Long Description
Global markets are shifting rapidly, creating new career opportunities for those willing to make big moves. Guests discuss how to prepare for the transition—and Amtrak’s EPMO head shares why project talent is well suited to make this type of leap.

Phil Pavitt, consultant executive vice president of business transformation for Safelite AutoGlass, outlines the skills project professionals need to succeed in a new sector.

Narasimha Acharya, PMP, assistant director for Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, explains how his experience working across sectors helped him land his current role

Sarina Arcari, PMP, vice president in charge of the EPMO at Amtrak in Washington, D.C., discusses her hesitation to switch sectors—and the opportunities that inspired her to take on an executive-level position in a new industry.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified™ with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:30] Hot sectors for project talent
[02:50] Skills to succeed in a new sector
[05:45] The risk of “job hopping”
[06:55] The value of cross-sector experience
[10:35] Managing projects in a new industry
[14:40] Communicating with execs in a new organization
[16:25] When to make a big career move

Picking up our previous conversation on "pitching projects," Oren practices what he preaches — diving right into describing "a path to payoff" to follow when running team meetings or presenting a solution to stakeholders.

About our Guest:

Oren Klaff is author of Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal and an investment banker who has raised more than $1 billion for entrepreneurs.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher,  Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[02:46] Describe problems in ways that solutions are valued

[10:57] Establish why meeting is important and worth the time

[12:35] Build a narrative arc about what's new or changing

[18:54] 'Unpack' the solution with facts then 'sell' benefits with emotion

[21:30] Only present for as long as you can be compelling

[23:13] Remember and believe that YOU are the value

Links:

Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal,by Oren Klaff

PitchAnything.com

Oren Klaff, Pitch Expert and author of Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal. Stephen W. Maye is your host for Projectified with PMI. In this episode Oren explains why the art of pitching is a crucial skill for project leaders and describes ways to increase buy-in to your ideas, proposals, recommendations, and how to sell your vision of the future to your stakeholders and teams.

Oren shines a light on common pitfalls people encounter while working to inform and influence those around them as well as provide solutions to these problems. He also lends his insights into how to formulate an excellent pitch and the neuroscience behind these strategies.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher,  Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[:56] Pitching as a project leader: Presenting, persuading, influencing, and creating a ‘dome.’

[3:39] Under the ‘dome’; projecting the future of a project.

[4:15] Selling the future; Creating a strong pitch and following through.

[5:51] Establishing the rules under the ‘dome,’ or pitch, and the value of not answering every question.

[7:34] The trust connection when pitching a project and replacing trust with credibility and autonomy.

[9:06] The importance of autonomy.

[11:18] The three major problems Oren sees in every presentation: the information dump, the nothing-burger, and having the right information in the wrong order.

[15:23] Answering the right questions and organizing your presentation in a narrative arc: the setup, the path-to-payoff, and the payoff.

[16:50] The setup: What’s changing in the world?

[19:09] The neuroscience behind the formulas and theories Oren discussed.

Links:

Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal, by Oren Klaff

PitchAnything.com

As expectations for financial services change, legacy institutions and startups alike have to innovate. Andreas Madjari, PMP, project management governance specialist at Erste Group in Vienna, Austria, discusses agile’s role in creating the group’s internet banking platform, George. He also shares a look at the future—from stabilization to more online services.

Alicia Levine, the COO of Chipper Cash based in London, England, discusses the growing investment in fintech in Africa. She also talks about mobile money removing barriers for people who don’t use traditional banks and how new methods of transferring money can help people build digital financial histories.

Key themes

[03:11] Empowering teams for agile development

[06:47] Innovating to meet customers’ needs with reliability

[10:15] Fintech’s growth in Africa 

[12:20] How mobile money opened the door for new currency transfer options, digital financial identity

[16:10] Fintech in Africa going digital—from banking to currencies

Are you ready for The Project Economy? At PMI Global Conference 2019, PMI President and CEO Sunil Prashara discussed how global trends like population growth and alternative energy are driving The Project Economy, the new opportunities coming from AI and other disruptive technologies, and how project and program managers can prepare themselves for the future.

Key Themes

[01:47] Global trends influencing project work

[04:30] Work is changing: From lifelong careers to project-based roles

[06:00] Needed skill sets in a shifting project landscape

[06:52] How automation, AI can lead to opportunities in project management

[07:45] Preparing for the future of The Project Economy

Innovation, uncertainty, rapid change—the defining factors of the modern marketplace are making projects increasingly complicated. Guests discuss how they’re overcoming complexity to deliver transformative projects.

The PMO team from Telstra, Australia’s largest telecom company and this year’s PMO of the Year Award winner, explains how PMO oversight helped get the company’s capital investment portfolio back on track.

Mohammed Fakhri, AVP of global project delivery at Standard Chartered Global Business Services in Malaysia, discusses how he manages change across an interconnected project portfolio.

Wale Elegbede, PMO manager for the Mayo Clinic’s Center for Regenerative Medicine, shares how project teams navigate uncertainty on innovative healthcare projects—while also complying with strict regulations.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified™ with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:30] Defining project complexity
[03:40] Telstra case study: 2018 PMO of the Year
[05:30] Facilitating strategic innovation
[08:00] Navigating interdependencies
[10:45] What is regenerative medicine?
[14:55] Planning for uncertainty
[16:45] Understanding stakeholder priorities

Long Description

Making the world a better place is no simple task. Especially when funding is in short supply. Leaders from government agencies and NGOs share how transparency and accountability help them do more with less on their projects and programs.

Riaan Husselmann, director of enterprise portfolio management for the New South Wales Electoral Commission in Australia, shares how increased transparency can improve project delivery—and restore the public’s trust in its elected officials.

Danny Scott-Rockel, a senior program manager at Nesta, outlines how clear communication on social innovation projects helps his U.K.-based NGO maintain support from donors and grant providers.

Lori Tanner, senior director for the IT project management office and services for the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., discusses how project leaders can respond to the need for greater transparency and reporting in the NGO space.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:

[00:48] The global trust deficit

[03:45] Projects to deliver democracy

[06:43] How project tracking drives transparency

[11:56] The case for accountability within NGOs

[13:42] Responding appropriately to risk

[15:18] How the PMO navigates volatility

[17:40] Building a culture of transparency

Transcript

Narrator

The future of project management is changing fast. On Projectified™ with PMI, we’ll help you stay on top of the trends and see what’s really ahead for the profession—and your career.

For an easy way to stay up to date on Projectified™ with PMI, go to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or PMI.org/podcast.

Stephen W. Maye

Hello, I'm Stephen Maye, and this is Projectified™ with PMI. I'm here with my co-host, Tegan Jones, and in this episode we're talking about how governments and NGOs can run projects that will make a bigger impact in the world.

You know, there are so many different types of needs that governments and NGOs have to address—economic development, healthcare, affordable housing. But the funding never quite matches the need. There’s always more to be done.

Tegan Jones

That’s so true. And it leaves organizations with really two options. You can either raise more money or try to cut costs. And obviously, project management can help organizations be more efficient, save some money, but there’s only so far you can go down that path. You can’t save your way to zero. So to do more work, you eventually are go

In this episode Kevin defines transformation, describes what’s different for leaders moving through it, and makes a case that project professionals do their best work when they attend to the physical, mental and emotional space where co-creation can be achieved.

About our Guest:

Kevin Murphy is a partner in Bain & Company's Washington, D.C. office, and head of its Center of Expertise for Co-Creation. He has more than 30 years of experience across multiple industries in leading large turnarounds and transformations.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher,  Google Play Music, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[01:30] Drivers and characteristics of transformation

[04:45] Transformation projects are marathons, not sprints

[07:45] Transformation lessons and rewards

[10:00] Risks and reasons for high failure rates

[12:55] Attitude, resolve and top-down commitment

[16:25] Engaging in conservations that break down silos

[21:15] Creating physical, mental and emotional spaces  

From hurricanes to hunger, global disasters are increasing—and intensifying. The costs of these events are also multiplying, and the risks are becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Project leaders from around the world explain how this new disaster era is forcing teams to adjust their risk management strategies and priorities.

Mahamoudou Guimbayara, emergency team leader for the Development Food Assistance Program at CARE Mali, discusses how he and his team emphasize risk reduction and recovery in the midst of a long-term, national food scarcity crisis.

Victor Orellana Acuña, PMP, former deputy national director of Chile’s National Emergency Office, talks about the impact of standardization and simplification on emergency management in the immediate post-disaster landscape.

And members of the project team from Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, winner of the 2018 PMI® Project of the Year Award, discuss how they were able to rebuild a massive, state-of-the-art medical facility and demonstrate resiliency after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:37] The growing impact—and cost—of natural disasters
[03:52] Committing to risk mitigation in a long-term crisis
[08:24] Establishing a common language for recovery
[10:31] Developing a simplified model of emergency management
[13:01] Winning stakeholder buy-in despite devastation
[15:03] Gathering insight via rigorous testing
[16:57] Staying flexible in the face of setbacks

In this episode, global project leaders discuss how to make hyper-innovation happen, the do’s and don’ts of managing virtual teams and navigating an uncertain project landscape. 

Alice Pollard, chief of staff and innovation architect for Cisco Hyper Innovation Living Labs in San Francisco, shares the success factors that helps some of the world’s largest companies collaborate on game-changing innovations.

James Stewart, vice chair for KPMG in London, talks how teams can navigate a new breed of project challenges, from breakneck speeds to real-time reporting requirements.

Fiona Charonnat, customer project and program management process owner for Ericsson in Paris, and Ibrahim Dani, director of governance for Optus Australia in Sydney, outline how leaders need to think differently when working with increasingly dispersed teams.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at:

Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:

[2:10] Defining the skill set of the future

[5:00] When to turn to a virtual team

[6:59] How to engage dispersed team members

[11:28] Future-proofing project plans

[12:35] Running a first-of-its-kind project

[15:05] How does hyper-innovation work?

[20:40] Gaining speed without sacrificing quality

[22:55] Innovation on a shoestring

Jane Canniff and Carrie Fletcher discuss what it takes to be a woman in charge, and Lindsay Scott shares research on gender trends in project management.

About our Guests — Carrie Fletcher, Lindsay Scott and Jane Caniff:

Carrie Fletcher, PMP, is the senior director of health information management and the enterprise project management office (PMO) for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector.

Lindsay Scott is the director of program and project management recruitment for Arras People in London.

Jane Canniff, PMP, is a senior IT consultant who spent more than a decade working for nonprofits World Vision International and CARE in the global development sector.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at:

Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:

[1:40] The gender pay gap in project management

[6:10] Challenges female project leaders face (Carrie Fletcher)

[8:08] Striking the right work-life balance (Carrie Fletcher)

[12:10] Gender trends in the project management profession (Lindsay Scott)

[13:45] The future of contract vs. full-time project work (Lindsay Scott)

[16:18] How to advance your career (Jane Canniff)

[20:50] Advice for female project managers (Jane Canniff)

[22:26] The value of diversity in the workforce (Jane Canniff)

Creativity is the spark behind every bright idea—but it needs the right environment to flourish. Learn how leaders can give their teams both the structure and inspiration they need to think outside the box. Plus, Nickelodeon’s senior director of creative project management shares three creativity killers to avoid.

Ahmed Bahaa, PMP, managing director for Hive Studio in Cairo, Egypt, offers tips to cultivate an “always-on” creative culture that helps team produce high-quality work on a tight timeline.

Todd Henry, host of The Accidental Creative podcast and author of the book Herding Tigers in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, discusses how project leaders can encourage project team members to leave their comfort zones.

Mike Tenney, senior director of creative project management for Nickelodeon in New York, New York, USA, outlines how he minimizes the risk of last-minute surprises.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified™ with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:30] Sparking and sustaining creativity
[02:25] What sets creative companies apart
[05:05] How to foster a creative workplace
[08:22] The key to better brainstorming
[10:15] Encouraging risk-taking
[12:38] What makes creative project management different?
[15:30] Keeping surprises at bay
[18:40] Creativity killers to avoid

It’s true: time is money. Productivity drives profitability—and organizations rely on project professionals to get more done in a day. Guests discuss how they improve efficiency and reduce downtime without pushing teams to the breaking point.

Kiersten Huddleston, PMP, program manager at Salesforce in Seattle, Washington, USA offers tips for reducing digital distractions on project teams.

Michael Janzen, PMP, PMO director for MedStar Health in Washington D.C., shares how he ensures the organization is committing the right resources to the right projects across the board.

