Scrum Master vs Delivery Manager: What’s the Difference?: David Erskine-Shaw

How do you break into tech delivery without a technical background?In this episode, Dave shares his journey from working in HMRC and sales roles to becoming a highly experienced Agile delivery professional , working across fintech, aviation tech, and large-scale organisations.We cover:How to get into tech without codingThe difference between Scrum Master, Delivery Manager & Project ManagerWhy sales skills are underrated in tech careersThe reality of Agile consulting and contractingHow to build credibility when joining a new teamWhy quick wins matter more than big transformationsThe importance of culture, chemistry, and being yourself at workDave also shares a powerful perspective on Agile:It’s not about “doing Scrum”, it’s about delivering value.If you're trying to move into tech, grow as a delivery leader, or become a better consultant, this episode is packed with real-world insights.▶︎ Connect with Davehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/david-erskine-shaw-835b8311a/▶︎ Subscribe for more conversations on Agile, product, and deliveryhttps://www.youtube.com/@EverydayAgile/podcasts▶︎Our Newsletter https://substack.com/@betweenthestandups▶︎Chapters:0:00 Introduction to Dave 0:21 10+ Years in Tech Delivery Explained0:49 Learning Across Roles (Tester → BA → Delivery)1:23 Why He Chose Delivery Over Technical Roles1:41 Life Before Tech (HMRC, Sales & Early Career)2:24 The Reality of Moving Into the Private Sector2:42 Lessons Learned from Sales (Underrated Skills)3:27 Advice for Young People Starting Careers4:02 Why “Earning Your Stripes” Matters5:13 The Role That Changed Everything (Law Firm)5:42 Moving Into Leadership Through Performance6:01 First Step Into Tech (Testing Role)6:40 Becoming a Scrum Master & Delivery Leader7:30 Why He Leaned Into Delivery Management8:05 “Jack of All Trades” – Strength or Weakness?8:40 Leaving a Role to Grow Your Career9:16 Working in Aviation Tech & Fintech9:51 Why Delivery Manager Is the Best Role10:24 Why He Moved Into Contracting11:09 Making Yourself Redundant as a Scrum Master12:01 Agile Consulting Life Explained12:53 What Good Agile Teams Look Like13:47 Scaling Delivery & Improving Teams14:42 Looking at the Full System (Not Just Scrum)15:24 Why Chemistry Matters in Teams16:04 Culture Shock: Liverpool vs Cambridge17:45 Personal vs Professional Integration18:23 Building Credibility as a Consultant19:07 Starting With Zero Trust (Reality Check)19:46 Quick Wins & Building Momentum20:19 Why Being Yourself Matters at Work21:13 Small Wins vs Big Transformations22:21 Why He Stopped Posting on LinkedIn23:17 The Problem with Agile Dogma24:00 What Agile Is Actually About24:42 Where to Connect with Dave▶︎ The Everyday Agile Podcast brings you interviews with Agile, Product, business, and tech folk that will leave you with actionable, relevant advice. ▶︎ About Everyday Agile We might be little, but we’ve got great, big ideas – and lots of them. Transformative ideas that can make a massive difference to your business, your team and how things run. Revolutionary ideas that give our clients the tools they need to nail the basics, create problem-solving products and smash strategy out of the park. Metamorphic ideas that – okay, you get the point.