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Project Manager vs Scrum Master – Roles, Differences, and Career Paths Explained
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Jun 27, 2025
ot sure whether to pursue a career as a Project Manager or a Scrum Master? In this video, we’ll break down both roles, highlight their responsibilities, compare their leadership styles, and walk through the career paths and certifications associated with each. Whether you’re new to project management or trying to figure out your next move, this video will give you clarity on which path might be right for you. Why Watch This Video? Understanding the difference between a Project Manager and a Scrum Master can help you make a confident career choice, prepare for certifications, or navigate hybrid project environments where both roles can thrive. In This Video: - What a Project Manager does and how they lead projects across industries - What a Scrum Master does in an Agile environment and how they support Scrum teams - Key similarities between the two roles - Major differences in authority, responsibilities, and tools - Career path options for Project Managers and Scrum Masters - Recommended certifications include PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP, CSM, SAFe Agilist, and more - Guidance on choosing the role that fits your strengths and interests Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:38 What is a Project Manager? 1:59 What is a Scrum Master? 3:05 Similarities 3:38 Differences
View Video Transcript
0:00
are you curious about the roles of a
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project manager and a scrum master maybe
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you're exploring a career in one of
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these roles but aren't sure which is
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right for you welcome to this deep dive
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into project manager versus scrum master
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in this video we'll explore what these
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roles are how they differ and where they
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overlap we'll also touch on the career
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paths for each role so if you're
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considering either you'll leave with a
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clear sense of direction and don't miss
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the end where we discuss key
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certifications that can help you advance
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in your career and help you determine
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which role is best for you let's dive in
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a project manager is the driving force
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behind a project success they oversee
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the project from initiation to closure
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and are responsible for balancing the
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big three scope time and cost but what
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does that actually mean imagine you're
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tasked with organizing a charity event
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the project manager defines what the
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event will include creates a timeline
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manages the budget and ensures
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everything runs smoothly from booking
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the venue to coordinating with vendors
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and volunteers key responsibilities of
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the project manager include initiation
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such as defining the project securing
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buyin and identifying the stakeholders
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planning such as creating detailed
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project schedules budgets and resource
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plans execution such as assigning tasks
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coordinating efforts and ensuring
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progress monitoring and controlling
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include tracking performance managing
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risks and addressing roadblocks
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stakeholder communication such as
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keeping everyone informed through status
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reports and regular updates and closing
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to wrap up the project and document
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lessons learned project managers work
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across diverse industries like IT
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construction healthcare and finance
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using methodologies like waterfall agile
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or a hybrid approach depending on the
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project's needs now let's talk about the
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scrum master this role is specific to
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scrum an agile framework a scrum master
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is like a coach or facilitator helping
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the scrum team stay aligned with agile
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principles and removing obstacles so the
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team can focus on delivering value for
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example imagine a scrum team working on
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a new app feature the scrum master
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ensures daily standups happen helps
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resolve issues like server downtime and
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guides the team during sprint
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retrospectives to improve for the next
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iteration key responsibilities include
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facilitating scrum events like sprint
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planning daily standups and sprint
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reviews
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removing impediments that slow down
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progress coaching the team and
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organization on agile practices
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promoting a culture of continuous
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improvement the scrum master doesn't
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dictate tasks but supports the team in
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self-organizing and collaborating
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effectively this role thrives in agile
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friendly industries like IT software
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development and startups both project
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manager and scrum master guide teams
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toward successful outcomes here are some
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key similarities
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leadership both roles lead and support
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their teams although their styles differ
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collaboration both roles work closely
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with stakeholders to align goals and
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expectations
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problem solving they address challenges
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and remove obstacles that hinder
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progress focus on results whether
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managing a project or facilitating a
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team the ultimate goal is delivering
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value now let's talk about the
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differences between the project manager
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and the scrum master the real
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distinction lies in their focus areas
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authority and methodologies
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scope of responsibility a project
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manager oversees the entire project
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including multiple teams and
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deliverables while a scrum master
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focuses on one scrum team ensuring they
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follow agile principles authority and
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decision-making project managers hold
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authority over budgets schedules and
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resources while scrum masters serve as
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facilitators without formal authority
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promoting team self-management
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documentation and process project
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managers create comprehensive plans and
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reports while scrum masters emphasize
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lightweight processes and minimal
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documentation
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continuous improvement project managers
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evaluate the overall project's lessons
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learned during closure while scrum
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masters drive team level retrospectives
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and incremental enhancements