Marcio Amadeu, PMP, senior project portfolio manager for Nestlé USA in Arlington, Virginia, USA, outlines how he manages team workload to keep everyone firing on all cylinders.

Key Themes:
[00:31] Boosting team productivity
[03:35] How to reduce the drain from digital distractions
[08:03] Smart capacity planning
[09:42] What’s driving the deadline?
[12:10] Prioritizing the right projects
[13:47] Data-driven workload management
[16:21] Efficiently managing multiple projects
[17:32] How to avoid team downtime

Looking to land your next big promotion? Learn how to showcase your skills and stand out from the crowd.  Guests discuss how project and program managers can climb the career ladder by showing they have what it takes to get the job done.

• Moira Alexander, PMP, founder of PMWorld 360 Magazine in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, outlines four steps that will help project professionals prepare themselves to take the next big step in their careers.
• Amber Simonsen, PMP, director of guest product development and delivery for Alaska Airlines in Seattle, Washington, USA, shares how crafting a plan to improve project delivery inspired her boss to create a new leadership role—and give her a promotion.
• Diane Hatton, director of the Brookhaven National Laboratory Nuclear and Particle Physics Directorate Office of Project Planning and Oversight—accelerator projects in Brookhaven, New York, USA, discusses how to identify skill gaps and invest in professional development that will advance your career.

Key Themes:

[00:23] What does it take to get a promotion?

[03:09] 4 tips for landing a promotion

[06:42] Seeing the big picture

[09:34] How to market yourself

[12:00] Climbing the career ladder

[14:59] Invest in professional development

[17:27] Crafting your personal career path

Andy defines leadership and teams in this episode; discusses trust, conflict and alignment; touches on agile principles in leading teams; emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in the work; and offers advice on dealing with "bad apples" and bringing out the best in the teams you lead.

About our Guest:

Speaker, author and executive coach Andy Kaufman has worked with thousands of individuals from hundreds of organization to help them improve their ability to deliver projects and lead teams. He has 25 years of experience in management, technology, team leadership and project management.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher,  Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[03:00] Definitions of leadership, from vision to potential

[08:00] The ripple effect of good and bad leadership

[10:00] A team is more than a group of individuals

[11:40] Trust is the foundation, not artificial harmony

[17:45] Team alignment requires understanding the "why"

[20:50] Applying agile principles to team leadership

[26:00] Shared leadership and meaningful work

[31:00] Dealing with "bad apples" on teams

As the business world changes, so too does project management. At PMI’s Global Conference 2019, project and program leaders shared how the profession has evolved, discussed the must-have skills and looked back at some of the projects that inspired them.

Fernando Antonio Oliveira, of Embraer in São José dos Campos, Brazil, and Shobhna Raghupathy, PMP, with Proficient Project Consulting Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, shared how Apollo 11 and the World Wide Web influenced them.

Laila Faridoon with the PMI UAE chapter in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Vinod Kumar Paidakula, PMI-ACP, PMP, PgMP, with KLC Consulting in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, discussed how project management has evolved with the mainstreaming of agile and the introduction of disruptive technologies.

Narasimha Acharya, PMP, of Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, talked about how technologies like artificial intelligence can change the profession—he believes for the better. Marc Lahmann with PwC Switzerland in Zurich shared how organizations are using simple AI, such as automation or chat bots, as well as advanced AI, like machine learning, predictive and fully autonomous project management.

Taiwo Abraham, PMP, with Horizant and Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, discussed the new must-have skills like strategic thinking and how volunteering can help project professionals gain experience.

Key themes

[00:22] Highlights from PMI’s Global Conference 2019

[01:43] Inspirational and influential projects

[05:32] Agile going mainstream

[08:23] Technology’s impact: Transformation, tools and more

[10:14] AI—both simple and complex—in project management

[13:01] Broader roles lead to skill shift for project leaders

Global experts discuss how to ace an interview, landing your next big promotion and the skills that set top-performing project professionals apart. In this episode, you'll hear from career experts ... 

Manuel Salero Coca, managing director for PIN Technologies in Mexico City, about what it takes to become a project leader in a global company—and even start your own business.

Lindsay Scott, director of program and project management recruitment for Arras People in London, shares some of the hiring trends she’s seen taking shape in the U.K.

Deepa Kalangi, senior project manager at Magellan Health in Portland, Oregon, USA, offers tips to help job seekers answer the toughest project management interview questions.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, ProjectifiedTM with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of ProjectifiedTM with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:

[1:15] In-demand project management skills

[4:53] How to impress a hiring manager

[6:59] Answering impossible interview questions

[9:47] The project management talent gap

[13:48] Becoming your own boss

[17:48] What sets top performers apart

[19:30] Building trust with your team

Anand Swaminathan, a senior partner at McKinsey and Stephen W. Maye continue their conversation about what digital transformation means today, and why it’s important to almost every organization’s future. Real-world business examples of digital transformation enlighten part two of our conversation with Anand, as we dive more deeply into the role of cross-functional teams and discuss the culture challenges that must be addressed. 

Anand Swaminathan is also one of the authors of Digital @ Scale: The Playbook You Need to Transform Your Company. Anand covers some of topics in the book such as the changes in strategy that happen as part of the digital transformation, changes in culture, the organization model and operating model, as well as the changes in fundamental capabilities.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[04:35] Breaking down silos with cross-functional teams

[07:05] Examples of digital transformation in healthcare

[10:05] Culture change and reinvention are mandatory

[12:15] Emerging roles to build bridges, drive transformation

[14:08] 'Intentionally temporary' jobs, processes and models

[17:00] Preparing for your digital work future

Links:

McKinsey & Company

Digital @ Scale: The Playbook You Need to Transform Your Company, by Anand Swaminathan and Jürgen Meffert

As technology evolves, so does the way we work. At PMI Global Conference, Bob Safian, founder of The Flux Group and former editor-in-chief of Fast Company, talked about how technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning present project leaders with new opportunities—as well as new risks. He also discussed the factors fueling The Project Economy—and why as the world of work continues to shift, the most important skill is the ability to keep learning.

Key themes:

[01:01] Why we’re moving to The Project Economy

[03:17] Technology’s effect on business

[06:51] Risks project leaders face as the world of work evolves

[10:08] New opportunities coming from The Project Economy

[12:13] The new needed skill: Continue learning new skills

[13:28] How projects can leave a lasting legacy

Lauri Bingham, Director of Technology PMO at T-Mobile. Responsible for managing over $100M across a diverse, high-profile portfolio of national programs and projects.

Episode Description:

Stephen W. Maye is your host for Projectified with PMI. In this episode, Stephen sits down with Lauri Bingham who shares insights and lessons learned on adopting and integrating agile principles and practices into a variety of work environments. Lauri also covers the PMO’s role in supporting teams, hybrid approaches, and dealing with complexity.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow our podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

2:44 — the importance of 'soft' and 'big-picture' skills

@06:15 — moving from waterfall to agile/hybrid methods

@08:44 — finding the right fit for right team for right project

@11:01 — communicating successes, benefits and lessons

@12:20 — the challenges of going first and changing habits

@14:40 — a culture shift throughout organization

@19:57 — balancing waterfall and agile principles

@22:25 — letting the data lead you to the answers

@25:43 — listen to your customers, build a relationships

@30:30 — the learn-trial-learn process

@33:57 — career advice to women and young project managers

Links:

Lauri Bingham LinkedIn

Ahead of International Women’s Day, ProjectifiedTM hosted a roundtable with three women to discuss their experiences leading projects and programs and their hopes for the next generation of women in the profession.

Varsha Advani, PMP, senior technical program manager at Akamai Technologies in Bengaluru, India, talks about the importance of mentorship and how company-structured programs can help build a culture of learning. She also hopes to see more women in management roles moving forward.

Selenne Berthely, PMP, project manager, Banco de México, Mexico City, Mexico, discusses how leaders need both technical and people skills and shares her advice to other women in the profession—remain true to yourself and focus on your team.

Asya Watkins, PMP, manager of pharmaceutical implementations at EnvisionRxOptions and founder of Women Of Project Management in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, discusses how mentorship helped her career and the lessons she learned from being the only woman on some of her teams. She also shares ways men can advocate and support women on project teams.

Anna Tavis, PhD, academic director of human capital management, New York University, New York, New York, USA, shares how organizations can use data-driven metrics and better measurements of collaboration to help gender equity.

Key themes

[01:25] Creativity, empathy and freedom make projects challenging and fulfilling

[03:33] What leaders need: People skills, relationship building, communication

[06:23] Sharing experiences and learning through mentorship

[13:58] Advocating for women through partnership on projects, speaking up

[17:07] Hopes for the future: More women in management roles

[20:49] Measuring performance and impact of an individual on a team

Best-selling author of The Dance of the Possible, The Year Without Pants and other books, Scott is a former Microsoft project manager, a creative-thinking teacher, and a popular speaker.

Episode Description:

We return to the oft-neglected role of creativity in project management as Scott shares insights on bringing fresh-thinking and innovative problem-solving to your projects and teams, regardless of the work environment.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow our podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Episode Notes:

@01:15 — overcoming 'creative block' by lowering the bar

@04:26 — keeping a journal to spark ideas and solutions

@09:21 — bringing creative thinking to traditional work cultures

@12:29 — balancing quick solutions with deeper exploration

@16:40 — an idea-generation technique using 'opposites'

Links:

Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management, by Scott

What does the 2020 jobs scene look like for project professionals? In the season 3 opener of ProjectifiedTM, we get the scoop from Lindsay Scott, PM Network career columnist and co-founder of Arras People in London, England. She discusses the state of the job market as a potential recession looms and how a strong network and working across sectors can help project professionals in times of economic uncertainty. She also talks people skills— including a new focus on empathy and mental health among project leaders.

David Paré, PMP, CTO for healthcare business at DXC Technology in Perth, Australia, discusses how AI will change work. He also offers tips for using champions to sell tech projects.

Key themes:

[02:51] Project opportunities during economic uncertainty

[08:23] A stronger focus on empathy and mental health

[12:36] Understand what you need to learn—and unlearn

[15:40] Must-have skills for healthcare projects

[16:43] How the AI upheaval will change work

[18:46] Managing tech, change and stakeholders

Doug shares experiences and insights from managing PMI's 2017 Project of the Year. You’ll learn how the team overcame dangers of the work environment and the technical, talent, and communications challenges of the project.

About our Guest:

Roland (Doug) Greenwell has led highly complex projects at U.S. Department of Energy sites for more than 30 years, bringing expertise in nuclear waste retrieval, safety-conscious work environments and continuous improvement.

Doug shares experiences and insights from managing PMI's 2017 Project of the Year. The project was replacing an underground tank that was leaking radioactive waste in Hanford, Washington, USA. Highlights of the award-winning project includes finishing the project ahead of schedule and US$8.7 under budget, and no safety issues were encountered while transferring nuclear waste. Doug’s conversation details dealing with technical and talent challenges, communicating to diverse stakeholders and negative media, risk management, and the rewards of the job.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher,  Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[2:13] project background and site history

[6:56] project begins with an unexpected leak

[10:50] dangers of the work environment

[13:30] technical challenges, timeline and cost

[16:23] the talent challenge, skillsets and training

[25:10] the stakeholder communication challenge

[28:27] dealing with media and negative coverage

[32:38] the shared attributes of complex projects

[36:20] risk management is indispensable

[39:43] the rewards of the job, the impact on society

We live in an era of instant gratification—and it’s redefined the customer experience. Guests discuss how technology has changed customer expectations and the innovations that are helping organizations provide faster, more personalized service. 

Sindhu Joseph, CEO and founder of CogniCor Technologies in San Francisco, California, USA, outlines how artificial intelligence can help organizations deliver on-demand customer service.

Members of the PMO team at Triglav Group in Ljubljana, Slovenia explain how digitizing and centralizing customer data helped transform Triglav’s customer experience.

Borislav Tadić, PMP, vice president responsible for transformation and board member support for data protection, legal and compliance at Deutsche Telekom in Bonn, Germany, discusses how taking a more holistic approach—and getting every department involved—can help an organization offer a better customer experience.

Key Themes:

[00:23] Evolving customer expectations 

[02:46] How AI can enhance customer service

[06:13] Creating more customized customer interactions

[08:14] Case study: Triglav’s digital transformation

[12:57] Delivering transparency, personalization, simplicity

[15:03] Taking a holistic approach to customer experience

[17:48] Simplifying processes creates better customer experiences

Predictive analysis. Machine learning. Robotic automation. AI technologies are coming of age—and it’s time for them to start earning their keep. Learn how organizations are turning the hype into hard numbers.

