Shawn Harris on Revolutionizing Project Management with AI In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Shawn Harris, co-founder and CEO of Coworked. Shawn shares how Coworked is transforming project management by leveraging AI, specifically with their flagship product, Harmony. The discussion delves into Coworked's journey from initial concept to their pivot based on market needs, leading to the development of an extensive agent-driven AI system. Shawn provides insights on the challenges and decisions involved in building their own agentic framework, the role of project managers, and the future landscape of AI in project management. The episode also touches on Shawn's perspective on the evolving role of founders and invites listeners, especially PMO leaders, to engage with Coworked's innovative solutions. 

00:00 Introduction to The Next Next 

00:29 The Birth of Coworked and Harmony 

01:47 Challenges in Project Management 

03:04 Meet Shawn Harris 

04:45 Understanding Harmony's Capabilities 

06:11 The Founding Story of Coworked 

12:38 Building the Agentic Framework 

16:07 Optimizing Project Management 

17:50 Technical Challenges and Solutions 

19:59 DIY vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions 

23:26 Ensuring Reliability and Accuracy 

28:56 Overcoming Challenges in AI Development 

30:43 The Role of AI in Development and Resources 

31:41 Team Structure and AI Integration 

33:58 Human Involvement in AI Projects 

40:25 Market Penetration and Customer Engagement 

42:20 AI's Impact on Project Management 

48:33 Defensibility and Competition in AI 

56:16 Future of AI in Business and Entrepreneurship 

57:14 Final Thoughts and Contact Information