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the final difference is how they manage
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workflows scrum uses a scrum board to
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track sprint progress while project
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managers often use Gant charts or
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project dashboards for a higher level
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view let's explore where these roles can
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take you and which certifications can
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help along the way first let's talk
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about the project manager career path if
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you're just starting in project
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management you might begin as a project
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coordinator or assistant supporting
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scheduling documentation and
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communication from there you can grow
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into roles like junior PM and eventually
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a full project manager overseeing medium
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to large projects senior project
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managers take on more complex
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initiatives from there you can move into
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strategic roles like program manager
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portfolio manager or even PMO director
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certifications are an excellent way to
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accelerate your growth if you're just
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getting started the Certified Associate
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in Project Management CAPM certification
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is a great entry-level option it's ideal
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for those with little to no experience
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and introduces you to the basics of
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project management once you've gained
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more than 3 years of project management
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experience consider the project
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management professional PMP
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certification it's one of the most
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respected certifications worldwide and
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demonstrates your expertise in leading
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projects if you're in Europe or working
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in industries like government the PRINES
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2 certification might be more relevant
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it focuses on a structured approach to
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managing projects and is widely
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recognized in those regions if you're a
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project manager working in agile
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environments the PMI Agile Certified
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Practitioner PMIACP is worth considering
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this certification covers a broad range
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of agile approaches beyond just scrum
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including conbon lean and extreme
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programming it's ideal if you want to
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demonstrate your versatility across
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multiple agile frameworks while
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continuing to grow in a project
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leadership role for those looking to
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advance beyond the PMP certification the
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program management professional PGPM
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certification focuses on managing
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complex programs with interconnected
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projects while the portfolio management
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professional PFM certification
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emphasizes overseeing portfolios to
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align with organizational strategy these
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certifications are ideal for
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professionals seeking leadership roles
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in program or portfolio management next
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let's move on to the career path for the
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scrum master for scrum masters the
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journey often begins within agile teams
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where you might gain experience as a
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developer or team member from there you
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can move into roles like senior scrum
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master guiding larger teams or mentoring
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junior scrum masters as you grow roles
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like agile coach or enterprise agile
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coach offer opportunities to shape agile
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transformations at an organizational
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level if you're new to Scrum the
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Certified Scrum Master CSM is an
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excellent starting point it's
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beginnerfriendly and equips you with the
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fundamentals of facilitating agile teams
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for those looking to deepen their
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expertise the PMI Agile Certified
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Practitioner PMIACP
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covers multiple agile frameworks and
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demonstrates your ability to work in
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diverse agile environments if you aim to
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lead agile practices across an
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enterprise consider the SAFE Agileist
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certification it's tailored for scaling
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agile principles in larger organizations
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you may wonder which role is right for
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you both career paths are rewarding but
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the right choice depends on your
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interests strengths and career goals if
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you're passionate about fostering team
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collaboration facilitating continuous
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improvement and working in a fast-pacing
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agile environment the Scrum Master role
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might be for you this path is ideal if
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you enjoy coaching removing obstacles
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for your team and focusing on delivering
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value incrementally on the other hand if
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you want to expand your career options
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beyond the agile environment love big
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picture strategy thrive on planning and
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enjoy working across multiple teams the
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project manager role might be your best
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fit it's perfect for those who enjoy
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organizing resources balancing
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constraints like time and cost and
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leading projects that require structure
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and clarity still not sure remember
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these roles aren't mutually exclusive
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many professionals start in one and
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transition to the other as they gain
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experience you can even combine aspects
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of both roles especially in hybrid
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environments thank you for joining me
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and exploring the roles of project
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manager and scrum master if you're ready
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to dive deeper visit our website at
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pmasperant.com
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for more insights resources and tips to
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excel in your project management journey
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if you found this video helpful please
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give it a thumbs up your support helps
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us create more valuable content don't
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forget to subscribe for more insights
9:54
into project management so which role
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appeals to you more and why let us know
10:00
in the comments below thanks for
10:02
watching and I'll see you in the next
10:04
video
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