Who is Oz Chihwayi?
What is something people usually don’t know about you but has influenced you in who you are?
Living through a hyperinflation period back in Zimbabwe in 2008 provided me with key foundational lessons in understanding the true spirit agility, even before taking any formal training on agile in the workspace. As we faced a spiralling economy and hyperinflation, prices of goods and services increased daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Some of the key lessons I got throughout that time were: being resourceful; (do what you can with whatever you have to solve the problem at hand, in some instances we had to revert to barter trade) ; prioritisation and constraints (as there was never enough money for all your needs; and time was always running out;) and delaying decisions to the last responsible moment(because there was always an anticipation of the environment constantly changing under your feet). The need for short feedback loops was crucial and one had to constantly evaluate, act, and retrospect for the next day. Every day was literally a sprint; and on some days it felt like a few sprint sessions in a day.
What would have become of you, if you were not doing the job you do today?
My dream was always to fly aeroplanes and travel the world, so anything that would have allowed me to do both would have been a good fit. I also love being out in nature and experiencing places with other people; which makes me believe that I could be a fun tour guide or safari guide.
What is your biggest challenge and why is it a good thing for you?
Being a serial procrastinator is a huge challenge that I’ve struggled with for most of my life. Is it good for anything? Sometimes. Because I procrastinate to get started; I spend a lot of time consciously and unconsciously thinking about that-thing-I-know-I-should-be-getting-to; and when I get started I would have weighed options and have a clear idea of the execution. Oftentimes I do end up complicating simple things, which is unhelpful; yet I have been pleasantly surprised with myself how this has led me to simplify and break down complex problems; and solve them more effectively.
What do you currently do and how did you end up in your current role?
I’m currently helping with all things quality at VALR. After chatting to the founders, some of whom I’d worked with before; their passion and values were highly contagious and instantly caught on. It also presented an opportunity for me to learn and grow in a new, fast moving domain , while applying some of my past experience
What is the last thing you read, watched or listened to that inspired you?
I recently watched the Quincy Jones biography on Netflix. What inspired me is how hard Quincy worked throughout his long musical career and did not let his tough early years define the rest of his life. He is a true craftsperson who invested and stayed relevant through his journey to mastery. He also mentioned how constant reflection helps him to appreciate where he’s at; and enabled him to move ahead despite adversity.
What do you think is the one thing we can do to improve diversity in the Agile community?
This needs a multi pronged approach. Firstly; we need to introduce agility thinking and concepts at schools and universities, where the demographics are less biased than workplaces. We can also help by talking about agile in a less geeky way as this pushes away those that are not working in or exposed to technology. If we get better at framing the values and principles as problem solving tools that can be, and should be applied in all contexts, not just technology; we lower the barrier to entry and attract engagement from a more diverse community than we currently have.
What additional question do you think we should ask and what is the answer to that question?
What is the thing you wished you learnt earlier in your agile profession? I wish I had learned earlier the value of reflection; intention to improve and taking many small steps towards that goal while enjoying the journey.
Who do you think we should feature next (in South Africa)?
Basane Hlabyago
What are some reasons that made you recommend the person above?
She has demonstrated huge commitment and contributions in the Agile community and in her spheres of influence.
How would you define your relationship with the South African Agile community?
It’s a safe place for me to connect, challenge and be challenged in my thinking by kind and super helpful humans. A lot of people I met in the South African agile community have grown to be very good friends beyond just agile.
Johannesburg, October 2021
How to connect with Oz
LinkedIn: @ozchihwayi
Twitter: @ozchihwayi