Alumni, Ralph Miarka, was an Erasmus student from 1994-1995 (Rutherford) and returned to Kent in 1998. He graduated in 2002 with a PhD in Computer Science and worked afterwards as Retention Project Officer at the Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching and as teaching assistant for the Computer Science department.
In 2005 he moved to Vienna, to join Siemens AG Austria as project manager, project consultant and later he became department head in the support centre for project management. In his own projects he was able to convince himself and his customers of the advantages of agile working. Some Kent-Alumni had the opportunity to work their year in industry for Siemens Austria due to Ralphs initiative.
In 2010 Ralph left the company and since then he works as an independent coach, consultant and trainer. He is a trained business coach with a master’s degree. He is thrilled to observe how a group of people changes into a team wanting to achieve a common goal. Ralph also enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others at conferences, workshops and training sessions. Veronika Jungwirth and Ralph founded sinnvollFÜHREN GmbH in 2015. Maybe you have seen us speaking at a conference already.
In October 2021, they released the book “Solution-focused coaching for agile teams – a guide to collaborative leadership”. This is a translation and enhancement of the 3rd edition of their German book on “Agile Teams lösungsfokussiert coachen” (the first edition was released in 2015). The English book was published by Solutions Books and is available in paperback and as e-book on Amazon.
Veronika Jungwirth and Ralph Miarka have years of experience with helping teams work agile, and agile teams work better. In this book they offer an accessible, detailed and practical guide to approaches, methods and techniques to help teams of all levels work more collaboratively and effectively. They combine the laser-sharp practice of solution-focused coaching with experience of agile environments to produce a winning combination of fresh angles on everyday situations. This book will be both a great starting point and a continuing reference source for teams, leaders and team coaches alike.
“Veronika Jungwirth and Ralph Miarka are your ideal guides for combining Solution-Focused and Agile, two effective, pragmatic and iterative practices, into a powerful overall way not just to do work but to do it as well as possible in the most challenging of circumstances.”
– Mark McKergow, SFWork: The Centre for Solutions Focus at Work
“Highly practical. You’ll find new ideas and applications about guiding and encouraging teams. I predict this book will become one of those critical few resources that every coach recommends to their peers.”
– Diana Larsen, co-author of Liftoff: Start and Sustain Successful Agile Teams
“What got us to where we are won’t get us to where we are going. So how do we, as leaders, grow and coach effective teams? We need guides! Veronika Jungwirth and Ralph Miarka are two of the best. Buy it and read it. Read it again. And again. Your professional and personal life will improve as a result.”
– Richard Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller, Menlo Innovations, Author, Joy,Inc. How We Built a Workplace People Love
“This book is pragmatic, full of useful approaches and techniques to help with coaching.
“Agile teams – a valuable asset for anyone using or wishing to use Solution Focus as a team coaching or individual coaching resource. I highly recommend it.”
– John Brooker, author of Jump Now: Lead Solution Focus Collaboration to Accelerate Sustainable Results
Feel free to contact me via email: miarka@sinnvoll-fuehren.com or visit our (mostly German) website at https://sinnvoll-fuehren.com/.