Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Logo

A 100% Live, Slide-Free, Session

With the Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) you build on the CSPO and grow your ability to establish and communicate an actionable vision, rapidly test hypotheses, work effectively with stakeholders, and manage the backlog using a host of advanced techniques.

Unlike sessions offered by others, our A-CSPO is a true advanced session that is 100% live, completely interactive and slide-free.

The course uses Mural in a unique way that has been a huge hit with students and helps you stay fully engaged from beginning to end. We explore topics through exercises that drive deep discussion and you will learn from the industry’s most experienced A-CSPO Trainers, as well as from other advanced attendees. You leave ready to implement techniques the next day.

Student Testimonials

Vetted reviews from class attendees

4.89 - 206 reviews
5.00 - 82 reviews
4.90 - 798 reviews

Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) Testimonials

Key Details

A unique A-CSPO course taught by a highly engaging agile product management expert

Live and Interactive

This live online workshop is delivered by trainers Arlen Bankston and David Bulkin. Both with over two decades of agile product management experience.

  • You utilize a variety of custom-built tools and techniques while learning about the mechanisms behind each.
  • You leave ready to use these tools in your own environment.

Engaging and Practical

  • Explore real-world scenarios and case studies
  • Participate in deep simulation and engaging games
  • Hear stories from the instructor’s agile consulting and leadership experience
  • See how tools like the ones used in class can also be used in product development to both create and communicate a vision and the details to get there
  • Leave ready to advance your product development through pragmatic tips and stories from the instructor’s 25 years consulting experience, as well as learning from often equally experienced fellow students.

Deep and Customized

The result is like a private consulting experience, just more fun.

We assesses personal situations and dynamically reorient towards creating practical paths forward for each participant. As such, to get maximum benefit and to receive the certification you should have a minimum of one year’s experience in a product role.

Grow Your Career, Grow Your Organization

What You Learn

The samples shown below have embedded exercises. You are seeing the result. Most topics start with an exercise followed by deep discussion and problem solving.

Develop a Product Mindset

Develop a Product Mindset

Think Like a Product Owner

A successful PO is open-minded, thoughtful, and collaborative, prioritizing learning through research and experimentation.

Per the "Darth Vader" exercise sample, we examine the evil, but common, dysfunctional behaviors that PO's exhibit. This helps you reflect and improve your approach.

Improve Your Soft Skills

Learn to hone your active listening, facilitate (yes, PO's need to facilitate) and apply collaborative decision-making to harness the collective intelligence of diverse stakeholders

Discover Market Segments

Discover Market Segments

Understand Potential Customers

Learn how to systematically engage with potential customers to uncover unmet needs and pain points through various techniques including structured interviews, surveys, website analytics and user observation.

Find Your Focus

If you try to make your product right for everyone, it won't serve anyone. The example exercise is used to learn about segmenting customers with shared characteristics so you can tailor your product to them.

Create an Effective Strategy

Create an Effective Strategy

Understand Product Market Fit

The sample canvas builds on the Lean Canvas™. We start with an exercise of growing our ice cream shop with custom flavors. Through this engaging activity you understand how to validate customer needs and assess product market fit for your different customer segments .

Develop Product Strategies

We review several additional tools for developing a coherent strategy, including positioning statements, story maps, and experience maps.

Define the Details

Define the Details

Induct from the Bottom Up

The sample learning material is from our FLUID™ meta-model. A PO uses FLUID™ to discover, prioritize and plan product development. Step 4 of the model provides guidance on induction, working from the bottom up, to add to and change our plans while validating and adjusting our strategy. W

View Details from Different Angles

With induction, we look at happy and unhappy paths, and create test scenarios that cover the various ways users can interact with your product.

Session Schedule

Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO)

Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (ACSPO)
 4
Thu Sep
thru
 5
Fri Sep
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (EDT)
8.00 hours each day
Two days

Live Online / Virtual

Arlen Bankston

CST | CSP-SM | CSP-PO | CAL | A-CSM | CSM | A-CSPO | CSPO | LSS MB | SAFe SPC5

★★★★★ Testimonials

Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (ACSPO)
 22
Wed Oct
thru
 23
Thu Oct
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (EDT)
8.00 hours each day
Two days

Live Online / Virtual

David Bulkin

Scrum Alliance: CST | CSP-SM | CSP-PO | CAL 1 | SAFe: SPC | PMI: PMI-ACP

★★★★★ Testimonials

Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (ACSPO)
 3
Wed Dec
thru
 4
Thu Dec
10:30 AM - 6:30 PM (EDT)
8.00 hours each day
Two days

Live Online / Virtual

David Bulkin

Scrum Alliance: CST | CSP-SM | CSP-PO | CAL 1 | SAFe: SPC | PMI: PMI-ACP

★★★★★ Testimonials

Want to bring a training to your team or organization?
Contact us to discuss options for private workshops.

