Scaled Agile Framework

This Happy Hour is devoted to professionals in the International Affairs and Development community, to grow, interact, and learn from each other. It is designed to provide a professional environment to meet other International Affairs professionals to broaden one's career. It is also for those interested in International Affairs and Development careers and are studying or intend to enter the dynamic world of global development. HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented INDUSTRIES/SECTORS/SPECIALIZATIONS and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. All industries are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular field, you would like to exchange experience. PLEASE BRING YOUR SOFT/HARD COPY BUSINESS CARDS. Rules to abide : 1\. Event is 21\+ \(bring ID\)\. 2\. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well\. 3\. We all specialize in one or two fields and be willing to engage others and try to accommodate as much as possible\. 4\. If you don't specialize in the other person's required discipline\, LEAVE THEM ALONE\. 5\. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion\. 6\. This is a face\-to\-face event\. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting\, by using the comment box or direct message\. 7\. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box\. Since it sends notification to all attendees\. If you have any questions\, send a message to the organizers\. Don't write in the comment box\. 8\. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation\. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event\. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via \(info@merevents\.com\)\. 9\. When you get there\, we greet you and take you to your respective group\. 10\. Don't be shy of your specializations\. We have diplomates assigned to different countries\, who would love to learn more from your experience\. 11. ***Please be patient for the first 30 minutes, up until we form a group with your respective industry/sector.*** ***AFTER THE SOCIAL, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!*** ***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).***

***Join Us Monthly on the First Fridays @BLE*** * Are you a start-up company or seasoned entrepreneur who wants to grow your business? * Do you want to manifest success but don’t know how? * Do you need tips on how to co-create and live in abundance? **If you're ready to get to your next level, then it's time to** **Activate Your Mind for Business Success!** **Purpose:** First Friday's a BLE is a FREE monthly Law of Attraction Business Success Group for start-up companies and seasoned entrepreneurs who want to grow their business in 2023 and beyond. **Date and Time** Friday, January 6, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM **Location:** 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 102 (Meeting Room) Largo, MD 20774 **Topic:** Activate Your Mind for Business Success **Facilitated By:** Bernadette Clay Law of Attraction Business Success Coach & President & CEO of BLE Executive Suites **Registration Required:** [Click Here to Register](https://www.meetup.com/upper-marlboro-other-meetup/events/290363297?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link) **For More Information:** Contact BLE Suites at (p) 301.322-1700 (W) www.blesuites.com

Competitive Commander @ 5 pm $5 Standard and Modern @ 7:30 pm $5 entry Draft @ 7:30 pm $15 entry We suggest arriving at least 30 minutes early to register for the event.

*We're holding this event again due to popular request!* *This is another completely different event than ones we've previously held, covering a unique angle on the subject of communication.* Shyness and anxiety in relationships are often treated as personal flaws or things to “push through.” Maybe you consider that it is who you are by nature. But if it was something natural, wouldn't you be happy and content with it? Maybe there is more to effectively communicating than just your personality. This live, in-person workshop explores the subject of communication and precise actions one can take to improve their communication... without changing their personality or being someone they are not. **You’ll likely relate if:** · You replay conversations later and think, *“That’s not what I meant.”* · You hesitate or overthink when it’s time to speak up. · Conversations drift into tension even when everyone has good intentions. · You want to connect better—but don’t want scripts or fake confidence. It’s a **guided, interactive workshop** where you’ll: · Learn why conversations break down in the first place · The most common problem people have in any struggle to have a conversation. It's not what you may think! · Practice being more present and composed in real time · Leave feeling more comfortable in conversations—without forcing anything Most people notice a difference **during the session itself**, not weeks later. **Who this is especially good for** · Thoughtful, introspective, or introverted people · Professionals who want clearer communication at work · Anyone navigating relationships, boundaries, or confidence · People tired of tips that don’t translate into real life You don’t need to be outgoing. You don’t need experience. You just need curiosity. This will be held in a group setting with light refreshments served. The location will be easy access for metro and bus stops. There is street parking available as well as a parking garage next to the building.

