Carolyn Johnson
Carolyn Johnson is an accomplished Agile Coach, Scrum Master, and Team Lead with over three decades of experience in software development and project management. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare from California State University, Los Angeles, and a certificate in Data Processing with a concentration in Computer Programming from Pasadena City College, where she graduated with honors for superior achievement. Carolyn began her career as a software and applications developer in mainframe environments, mastering technologies such as COBOL, CICS, VSAM, DB2, and SQL, and quickly earned the respect and trust of her teams for her technical expertise and leadership skills.
Over the past nine years, Carolyn has excelled as a Scrum Master and Agile Coach, guiding cross-functional teams through Agile transformations across multiple frameworks, including Scrum, Kanban, LeSS, and SAFe. She has successfully facilitated the adoption of Agile principles, promoted continuous improvement through CI/CD and DevOps practices, and delivered value to clients in a variety of industries, including military and aerospace, data analytics, and finance. Her work includes leading teams on complex projects such as the Patriot Excalibur Project for the USAF, coaching engineering teams at Lockheed Martin, and implementing SAFe practices for the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Carolyn is known for cultivating collaboration, communication, and self-organization among teams while removing obstacles to ensure successful project delivery.
Beyond her professional achievements, Carolyn is dedicated to continuous learning and community service. She is an Advanced Certified Scrum Master and actively mentors others in Agile practices, while also giving back through donations to organizations such as City of Hope and the VFW. In her personal life, she enjoys traveling and video editing through her RSVP video production hobby. Carolyn’s career reflects a commitment to solving complex challenges, fostering high-performing teams, and making meaningful contributions both professionally and in her community.
• Advanced Certified Scrum Master
• California State University, Los Angeles - BA
• Honors for Superior Achievement In Data Processing
• City of Hope in California
• VFW
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my drive and motivation. I have always been committed to achieving my goals and striving for excellence in everything I do.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering this industry to be strong and dedicated. It’s important to demonstrate that you can handle the work, stay organized, and keep on top of tasks. I also recommend learning as much as you can about programming and data to build a solid foundation for success.