<p><span class="p-body">For Lawrence Mantrone, adapting to change has been a defining characteristic of his career. With an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Brown University, he began as a pension actuary before transitioning into software development, technology management, and eventually project management. Earning his MS in Management and Systems from NYU SPS in 2010 deepened his understanding of leadership in evolving industries. A year later, he joined the faculty, where he has been sharing his expertise in technology and project management ever since.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Mantrone’s teaching incorporates real-world lessons from projects that could have benefited from agile approaches. By emphasizing the value of iterative feedback and adaptability, he helps students develop the mindset necessary to thrive in dynamic environments.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">The Agile Management program provides students with practical skills for leading agile teams across industries. While technical tools such as Scrum, Kanban, and user story mapping are covered, Mantrone stresses that true agile leadership requires more than following a framework. “It’s often said that successful agile implementations involve ‘being agile,’ rather than ‘doing agile,’” he says. The program aims to help students cultivate the leadership and communication skills needed to inspire and guide self-organizing teams.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">One of the biggest challenges in adopting agile methodologies is overcoming resistance to change. “Most organizations still use a hierarchical management structure and expect leaders to practice traditional autocratic leadership,” Mantrone explains. Agile adoption, therefore, is as much about change management as it is about methodology. The curriculum helps students anticipate these challenges and develop strategies for guiding organizations through an agile transformation.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Students in Mantrone’s courses engage in real-world simulations, like creating Kanban boards to track work progress and develop customized hybrid project management strategies. These hands-on experiences prepare them for roles such as Agile Project Managers, Scrum Masters, and team leaders who can successfully navigate iterative, fast-paced environments.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Take your leadership skills to new heights when you pursue a <a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/agile-management.html" target="_blank">Certificate in Agile Management</a> or <a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/project-management-fundamental-tools-and-techniques.html" target="_blank">Project Management Fundamental Tools and Techniques</a> at NYU SPS today.</span></p>