50, Fast and Fearless: Susan Abishara's Agile Book Launch and Birthday Celebration
Susan Abishara is FromHereOn’s Global Agility Practice Lead. Recently, FromHereOn was proud to host an intimate gathering of Susan's closest friends, family and colleagues to celebrate her 50th birthday and the launch of her book, "Is This the End of Agility?".
Why Write a Book, and Why Such a Contentious Title?
You might wonder why Susan, with her 30 years of experience in the market and 20 years specialising in agility, would choose to write a book with such a contentious title. Well, it's because she has an undeniable knack for cutting through the noise, like a chainsaw through a birthday cake. She believes that turning strategy into execution is the number one problem facing organisations today, and it's about time someone addressed this tension head-on.
Turning 50 and reflecting on her life, Susan decided to take control of her narrative and address the challenges she faced in the technology industry, where ageism is still an unspoken issue.
Susan candidly states, "I wanted to write my own narrative, tell my own story." She found solace and energy in stepping out of her comfort zone and exploring the unknown. "I really enjoyed the process as it forced me to think about what 'do I do,' how do I add value, and what can I bring to an organisation," she says.
Writing the book after redundancy and uncertainty, Susan has shown that age is no barrier to success. Embracing the fear and stepping into the unknown, she crafted a resource that not only showcases her expertise but also inspires others to take charge of their own narratives, regardless of the challenges they face. Susan's story serves as an empowering reminder that we can all write our own narrative and make a difference, no matter our age or circumstances.
Her book explores organisations that have tried to solve this problem using agility. She organises the topic into five thought-provoking parts:
Is this THE END of agility – what went wrong?
WHO has achieved agility mastery?
WHAT is agility and the most common pitfalls?
Put the WHY into your agility journey.
HOW to custom design your agility journey.
Susan's writing style is a delightful mix of humour and wisdom, leaving no stone unturned as she emphasises the importance of asking questions and examining both the positive and negative aspects of agile methodologies.
The reviews are in
Since the event, here’s what people are saying about “Is This the End of Agility?”:
It's packed with hands-on advice: Readers love how Susan shares practical tips and tricks that they can use in their work or organisations, helping them up their agility game and make smarter decisions.
It challenges the status quo: Susan isn't afraid to question the conventional thinking on agility. She encourages readers to engage in healthy debates and think critically, leading to more effective and innovative approaches.
Her writing style is a breath of fresh air: Susan's honest, engaging writing style resonates with a wide range of readers, even those who aren't experts in agile methodologies.
Real-world examples make it relatable: Susan includes real-life examples and case studies that help readers understand the concepts and apply them in their own work.
Susan knows her stuff: With extensive experience in the field, Susan offers an expert perspective that lends credibility to her book, so readers know they're learning from someone who's been there and done that.
It's relevant for all sorts of roles: Susan's book isn't just for agile practitioners—it's also perfect for entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals across various industries who want to improve their understanding of agility.
Reading for good: Supporting Women in STEM Fields
Our event also aimed to raise awareness and support for a meaningful cause. All proceeds from the book sales and donations go towards STEM Sisters (https://stemsisters.org.au/), an organisation that empowers women in STEM. Dr. Morley Muse and Dr. Ruwangi Fernando from iSTEM Co. stood up and shared inspiring insights into their project, which aims to smash discrimination in the workplace.
iSTEM is a local start-up with big plans. However, funding is not easy. In 2021 in Australia, a record-breaking $10 billion of venture capital funding was raised, but only 0.03% was accessed by Black women/Women of Colour. This is not acceptable, iSTEM is currently creating a new recruitment platform, DEIR, that removes biases from the recruitment process by de-identifying names, gender, and geographical identity of education, while supporting women during this journey to stay strong. The event aimed to help those brave enough to make a difference, like STEM Sisters and iSTEM.
Secure your copy and learn directly from Susan
The launch was with filled with thought-provoking discussions and a shared commitment to making a difference to transformation and beyond. To secure your copy of “Is This the End of Agility” and support women in STEM, follow this link.