Oliver Broom, program director for artificial intelligence and data and analytics for Virgin Media in London discusses how AI is transforming the customer experience.

Sindhu Joseph, co-founder and CEO of CogniCor Technologies in San Francisco, talks what it takes to define and deliver clear ROI as an organization integrates AI technology.

Veronika Sokolova, an intelligent automation program manager for British Telecom in London, shares how robotic automation is streamlining global operations.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified™ with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:30] Trends in artificial intelligence
[02:45] The business case for robots
[04:43] End-to-end automation
[06:56] Defining and delivering AI ROI
[11:35] Transforming the customer experience
[14:55] The future AI roadmap
[17:55] AI’s impact on the workforce

After building a successful IT consulting career in the corporate world, Jane invested a decade leading global development projects and programs for World Vision International and CARE USA.

In this episode, Stephen Maye sits down with Jane Canniff who discusses how project management is changing and how it differs between the for-profit and global development sectors. Jane also shares what she's learned about transition, adaptation and finding purpose in work that can save lives.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow our podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

@01:30 — the global development landscape, goals

@04:00 — the need for project leadership

@05:45 — moving from corporate to development sector

@11:45 — building local capability and commitment

@15:20 — communication and cultural considerations

@19:40 — technology and infrastructure challenges

@25:00 — the value of curiosity and encouragement

@27:00 — returning to for-profit world with new perspective

@28:55 — working with a cross-cultural, global team

@31:50 — making the transition to social-good project work

Jim shares insights on the past, present and future of IBM's PMCoE, including its focus on attracting and developing tomorrow's project leaders, the challenge of balancing traditional methods with agile approaches, and the keys to remaining relevant over two decades.

About our Guest:

Jim Boland is the leader of IBM's Project Management Center of Excellence (PMCoE), which is celebrating its 21st anniversary as it serves over 350,000 "IBMers" —including dozens of PMOs and 40,000 certified project managers.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher,  Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[01:30] The broad mission of IBM's PMCoE

[03:10] Everybody is a project manager

[06:15] The difference between a CoE and PMO

[09:00] Meeting the pace of change with agility

[14:45] Frequent 'sense-checking' to identify red flags

[17:00] Internal and external certification programs

[20:15] Attracting talent to the PM workforce

[22:45] New skills needed for project managers

[25:45] Defining/reinforcing culture values/practices

[28:40] What's next for the PMCoE

[31:45] Get comfortable with change

Digitization. Decentralization. De-carbonization. Global trends are disrupting the energy sector—and organizations are reshaping their project portfolios to adapt. Guests discuss what it takes to innovate in this competitive market and how project leaders can stay ahead of the curve.

There’s no “right way” to run a successful project. Producing better results is all about finding the best way to get the job done. Guests discuss the value of different project management approaches—and how building a broader knowledge base can help boost your career.

Andy Kaufman, PMP, PMI-ACP, president of the Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development Inc. in Lake Zurich, Illinois, USA, discusses how understanding an organization’s culture can help you choose the best project approach.

Emily Luijbregts, PMP, project manager at Siemens PLM Software in 's-Hertogenbosch, or Den Bosch, in the Netherlands, shares how understanding multiple project approaches can open the door to new career opportunities.

Nelson Rosamilha, PMP, PMI-ACP, head of project management at Ericsson in Sao Paulo, Brazil, outlines how project managers can take the lead to build buy-in for the best delivery method.

Key Themes:

[00:23] What drives project success?
[03:22] The value of pulling from different approaches
[04:48] How culture impacts the right approach
[07:50] How a broader skillset can boost your career
[08:50] Building buy-in with business benefits
[11:17] Customizing your leadership style
[14:47] Setting expectations with stakeholders
[18:16] Becoming more customer-centric

Almost every executive is talking transformation. But the real test is whether project leaders can make it a reality. Two leaders from the Brightline Initiative discuss why successful transformations are really about bringing people together—and winning over their hearts and minds.

Ricardo Vargas, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP, executive director of the Brightline Initiative, discussed how organizations need to focus on people and culture—not just technology—during transformations. And that starts with getting executives and project teams on the same page.

Tahirou Assane, PMP, director of operations for the Brightline Initiative, shared how finding internal champions to back transformation initiatives will help keep things on track and build more buy-in. He also discussed how organizations need to prepare employees to accept, adopt and embrace change as the new normal.

Key themes:

[00:22] Challenges to transformation

[01:22] Putting people, culture at the center of transformations

[03:00] How internal champions can increase buy-in

[04:17] Accepting and embracing transformations as the new standard

[07:25] Getting executives and project teams on the same page

Insights from global experts for how project and program teams can respond to shifting priorities, when to pull the plug on an outdated project—and what it takes to deliver real strategic value.

Felipe Daguila, the chief digital officer for Ooredoo Qatar, explains how increasing collaboration between the teams that create and execute on strategy improves the quality of project delivery.

Dev Ramcharan, a program director for TD in Toronto, offer tips to help teams deliver successful projects when an organization’s strategy changes midstream.

Amruta Oak, executive director of program management services for Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco, and Heather van Wyk, business program manager for Engen Petroleum in Cape Town talk about how focusing on the business case helps teams deliver programs and projects that drive the strategy forward.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, ProjectifiedTM with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of ProjectifiedTM with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:

[0:38] The cost of poor project delivery

[2:40] Aligning projects to strategy

[4:04] How the business case helps projects deliver value

[5:25] Tying individual performance to strategy

[7:02] Responding to strategic shifts

[10:50] Key drivers of successful strategy delivery

[13:43] Building buy-in for strategic initiatives

[16:47] When to cancel a project

Talent turnover is unavoidable. Brain drain is not. Global experts discuss how effective knowledge transfer keeps organizations firing on all cylinders.

Mustafa Hafızoğlu, PMP, program director for Space & Defence Technologies in Ankara, Turkey, explains how his company has transformed project knowledge into a reusable commodity.

Betsy Mathew, PMP, director of organizational development and talent management for Dark Matter in Abu Dhabi, UAE, offers her take on how organizations can create an environment where knowledge flows freely.

Roger Forsgren, chief knowledge officer for NASA in Washington D.C., USA, shares how the agency’s breakthrough innovations are made possible by effective (and mandatory) knowledge management.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified™ with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:25] The business value of knowledge transfer
[03:00] Building a formal knowledge bank
[06:00] Retaining expertise amidst employee turnover
[08:10] How to collect meaningful lessons learned
[09:22] Facilitating knowledge sharing
[11:05] How knowledge transfer reduces costs
[14:10] Gathering and disseminating knowledge at NASA
[16:30] Lessons learned for engineers
[19:00] Securing top-down support

The next generation of project managers isn’t satisfied with the status quo—and leaders must be ready to adapt. Guests discuss how they encourage collaboration across age groups, and a PMO director from Slack outlines how to recruit and retain young talent.

Ilinca Rolea, a junior project manager for the IT firm Cameo Global in Brussels, Belgium outlines the type of professional support she wants her managers to provide.

Andy Almenara, the PMO head for Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service in Sydney explains how proactive planning keep his multigenerational team firing on all cylinders.

Manny Ventura, PMP, the director of the business operations PMO at Slack in San Francisco, California, USA, discusses how organizations can encourage team members from different generations to build on each others’ strengths.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified™ with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:30] The multigenerational workforce
[02:30] The art of communication
[04:19] Setting clear expectations
[06:30] Reverse mentoring
[08:50] A Gen Z perspective
[12:23] Competing for young project talent
[16:00] Accommodating different work styles
[18:56] How to spark collaboration across age groups

Predictive modeling. Augmented reality. Digital twin. Disruptive tech is changing the game for construction projects. Guests discuss how technology has helped them work more efficiently, create safer job sites and make better business decisions.

Colin Cagney, PMP, director in KPMG’s major projects advisory practice in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, discusses how data analytics can help organizations prevent accidents and improve project outcomes.

Monica Sosa, senior associate and project manager at Corgan in Culver City, California, USA, outlines how her organization used 3D cameras and augmented reality glasses to spot potential design flaws on an airport expansion project.

Arsen Safaryan, head of building information modeling and digital construction at ALEC in Dubai, UAE, talks about what it takes to get new technology adopted across an organization—and what innovations are delivering the most value.  

Key themes:

[00:22] Trends in construction technology

[04:13] Using data to inform project decisions

[05:24] How data analysis can make job sites safer

[08:36] Piloting disruptive technology

[13:17] Top innovations influencing construction projects

[15:29] Adopting new tech across an organization

[18:41] In-demand skills for the future

Seismic market shifts have reshaped entire sectors and shaken up the project landscape. Learn how global business trends are impacting the job market for project and program managers—and what skills will help future-proof your career.

Barnali Sahoo, PMO head for the Americas division of Flight Centre Travel Group, based in Montreal, New Jersey, USA, outlines the skills project managers need to respond to shifting customer demands.

Jens Wilken, executive director for the thermal power plant, desalination, solar thermal, and oil and gas division of Fichtner Consulting Engineers in Stuttgart, Germany explains why project and program managers need to up their business acumen.

Edgar Bonilla Torres, a project manager for Heliosolar, based in Bogotá, Colombia, discusses what’s next for renewable energy projects in Latin America.

Alarka Purkayastha, an engagement manager for Accenture in Bengaluru, India, shares his perspective on how the country’s IT services sector is evolving—and what skills will help project and program managers stay competitive.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified™ with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:30] Trends shaping the job market
[01:45] New career opportunities in India
[04:18] Delivering a better customer journey
[06:20] CX: What’s at stake
[09:30] The value of project management education
[11:00] Renewable energy trends in Latin America
[12:30] The demand for business acumen

Dr. Michael Chui of the McKinsey Global Institute. Dr. Michael Chui is a technologist by training, a computer and cognitive scientist, author, and frequent speaker at major global conferences. Stephen W. Maye is your host for Projectified with PMI. In this episode, Stephen talks with Michael Chui who has conducted lots of fascinating research around automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and digitization.

Michael shares research on the impact that artificial intelligence will have on the workforce, why A.I. presents new opportunities in the project world, how it affects work and the future potential of work, and how project professionals can prepare themselves to thrive in an emergent, exciting and uncertain landscape.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

Itunes, Stitcher, Google Play or pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[:28] Steven introduces Dr. Michael Chui and he gives us some background into his work

[1:40] What Dr. Michael Chui’s research has been about, the motivation behind it and the biggest surprises to come out of it

[8:40] Where Michael sees the significant differences in the project world with the adoption of technological automation

[12:17] The good news: Emphasis on leadership roles and developing connections with people

[14:20] Where Michael anticipates the most significant impacts from automation and digitization

[16:25] Where we are from a social acceptance perspective about machines and robotics

[19:20] Awareness of robotics and automation adoption across the country and on socioeconomic levels

[22:17] How people in professional roles will prepare for a world of increasingly smart technology

[24:48] The good news for project management and project leadership: Immense value placed on leadership and motivation skills

Links:

Michael Chui’s McKinsey & Company Profile

Dana shares insights on building strong work relationships between millennials and managers. With perspectives from both sides, she identifies behaviors and mindsets to foster cross-generational collaboration and understanding.

About our Guest:

Dana Brownlee has served as project manager and strategy consultant for IBM and AT&T, among other organizations. She is president of Professionalism Matters and the author of the upcoming book The Unwritten Rules of Managing Up: Project Management Techniques from the Trenches. 

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified with PMI, follow the podcast at:

iTunes, Stitcher,  Google Play, or Pmi.org/podcast.

Key Takeaways:

[02:30] Describing general distinctions of millennials

[7:10] Accommodating various communication modes

[9:20] Adapting leadership styles, relationship-building

[14:10] Work culture adjustments for millennials

[18:30] Balancing policies: opportunities vs. privileges

[22:00] How millennials are inspiring welcome changes

[26:00] Comfort with technology and fresh perspectives

[27:45] The value of meeting with people individually

[29:10} Project management skills for career success

The competition for top project talent is heating up. Global business leaders discuss how they’re attracting top performers and building their project management bench.

Frederic Casagrande, the PMO manager for Nawah Energy Company in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates shares how he’s leveraged PMI’s standards and best practices to develop a training program that helps experts in nuclear energy up their project management skills.

Thokozani Skaka, the PMO head for MTN, in Johannesburg, South Africa discusses project management talent trends in the Middle East and Africa, including the skills gaps he sees and what organizations are doing to attract top performers.