**Meet the Entrepreneurs Behind FounderWay.ai** **FounderWay** is a platform for building and scaling startups. It is built for founders and is powered by AI tools. FounderWay provides personalized guidance, streamlined decision-making, and accelerates the speed to execute. From early-stage ideation to securing funding and market expansion, FounderWay equips entrepreneurs with the right strategies, resources, and networks to accelerate their success. **Kiran Panjwani** is the CEO & Co-Founder of FounderWay.ai. Kiran works at the intersection of startups, innovation, and ecosystem development, helping founders navigate the complexities of building and scaling ventures. Previously, Kiran worked with startup incubators, accelerators, and corporate innovation teams, supporting companies across sectors, and she is “always open to conversations about startup growth, ecosystem collaboration, and the evolving role of AI.” **Cody Jung** is a technical Co-Founder of FounderWay.ai. Cody bridges business and engineering priorities to deliver innovative solutions for startups and Fortune 500 firms. Cody serves as an organizer for Techstars Startup Weekend, a mentor, and an angel investor. He is building FounderWay as a platform to bring incubator-level guidance and resources to founders while connecting them and the rest of the ecosystem. He has built and led lean engineering teams with 2x industry output, and is responsible for $7M+ in sales over a 4-year technical sales career. **The Discussion.** This series of hybrid events is perfect for budding entrepreneurs, experienced executive mentors cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, early-stage investors, and students exploring innovative product design. At each session, business founders serve as guest speakers share about their career, their firm's business model, as well as the successes and challenges in the product development process. Participants learn from the speakers’ experiences, discuss valuable insights, and connect with other entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and investors. **Logistics.** A light lunch is served, as entrepreneurs connect with one another, learn from peers, and contribute to the conversation: * Friday, March 6, 2026 * 11:30am EST - Coffee & Connection * 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST - Presentation & Discussion No pre-registration is required. Join us: Robins School of Business 102 UR Drive, iLab Room 123 University of Richmond, VA 23173 **Parking.** Free parking is available in the U5 and U6 lots immediately adjacent to the Robins School. Please enter the main foyer, turn to the left and proceed to room 123 (EY Innovation Lab) on the ground floor. Please note that visitors have a two-hour parking window. Please sign in when you enter the room, providing your license plate number. **On Zoom Webinar:** https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89608419334?pwd=am0F9r85xPfh7aBaxtdUDILYsvNAwJ.1

**Vest of Many Colors - the Artistic Artifact Design (2 day class)** Friday, March 6 & Saturday, March 7, 2026 10:30 am – 4:30 pm, ½ hour lunch break each session Artistic Artifacts will host Fit for Art Patterns three times this year: you can end 2026 with amazing custom, perfectly fit garments! In this first class, create an artistic vest using their Tabula Rasa jacket pattern. Vests are a great way to use a special fabric in a terrific way, so let’s get started. Fit for Art’s Rae and Carrie designed a vest using the **[Tabula Rasa Jacket pattern](https://artisticartifacts.com/products/tabula-rasa-jacket-pattern-by-fit-for-art)**, using some of the beautiful Cotton Ikat Artistic Artifacts imports from India, Judy and her team loved it, and now it’s your turn to make your own version! As always, this class will begin with fit, bring a TRJ Mockup and pattern pieces, or have a sizing and stitch up a sample on day one to assure your vest will be just your size! Visit our website for complete details, to view your student supply list and to register for this exciting class: **[https://artisticartifacts.com/products/vest-of-many-colors-with-fit-for-art](https://artisticartifacts.com/products/vest-of-many-colors-with-fit-for-art)**

If you’re a dad over 35, you probably feel it: * Your energy isn’t what it used to be. * Work stress drains you before you even get home. * The weight has crept on around the middle. * Your kids still have endless energy, but keeping up with them feels harder every year. And deep down, you know your family looks to you as the example. If you’re running on empty, short on patience, and out of shape, that’s the standard you set at home. The **D.A.D.S. Program (Dads Achieving Discipline & Strength)** was built for men like you. Ordinary guys with jobs, families, and full schedules who want to: * **Reclaim strength** so you feel capable, athletic, and confident again. * **Boost energy** so you’re sharp at work and fully present with your family. * **Drop the aches, stiffness, and sluggishness** that make you feel older than you are. * **Find balance and accountability** by training alongside other dads in the same fight. * **Crush male loneliness** by connecting with men who “get it” and have your back. Here’s the best part: You don’t need to be a seasoned gym rat. This is designed for **beginner to intermediate exercisers**—dads who may have been out of the gym for years or have never had a structured program, but know it’s time to get serious. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, we’re hosting **Meet-Up Workouts from 6:00–6:45 AM.** No strings attached. Just one powerful hour that could be the turning point in your health, energy, and family life. There are only **8 spots available**, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Location: Revolutionary Fitness - 215 N. Payne St., Alexandria, Va 22314 Every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 6:00–6:45 AM To claim your spot, call/text 703-783-2316 or email sign up directly at [https://go.thefitrevolution.com/dads](https://go.thefitrevolution.com/dads) Stop putting yourself last. Take this hour, and give your family the stronger, sharper, healthier version of you.