Training Discounts

A variety of discounts to fit your situation.

Request your discount on the session (a class on date/time with a trainer) you want. If more than one discount applies explain in your comments.

You can pay in installments by choosing Splitit at checkout.

For Grow-Lean Alumni, log in or use your account email when registering, and receive an automatic discount. If you also qualify for another discount, request it, and, if your email matches, we know you are an alumni.

If you have a Visa or Mastercard credit card you can pay in monthly installments. There are no fees or interest if you pay on time! Your available credit must be enough to cover the full cost and there is a hold on your credit card for the amount that you have not paid.

For example, if your final fee is $999 and you choose three installments:

  • You would pay $333 today and have a $666 hold placed on your credit card.
  • The following month your credit card would be charged another $333 and the hold would be reduced to $333.
  • Your final payment would be $333.

If you are not familiar with the term "hold" this is similar to what hotels do when you check in, to cover extra expenses you may incur including the mini bar.

The benefit to you is that you do not pay any interest or fees if all payments are on time.

Find Session

Find the session you want on the class list, then click "Discounts" link. Early-bird discounts do not need to be requested.

Choose Discounts

You will be on the discounts tab for the class.

Select Discount

Choose the appropriate discount then click the link for it. Not all discounts are available for all sessions.

Enter & Submit

Provide the requested information then click "Submit".

Early Bird
Early Bird

Combines With: Everything

Able to register in advance?

The Early Bird discount is available on many of classes.

There is no need to request it. Simply register while it is available.

If you receive another discount it will combine with the Early Bird.

Out of Pocket
Out of Pocket

Combines With: Alumni, Early Bird

Paying yourself and won't be reimbursed?

The Out of Pocket is for you if you won't be reimbursed. If you are unemployed, a military veteran, or a student request the appropriate discount.

Choose a specific session (class on a date with a trainer), click on Discounts, and complete the request form. If you are not sure of the date, choose a session and explain in the comments.

Group & Private
Group & Private

Combines With: Early Bird

Bringing friends or colleagues to one or more sessions or want a private session?

The Group and Private Discounts are for sending three or more attendees to one or more events or for private events (i.e. just for your team).

To request, choose a session (class on a date with a trainer) you are interested in, click the Discount Link, and when filling out the form describe your situation.

Our Training Team will reach out to you.

Alumni
Alumni

Combines With: Early Bird, Hardship, Out of Pocket, Student, Veteran

Get 5% off for each public session, over $225, you took with us, up to 20%.

The Alumni Discount provides you discounted rates to future Grow-Lean training.

For each Grow-Lean session* you take with us, at a rate of $225 or above, you accumulate another 5% off of a future training, up to 20% off*.

* We have a small number of partner events where the alumni discount does not apply.

Hardship
Hardship

Combines With: Early Bird, Alumni

Suffering an economic hardship and able to provide an unemployment notice or separation agreement?

The Hardship Discount is for you if you are suffering an economic hardship and are able to provide an unemployment notice or separation agreement and are not being reimbursed.

Choose a specific session (class on a date with a trainer), click on Discounts, and complete the request form. If you are not sure of the date, choose a session and explain in the comments.

Student & Educator
Student & Educator

Combines With: Early Bird

Are you a full-time student or educator, with a .edu email address?

The Student Discount is for you if you are a full-time student or educator with a .edu email address.

Choose a specific session (class on a date with a trainer), click on Discounts, and complete the request form. If you are not sure of the date, choose a session and explain in the comments.

When completing the request tell us your major and expected graduation date or explain what you teach and where.

Military & Veteran
Military & Veteran

Combines With: Early Bird

Are you active duty military or a veteran?

The Military / Veteran Discount is applicable if you are active duty, reserve, or retired from the military.