Chris Hiltbrand, the division vice president of human resources for General Dynamics Information Technology in Washington, D.C., USA, outlines which skills the company hires for—and which skills it is willing to help people develop on the job.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast series, Projectified™ with PMI. To join the conversation online, we ask you to use #Projectified and @PMInstitute. We also encourage you to subscribe and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music by clicking on the links below. Thank you very much, and stay tuned as we release more episodes of Projectified™ with PMI.

For an easy way to stay up-to-date on Projectified™ with PMI, subscribe to our podcast at: Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or PMI.org/podcast.

Key Themes:
[00:33] Project management talent gap data
[02:37] Developing talent for nuclear energy projects
[06:58] In-demand skills in the Middle East and Africa
[08:50] How culture attracts top talent
[10:29] Recruiting and retaining top talent
[14:12] Developing soft skills on project teams
[16:47] Measuring the success of training

As digital transformation accelerates, companies may be leaving behind some users: the 1 billion people who experience some form of disability. Whether their project is in gaming or financial services, companies must ensure the digital world is an inclusive one. We discuss this with:

Brannon Zahand, senior program manager, gaming accessibility at Microsoft, Seattle: He discusses creating the company’s Game Accessibility Testing Service—one of PMI’s 2021 Most Influential Projects—and increasing representation of the disability community in the gaming industry.

Christina Papadimitriou, accessibility specialist and senior digital expert at Atos, Athens: She talks about the ways project leaders can embed accessibility into their projects right from the start and what’s next for digital accessibility.

Key themes

[02:28] Increasing accessibility awareness 

[03:48] Building accessibility guidelines for Xbox

[07:46] Creating a scalable program to test video games for inclusive design

[13:47] Integrating accessibility in processes and products 

[17:23] How project teams can learn about accessibility 

[19:36] What’s next in digital accessibility

Even with disruption and economic uncertainty, the job market for project talent is booming—and it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. We discuss the changing world of work and career opportunities for project professionals with: 

Elton Soares, PMP, electrical engineer and project manager at General Electric, Florianópolis, Brazil: Soares discusses the rise of people-centric leaders, the increase in digital transformation and the growth in the energy sector.

Malong Dong, PMP, director of the program management office at Westpac Group, Sydney: Dong discusses how the skills shortage is leading to opportunities for project professionals and the must-have skills they’ll need in 2022.

Key themes

[00:56] The increasing demand for project talent in 2022—and beyond

[02:08] The rise of people-centric project leaders

[03:43] Developing skills to lead digital transformation projects

[07:21] New project possibilities in the energy sector 

[09:09] What the skills shortage could mean for project leaders

[13:33] Leadership skills for the hybrid work environment

Women have faced an uphill battle in the workplace, especially during the pandemic. But they continue to make strides with game-changing projects across sectors and around the globe. We discuss the state of the state for women project leaders with:

Nontobeko Mathenjwa, project manager at South African National Roads Agency, Johannesburg: Mathenjwa discusses the challenges she faced early in her career as a project leader in construction, what changes she’d like to see and her advice to women in the early stages of their project careers.

Lorraine Ong, PMP, assistant director, advanced cybersecurity capabilities at Government Technology Agency of Singapore: Ong discusses how she’s seen the gender gap improve in IT, how COVID-19 has affected women leaders in her sector, and how professional organizations can help support women—and help them further their careers.

Key themes

[00:54] Organizations with women leaders perform better, research shows

[01:52] Leadership lessons: Know yourself and build relationships

[04:28] Women gaining traction in construction

[10:16] The pandemic’s impact on women project leaders in IT

[11:20] How mentors, professional organizations can support women—and boost their careers

Project leaders make decisions on a nearly non-stop basis. But they also have access to a wealth of information that can help them make the right call. We discuss this with:

Reuben Oshomah, PMP, regional director, West Africa, Avanti Communications, Lagos: He talks through what kinds of information project leaders should consult, and the role team members and stakeholders play in making smart decisions.

Ramyajit Dasgupta, PMP, global analytics manager, Concentrix, Kolkata: He discusses the role of big data and analytics in decision-making and how to take the first steps in building a data-driven culture.

Key themes

[01:42] Why understanding the project objective can fuel better decisions  

[02:51] Gathering data: Lessons learned, risk registers and team members

[08:17] Using big data, analytics, AI to take the guesswork out of decisions

The time to act on climate change is running out, putting pressure on nations and organizations alike to help heal the plant. Project teams around the world are helping care for our planet. We discuss this with: 

Karl Campbell, director, Latin American Pacific Islands, Re:wild, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Campbell discusses the program he’s leading to rewild 25 islands over the next decade, projects that are underway in the Galápagos, and how teams are collaborating with partners and local communities to build buy-in and ensure long-term success.

Margaret Sprug, principal, Miller Hull Partnership, Seattle: Sprug discusses building sustainability practices into her architecture projects, how her team collaborates with partners and stakeholders on sustainable design, and the lessons she and her team learned in making the Bullitt Center in Seattle a net-zero “living building.”

Key themes

[01:07] Increasing pressures to act on climate change

[02:40] Creating a program to rewild Latin American islands

[08:28] Building relationships—and buy-in—with local communities

[10:57] How rewilding creates resilient ecosystems for people and the environment

[13:56] Collaborating with partners, stakeholders on sustainable design in the built environment

[16:23] Lessons learned from creating a net-zero “living building” in Seattle

[19:04] Measuring—and mitigating—environmental impacts in architecture projects

In the past few years, teams have had to rethink events of all types—conferences, award shows, concerts—to virtual or hybrid formats, innovating to keep attendees and audiences safe as well as engaged. We discuss this with:

Nadja Burkhardt, supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, European Broadcasting Union, Geneva: She discusses how her team handles constant change to plan and execute the annual Eurovision Song Contest, how the event adapted during the pandemic, and how her team manages and collaborates with stakeholders across countries.

Akseli Aho, CEO, Junction, Helsinki: He discusses his team’s experience hosting in-person, virtual and hybrid hackathons, how they decide which format works best for each event, and the challenge of encouraging people to return to in-person events.

Key themes

[02:24] New venues, new teams, new cultures: Managing constant change on the Eurovision Song Contest

[03:38] Adapting the Eurovision Song Contest during COVID-19

[06:19] Collaborating with partners and managing stakeholders across countries 

[11:04] Junction’s lessons learned from pivoting to virtual, hybrid hackathons

[15:53] How Junction chooses between different event formats

[19:34] The challenge ahead: Encouraging people to attend in-person events again

The events of the past few years have wreaked havoc on the global supply chain. Organizations are responding with innovative projects to increase their resiliency. We discuss this with:

Leefke Grosjean, senior researcher and project manager for 5G-Smart, Ericsson, Stockholm: Grosjean discusses how the 5G-Smart project is testing 5G’s potential in manufacturing, ways the team improved communication and collaboration, and how solutions from the three pilots can be adopted across factories.

Peter Grimvall, supply chain design and planning manager, Ikea, Basel, Switzerland: Grimvall discusses the effects of supply chain disruption on organizations, the AI tool he helped create to improve Ikea’s demand forecasting for stores across the globe—and its impact so far—and why teams need to be ready to make mistakes and iterate on innovation projects.

Key themes

[01:54] Exploring the potential of 5G manufacturing in factories

[05:10] Improving collaboration, communication across the 5G-Smart team

[07:24] How 5G can boost factory flexibility, efficiency and safety

[12:45] Creating an AI tool to improve Ikea’s demand forecasting

[17:35] Using tech to predict disruptions—and how to bounce back from them

[18:40] Lessons learned: Embrace mistakes and be ready to iterate

Over the last decade, governments across the globe have launched digital transformation projects, from digitizing services to revamping their online presence for better citizen engagement. We discuss this with: 

 Katrine Maria Krzeminski, program manager, Agency for Digital Government, Copenhagen: Krzeminski discusses her project to create personal pages for each citizen on the country’s public sector portal, how her team builds support from and collaborates with multiple government agencies on the multi-year effort, and how it’s empowering citizens with data and increasing government transparency.

 Yolanda Martínez, global project lead for the GovStack initiative, International Telecommunications Union, Geneva: Martínez discusses how e-government services are changing how citizens interact with their governments, the challenges governments face when digitizing services as well as how the GovStack initiative is helping countries worldwide accelerate their digital transformation efforts, thanks, in part to an open-source platform.

Key themes

[01:58] Empowering Denmark’s citizens with data 

[04:26] Collaborating with and building buy-in from government agencies 

[06:33] Tackling resourcing challenges, legacy systems when digitizing

[11:05] How partners, potential users impact project decisions

[14:18] Changing citizens’ experience through e-government services

[16:49] Breaking down silos and creating replicable assets to accelerate digitization

[19:31] How GovStack aids countries in developing digital government services

[23:52] Advice to project leaders: Co-design a vision with partners and set clear priorities

The climate crisis is impacting coastlines across the globe, with communities facing threats from rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events. In response, teams are launching projects to mitigate risks and build resilience. We discuss this with:

Swarna Kazi, senior disaster risk management specialist, World Bank, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Ignacio Urrutia, senior disaster risk management specialist, World Bank, Bangkok: Kazi and Urrutia discuss a project that aims to bolster sections of Bangladesh’s coastline, how considering risk at all stages of the project helps them create a cohesive strategy, and how the challenges they faced will influence their approaches to future coastal resilience projects.

Catherine McCandless, climate change and environmental planning project manager, City of Boston Environment Department, Boston: McCandless talks about leading coastal resilience planning projects for two neighborhoods in Boston, how her team adapted community engagement during the pandemic, and how she and fellow project managers work together to manage not only multidisciplinary stakeholders but also team members.

Key themes

[01:19] Projects around the world aim to mitigate effects of climate change on coastlines

[05:25] Stakeholder management: Using data and community input in project planning

[09:26] Tackling a changing environment and futureproofing coastal resilience projects in Bangladesh

[13:41] Planning coastal resilience efforts for Boston’s 47-mile shoreline

[17:57] Adapting and digitizing community engagement during COVID-19

[19:44] Managing multidisciplinary stakeholders and project team members

With omnichannel shopping on the rise, consumer behaviors are changing. This is paving the way for a tech-fueled reset in retail, spanning brick-and-mortar stores and ecommerce alike. We discuss this with: 

Saad Siddiqui, COO, Veeve, Seattle: Siddiqui shares what inspired his team to create a smart shopping cart, how customer and retailer feedback helped the team iteratively improve the cart’s functions and design, and how the team is handling implementation projects as operations scale up.

Simon Molnar, founder and CEO, Flagship, Sydney: Molnar discusses why his team developed tech to give brick-and-mortar retailers real-time data on their products, how customers and in-store staff are responding to this tech in a pilot in Sydney, and why he believes teams should be looking to innovate both in-store and online.

Key themes

[01:03] How changing customer preferences are fueling innovation in retail

[02:22] Taking a customer-centric approach to develop the Veeve smart cart 

[06:28] Using data, first-hand customer feedback for iterative improvements

[10:34] How tech can bridge customers’ in-store and online experiences

[12:42] A new way for brick-and-mortar retailers to get real-time data on products

[15:22] Merging digital and in-store shopping in the Edit Collection pilot 

PMI’s annual Future 50 shines the spotlight on rising project leaders who are creating a better future for all. Projectifiedâ spoke with three 2022 honorees: 

Kathy Johnston, chief chocolate officer, Mirzam Chocolate Makers, Dubai: Johnston discusses tackling challenges to build the company’s second chocolate factory with hybrid teams, how she’s learned to be a change-ready and flexible leader, and how she’s become more comfortable with her leadership style—and how that’s helped her take more risks.

Christian Leke Achaleke, executive director, Local Youth Corner Cameroon, Yaoundé: Achaleke shares how his teams turn policy into real-world change in Cameroon, how his work in peacebuilding and conflict resolution has influenced his leadership style, and how rising leaders are changing how projects are run with technology and daring approaches.

Lovy Bhatia, PMP, program lead for product and strategy, Amazon, London: Bhatia discusses how she keeps cross-functional teams and stakeholders aligned to a unified goal, her experience helping Airbnb build its operations and hone its vision in India, and how becoming a problem solver can help project leaders be successful—no matter the industry.

