FRONT ROW AT THE BACKEND
Great that you have arrived, these are the best seats in the house!
EMBRACING AGILITY IN ENERGY TECH WITH ILSE VAN BAARDWIJK
In this episode of *Essent's Front Row at the Backend*, host JP (Jan-Pieter), a DevOps engineer at Essent, dives deep into the real-world application of agility at an energy tech company. JP is joined by Ilse van Baardwijk, an Agile Coach, who shares hands-on insights into how agile practices are reshaping Essent’s IT department, especially in the context of rapid market and technological shifts.
EMBRACING AGILITY TO ADAPT AND THRIVE
Agility at Essent is more than just a buzzword; it’s a way of life. Ilse explains how their agile approach has evolved significantly over the last few years. In a market like energy, where regulations and consumer demands shift quickly, the ability to pivot is crucial. She shares an example where government regulations disrupted their existing plans, forcing them to throw out three months' worth of planning and start over in a single day. This ability to "pivot on a dime," Ilse says, is key to staying competitive and efficient.
CHANGING MINDSETS: PLANS ARE FLEXIBLE, PRIORITIES AREN'T
For many team members, adapting to frequent changes was initially challenging. Ilse describes a noticeable shift in mindset as teams began to embrace flexibility, prioritizing responsiveness over rigid planning. This approach encourages teams to focus on the most important tasks and adapt as priorities shift. “Plans sometimes end up in the bin,” JP laughs, but as Ilse notes, this adaptability is critical for long-term success.
TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION AND STREAMLINING WITH CLOUD
The transition to cloud-based architecture has also been a major area of focus at Essent. Moving from on-premise systems to cloud solutions allows teams to innovate faster. However, this shift also brought some growing pains—like longer wait times for cloud account setups. To streamline this process, Essent created an "Empower ART" team, responsible for providing reusable tools and resources that simplify workflows for engineers and ensure quicker access to the cloud.
AUTONOMY AND SELF-SELECTION: BUILDING TEAMS THAT THRIVE
In a unique move, Essent empowers its employees to choose their own teams through “self-selection workshops.” Ilse explains how this approach allows team members to find a purpose-driven fit, fostering motivation and collaboration. She emphasizes that self-selection cultivates a sense of belonging and ensures that each team is more cohesive and committed to its goals.
AST FEEDBACK LOOPS AND CUSTOMER-CENTRIC IMPROVEMENTS
One powerful example of agile success came from the app development team. They launched a new app feature, listened closely to user feedback, and made quick adjustments. In a week, a customer who left a one-star review upgraded it to five stars after the team resolved the specific issue highlighted. For the developers, this experience was a validation of agile’s core principle: adapt quickly and make the customer the priority.
MANAGEMENT ALIGNMENT: BRIDGING THE GAP WITH ENGINEERING
Ilse and JP also discuss the new *Nerd Pod*, a program designed to help managers without technical backgrounds better understand the engineering side of the business. Managers now undergo training on software development basics, bridging the gap between tech teams and leadership. It’s an initiative that fosters empathy and mutual understanding, bringing everyone onto the same page.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The next episode of the Essent Front Row at the Backend podcast is still a surprise, JP will explore how Essent is making life easier for its developers. But the guest is still a surprise! Stay tuned for more :).