Anu Smalley on Blending Agile Mindsets with AI Tools
Agile coach Anu Smalley shares how teams can adopt AI tools without losing sight of empathy, trust, and purpose. This Agile2025 episode explores real-world stories of change, experimentation, and human-centered transformation.
Episode Overview
In this episode of AI Today, recorded live at the Agile2025 event, hosts Kathleen Walch and Avinash Dhanraj sit down with Anu Smalley, enterprise agile coach and organizational change leader, to explore how Agile teams can thoughtfully integrate AI into their workflows.
As part of our AI & Agile mini-series, this conversation explores how values like trust, empathy, and psychological safety remain essential—even as AI tools enter the picture. Anu shares her front-line experiences coaching teams to experiment responsibly, lead with intent, and avoid blindly automating poor processes.
Tune in to hear about:
- How Agile mindsets can guide teams adopting AI tools
- Why empathy and experimentation matter more than ever
- The dangers of automating without asking “why”
- How to build psychological safety in AI-assisted environments
- Why AI shouldn’t be feared—but also shouldn’t be treated as magic
- Real stories of Agile teams navigating AI-driven change
Whether you're a scrum master, enterprise coach, team leader, or project manager exploring AI, this episode offers grounded insights on staying human-centered in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Featured in This Episode

Anu Smalley
Enterprise Agile Coach and Certified Scrum Trainer®
As an Enterprise Agile Coach and Certified Scrum Trainer®, Anu offers education, coaching, and consulting services nationwide. With over 25 years in IT, Anu excels in large-scale agile transformations, notably contributing to the success of organizations like Capital One.
Her expertise extends to leadership coaching and facilitating large groups. She establishes internal agile coaching Centers of Excellence and designs coaching programs for evolving leaders.
Team KatAnu, the dynamic collaboration between Kate Megaw (ARCLight Agile CEO) and Anu Smalley (Capala Consulting CEO), specializes in Scrum and Facilitation training, coaching and consulting with a focus on Leadership Growth and Development.
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