Key themes

[01:45] Leadership lessons learned: Be change-ready and flexible

[06:19] How failure can help project leaders grow

[08:48] How teams are turning policy into groundbreaking projects in Cameroon

[13:48] Using conflict prevention skills in project leadership

[17:30] Aligning stakeholders and team members to a unified goal

[19:53] Embracing new opportunities and solving problems as Airbnb developed operations in India

Organizations are facing a massive shift in the workforce as people reevaluate what they want from their jobs. It’s up to project leaders to keep teams on track and to continue to deliver value, even amid high attrition. We discuss this with: 

Kierstin Gray, PMI-ACP, PMP, program director, Argodesign, Brooklyn, New York, USA: Gray explains how project talent turnover can impact a team’s deliverables and cohesion, and how adopting an agile mindset and strengthening communication and trust can help teams build resilience to resourcing challenges.

Vitor Amaral, CTO, Bitz, São Paulo: Amaral shares how people’s shifting relationships with their jobs and the increase in remote work are impacting tech jobs in Latin America, plus how project leaders are using communication and documentation to keep projects on track and team members engaged.

Key themes

[02:18] How high turnover impacts project teams—financially and emotionally

[07:02] Adopting an agile mindset to build resilience

[09:39] Ways to include safeguards for turnover in projects

[11:30] COVID-19 and remote work’s impact on tech jobs in Latin America

[13:15] Using communication, documentation to keep projects running smoothly

[17:14] How emphasizing a project’s purpose and a team member’s efforts can aid talent retention 

Organizations worldwide are putting greater focus on ESG (environmental, social and governance). As companies ramp up their efforts, leaders are determining how to integrate ESG into their projects. We discuss this with:

Mauricio Bolaños, PMP, ESG operations and program manager, VMware, Heredia, Costa Rica: Bolaños discusses how his company’s ESG office works across business units to collaborate with project leaders to integrate and track ESG efforts in their projects, the value of incorporating ESG into risk management, and why he doesn’t see ESG as a competition.

Abhay Bhavsar, PMP, head of ESG and safety, Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited, Pune, India: Bhavsar shares how his organization built buy-in for ESG practices across the enterprise, used data and stakeholder engagement to create its ESG agenda, and ensures teams utilize and report ESG processes on projects.

Key themes

[02:20] Educating and collaborating with teams to integrate ESG into projects

[06:47] Factoring ESG into risk management

[07:41] Embracing ESG to boost innovation and creativity

[10:19] Building enterprise-wide buy-in for ESG

[11:04] Using data to create Fourth Partner Energy’s ESG agenda

[14:10] Ensuring ESG processes are put into practice—and reported—on projects

The energy sector is evolving, with organizations and governments alike rethinking their options to push for a more sustainable future. We discuss this with:

Meriem Lhammoumi, senior project manager, Jesa, Casablanca, Morocco: Lhammoumi shares how green hydrogen can impact the world’s decarbonization efforts, must-have skills to execute these projects, and the need for innovation in hydrogen storage solutions.

Iván Jara, head of engineering, procurement and construction, Atlas Renewable Energy, Santiago, Chile: Jara discusses how Sol del Desierto—one of the largest solar plants in Chile—is essential for the country’s renewable energy strategy, how his team tested and implemented innovative tech to boost the plant’s efficiency, and how the project created positive social impact through increased female employment.

Key themes

[02:09] Green hydrogen’s impact on the renewable energy sector

[04:19] What skills teams need to execute green hydrogen projects

[08:06] The Sol del Desierto solar plant’s role in Chile’s renewable energy transition

[10:15] Creating positive social impact through women’s training programs 

[12:06] Testing and implementing new tech in solar projects

As urbanization increases worldwide, the public transportation sector is evolving. Teams are launching projects to meet changing consumer demands and employing new technologies with the goal of making public transport systems more sustainable, accessible and efficient. We discuss this with: 

Graham Currie, director of the Public Transport Research Group and professor of public transport, Monash University, Melbourne: Currie talks about innovations in technology and public transportation infrastructure, how increased governance could affect projects across the sector, and what innovations he’s excited to see next in public transit. 

Camile Machado, project manager for new mobility, TransLink, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Machado discusses how the Shared Mobility Compass Card pilot experimented with new ways to link Vancouver’s various transportation options, how the team plans to use riders’ feedback for the project’s next phase, and the benefits of public-private partnerships in public transportation.

Key themes

[02:33] Innovations in ICT, infrastructure in public transportation  

[04:32] How greater governance could impact public transportation projects

[08:53] TransLink’s Shared Mobility Compass Card pilot looks at new ways to link multimodal transit options

[15:45] Determining project strategy and goals with partners to boost collaboration

In today’s uncertain business landscape, companies must be more agile than ever, embracing new ways of working and nurturing a changemaker mindset across teams. We discuss this with:

Anne Cherouny, organizational change management leader, Boeing, Arlington, Virginia, USA: Cherouny discusses the benefits of organizational agility, how a lack of coordination and structured change management can hinder organizations’ agility, and how project leaders can embrace new ways of working on their teams.

Amol Pradhan, chief transformation officer, services integration hub cloud advisory and enterprise agility, IBM, Singapore: Pradhan discusses challenges organizations face when building organizational agility into company culture, why it’s important for leaders to communicate and prepare teams for organizational change, and how IBM built agility into its HR teams’ operations.

Key themes

[02:13] The ROI of organizational agility

[04:21] How lack of coordination and collaboration hinders organizational agility

[05:56] Boosting agility on teams through a shared vision and new ways of working

[12:50] How to communicate with and prepare teams for organizational change 

[14:20] How IBM built agility into its HR operations

It’s time to lean into the power skills—communication, problem-solving, collaborative leadership and strategic thinking—that help project leaders influence stakeholders and deliver successful projects. We discuss this with:

Swapna Yadavalli, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, VP of technology program management, Mastercard, Pune, India: Yadavalli discusses how leaders with power skills help their teams succeed, how strong communication and collaboration helped her team deliver a large-scale program and ways fellow project leaders can further develop their own power skills.

Manuel Segura Pérez, head of project and construction management, Repsol, Madrid: Segura Pérez shares why communication is a critical power skill for all leaders and how he helped foster greater communication and collaboration on a joint venture.

 
Key themes

[02:04] How power skills boost collaboration on cross-functional teams

[04:49] Using communication and collaborative leadership to deliver a successful program

[06:30] Ways project leaders can develop power skills

[08:14] Using empathy to improve power skills within teams

[11:00] Selecting future leaders with power skill potential

Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept. Project leaders are putting AI to use on everything from automating day-to-day tasks to analyzing risk. We discuss this with:

Milie Taing, founder and CEO, Lili.ai, Paris: Taing explains how project leaders’ perspective of AI has changed over the last few years, how AI is helping project leaders deliver more value and what impact a larger AI ecosystem will have on project management moving forward.

Syed Ahsan Mustaqeem, PMP, senior engineer, Pakistan Petroleum, Ltd., Karachi, Pakistan: Mustaqeem talks about how AI-driven tools help him automate processes and glean insights from data, how these tools allow team members to reallocate time toward more strategic and problem-solving tasks and challenges project leaders might face using AI on projects.

Key themes

[02:20] How AI is adding value to projects

[04:26] The future of AI: Moving from early use cases to an AI ecosystem 

[05:23] How AI is changing the role of project leader

[11:01] Using AI-driven tools to boost efficiency and glean insights from data

[13:45] Why AI is pushing project leaders to further develop power skills 

[15:24] How AI can help project leaders—not replace them

Project management offices (PMOs) are evolving, taking on a greater strategic role to deliver value. We discuss this with:

Fiona Lin, PMI-ACP, PMP, VP of the enterprise PMO, agile PMO and business transformation, Snap Finance, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Lin discusses why PMOs must support organizations across projects, programs, portfolios and processes, the importance of including PMOs in strategy planning, and how PMOs can help adopt and encourage new ways of working.

R. Rooban Annamalai, PMP, project management and PMO lead, Christie’s, London: Annamalai explains how he’s seen the PMO’s role evolve to include more strategic decision-making, how PMOs can help push teams and organizations forward and his vision for the future of the PMO.

Key themes

[01:12]
The PMO’s evolution: Taking on strategy creation and project execution

[02:56]
Creating PMOs—and building buy-in—at a fintech company

[06:00]
Spreading the PMO’s role across projects, programs, portfolios and processes

[07:52]
3 ways PMO leaders help teams adopt new ways of working

[14:59]
How PMOs use lessons learned, business acumen to push organizations forward

[16:50]
The ROI of PMOs with a strategic role

From feats of engineering and art to exploring the unknown, the 2022 Most Influential Projects showcase innovative and creative efforts from teams across sectors and regions. We discuss two of these projects with:

Alicia Tkacz, partner and architect, Stufish, London: Tkacz discusses how producers, animators, architects and pop superstars ABBA collaborated to create the immersive ABBA Voyage show and the bespoke ABBA Arena, how clear decision-making processes kept team members aligned, and how the show and venue could impact the future of entertainment.

Steve Hebda, VP of farm development, Crop One Holdings, Newport, Rhode Island, USA: Hebda discusses developing Dubai’s Emirates Crop One, the world’s largest vertical farm, how team members collaborated and built trust with one another from across the globe and how this project will inform future vertical farm efforts.


Key themes

[01:24] PMI’s 2022 Most Influential Projects

[02:16] Creating the ABBA Voyage concert experience and ABBA Arena

[06:21] Problem solving to design and build a fully demountable venue

[08:40] How ABBA Voyage and its bespoke arena could change entertainment

[10:10] Building the world’s largest vertical farm in Dubai

[11:46] Creating cohesive teams with clear communication and trust

[15:06] Lessons learned for future vertical farms: Scalability and automation

To deliver an organization’s strategic objectives, project leaders must be able to look across the portfolio and decide which projects provide value and should be pursued, which go on the back burner and which are abandoned entirely. We discuss this with:

Sunando Chaudhuri, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, director of IT, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Group, Abu Dhabi: Chaudhuri discusses why project leaders must understand their organizations’ goals to best prioritize projects, the different types of business value projects can deliver—and how that factors into project portfolio decisions—along with ways project managers can keep executive leaders aligned, even in the face of personal agendas and pet projects.

B. Firat Dengiz, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, program leader, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Ankara, Turkey: Dengiz discusses the metrics and data he considers when making project portfolio decisions, how he factors stakeholders into his decision-making process and ways to build buy-in from the C-suite. 

Key themes

[02:57] The different ways to calculate business value 

[04:14] Ways to manage pet projects and personal agendas

[07:10] Ensuring project portfolio decisions align with organizational strategy

[10:28] Metrics to consider when prioritizing project portfolios

[12:01] Engaging stakeholders to build support for decision-making

[14:38] Tackling challenges project managers face when prioritizing portfolios

[16:36] Determining how to build buy-in with different C-suite leaders

Financial services companies—from established giants to new startups—face disruption from all sides. And as organizations explore new innovations to meet evolving customer needs, they must do so while considering risk management. We discuss this with: 

Ashley Butao, PMI-ACP, PMP, project manager, Capital One, Toronto: Butao discusses the biggest disruptions she’s seeing in the financial services sector, how agile approaches allow her teams to experiment and adapt fast, and how knowing your organization’s risk appetite can help teams balance innovation and risk management.

Stanley Jacob, PMP, chief executive at Stanbic IBTC Financial Services Limited, and VP of the Fintech Association of Nigeria, Lagos: Jacob talks about why teams must be constantly encouraged to innovate—and exposed to new innovations—plus the must-have skills for project leaders in financial services: knowledge of regulations and design thinking.

As we kick off 2023, project leaders are looking ahead to new challenges and opportunities as well as looking back at what they accomplished in 2022. Projectified® reconnected with previous guests to discuss the biggest changes they have seen in the world of projects over the last year, their top lessons learned, plus what they’re excited about—and the skills project managers need to succeed—in the year ahead. 

Guests include Elton Soares, PMP, project manager, General Electric, Florianópolis, Brazil; Nontobeko Mathenjwa, project manager, South African National Roads Agency Limited, Johannesburg; Kierstin Gray, PMI-ACP, PMP, program director, Argodesign, Brooklyn, New York, USA; Manuel Segura Pérez, PMP, head of project and construction management, Repsol, Madrid; Malong Dong, PMP, enterprise portfolio manager, Reserve Bank of Australia, Sydney.

Key Themes 

[02:05] Changes in 2022: an increasing focus on delivering value

[04:59] How project leaders can adapt to changing stakeholder involvement and expectations

[12:32] Tips for 2023: improving communication skills and team agility

[17:07] How teams can build resiliency and embrace new tech and ways of working

For International Women’s Day, Projectified® hosts a roundtable with three women project leaders to discuss what it’s currently like for women in project management, how teams benefit from diversity and how organizations can better support women leaders, plus questions they had for one another as fellow project leaders.

