Becoming a SAFe Scrum Master: Theory vs Reality

So hey, I'm a SAFe Scrum Master now. 💁🏻‍♂️
And even an AI-Empowered SAFe Scrum Master! ⚡️

I noticed something quite funny while studying for this exam: everyone thinks they know SAFe. Me included. But in reality, most of us have been in touch with a scaling framework that vaguely resembles SAFe, or borrowed its terminology.

I learnt that the hard way: I answered from personal experience rather than theoretical knowledge, and failed my first attempt. 😨

Jumping into the theory for round two made me learn many things... and unlearn even more.

💡 If you've worked in a scaled Agile environment, you know it's difficult to keep the agility that we need.
🔀 If you've worked in a big company without a clear scaled framework, you know it's difficult to stay aligned with the rest of the organization.

The combination of both is a very tight spot to aim for, but it's worth chasing every single day!

So, if we consider this one the first level of SAFe certifications, what should be next? 😊