Choose a specific session (class on a date with a trainer), click on Discounts, and complete the request form. If you are not sure of the date, choose a session and explain in the comments.

When completing the request tell us if you will be reimbursed or not.

Have a Visa or Mastercard Credit Card?
Pay in installments by choosing Splitit at checkout.
You pay zero interest!

Choose an Experienced Trainer


Arlen Bankston

CST | CSP-SM | CSP-PO | CAL | A-CSM | CSM | A-CSPO | CSPO | LSS MB | SAFe SPC5

Your trainer, Arlen Bankston, was one of the first trainers to ever delivery the CSPO, and also one of the first to deliver the A-CSPO. Utilizing his extensive graphic and instructional design background he creates a uniquely entertaining and practical experience. The course uses tools like Mural and Mentimeter in unique ways that many students have commented is interesting in its own respect and keeps them fully engaged from beginning to end.

Arlen’s lengthy career as a founding executive in one of the earliest agile consultancies and the fact that he has filled multiple roles over his training and coaching career means that you’ll enjoy a consistently fresh and open-minded approach to agility that leans on real experience and anecdotes. Finally, Arlen goes to great lengths to help students share with one another, a benefit unique to these most advanced classes.

David Bulkin

Scrum Alliance: CST | CSP-SM | CSP-PO | CAL 1 | SAFe: SPC | PMI: PMI-ACP

David A. Bulkin has over 40 years of product and systems development experience. He continues to build products, often filling the role of Product Owner. David also gets hands-on, keeping his coding and testing skills sharp. David started with agile in 2001 when he led the development of the JP Morgan Chase banking site, leading the first successful agile team in the retail bank.

David’s A-CSPO is reality-based, with no fluff, filler, videos, or long dissertations. If you want actionable insight, register with Grow-Lean. But David's training is not for everyone. You will be required to do multiple exercises and participate in deep discussions. You must also keep an open mind.

What You Learn

Key learning areas in the Advanced-CSPO

Elevating the PO Role
Make the case for a strong PO with an appropriate amount of authority and autonomy
Engaging Stakeholders
Bringing stakeholders with divergent interests and strong personalities together and helping them align
Scaling Teams and the Product Owner Role
Find effective ways to set up, align and synchronize between teams from a product perspective
Moving Beyond Scrum
Applying ideas and techniques from Lean Startup, Kanban and DevOps
Finding Value
Discovering true needs and testing potentially risky assumptions
Aligning with Legacy
Working with legacy systems and waterfall teams
Applying DevOps
Applying CI/CD to get to market frequently and drive learning loops
Dealing with Change
Working efficiently with frequent priority changes by businesses and stakeholders
Roadmapping with Agility
Planning out several years into the future while remaining agile
Measuring and Reporting
Creating transparency into progress with minimal overhead in an engaging fashion
Executing with Excellence
Designing and facilitating more effective Scrum events and activities like planning, reviews and backlog refinement
Using Collaborative Modeling
Increase trust, speed and product quality with collaborative modeling
Grow-Lean Uplift Your Future program banner
UpLift Your Future Program
Facing hardship?
We’re offering extra support.

When we lift each other up, we all rise to new heights

Job loss, the fear of it, and financial hardships can be overwhelming. We have heard from many of our community members about the challenges they are facing, and we want to help.

Through August 31, 2025, we are offering deeper discounts for those facing hardship, students, veterans, and groups. This is your chance to keep moving forward without letting finances hold you back.

Browse our upcoming sessions, pick one that fits your schedule, and select the “Discounts” link to apply.

Let’s navigate this journey together.

Elevate your impact
Exclusive Bonus - One on One Coaching

60 minutes with agile expert Arlen Bankston or David Bulkin

To ensure transformative value beyond certification, we are offering an exclusive bonus a complimentary 60 minute, one-on-one coaching session to the first 10 registrants of each session.

This will help you translate your newly acquired knowledge into actionable strategies for your team, your organization and yourself.

Secure your spot now and seize this unique opportunity to work directly with an industry expert.

100% Live Online Training
No Outside Work Required

Get Certified by taking the class

Earn your certification in a 100% live, online class, with no additional / outside work required. We do ask that you read the Scrum Guide which is at most 30 minutes of time.

The class has 20 exercises followed by discussion and reflection about real-world opportunities and challenges.

