The program that started it all with a Fortune 50 global pharmaceutical leader. 18 apprentices recruited from entirely non-traditional backgrounds with no IT degrees, no prior corporate technology experience. Professional Scrum Master and AWS Cloud Practitioner certification pathways. 100% converted to full-time employment. The employer came back for a second cohort in Python and AWS Cloud.
A Fortune 50 global pharmaceutical company needed Agile practitioners and Scrum Masters who could integrate into enterprise delivery teams people capable of running sprints, managing backlogs, facilitating standups, and communicating with senior stakeholders from day one. Their requirement: non-traditional talent. No college degrees required. Diverse candidates currently outside the IT industry.
A Fortune 50 pharmaceutical company with a strong diversity commitment needed Agile talent developed from scratch not poached from competitors. They wanted people trained to their specific enterprise environment and team culture from the start.
No IT degrees. No corporate technology experience required. KTCS and its specialty staffing partner sourced candidates from entirely different industries and backgrounds. Identifying aptitude, communication skills, and learning agility over credentials.
KTCS designed the curriculum, recruited the cohort, and delivered the entire pre-apprenticeship end-to-end. The program ran with daily feedback loops, weekly instructor reports, 1:1 mentoring, and a cohort learning environment that built professional relationships alongside technical skills.
Graduates completed a Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification pathway a globally recognized credential from Scrum.org that validates their ability to apply the Scrum framework in enterprise environments.
AWS Cloud Practitioner certification was embedded into the program curriculum giving graduates working knowledge of cloud infrastructure concepts essential for Agile practitioners operating in modern enterprise technology environments.
All 18 apprentices completed the 12-month apprenticeship and converted to full-time employment. The result: the same Fortune 50 employer returned to KTCS for a second, technically deeper cohort in Python, AWS, and IT DevOps.
The Agile PM cohort represents one of the most diverse in the KTCS portfolio. A deliberate outcome of the recruiting criteria and a demonstration that non-traditional talent pipelines are not a compromise. They are a competitive advantage.
The Agile PM and Scrum Master curriculum was designed to align with the Fortune 50 employer's delivery methodology and enterprise toolchain. Graduates entered the 12-month apprenticeship ready to run sprints, facilitate ceremonies, and work directly with senior product stakeholders.
Paul came into the Agile PM cohort as a diesel mechanic — no IT background, no college degree, no prior experience with enterprise software. He was selected because of his communication skills, his ability to manage complex workflows under pressure, and his track record of leading teams in a completely different industry. What KTCS and the employer understood, and what the data confirms, is that those skills transfer. Paul completed the program and converted to full-time employment at the Fortune 50 pharmaceutical company
“Each week building a concept on top of another while learning skills that are highly sought after. I am anxious to take on the challenges ahead.”
The Agile PM cohort proved the model. 100% conversion. A Fortune 50 employer who returned for more. Non-traditional talent performing at the highest levels of enterprise Agile delivery. If your organization needs a skilled, diverse Agile team — KTCS can build it.