Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Xmas Special: Breaking Down the Wall Between Product and Engineering With Vasco Duarte In the second episode of the “5 Wishes for 2025” series, Vasco Duarte tackles one of the most persistent and damaging divides in software development: the wall between Product and Engineering teams. Through stories, metaphors, and real-world examples, Vasco challenges the status quo and paints a vision for seamless collaboration that drives innovation and value. The Invisible Walls Holding Us Back “It’s like having the ingredients and the recipe in separate rooms – how are you supposed to cook something amazing?” Vasco begins by highlighting the invisible barriers that still exist between Product and Engineering teams in many organizations. These divisions stifle innovation and slow progress. Drawing parallels to outdated structures, Vasco recounts the struggle to integrate Product Owners into Scrum teams and how that barely scratched the surface of the larger issue. He calls for a broader perspective: aligning