolution) sits down with Chris Boys, CEO and Founder of Umano, to discuss data-driven strategies that help engineering teams maximize their performance while staying agile and joyful in their work.
Meet Our Guest: Chris Boys, CEO of Umano
Chris is passionate about creating high-performing software teams through a blend of metrics, culture, and continuous improvement. Drawing on his experience as a product leader, agile coach, and founder of Umano, Chris shares how AI-driven insights can help companies pivot faster, keep their developer teams happy, and sustain growth—especially in distributed or rapidly scaling environments.
In this episode, Chris walks us through:
- How Umano analyzes data from daily development workflows
- The role of AI insights (Ojo) in identifying bottlenecks
- Why standup meetings can be a catalyst for agility—or a source of frustration
- How a data-first mindset pairs with lean, human-centric agile practices
Key Topics from the Episode
1. Embracing Data for Agile Teamwork
- How Umano’s platform captures quantitative metrics (e.g., review times, code commits) and qualitative feedback (e.g., short surveys, retro insights)
- Mapping these metrics to agile ceremonies like planning, standups, and retros, so teams can course-correct fast
- Why data should serve the team—not become a bureaucratic burden
2. Ojo: The AI-Powered Team Coach
- Chris introduces Ojo, an AI agent that offers personalized observations and guidance based on a team’s metrics
- How Ojo helps leaders like scrum masters, tech leads, or engineering managers spot red flags early
- Converting data insights into actionable improvements—without micromanaging developers
3. Best (and Worst) Practices for Standups
- Why a quick, well-prepared standup is crucial for distributed teams
- When standups become too long, too detailed, or purely social—and how that kills focus
- Tips on active listening, ensuring everyone is engaged, and focusing on the sprint goal
4. Continuous Learning and Avoiding “Agile Bureaucracy”
- The irony of agile: frameworks can overemphasize process over people
- Balancing metrics with psychological safety—making sure data informs decisions rather than dictating them
- Chris’s insights on building an environment of experimentation, trust, and adaptation at every level
5. Expanding into New Markets: The India Case Study
- Chris shares his journey in data-driven market research—why he chose India as a key growth target for Umano
- Boots-on-the-ground approach: mixing quantitative market stats with qualitative conversations
- Deciding on a channel partner strategy to accelerate market entry
Key Takeaways
- Data is a mirror: Effective metrics show a team how they’re performing, but real change only happens when teams choose to act on those insights.
- AI can amplify agility: Tools like Ojo give targeted prompts to save time, highlight risks, and nudge teams in the right direction.
- Respect over process: Long, unfocused meetings create multitasking and disengagement. Keep standups short, relevant, and respectful.
- Principles over rules: Avoid letting an “agile bureaucracy” stifle creativity. Let principles guide your processes and adapt them to fit your team.
- Market growth via data: Chris’s expansion into India shows how blending quantitative analytics and on-the-ground conversations drives better decisions.
Final Thoughts
From cultivating psychologically safe standups to adopting AI-driven insights for faster course corrections, Chris’s perspective underscores the power of lean, continuous learning in today’s fast-paced development world. Whether your team is fully remote, co-located, or rapidly scaling into new markets, data should serve your agility—not limit it.
Listen to the full episode here: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Youtube
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