I’ve never believed in collecting certifications just to add letters after my name. But taking the Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) course with Judy Neher? That wasn’t about the letters. It was about rediscovering what I love about building software—and finding my way back to the kind of developer, teammate, and human I want to be.

✨ A rare chance I wasn’t going to miss

I’ve worked in places where professional development was more myth than reality—promised, postponed, and often quietly canceled. So while taking some time between projects, I saw an opening I couldn’t pass up.

I joined this CSD course looking for a reset. What I found was a space full of people who cared about the same things I did: continuous improvement, technical quality, healthy collaboration, and a deep (sometimes nerdy!) joy in the craft of software development.

💡 An injection of inspiration I didn’t know I needed

To be honest, I’ve been deeply burnt out. The past couple years drained me of a lot of the love I once had for this work—especially the part I used to cherish most: teaming. I’d been so isolated, working solo for so long, that I forgot what it felt like to solve problems with people.

This class reminded me.

I got to spend real time with other thoughtful, engaged professionals—pairing, talking, testing ideas, and even joking around. It was so human. So invigorating.

💁‍♀️ Okay yes, Judy’s my mom—but also? She’s a phenomenal facilitator

Yes, I’m biased. But even if Judy Neher wasn’t my mom, I’d still be writing this glowing review.

Judy led this course like a master facilitator: not just running a tight ship, but creating a space where everyone could contribute and learn. She noticed when someone was cut off mid-thought and made space for them to finish. She modeled respect, curiosity, and care.

There wasn’t a single dull moment. The breaks were magically timed—every time I felt myself fading, it was like she knew. The exercises were hands-on and meaningful (I’ll share more about those in another post). Everything we did reflected Scrum in practice, not just theory. And her real-world stories? Gold. They brought the material to life.

📚 Also, I bought four books. Who’s surprised?

• Superforecasting By Philip E. Tetlock and Dan Gardner
• The Wisdom of Crowds By James Surowiecki (an old favorite I finally added to my shelf)
• Crystal Clear By Alistair Cockburn (because I’m curious about “dead” frameworks)
• Collaboration Explained By Jean Tabaka

This course didn’t just spark ideas—it reignited my curiosity. I left hungry to learn again.

🧭 Who should take this course?

If you feel like you’re in a rut—go. If your org has people problems and you want to “manage up” in a respectful, productive way—go. If you need to brush up on SOLID principles, quality practices, or real-world Agile implementation—definitely go.

You don’t have to want a cert. You just have to want to grow. And this class will give you the tools, support, and community to do just that.

💜 What I took with me

I didn’t leave with a shiny bullet point on my resume (though you certainly can add one). I left with something better:

• New energy
• A community of thoughtful practitioners
• Clearer insight into how to help my team thrive
• A renewed love for the craft

If that’s not worth two days of your time, I don’t know what is.