Student Spotlight: Carmen Mays of Elevators!

We recently caught up with Carmen Mays, Founder and CEO of Elevators, to ask her about the impact that her recent Scrum Master and Product Owner training has made in her professional life.

First, a little about her company:

“Elevators fosters equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems by developing innovative corporate supply chain strategies. We build community and capacity for melanated creatives and institutions integral to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

I started Elevators with the simple premise of ensuring creatives of color had the tools and opportunities they needed to make a living doing what they love. Elevators has successfully engaged creatives in culturally relevant business development. Elevators also creates corporate engagement and supply chain strategies that foster equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.”

You can find out more about her company, Elevators, right here.

Since this was a short interview format, I’ll just list the questions along with her responses below!

Q: How has the Scrum Master and Product Owner training changed the mindset with which you approach your business?

I am much more clear about how to introduce new ideas and refine existing ones. I am able to go deeper into the structure of the products thereby making them more effective.

Q: Have you incorporated any of the training into your workflow yet?

Yes! Particularly the Kanban Board.

Q: Have you seen any immediate benefits to bringing these thought processes into your business?

I’m much more productive and because I can see what I’ve completed, I don’t overwork.

Q: Do you think LSM/LSPO training would be helpful for other startups?

Absolutely!

Q: Would it be an added benefit for all members of a team to have this training (so that everyone understands it and are on the same page)?

Yes! As with any training, it’s for everybody.

If you are interested in learning more about our LSM (Scrum Master) and LSPO (Product Owner) training classes then head over to our class page to get the details. Currently, those living near Birmingham, AL might even be eligible for a full scholarship to attend!

A statement from our CEO

To our team members, including those of color. To our customers and clients, and to a community that is hurting, scared, and looking for a path forward:

I want to be unequivocal. Sigao, its founders, and I, as CEO, stand in solidarity and fully support the movement for Black lives.

Systems that marginalize human beings that are in the minority are against our core values, the core values of Scrum, and are against human decency. It is incumbent on those that have a voice to speak for those that do not. It is incumbent on those that have a platform to stand up for justice for every human and clearly state that white privilege must end, and justice and freedom must be equal for all.

For those that are marginalized, that are afraid to live your life and be yourself for fear of violence and retribution, we hear you and stand up for you. There can be no priority higher than that of freedom, mercy, and justice for all.

For those that do not understand the fear of the marginalized, we challenge you to stretch yourself and find opportunities that challenge you to grow.

For those that do not understand the damage that systemic racism has caused to our country, we implore you to educate yourself and seek that understanding. It is not ok to be “not racist.”

For our company, our nation, and our world to move forward and find peace, we must be actively anti-racist. We must be willing to identify racism in ourselves and understand that if we are not better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today, then we will fail as a people.

Fred Shuttlesworth once said, “Some men may little note or soon forget what we say here: but the nation will never forget what we did here together. We were not satisfied with the few scattering cracks in the Segregation wall and decided to effect a major confrontation with evil.”

As such, words are not enough. Sigao is actively working with our team, our partners, and industry experts to find tangible ways that we can effect change. The tech industry has long been a catalyst for change. We must and will use that ability to drive positive change. We are listening to those that understand to learn how we can best guide our company in ways that multiply our impact on the world around us.

Things will never be like they were yesterday, nor will they be like they are today. Change is inevitable and unwavering. We must find peace by finding value in everyone and understanding that we are in this together.

We ask our community to join us in one voice — “We support the movement for Black lives. We support the movement for equality and justice for all.” We will stand and move forward together, and we are better off when we do that.

Be safe, grow, and use your platform for good.

Chris Sims
CEO – Sigao