As a visionary in the field of agile program management, Samant Kumar has been recognized with the prestigious title of “Most Pioneering Agile Program Manager of the Year 2024” by Ctoday Awards. This accolade comes as a testament to his two decades of dedication, technical expertise, and relentless drive to push the boundaries of agile practices. His leadership journey across IT giants like IBM and Capgemini has been marked by innovation, adaptability, and a deep understanding of project management dynamics, making him a trailblazer in transforming how organizations approach agile methodologies.

Selected for Unyielding Commitment to Excellence

As an Agile Program Manager at Capgemini, Samant’s career exemplifies a commitment to embracing the ever-changing landscape of technology and project management. Starting as a System Engineer at IBM and later excelling in roles like Technical Lead, Project Manager, Program Manager and Portfolio Manager, his trajectory reflects not just experience but the ability to continuously evolve. In Capgemini, he has successfully taken on the challenges of leading complex programs across various portfolios. What stands out about Samant is his agility—not just in managing projects but in re-learning, adapting to new tools like Jira align, Azure DevOps (ADO), MIRO, MURAL and Confluence, and always being at the forefront of technology innovations. Samant believes that collaboration and communication across teams are key to success, and his ability to foster teamwork while ensuring alignment with business goals has contributed significantly to his recognition.

Why Samant Kumar Deserves the Title of “Most Pioneering Agile Program Manager of the Year 2024”

Collaborative Leadership and Team Empowerment

Samant places immense value on collaboration, often breaking down silos to bring cross-functional teams together. He leads innovative Program Increment (PI) Planning sessions, Hackathons, performance improvement techniques, stand-ups, and retrospectives to ensure alignment across all levels and constant improvements. His commitment to real-time updates and analystics through Azure DevOps and Jira ensures transparency and swift issue resolution, empowering his teams to consistently exceed their targets.

Strategic Innovation in Agile Practices

Known for his pioneering approach to agile management, Samant Kumar’s ability to blend traditional project management with agile frameworks has made him a sought-after leader in his field. Samant has been a driving force behind numerous digital and agile transformation complex programs.. He has continually advanced the use of agile tools, from leveraging Jira/ADO for backlog management to utilizing GitLab CI/CD and other leading software for continuous integration and deployment. His innovative mindset ensures that teams remain agile, adaptive, and highly efficient. This forward-thinking approach has earned him multiple accolades, including the prestigious Globee Award in Technology and recognition from leading organizations as a judge and speaker in agile and project management conferences/symposiums and Hackathons. He is a Fellow member of The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) and serves as an advisory board member for both Harvard Business Review (HBR) and the PEX Process Network. Additionally, he has multiple scholarly publications in IGI Global, DZone, and the PEX Network.

Resilience and Passion for Continuous Improvement

What sets Samant apart is his resilience in the face of challenges. He believes that every obstacle presents an opportunity for learning and growth. His emphasis on continuous improvement has not only benefited his teams at Capgemini but also inspired a broader community of IT professionals. Samant’s ability to navigate complex projects with calm determination and his relentless pursuit of excellence are why he remains a highly respected figure in the agile space.

A Life of Purpose and Advice to Aspiring Leaders

For Samant, being recognized as the ‘Most Pioneering Agile Program Manager of the Year 2024’ is both humbling and motivating. It reinforces his passion for leadership, agile innovation, and team collaboration. He sees this award as a reminder to continue mentoring future leaders, pushing the boundaries of agile practices, and sharing his knowledge within the industry. His advice to aspiring program managers is to embrace continuous learning, obtain certifications like SAFe SPC, SSM and PMI-ACP, and cultivate soft skills such as emotional intelligence. Samant emphasizes the importance of staying current with industry trends, engaging with agile communities, and fostering a growth mindset.