Our guests include Janete Faustino, PMP, PfMP, portfolio management leader of operations strategy and performance, TAP Air Portugal, Lisbon; Bharti Ochani, PMP, IT project manager, Halian, Dubai; and Maeve O’Brien, project manager, DDB, Chicago.

Key themes

[02:00] Three women project leaders on the state of women in project management

[05:00] The benefits of diverse teams

[06:16] Top skills for project managers: stakeholder management, accountability and conviction

[09:43] Ways organizations can support women leaders

[13:22] How do you keep moving forward in the face of obstacles on projects?

[18:54] Advice to women project leaders: Network, be the driver of your own career, be genuine

Resilience is a must-have for teams delivering projects in today’s disruptive and volatile world. So how do you build resiliency on teams? We discuss this with:

Ray Jones, PMI-ACP, PMP, program manager, SMX Technology, San Antonio, Texas, USA: Jones discusses the new context for resilience in a more complex and ambiguous world, how project leaders can build team resiliency by leaning into a learning mindset, how he helped make a team more resilient by changing their work processes and environment, plus how a diversity of skills and perspectives makes for a more resilient team.

Carlos Augusto Fernandes Filho, senior director for commercial aviation programs, Embraer, São José dos Campos, Brazil: Filho shares how resilience can help drive results in an organization and motivate teams, the skills he’s looking for to create—and develop—a resilient team, and how multidisciplinary, collaborative teams help build resilience.

Key Themes 

[01:44] Resiliency’s role in a volatile, uncertain environment

[03:33] Building resilience through experiential learning and empathy

[08:55] How a diversity of skills boosts team resilience

[12:21] The benefits of resiliency—and the pitfalls of lacking it

[13:17] Creating teams with resilient members, plus how to help them further develop their resilience

[17:37] How division within teams—and organizations—can hinder resilience

[21:11] Looking to encourage team resilience? Create a culture of moving forward

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, collaboration tools—project managers are using a bevy of new technologies to boost efficiency and improve project outcomes. We discuss this with: 

Niral Rajani, project manager, Aristocrat, Sydney: Rajani discusses how tech tools can increase efficiency and reduce cost and time on projects, and how he uses machine learning to predict risk, complexity and resources on future projects—plus the steps he takes to ensure a smooth implementation for new technologies or tech tools on his teams. 

Dunola Oladapo, founder of Luton Lights and Generation Connect program lead at the U.N.’s International Telecommunication Union, U.K.: Oladapo discusses how she’s seen an increase in project management and collaboration tools as more people embrace remote work, how she uses collaboration tools to connect with young leaders around the world, and why empathy, equity and creating a safe, collaborative environment are must-haves when leading virtual teams.

Key themes
[02:07] How tech tools are changing how project managers deliver initiatives
[04:14] Training machine learning models to predict risk, resourcing and more
[06:10] Steps to ensure a smooth implementation of new technologies
[07:22] Ways to build buy-in for next-gen tech tools
[11:10] Project managers seeing more tech tools as remote work increases
[13:12] Finding collaboration tools that work for your team
[16:03] Empathy and compassion: Two must-haves for project managers in a tech-fueled world

More and more businesses are realizing that sustainability projects are not just good for the environment—they also can boost an organization’s bottom line. But project managers need the right skills to get organizational support to deliver successful initiatives. We discuss this with: 

Brittany Brama, principal sustainability program manager, C.H. Robinson, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA: Brama discusses how she prioritizes sustainability-focused projects, how a passion project became a tool that helped customers reduce carbon emissions by 350,000 metric tons in its pilot phase, and ways project managers can build support and a collaborative environment for sustainability projects—plus the different ways her teams measure the impact of these projects.

Oladele Iyiola, PMP, program manager for strategic programs, sustainability and ESG, Tawal, Riyadh: Iyiola discusses how his passion drove him to lead sustainability projects, how a recycling and waste management project helped his company re-use assets and better recycle operational waste, and his top advice to other project professionals leading sustainability projects.

Key themes
[02:01] Prioritizing sustainability projects that share value across an enterprise

[02:41] Delivering value to customers through a carbon emissions monitoring tool

[05:20] Building collaboration and buy-in for sustainability projects with the C-suite and customers

[06:58] Ways to measure a project’s impact: sustainability pledges met, CO2 reduced and stakeholder feedback

[08:54] A passion for sustainability: balancing telecom’s energy needs and environmental impact

[11:43] Launching a recycling and waste management project to boost the recycling of operational waste

[14:28] Must-have skills for sustainability projects: technical skills, collaboration and stakeholder management 

[15:18] Looking to lead sustainability projects? Be a change agent and increase awareness

Project professionals are in high demand, but how does someone break into the profession? In a joint discussion, guests share how they started their project management careers—one pursuing it from the start, the other taking the role unexpectedly—the top skills new project managers should develop and how organizations can help project leaders upskill. Plus, they share how certifications from PMI have given their career development a boost.

Our guests include Johanna Kolerski-Bezerra, PMP, project manager for forecasting, Euromonitor International, London; and Alisa Vovk, CAPM, consultant in HR global strategic initiatives, CGI, Toronto. 

Key themes
[02:06] Two project leaders share their career journeys
[07:51] Four skills new project managers should focus on developing
[09:28] Ways organizations can help project professionals upskill
[11:53] Never had a project management role? Look for workshops, certifications and volunteer opportunities
[14:41] How the PMI community and certifications from PMI have helped two project leaders’ careers
[18:05] Looking to break into project management? Learn fast, stay inquisitive and be patient

Companies across regions and sectors face myriad cyber threats from ransomware and phishing scams to attacks from professional cybercriminals—a growing number of them now using AI. In response, organizations are launching cybersecurity projects to keep their companies’ and customers’ data secure. We discuss this with:

Gordon Yan, PMP, vice president, IT project manager, OCBC Bank, Singapore: Yan discusses how Singapore’s banking industry is reacting to more phishing and impersonation scams, artificial intelligence’s growing role—as a potential threat and opportunity—in cybersecurity, how he’s adopting agile practices in his projects and how greater cybersecurity investments and awareness can help build customer trust and confidence.

Mateusz Jasny, PMP, cybersecurity director, Comarch, Krakow, Poland: Jasny discusses the biggest cyber threats companies face today and how they’re leading to increased cybersecurity efforts across organizations, along with how his teams use threat modeling to identify potential risks to projects. Plus, he shares why cybersecurity project managers need collaboration and facilitation skills along with cybersecurity literacy.

Key themes

[00:52] Teams are meeting cyber threats with increased cybersecurity efforts

[05:16] Delivering a continuous surveillance cybersecurity project at a financial institution

[07:52] Adopting agile practices to improve project delivery

[08:52] Investing in cybersecurity efforts and awareness to boost customer confidence and trust

[10:30] Responding with agility and flexibility in the face of professional threat actors and advances in AI

[13:32] Utilizing threat modeling to determine risks on cybersecurity projects

[14:44] Must-haves for cybersecurity project managers: Collaboration and facilitation skills, plus cybersecurity literacy

The construction sector is moving toward a more digital and connected future, with new technologies changing how teams are executing projects. We discuss this with:

Rami Kaibni, PMI-CP, PgMP, PfMP, senior projects and development manager, Field & Marten Associates, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Kaibni discusses how new tech, including building information modeling (BIM), is helping boost efficiency in project planning and execution, how his teams decide whether or not to use a specific technology on a construction project, and how the PMI-CP certification can benefit construction professionals.

Tim Wark, regional digital director for Australia and New Zealand, AECOM, Brisbane, Australia: Wark discusses how increased data sharing and new tech, such as parametric design, is changing how construction projects are managed and executed, how AECOM is working to embrace digital both internally and in the services it offers clients, and how the organization is working to train, upskill and create a culture of innovation to help further embrace technology in construction. 

Key themes

[02:02] Boosting efficiency in project planning and execution with BIM

[03:46] Factors to consider before determining whether to use new tech on construction projects

[07:25] The benefits of the PMI-CP certification for construction professionals

[09:14] How increased data sharing is accelerating the construction sector’s digital transformation

[12:20] Embracing digital in construction through design, data and automation

[14:34] Building buy-in for new tech through upskilling, training and creating a culture of innovation

Agile is moving further into the mainstream, and much like its name suggests, these approaches are evolving. We discuss this with: 

Tammy Ashraf, PMI-ACP, Earth science systems integration manager, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA: Ashraf discusses the benefits of agile approaches, how traditionally risk-averse organizations are embracing agile techniques, and the skills project professionals need—such as servant leadership and a greater understanding of digital collaboration tools—as agile approaches evolve. 

Adeyinka Adeniran, PMI-ACP, PMP, PgMP, technical program manager, Quantiphi, London: Adeniran discusses how his use of agile approaches has evolved, starting with scrum and moving to a DevOps environment; how he’s seen greater use of design thinking and artificial intelligence in agile; and why he believes these two trends are growing. 

Key themes

[03:09] Embracing agile in traditionally risk-averse organizations

[06:09] Using agile approaches to push research and discovery

[09:43] Skills project professionals need as agile evolves

[12:39] Utilizing agile approaches in a DevOps environment

[14:07] The growth of value streams and design thinking in agile

Introducing new ways of working to teams can be challenging, but they can also bring new insights and solutions that help teams deliver successful projects. We discuss this with: 

Alexandre Mariano Vieira, AHPP, PMI-ACP, PMP, project manager, SSA México, México City: Mariano Vieira discusses how he evaluates whether a new way of working would be a good fit for his teams or projects, how he introduced agile techniques to create a hybrid approach and how this new way of working improved project delivery timelines. 

Jessica Montgomery, AHPP, PMP, project manager, CACI, San Antonio, Texas, USA: Montgomery discusses challenges project managers might face when introducing a new way of working when a project is already underway, plus she shares an example of how she built buy-in for agile techniques at a government organization that strictly used a predictive (waterfall) approach for projects.

Key themes

[02:16] Ways to evaluate whether a new way of working is right for a team or project

[03:21] Developing a hybrid approach for pharma projects

[05:20] How to garner support and trust from hesitant team members

[11:47] Ways to measure if a new way of working is successful

[14:18] Challenges to introducing new ways of working mid-project

[16:06] Building buy-in for agile techniques at an org that favors predictive approaches

[19:08] Utilizing emotional intelligence when introducing new ways of working

Project professionals are boosting their personal branding—through blogs, speaking engagements and strong social media presences—not only to help them stand out as forward-thinking leaders but also to share their knowledge and give back to the project management community. In a joint discussion, guests discuss how they decided where to focus their personal branding efforts and their top tips for other project professionals looking to elevate their personal brand, plus how strong personal branding helped them gain greater visibility inside and outside their organizations and brought on more career opportunities.

Our guests include Fahad Ahmed, PMP, head of IT, Jubilee General Insurance, Karachi, Pakistan, and Yasmina Khelifi, PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PMP, senior project manager, Orange, Paris.

Key themes

[02:04] Sharing expertise, lessons learned and ways to upskill to kickstart personal branding efforts

[04:26] Top tips for using LinkedIn to boost your personal brand

[08:40] Determining your area of expertise in personal branding

[12:46] Ways to stay up to date on project management trends

[16:28] The benefits of strong personal branding? Greater recognition and more career opportunities

[19:02] How certifications benefit project professionals’ personal brand

[20:37] Take your personal branding to the next level with a focused goal and show your strengths

Organizations always look for ways to innovate and improve, but continuous evolution without preparation and strategy can lead to change fatigue and burnout. We discuss this with: 

Rose James, PMI-ACP, PMP, program leader, Edward Jones, Houston: James discusses the typical signs of burnout, why project teams might feel fatigued by seemingly constant organizational change, strategies project leaders can follow to lead their teams through change effectively, and how leaders can help team members recover from burnout or change fatigue.

Mary Tresa Gabriel, PMP, project manager, Dell through SP Software Limited, Bengaluru: Gabriel discusses common causes of change fatigue and burnout and their effects on team members, how she led a team through several client-side changes on a project, the importance of creating a safe space for team members to discuss burnout and change fatigue as well as how project managers and companies can support team members who are feeling burned out.