Our Curanderimo Elder Ixtoii Paloma Cervantes will be traveling to Virginia and teaching this in person two day candle magic workshop where you will learn the traditional Curanderismo way of using candles for bringing blessings and healings. You will learn how to prepare them, how to use them to manifest what you want in life, how to see if they are working or not, and how to read them in the Curanderismo ways. Important Note: The purpose of this workshop is to enhance spiritual growth and well-being. Any misuse of the teachings will not be tolerated, and participants with hidden agendas or intent to harm others will be asked to leave without a refund. INFORMATION: Type of event: Spiritual Workshop. Who can participate: This workshop is open to everyone. You don't need to know anything at all. You need only an open heart to learn something new. This is a two day intensive in person workshop. We will email a list of what to bring and how to prepare for this workshop as soon as you book. Workshop Details: Dates: Saturday, March, 8 and Sunday, March 9 Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Same start and finish time on both days) Tuition: $627 via cash or Zelle. Payment Plan available email healing@curanderasheart.com The full payment is due by February 27 How to book: Contact Curandera Jenny Perez at 703.531.7046

**To receive future event updates, register on Luma:** **[https://luma.com/6qii7007](https://luma.com/6qii7007)** Let's discuss a podcast by Anders Ericsson, author of the renowned book "Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise". Anders demonstrates that talent is overrated and peak achievement is dependent on a specific type of learning called "deliberate practice", and that your skill in any area is a function of the quantity and quality of “mental representations” you have for that activity. We explore the science of learning and of skill mastery -- how it happens, and how to do it. **Please watch this YouTube video (try 1.25x speed) before joining the discussion:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiBne5EGBQ8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiBne5EGBQ8) If more than 8 people join the discussion, we will break out into smaller groups. **(max 8 people per group)** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 1. **Mastery requires focused quality over mere repetition. How can we ensure our daily efforts are intentional enough to foster genuine growth?** 2. **Effective mentors provide the roadmap for stretching our abilities. How might we better identify the guides who can point out our hidden obstacles?** 3. **Immediate feedback loops are essential for identifying and correcting technical errors. How can we build systems that provide the rapid insights necessary for our collective improvement?** 4. **Peak performance often requires unlearning habits that limit our ultimate potential. What fundamental methods could we refine to ensure our foundations support world-class excellence?** 5. **Growth occurs when we consistently set goals just beyond our current comfort zones. How do we determine the ideal balance between manageable challenge and productive discomfort?** 6. **Elite performance is sustained through intense concentration followed by restorative rest. How can we better value recovery as a vital component of our highest achievements?** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events: 1. Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question) 2. Listen to understand, not to respond. 3. Be open-minded and value differences.

_EDIT: Event postponed! New date is Sunday March 8th._ Come celebrate, meet fellow escape room fans, and help us mark 4 awesome years. This mixer-style event is open to *anyone* in the DMV who loves (or wants to try!) escape rooms—no prior events required. **Everyone’s welcome!** Ticket price includes:🧩 Games, 🍰 Cake, 🥨 Appetizers,🍷 Beer & wine, 🎁& more * Base price: $15 * Base price plus an escape room: $70 There's even a special message from a mysterious being known only as 'The Architect' [https://youtu.be/pmz571iV9XY](https://youtu.be/pmz571iV9XY) **RSVPs are being collected outside of Meetup using this link!** [https://forms.gle/CHeng1y4mJCz4iuV8](https://forms.gle/CHeng1y4mJCz4iuV8)

DC Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. It's community-led and community-run by devs, for devs. People of all skill levels attend. Whether you’re dev-curious, aspiring, or a professional developer, we’d love to have you! Come chat or learn to code on a Sunday afternoon with coffee and cool-inclusive people. Bring your laptop! We typically meet every month on the weekend. **Join our online community!** For all things Tech in DC and to get latest updates and tech events from the DMV area, join the [DCTech Slack](https://dctech.chat/). All DC Code & Coffee announcements are in the #dccodecoffee channel **How it works** Near the beginning of the event, we do an introduction circle. You say your name, what you can help others with, and what you would like help with. You can also share job opportunities. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized. **Event Host and Directions** We are meeting in the big meeting room at the back of the library.

