Esther Derby is recognized as one of the leading experts on retrospectives. Esther, Norm Kerth and Diana Larsen founded the Annual International Retrospective Facilitators Gathering in 2001. Esther is also well known for her work in helping teams grow to new levels of productivity and coaching technical people who are making the transition to management. Esther’s clients value her expertise, pragmatic approach, and her ability to reframe difficult interactions toward creative possibilities.

She started her professional career as a programmer and now focuses on interpersonal communication, self-organizing teams, and group dynamics.

Esther is co-author (with Diana Larsen) of Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great (Pragmatic Programmers, 2006). She also co-authored Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management (Pragmatic Programmers, 2005). Esther has also published over 75 articles and columns. Esther is one of the founders of the Scrum Alliance and a founding host of the AYE Conference. She has an MA in Organizational Leadership.

Esther partners with an extended network of clients, including Futureworks Consulting, Rothman Consulting Group, and Gerald M. Weinberg.

Diana Larsen has been identified as a standard-setting consultant by clients, an exceptional facilitator by colleagues, and the “best boss” by former employees. Diana partners with leaders of software development projects, IT/IS departments and other technical groups to strengthen their ability to create and maintain company culture, inspire organizational change, and improve project performance. As a specialist in the human and organizational side of software development, Diana advises and consults with directors, program and project managers, team leaders, team coaches, and other leaders. Together, she and her clients establish collaborative workplaces that incite innovation and realize business results while developing and dignifying people.

Diana co-authored Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great and leads teams through starting projects with chartering and planning to continuous improvement with retrospectives. She has special expertise in using Appreciative Inquiry approaches, Open Space Technology, and other innovative group processes. She has qualified to administer psychological type instruments and her degree is in Organizational Communication from Lewis and Clark College. Diana is a former board member of the Agile Alliance, an active member of the Agile Project Leadership Network, and serves on boards and planning committees for several conferences.

Clients are drawn to Diana because of her experience and expertise, and continue to partner with her because of her candor and willingness to explore uncharted territory and innovative solutions. Diana connects and collaborates with an extended network of experienced colleagues beyond her firm, FutureWorks Consulting LLC, including The Institute for Collaborative Leadership; Cutter Consortium, and Esther Derby Associates.