Key themes

[02:00] Typical symptoms of burnout

[05:08] Why teams might feel burned out by change

[07:12] Leading teams through change with clarity and empathy

[10:22] Helping project teams recover from change fatigue and burnout

[14:59] Project leaders: Keep an eye out for your own burnout

[17:05] What causes burnout and change fatigue—and how they affect teams

[20:23] Managing a project through continuous client-side changes

[22:23] Creating a safe space to discuss burnout and change fatigue

[24:10] Building resilience into project teams

[25:40] Ways project leaders and organizations can support burned-out teams

A project that doesn’t align with an enterprise’s objectives will never be considered a success. But project managers with a strong understanding of the business landscape and their organization’s goals can execute projects that drive their companies’ priorities—and deliver real benefits. We discuss this with: 

Ayobamiji Iyiola, PMI-ACP, PMP, senior IT project manager, First Bank of Nigeria, Lagos: Iyiola discusses the processes he uses to determine his organization’s goals, how he created success measures so a project drove the bank’s objectives for increased exposure and customer acquisition, how he manages change on projects when organizational priorities shift and his advice to project professionals on the importance of business acumen.

Omar Picone Chiodo, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, senior portfolio management office director, Kenvue, Zug, Switzerland: Picone Chiodo discusses ways project professionals can learn their enterprise’s strategic objectives, how to create processes to better align portfolios with an organization’s goals, ways to engage with stakeholders to create success measures that everyone sticks to, and why clear and concise communication with leaders can have a big effect on what happens to a portfolio when an organization’s goals change.

Key themes

[01:50] Identifying an organization’s objectives—and using projects to achieve them

[05:13] Creating project success measures to drive a bank’s acquisition goals

[10:02] Managing change when a company’s priorities shift

[13:50] Communicating an organization’s goals through onboarding sessions, knowledge libraries and talks with leadership

[15:11] Developing processes to align portfolios with an enterprise’s objectives

[16:39] How to keep stakeholders informed—and in line with the same measures of success

Generative artificial intelligence tools, from ChatGPT to Bard, are changing the way people work—including how people lead teams and manage projects. We discuss this with: 

Kristian Bainey, PMP, CEO, K-Pic Systems Inc., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Bainey shares his tips to help project managers write ChatGPT prompts that will return strong answers, how project professionals are using generative AI tools to craft project charters and format project documentation, how to build support for integrating generative AI tools into workflows, and how tools like ChatGPT will change project management in the near future.

Higor Prado, PMP, project manager and software engineer, Softfocus, Mateus Leme, Brazil: Prado discusses how he’s using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT in his project management to generate reports and assist with negotiating with stakeholders, how these tools are boosting his and his team’s productivity and saving him time, and the privacy and compliance issues project professionals should be aware of before using generative AI tools.

Key themes

[02:36] Tips to write a strong ChatGPT prompt

[04:22] How project managers can use generative AI in their work

[09:52] Building support for adding generative AI tools into workflows

[11:19] Ways to mitigate the risk of ChatGPT sending back inaccurate information

[13:09] How generative AI will change project management moving forward

[15:40] Using ChatGPT to assist with project documentation and stakeholder communication

[17:13] Benefits of using generative AI tools: consistency, productivity and time

[18:41] Keeping privacy and compliance issues in mind when using new tech tools

[20:55] New to generative AI? Start experimenting and learn as you go

Teams are delivering projects no matter their location. As team members continue working in remote and hybrid environments, project professionals must find ways to develop their skills and grow their careers outside of an office. We talk about this in a joint discussion with Adriana Pavón Navarrete, PMP, a project manager at Hitachi Vantara in México City, and Meena Nandelli, CAPM, a master’s student who at the time we spoke was a project manager at Microsoft in Hyderabad, India.

Key Themes

[02:00] Adapting leadership styles to manage projects remotely

[04:18] Leaning into adaptability, flexibility and empathy to lead remote teams

[06:25] Top power skills when leading remote teams: Communication, collaborative leadership and strategic thinking

[08:38] Upskilling outside an office? Use online trainings, free resources and self-reflection of on-the-job challenges

[13:42] Tips to resolve conflicts in remote and hybrid work environments

[19:12] Top challenges to remote upskilling—and strategies to overcome them

[22:03] Networking while remote: Join project management communities and organizations, or reach out to other project professionals

Project professionals can help promote well-being in the workplace, making a positive impact on not only their own and their team members’ performance but also their overall mental health. We discuss this with: 

Marilena Koliavasili, PMP, project manager, Intracom Telecom, Athens: Koliavasili discusses how she defines employee well-being, practices she uses to maintain her own and her team members’ well-being, and how emotional intelligence, empathy and psychological safety can help people better promote well-being for teams. Plus, she shares how project professionals can support team members who are struggling with wellness and well-being.  

Jonas Ng, PMP, project coordinator, Exos, Singapore: Ng discusses how each project team member faces different challenges to maintain their well-being, ways he boosts his own and his team members’ wellness and well-being, why project professionals should prioritize their teams’ health and strategies to do so. In addition, he explains how to balance getting project work done with caring for his and his team’s well-being.

Key Themes

[00:52] Employee well-being’s impact on performance and overall mental health

[02:03] What is employee well-being—and what elements can make it difficult to maintain it?

[05:02] Practices to promote positive well-being on project teams

[10:10] How emotional intelligence, empathy and psychological safety help build strong relationships with team members

[13:37] Ways to support team members struggling with well-being

[16:08] Well-being challenges are different for each project team member

[18:13] How leaders can boost their own well-being

[20:08] Why project professionals should prioritize well-being for their teams

[23:17] Ways to help remote team members

[24:05] Balancing project deadlines and deliverables with team well-being

Diversity and inclusion are now mainstay focuses for organizations—but it can be challenging to find the right strategies to achieve diverse and inclusive team environments. We discuss this with: 

Victoria Toney-Robinson, PMP, senior program manager at Google in Hamburg: Toney-Robinson discusses how a team’s diversity and inclusion affect not only the team environment but also the solutions the team develops, which strategies and practices she’s found are the most effective for building diversity and inclusion into team culture, and how the Black Googler Network, which she co-chairs, helps create not only better products but also a more inclusive environment at Google.  

Nikky Chen, PMI-ACP, PMP, previously a group manager in the project management department at Rakuten in Tokyo: A 2023 Future 50 leader, Chen discusses why project professionals should promote diverse and inclusive team environments, how a diverse team improved communication on a project, how active listening and empathy can boost inclusivity and why she’s passionate about DE&I.

Key themes 

[02:01] How team diversity affects products’ inclusivity

[04:43] Strategies to create diverse and inclusive team environments

[06:32] The role of the Black Googler Network 

[09:43] How project professionals can advocate for diverse teams

[14:48] What is at risk if project teams lack diversity

[16:32] How team diversity boosted communication on a project

[18:11] Boosting inclusion with active listening and empathy

Space projects push boundaries, aiming to give teams a better understanding of our own planet and to explore what’s beyond. But these efforts are full of complexity, with evolving risks, new innovations, long timelines and fluctuations in funding. We discuss this with:  

Kenneth Harris II, PhD, senior project engineer, The Aerospace Corporation, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA: The 2020 Future 50 leader discusses how the increasing number of crewed missions—and missions closer to Earth’s orbit—have changed the risk landscape for space projects, how he and his teams manage fast-paced change and tech innovations throughout years-long initiatives, what he sees as the top project management challenge for project professionals in the space sector, and how impact, curiosity and exposure have driven him throughout his career as a space project leader. 

Kay Lingenauber, project manager and system engineer, Institute of Planetary Research at the German Aerospace Center, Berlin: Lingenauber discusses how he and an international team created the Ganymede Laser Altimeter, or GALA, over 15 years, how he and the team managed changing resources and technology with a fixed launch date, good practices for collaborating with institutes and agencies across the globe, and his advice for other project professionals managing initiatives with plenty of complexity. 

Key themes 

[02:30] More crewed missions—and more missions closer to Earth—are changing the risk landscape 

[05:51] Managing fast-paced change and innovation with years-long timelines 

[09:56] Top project management challenges in space projects: Collaboration with new and established agencies and contending with tight budgets 

[14:17] Creating GALA, an instrument now headed for Jupiter’s moons 

[16:34] Leaning into adaptability and problem-solving in space projects 

[18:21] Boosting collaboration through requirements management, trust-building and transparency 

We know that projects drive change, and today, more and more project professionals are managing initiatives to deliver positive impacts across the globe. Two 2023 PMI Future 50 leaders—Johnnie Stark, PMP, a project manager at BP in London, and Nuha Hashem, co-founder and CTO at Zywa in Dubai—discuss why the world needs project professionals, what sparked their passion to lead the innovative projects they’re managing today and their top advice for future project professionals.

Key themes

[01:59] Igniting a passion for project leadership

[04:33] Developing a low-carbon energy solution to help the U.K. decarbonize its electricity grid

[07:11] Creating a payment platform to boost financial literacy for Gen Z in the Middle East and North Africa

[10:20] How project management is changing—and how project professionals can adapt

[11:47] Advice for future project leaders: Be flexible, be willing to dive right in and care for team members’ well-being

Artificial intelligence is now a mainstay for organizations. But given the lack of widespread use across enterprises, there’s room for growth. And project teams are leading the way, developing AI solutions that deliver value to their companies and customers. We discuss this with: 

Mohammed Nabtiti, PMI-RMP, PMP, project management office and governance manager, Beeah Group, Dubai: Nabtiti discusses how his company created its “Office of the Future” with sustainability, AI and smart office technologies as the driving forces, how the team mitigated and managed risks to integrate several AI systems, how the organization determines accountability for AI outputs, and how he’s taking lessons learned about scoping and planning into future AI projects.

Sanjukta Ghosh, PMP, data and AI leader, Siemens AG, Munich: Ghosh discusses how she started her AI journey by solving customer problems, the knowledge project professionals need to manage AI initiatives and how she’s working to standardize AI projects across Siemens’ business units. Plus, Ghosh talks about a project to create digital twins for assets in the process industry using AI and engineering documents.

Key themes

[02:01] Creating a sustainable, AI-driven “Office of the Future”

[04:49] From smart meeting rooms to a digital concierge: Building the business case for which AI tech to use in the workplace

[07:44] Identifying and managing risks when integrating multiple AI systems

[10:43] Determining who is accountable for AI systems’ decisions

[14:08] How scoping and planning affect AI projects

[17:34] Skills and knowledge project professionals need to lead AI initiatives

[18:33] Standardizing AI projects across an enterprise

[22:05] Creating digital twins from AI tech and documentation

[26:52] Project professionals must stay up-to-date on tech advancements

Volunteering helps communities and organizations. But it also helps the volunteers who donate their time and skills. In a roundtable discussion, guests share how they started volunteering, how it has affected their careers and helped them grow as project professionals, the different ways they have taught project management skills to make initiatives run more efficiently and their advice to others looking to start their own community volunteering journey.

Our guests include Lebogang Ngoato, PMP, program manager, Absa Group, Johannesburg; Priya Patra, PMP, director, Capgemini, Mumbai, India; and Silvana Tovar, international trade coordinator, Kenvue, São Paulo.

Key themes
[01:52] Why start volunteering? Three professionals share their stories
[06:57] How volunteering can boost project professionals’ careers
[11:25] The value of sharing your project management skills
[14:07] How volunteering can help professionals upskill
[18:20] Keeping volunteers motivated to work on outside projects
[20:44] Advice for potential volunteers: share your knowledge, be honest about your availability and keep an open mind

Continuous learning helps project professionals keep up with the skills they need to excel in the profession—but it has to be done strategically. Guests discuss how to create a flexible and durable continuous learning strategy, how to balance upskilling with day-to-day project and personal responsibilities, which skills they see as must-haves for project professionals—today and in the future—and how PMO leaders can help project professionals in their continuous learning journeys.

Our guests include Alfred Maina, PMO-CP, PMI-ACP, PMP, technical project manager, Thunes, Nairobi; and Americo Pinto, PMO-CC, PMO-CP , PMP, managing director, PMO Global Alliance at PMI, Rio de Janeiro.

Key themes
[02:13] How to craft a continuous learning strategy
[06:12] Where to find upskilling opportunities
[07:19] Balancing work, personal time and continued learning
[10:20] Top skills to improve: technical and power skills, plus artificial intelligence know-how
[15:33] Why your continuous learning strategy should be flexible
[18:18] Using formal and informal education opportunities to upskill
[20:17] How to determine which skills to improve—and how much organizational objectives should be a factor
[24:27] Ways PMO leaders can help project professionals create and meet their continuous learning goals

There’s a glaring gender gap, in both artificial intelligence and project management. But as demand for AI talent surges, there’s an opportunity to close those gaps. Ahead of International Women’s Day, our guests discuss the gender gaps they’ve experienced in their careers in tech, how greater team diversity helps minimize algorithmic biases in AI projects, what they’ve learned from leading AI initiatives and building their AI expertise, and ways to help more women pursue careers in AI.

