Who is Kevin Trethewey?
This is what Karen has to say about Kevin:
We met over breakfast a few years ago, when I was in Jo’burg co-training with Peter Hundermark. The breakfast was at a training venue with dreadful food. Fortunately the relationship survived the dodgy breakfast. Kevin is a great person to debate agile engineering practices with. His company: Driven Software is one of the few places I know that implement them well.
What is something people usually don’t know about you but has influenced you in who you are?
I didn’t grow up around computers or offices - my dad was an electrician and my mom a nursery school teacher. I only learned how to turn a computer on after leaving high school. We weren’t allowed to watch much TV at home and I never found school particularly engaging. I used to spend a lot of time at the local library, finding interesting things to learn about. I think it taught me the value of self-directed learning and how to teach myself how to do things. It also meant I was never deeply indoctrinated into the way things are ‘normally’ done.
What would have become of you, if you were not doing the job you do today?
Good question. I honestly don’t know. Become an anthropologist, perhaps.
What is your biggest challenge and why is it a good thing for you?
Understanding people. I’m a puzzle solver. I spent the first 15 years of my career understanding the puzzle of the computer. Now my journey is in understanding the puzzle of people and human systems. It’s a far more complex and challenging space. But more rewarding as well, I think.
What drives you?
My need to understand.
What is your biggest achievement?
I don’t think I’ve made it yet. I’m proudest of my family. Then the team at Driven Software and the successes we’ve had helping people, teams and organisations to grow.
Is there a piece of music that has a special meaning for you?
Gabriel’s Oboe comes to mind. That’s the music that was playing when my wife came into the reception at our wedding.
What is the last book you have read?
Started or finished (it’s a problem)? Last book I started was “The Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback” by Jerry Weinberg.
What question do you think we should also ask and what is the answer?
Can you give a good example of an endless loop?
Yes, see this question.
Whom do you think we should ask next in South Africa?
Any of the people from Driven Software or Danie Roux (one of our partners).
Whom do you think we should ask next, not in South Africa?
How would you define your relation to the South African Agile community?
It’s an interesting, but not especially useful container to put people in. Everyone has a different idea of what ‘Agile’ is, based on their own personal experiences. People talk about Big A Agile and small a agile and lean-agile and DAD and SAFe and on it goes. At the end of the day if you are someone who is trying to understand deeply what is going on around you, in your team and in your organisation then I’d be interested in exchanging ideas.
Johannesburg, April 2013
How to connect with Kevin
Twitter: @KevinTrethewey
Linked In: za.linkedin.com/in/kevint