Sjoerd Nijland

(he/him/his)

Xebia

Languages

Dutch
English

Netherlands

About Sjoerd

Sjoerd, a professional Trainer at Xebia Academy, is the founder of Serious Scrum and Road to Mastery and author of The Scrum Master Playbook. With a rich background in software engineering and e-commerce he has driven award-winning transformations for top brands and agencies, earning accolades such as Red Dot’s Best of the Best in E-Commerce and Webby nominations. As an Operational Manager and Scrum Master, he has guided organizations toward empirical product management. Known for his dynamic, interactive learning journeys, Sjoerd inspires teams to explore, innovate, and achieve sustainable growth in today’s fast-evolving, complex environments.

Professional Scrum Master

Other Services by Sjoerd

Coaching/Consulting
Private Courses

Upcoming Classes by Sjoerd

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Professional Scrum Master

In Person

Date: Mar 27-28, 2025

Language: English

Class Format: Traditional

Hilversum, Netherlands

Latest Blogs by Sjoerd

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My Journey to Becoming a PST: Lessons, Struggles, and Triumphs

In 2018, after over a decade of working with Scrum Teams, I attempted the PSM III exam, sparking a journey of deep learning and humility. Passing the exam revealed how much there was still to learn about Professional Scrum—characterized by empiricism, high standards, self-management, and the Scrum Values. Pursuing the path to becoming a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) was challenging, requiring extensive preparation, peer reviews, and overcoming failures like rejected essays and a failed exam retake. Mentorship and collaboration played a crucial role, with peers and trainers offering invaluable feedback. The journey emphasized storytelling, feedback, and balancing empathy with instructional clarity. Key lessons included embracing humility, lifelong learning, and the courage to challenge students to foster meaningful change. The PST experience was transformative, demanding persistence, resilience, and a commitment to continuous growth. Aspiring Scrum Masters are encouraged to embrace failure, seek mentorship, and explore practical training to deepen their Scrum mastery.

Jan 15, 2025