This month, we'll have a recorded talk, followed by discussion, on API design and single-header libraries. How should we structure and program libraries to impose as few usage constraints as possible? We’ll look at [the STB libraries](https://github.com/nothings/stb) and other examples as case studies. We're still at the West End Library - see the location in the sidebar for details. **Agenda:** \- 2pm \- 3pm: Library discussion \- 3pm \- 4pm: Open\-ended discussions\, presentations\, etc\. \- 4pm \- whenever: We'll go get food nearby\! **What we do** Presentations on lower-level, foundational programming topics, ethical software, knowledge sharing, mentoring, and discussion. **Who we are:** We are all about handmade software. Rather than focus on frameworks, heavy abstractions, and buzzwords - we typically create projects or research topics that build an understanding of foundational computing concepts, essential data structures, and hardware/software interaction. **What to bring?** Bring a laptop, project, or just a curious mind. If you're not sure you're ready to contribute, don't worry: we're all here to share our passions and hone our craft. **If you arrive late:** Please enter the room quietly as to not disrupt anyone that is presenting. You can take any empty seat.

**The MOOTS Routt 45 Demo Experience:** *A Full Size Run (50cm–60cm)* One bike for any occasion. Every size for our riders. **We are stoked to announce a special collaboration with our MOOTS factory representative for an exclusive demo day at Handy Bikes Retail Showroom.** We aren't just bringing a couple of bikes; we’ll have an entire size run of the legendary Routt 45 ready for you to throw a leg over. **The Bike: The Routt 45** **The Routt 45 is the "do-everything" titanium gravel machine**, named after the unpredictable mix of surfaces found on Routt County Road 45 in Steamboat Springs. Whether it’s forest tracks, chunky gravel, or the trails where the maps end, this bike is built to handle it all with: **-Modern Gravel Geometry:** *A longer top tube paired with a shorter stem for stability and precision.* **-All-Day Comfort:** *A relaxed, upright posture that lets you stay in the saddle longer.* **-Massive Clearance:** *Room for up to 50c-wide tires to soak up the chatter.* **-Ti-Flexibility:** *Compatible with both 1x and 2x drivetrains and featuring discreet fender eyelets.* **Find Your Perfect Fit** Titanium is a lifetime investment, and getting the fit right is the first step. Our rep will be on-site to help you dial in your setup across the full range: *Available Sizes: 50cm \| 52cm \| 54cm \| 56cm \| 58cm \| 60cm* **Don't Just Read the Reviews—*Ride the Legend*** It’s rare to see a full size run of MOOTS in one place, let alone get to take them for a ride. This is a unique opportunity to skip the 'parking lot test' and actually feel how handcrafted US-made titanium handles. Whether you're dreaming of your *'forever bike'* or just want to see what the hype is about, this is the day to do it.

PLEASE CHECK THE ONLINE MEDITATION CALENDAR FOR DETAILS OF THESE MORE THAN 50 SERVICES A WEEK- https://onlinemeditation.yogananda.org/calendar/

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas

Is your business taking more of your time than you would like? [Rob Young](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cinci-robyoung/) principal at [Stage 3 Group](https://www.linkedin.com/company/stage-3-group/), hosts this workshop series and is the author of Stage 3 Success. * Provides a framework and a playbook for leaders of emerging businesses * Reviews business management tools and techniques for scaling and maturing a business * How to recognize and leverage stories hidden in financial statements * How to implement financial and operational controls and use leading indicators to spot trouble before it occurs * How to manage your time for maximum effect * How to deal with nonperforming employees * How to create standard operating procedures throughout your organization Four sessions will include two hours of content and an optional 90-minute hands-on lab. Reserve your spot via this link: https://clintonvilleba.com/calendar/#!event/2026/3/20/chaos-to-clarity-to-control ($200 for non-CABA members.)

Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way. In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents. In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding. What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025 Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows. **Speakers Bio:** Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/) Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/) **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

We will show a variety of methods for building agents that run in Microsoft Foundry. This covers the different types of agents: Prompt, Multi, and Hosted, as well as the development lifecycle using evals and traces.

Drake Lundstrom is presenting: Code Anywhere by Talking to your Phone Abstract: Have you heard the trend of people deploying code anywhere from checkout lines to doctors' offices? In this talk, you will learn how to talk to your phone and have an app on Azure to show your friend 5 minutes later. The basic DevOps tools you already know, plus a little bit of AI magic, are all you need! If you want to follow along, the demo will be in Azure with GitHub Actions and GitHub Copilot, and you can have it set up on your phone by the end of the session. Just come in with an Azure account and a GitHub repo. Join us for pizza, drinks, and networking @ Improving's office. Doors open at 5:45.

Join membersrs of the Central Ohio UX and digital design community for a casual monthly breakfast.