Episode Overview

Podcast Title: Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast
Episode: Coaching Product Owners From Messenger to Decision Maker—A Scrum Master's Guide | Mohini Kissoon
Host: Vasco Duarte
Guest: Mohini Kissoon
Date: January 16, 2026

In this insightful episode, Agile Coach and Scrum Master Mohini Kissoon joins host Vasco Duarte to dissect one of the most common—and damaging—Product Owner (PO) anti-patterns: the PO as a passive messenger rather than a true decision maker. Through firsthand stories, Mohini discusses techniques for transforming POs from simple conduits for stakeholder requests into empowered leaders who own product vision and prioritization. The episode balances real-life challenges with practical coaching strategies and concludes with a portrait of an exemplary Product Owner.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Messenger" Product Owner Anti-Pattern

[01:24–06:49]

• Symptom: POs acting as intermediaries—soliciting and relaying stakeholder requests without prioritization, vision, or challenging requirements.
• Context: Many POs "are handed the role without the tools to succeed and sometimes without a Scrum Master to guide them," Mohini notes ([01:48]).
• Impact:
  • Chaotic sprints with frequent scope creep
  • Unrefined and poorly elaborated backlog items
  • Frustration and demotivation within the Scrum team
  • Stakeholders left dissatisfied due to missed expectations

Notable Quote:

"The anti-pattern was that the product owner was mainly operating as a messenger, not a decision maker. So she would bring requests from stakeholders directly into the JIRA backlog with no prioritization based on value and no pushback."
—Mohini Kissoon ([02:22])

• Underlying Cause: Lack of support, coaching, and clarity on what Product Ownership entails—especially in relation to vision and prioritization.

2. Coaching Product Owners: From Messenger to Decision Maker

[04:00–06:49]

• Intervention:

  • Mohini was brought in after repeated sprint failures and negative stakeholder feedback.
  • She focused on uncovering if the PO had a clear product vision.
  • The PO struggled with the vision question: "What was the vision for her product?"—something she’d never been asked ([05:19]).

• Action Steps:

  • Ran a Product Vision workshop with the PO and stakeholders
  • Developed a one-page strategy (defining target users, problems, and success metrics)
  • Established a working agreement: only backlog items aligned with the product vision/goals would be considered
  • Instituted prioritization sessions with stakeholders
  • Empowered the PO to push back on off-vision requests: "She was more comfortable saying no because she was saying no with informed material" ([06:38])

Memorable Quote:

"One of the questions I asked her... was, what was the vision for her product? And that was something she couldn't answer because nobody has asked her before."
—Mohini Kissoon ([05:17])

3. Using Feedback Loops to Spark Change

[06:49–08:56]

• Early intervention challenges included resistance from the PO, but sustained feedback loops ("use the feedback, create opportunities for feedback") forced a reckoning when repeated sprint failures and negative stakeholder reactions mounted.
• Metrics played a role: “They were committing to, let's say, 100 points, but at the end of the sprint, they were able to do only 40 points. And then a lot of things were just carried over…” ([07:41])
• The team’s inability to deliver on commitments brought much-needed urgency to address anti-patterns.

Host Analysis:

“Create opportunities for feedback so that the product owner needs to face what's not working.”
—Vasco Duarte ([08:56])

4. The Anatomy of an Exemplary Product Owner

[09:26–13:04]

• Key Attributes:

  • Calm demeanor, even in high-pressure situations: "He remained professional, calm, and never took it out on the team." ([09:33])
  • Strong relationships and credibility with stakeholders; he was "the go-to person" ([09:43])
  • Assertiveness: Frequently and respectfully said "no" to stakeholder requests that didn't fit the product vision, always giving clear and logical reasons
  • Shielded the development team from external distractions, ensuring focus remained intact unless truly urgent
  • Maintained a "helicopter view": Awareness of impacts, dependencies, and organizational context
  • Good listener, fostering experimentation and growth within the team

• Collaboration with Scrum Master: Mohini and the exemplary PO "bounced off ideas" together and worked closely to keep the backlog disciplined and transparent.

Notable Quote:

"As a PO, he also shielded the team from stakeholders... He would handle those ad hoc requests and only bring it to the team if it’s something which is very urgent, like a compliance issue."
—Mohini Kissoon ([10:32])

• Listening as a Core Skill:

“Listening to the team is actually a core skill that product owners can bring and therefore make the teams better.”
—Vasco Duarte ([12:14])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:22 | Mohini | "The anti-pattern was that the product owner was mainly operating as a messenger, not a decision maker." | | 05:17 | Mohini | "What was the vision for her product? And that was something she couldn't answer because nobody has asked her before." | | 06:38 | Mohini | "She was more comfortable saying no, because then she was saying no with an informed material..." | | 07:41 | Mohini | "They were committing to, let's say, 100 points, but at the end of the sprint, they were able to do only 40 points ..." | | 09:33 | Mohini | "He remained professional, calm, and never took it out on the team." | | 10:32 | Mohini | "He would handle those ad hoc requests and only bring it to the team if it’s something very urgent..."| | 12:14 | Vasco Duarte | "Listening to the team is actually a core skill that product owners can bring and therefore make the teams better." |

Important Segment Timestamps

• Worst PO anti-pattern story begins: [01:24]
• Coaching approach and product vision workshop: [05:00]
• Realization and feedback loops: [06:49]
• Best PO story begins: [09:26]
• Host’s analysis of ‘listening’ as core PO skill: [12:07–12:14]

Episode Takeaways

• Many Product Owners fall into the trap of acting as mere messengers; successful POs must own their vision and priorities.
• Coaching POs involves guiding them to clarify product vision, practice prioritization, and develop confidence to push back on misaligned requests.
• Repeated team delivery failures and stakeholder dissatisfaction create urgency for a shift in PO behavior.
• Truly great POs are calm under pressure, excellent listeners, strong communicators, and actively protect both the team and the vision.

Connect with Mohini Kissoon

• LinkedIn: [Will be shared in show notes]

This episode offers a candid look at the PO’s journey from order-taker to empowered decision maker, serving as a valuable guide for Scrum Masters and Agile practitioners looking to coach Product Owners toward success.