Who is Austin Fagan?
Austin was proposed by Carlo. Here is what Karen has to say about Austin.
Austin is a really funny guy. Plus he has that great Irish accent, a winning combination especially as a master of ceremonies for conferences. I always have a good time around him. I think his sense of humour has helped him and some of his teams through very trying circumstances. He is usually surrounded by a small whirlwind of chaos, and yet it doesn’t seem to fluster him at all. Must be something to do with being the father of many small children.
What is something people usually don’t know about you but has influenced you in who you are?
I spent a lot of my childhood wallowing in self-pity, which possibly started when it dawned on me that I didn’t have any super powers and I was unlikely to acquire any. Moving to a new town when I was eight didn’t help matters much either. At some point I decided I should celebrate the little victories. I still do this now; some would say I celebrate them way too enthusiastically! For me, in agile, you need to roll with the punches and jump for joy with every little win. I must admit though that sometimes I have a little wallow now and then it makes the highs that much more rewarding.
What would have become of you, if you were not doing the job you do today?
I’d have been a really bad actor or a fairly passable chef - food is a bit of a passion for me.
What is your biggest challenge and why is it a good thing for you?
Explaining things to my ever-inquisitive five-year-old son. I get a glimpse into how he is finding his way in this crazy world of ours.
What drives you?
Knowing there’s a high-five moment awaiting me just around the corner.
What is your biggest achievement?
I moved to London when I was 20. My childhood home in Ireland was next to a farm and other than a week in Scotland when I was 11, I had never been outside the country before.. So adapting to London and loving it for 12 years is my greatest achievement so far.
Is there a piece of music that has a special meaning for you?
Perfect Day by Lou Reed. It was the first track on the best mixtape I ever made, which was the soundtrack to many fun times.
What is the last book you have read?
Intimacy by Jean Paul Sartre. I like reading older books.
What question do you think we should also ask and what is the answer?
What did you want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to be a writer.
Whom do you think we should ask next in South Africa?
Whom do you think we should ask next, not in South Africa?
How would you define your relation to the South African Agile community?
I’ve made a lot of friends from within this community and learnt so much from all of them. We are very lucky to have such a passionate community and I love it when we come together, there’s always fun times and great conversations.
Cape Town, October 2014
How to connect with Austin
Twitter: @austin_fagan
Linked In: za.linkedin.com/pub/austin-fagan/7/513/ab8