Avoid offline study and low interaction training by signing up today.

Benefit from a Free Retake
Love it or Learn Again
for Free Guarantee™

Ensure Your Quality

Want more value from the session we will work with you to make it happen with options including a free retake and/or one-on-one support.

Get the best quality training from a provider you can trust.

What You Get

Everything you need to take your product management journey to the next step.
Live On-Line Training
Fully live and interactive. Many other classes use canned videos. You can use YouTube for that!
Certification Fees
All fees to get you certified are covered. There are no additional or surprise charges.
A-CSPO Certification
Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) Certification which is good for two years.
CSPO Renewal
All of your other Scrum Alliance certs, including the CPSO are renewed for two years. No need to pay any additional fees to the Scrum Alliance and no need to collect and record SEUs.
One Free Class Retake
Hear perspectives from new classmates. Retake a A-CSPO for free within 120 days as long as we continue to deliver this session.
Two Year Scrum Alliance Membership
You receive a two-year membership with the Scrum Alliance which gives you access to member-only content and discounted access to Scrum Gathering events.
Alumni Discount
Take one training of $225 or more and get 5% off, two get 10% off, three get 15%, all the way up to 25% off.
16 PMI PDUs
Get 16 Project Management Institute (PMI) Professional Development Units (PDUs) to help meet your PMI continuing education requirements.

Earning Your Certification

The Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO)

Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner Logo

At present there is no examination required to achieve the Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) Certification. Taking the session earns your A-CSPO if you meet the requirements outlined below.

  • Attend at least 14 hours of class time.
  • Have a Scrum Alliance® CSPO Certification.
  • Can validate at least 12 months in the role of a Product Owner, or PO Coach over the last five years.

The advanced certification will differentiate you, but more importantly the deep learning will allow you to interview with confidence and apply advanced techniques in the work place.

The A-CSPO also allows you to pursue Certified Scrum Professional Product Owner (CSP-PO) certification, which completes the Path to CSP.

Upgrade and Expand Your Agile Toolbox

Beyond the Basics

The PO role is challenging and misunderstood. We demystify the process and equip you with the strategies to succeed. We draw from decades of experience and provide innovative problem-solving techniques. You leave with new ideas and practical solutions.

What's most important?
What’s most important: building a new feature, making it better, or keeping your system secure?

This is a trick question. They’re all important, but for different reasons, and require different information to order properly. Making it even more difficult some items fit with, or depend on, others, making prioritization even more difficult. We’ll show you how to balance innovation, iteration and operation work at both a strategic road-map and tactical sprint level, prioritizing each using situationally specific tools.
Unplanned changes in the Sprint?

How do you deal with unplanned mid-Sprint changes?

We’ll practice several techniques from the lean and product management communities for dealing fluidly and systematically with emergency and unplanned work. We’ll also help you prepare for fixed date deliveries, ensure the team has appropriate time to deal with technical debt and process improvements, and show how to avoid both over- and under-committing within the sprint.

Is your Sprint Review a status meeting?

Does your Sprint Review fail as a true product feedback loop and put participants to sleep?

It doesn’t have to be this way. Learn some unique tricks for bringing interactivity, life and practical worth to a session that often functions as little more than a status check to turn it into a session where we align and adjust future plans. You will also learn patterns for running large-scale reviews with many interdependent teams.

Why Choose Grow-Lean?

Longest tenured trainers, smaller classes and higher quality.

  • Small group of elite, experienced, experts.
  • The highest quality for a fair price.
  • Caring customer support before and after training.
  • Interactive class experience.
  • Everything is included. No hidden fees!
  • Trainers are practitioners, not talking heads!
  • Unique exercises, templates and approaches.
  • Small class size so you get personal attention.

Practice Quizzes

There is no certification exam, but these quizzes help reinforce what you learn

There is no exam for your certification, but you can still get significant benefit from our practice quizzes as they help ensure you know the basics so your classroom experience can focus on the big picture.

  • The practice quizzes are active learning that increases retention.
  • They apply what cognitive science calls retrieval practice.
  • Retrieval practice makes learning challenging which helps you remember the material.

If you have time prior to the session use them as a refresher. Or perhaps, during the session you notice some weak spots and review the quizzes post class to fill in the knowledge gaps.

Contact Us