Key themes
[02:36] Bridging the gender gap: How diversity benefits AI initiatives
[05:21] Identifying and mitigating risks in generative AI projects
[07:52] Top advice to women in tech: Know your worth, be yourself and continue to learn
[12:55] Building AI knowledge in a changing business landscape
[16:15] Minimizing AI algorithmic biases with multiple perspectives
[19:08] Ways to help more women kickstart their careers in AI

In today’s ever-evolving project environment, project professionals need to be flex-ready problem solvers. But how do they learn to choose the right ways of working—or know when to anticipate the need to adapt to change? Guests discuss how they empower project professionals at their organizations to become strategic decision makers—whether it means tailoring ways of working to fit projects and teams or implementing new tech tools.

Key themes

[02:19] Updating CDW’s PMO for greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and upskilling among project professionals 
[05:34] How continuous learning encourages greater autonomy 
[08:21] Empowering project professionals with clear guidelines, expectations and ownership of initiatives 
[13:13] Delegation and trust: Two must-haves for empowering project and program managers 
[14:52] How Airbus’ engineering PMO focuses on tailored, empathetic project support
[17:42] Why empowerment leads to better engagement and project outcomes
[19:56] What you need to know to choose the right ways of working for your team
[21:46] How PMO leaders can encourage teams to embrace unknowns in new tech or ways of working

Navigating change is nothing new for project professionals. And this year is no different. How can being flexible and resilient help them seize job opportunities—and deliver value for organizations? Guests in this roundtable discussion talk about sector-specific job trends, the must-have skills needed to navigate challenges and how AI is changing project management now and in the years ahead.

Key themes
[01:30] Job opportunities for project professionals in IT, renewable energy and construction
[07:13] Top challenges project professionals might face for the rest of this year
[11:18] Market knowledge, influence, and leadership skills: The must-haves for today’s project professionals
[14:27] AI’s effect on project management
[18:32] What trends are creating a buzz for project professionals in 2024 and beyond

Building sustainable infrastructure doesn’t just protect people and the planet—it boosts the bottom line. Project teams must deliver assets that can withstand the extreme effects of climate change. Guests discuss the growing focus on climate-resilient infrastructure, how to manage stakeholders across project partners and communities, and which skills project professionals need to lead these initiatives. Plus, an in-depth discussion about a major infrastructure overhaul program in Peru, with projects focused on climate resilience and delivering long-term value.

Key themes
[02:28] Climate change’s systemic effects on infrastructure—and why that’s a challenge for project professionals 
[07:49] Must-haves for climate resilience projects: Curiosity, communication skills and community engagement 
[13:49] What trends are next in climate-resilient infrastructure
[17:29] The growing momentum for climate-resilient infrastructure
[19:53] How Peru is rebuilding after 2017 El Niño, creating climate-resilient infrastructure, education and health centers
[25:39] Future-proofing Peru’s reconstruction program through knowledge transfer

Technology is helping project teams make a positive social impact—an accelerator for addressing everything from the effects of climate change to gender equality. Guests discuss how they’re using tech in two projects: One helps adolescent girls develop skills in STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts and math—to create future tech leaders and build a more inclusive sector. The other project pairs tech tools with Indigenous knowledge to ensure local communities can more safely travel across Canada’s arctic region.

Key themes
[01:21] How UNICEF is preparing girls for futures in tech
[06:39] Using tech tools to gather feedback from stakeholders across the globe
[09:10] Measuring the Game Changers Coalition’s direct and indirect social impact
[14:26] Using tech in your project? Ensure it’s making a real difference
[16:14] Pairing tech with Indigenous knowledge: How SmartICE works with communities to measure sea ice thickness
[21:41] Engaging with stakeholders to create customer-centric project processes
[23:14] Embracing continuous improvement to develop better tech and training practices
[27:16] How project managers can focus on the social impacts of any project—no matter the sector

A career in project management isn’t always linear. Some people gradually advance from one position to the next, while others come to the profession from a different career path altogether. Guests discuss the moves they’ve made, how they assess when they’re ready for a new role, what they’ve learned from opportunities that didn’t work out, and why you should always invest in yourself—so you’re ready for next opportunity before it arrives.

Key themes
[02:17] How helping a colleague became a project management career
[04:51] Asking managers and colleagues for career advice and support
[06:20] Lessons learned from not getting hired—and upskilling for the next opportunity
[10:27] Starting a new position? Don’t be afraid to ask for help
[13:55] What’s the right time for a career move?
[15:54] Taking a job in a new sector—or a new country
[19:50] How transparency and vulnerability can help you succeed
[22:40] Gauging whether or not you’re ready to take on a new role

Today’s tech-driven ways of working often mean more efficiency and flexibility. But all that hyperconnectivity can be a risk to the well-being of project teams. Guests flag the potential warning signs for digital burnout—and how they set boundaries. They also explain how project leaders can support teams to preserve a healthy relationship with work-related tech.

Key themes
[02:03] Technology is connecting more people—but with fewer communication limits 
[03:58] Creating work tech boundaries for your well-being 
[07:04] Watching out for tech burnout on project teams
[10:35] Tech positives for project professionals: Greater flexibility and a productivity boost
[13:53] Possible tech negatives: Changing stakeholder expectations and greater complexity in day-to-day work
[16:59] How reflection can create more balance

Artificial intelligence is transforming how project managers work, helping them build schedules, analyze data and identify risks. So what skills and knowledge will help project professionals thrive in the AI era? Guests discuss practical ways to build AI acumen—and how marketing your AI expertise can deliver a career advantage.

Key themes
[00:50] AI acumen: A career differentiator for project professionals
[03:16] How to build AI skills outside of work: Practice prompts and check out courses and webinars
[08:52] Ways to market your AI expertise
[11:16] AI knowledge sharing and use cases can help set you apart
[16:20] How to treat AI tools as “virtual colleagues”
[17:29] Why building AI skills will futureproof your project management career

Startups need to stay lean to deliver results in today’s stagnant global economy. As they reassess how to manage projects, startups are refining how they use agile. Guests discuss how their ways of working have evolved to meet the changing needs of their projects—and the marketplace—and how they’re finding opportunities to incorporate AI into agile.

Key themes
[01:53] FutureFit AI’s agile journey: Refining ways of working as company maturity increased
[07:36] Learning how to tailor agile for each project
[10:04] Incorporating AI into agile
[14:44] Why agile and startups are a great match
[16:25] Embracing agile to pivot fast and meet a changing marketplace and customer needs
[20:59] Improving agile to align ways of working across teams
[24:02] Tips for startup survival: Be data-driven, willing to learn and ready to navigate complexity and uncertainty

There’s a generational shift in the workforce—and the newest members are bringing new ideas to mentorship. Our joint discussion with a mentor and mentee explores their experience and the shared benefits. The conversation includes strategies for discussing and setting career goals, the biggest lessons they’ve learned from one another, and how those learnings have helped advance their careers. Plus, why project professionals should consider mentorship.

Key themes
[01:00] Gen Z crave mentors—and the opportunity to share their knowledge
[02:34] Mentor and mentee relationship: How Nigel and Joy became mentor and mentee
[04:59] Strategies for creating career goals
[13:04] Lessons learned: Taking skills gained from mentoring sessions into project management careers
[17:52] The benefits of mentee and mentor relationship
[20:14] Why project professionals should consider mentorship—as a mentor or mentee

A strong innovation culture can transform organizations—seeding a first-mover mindset that empowers teams to discover whole new ways of thinking. Guests discuss strategies to develop mindsets and create spaces where team members feel comfortable to explore, the project management office’s growing role to nurture new ideas, and how to ensure innovation initiatives drive real value.

Key themes
[02:07] The PMO’s role in fostering a culture of innovation
[03:46] Strategies to drive innovation within project teams
[08:29] Practices to avoid: What can hinder an innovation culture 
[10:30] Advice for PMO leaders on how to encourage innovation
[12:00] How an innovation culture brings big benefits to organizations
[21:09] Ways to create psychologically safe spaces for faster innovation
[28:09] Must-have skills for a culture of innovation

Project teams behind the biggest events must manage stakeholders and resources to deliver thrilling experiences. But there’s a growing focus on sustainability, too—making sure events mitigate negative impacts on the planet. We speak with project leaders making two major spectacles—the Paris Olympics and Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix—more sustainable.

Key themes
[02:45] The Olympic and Paralympic Games’ growing focus on sustainability
[05:57] Using temporary infrastructure at the Paris Olympics
[15:03] How others can maximize sustainability in their projects
[17:41] Building buy-in for sustainability initiatives in the events sector
[21:59] Making the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix better for the planet—and fans
[26:11] Managing stakeholders while keeping sustainability at the forefront
[28:00] Ways to measure the success of sustainability-focused projects

The agriculture industry will need to feed a projected 10 billion people by 2050. To meet this demand, project teams are transforming production—finding climate-friendly ways to maximize yields. Guests share how they’re helping agriculture giants like Cargill reduce carbon emissions through supply chain operations and farming practices. Plus, how indoor farms are delivering fresh produce year-round in Dubai’s desert climate.

Key themes

[01:06] What’s spurring innovations in agriculture 
[04:51] Helping food and ag giant Cargill decarbonize, implement regenerative agriculture practices
[09:50] Building buy-in for change when stakeholders have long-held processes
[11:37] Tips for managing a project with diverse stakeholder groups
[14:24] Growing fresh produce consistently in an arid, desert climate
[17:33] Sensors, internet of thing, the cloud: The tech behind sustainable indoor farming
[19:51] Collaborating with partners to scale up—and share success

Conflict can occur on any project. And project professionals should know how to defuse it. Guests share tips for resolving conflicts on projects, how these strategies shift depending on the source, the must-have skills for effective conflict resolution and how project professionals can strengthen their conflict resolution capabilities.

Key themes
[01:06] Why conflict management is a must for successful project delivery
[04:43] Strategies to manage—and resolve—conflicts resolution on projects
[12:39] Why you should change up your strategies depending on who is in conflict
[15:55] Ways project professionals can boost their conflict resolution skills 
[21:51] Resolving a conflict with active listening, increased transparency and consistent communication 
[27:55] Conflict management strategies for in-person vs. remote team members
[29:54] Lessons learned: Understand different perspectives and listen with empathy

Mistakes happen. It’s how you respond that really matters. In a group discussion, three project professionals share how they turned failure into lessons learned and career maturity. How do you help team members overcome mistakes? And how can project leaders create a culture that accepts mistakes—and spins them into opportunities for greater efficiency and innovation?

Key themes
[01:58] What is failure—and how has your view of it changed throughout your career? 
[07:31] Project professionals share their mistakes—and the biggest lessons learned from them
[17:29] How failure can fuel innovation and efficiency
[22:06] Ways to create a team culture that accepts mistakes with accountability
[31:08] Tips on how to bounce back—and grow—from failure

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally shifting how we work, but it’s imperative to use the emerging tech responsibly. Guests explore the major AI ethics concerns for project professionals and recommend good practices teams can employ to use and create ethical AI. They also share examples of how project teams handle AI ethics concerns—and how those concerns can impact companies’ regulatory compliance, reputation, risk management and even innovation.

Key themes
[03:34] Strategies to create—and implement—AI ethics practices on teams
[07:02] How a team handled ethics concerns of biased data
[11:44] Keeping your AI ethics policies flexible for the tech’s continued advancement
[14:01] AI ethics concerns project professionals are facing today
[15:47] How ethical AI impacts organizations’ regulatory compliance, innovation, risk management and even social responsibility
[18:20] Meta’s good practices for using or creating ethical AI
[22:57] What AI ethics training should include—and how often it should be updated

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making one giant leap in the space industry. In celebration of World Space Week, we’re highlighting how project teams are tapping AI for space exploration and innovation. A project leader from the European Space Agency shares how his team created a “flying laboratory” so that other organizations from across the globe could experiment with new tech—including AI—in space. And NASA’s chief artificial intelligence officer shares how teams are using AI on projects and how the U.S. space agency is ensuring ethical, responsible AI use across teams.

Key themes
[02:29] Why ESA created a “flying laboratory,” the OPS-SAT Space Lab service [05:41] How to experiment with AI—and use it in the right projects
[11:27] Why the space industry views AI with heavy interest—and healthy skepticism
[14:32] What NASA’s chief artificial intelligence officer is focused on
[16:42] How the U.S. space agency is using AI on projects 
[22:04] How NASA ensures ethical, responsible AI use across teams
[26:58] How AI could transform space projects