The Project Management Podcast

Play video episode 🎓 Apply for a PBP Scholarship Worth $1,000+ Here's your last chance for one of 7 full scholarships for the upcoming Project Business Professional (PBP) seminar, taking place November 4–7. This live, interactive training is for project managers working on client-facing, outsourced, profit-driven projects. To apply, visit pm-podcast.com/scholarship and complete the short form by October 25. Tell us why you want to become a PBP, and you could be one of the seven randomly selected. Premium subscribers: you must opt in too! 👉 Apply here before September 23.

Play audio-only episode | Play video episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary When stakeholders doubt the schedule, they doubt the leader behind it. Project schedules are more than a collection of dates... they are instruments of leadership that can either inspire confidence or create skepticism. In this conversation, Michael Pink, CEO of SmartPM Technologies, joins Cornelius Fichtner to explain how schedule visibility enables project leaders to see risks early, prevent overruns, and lead with credibility. Drawing from his experience in analyzing thousands of construction projects, Michael explains how transparent and data-driven schedules elevate leadership trust, keep teams aligned, and ensure projects stay on course.

Premium This is a preview of our premium episode. Full access is available only to premium subscribers. Click here and learn about the Premium Podcast to access this interview and transcript... Play audio-only preview episode | Play video preview episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Click above to play either the audio-only preview episode or video preview episode in a new window. Episode Summary Leadership comes in many styles, and the podium of a conductor offers striking lessons for project managers. In this conversation, Itay Talgam brings his wealth of experience as a classical conductor to shed light on what leadership means when you are tasked with guiding a group of experts toward a shared goal. Using vivid stories about Riccardo Muti, Leonard Bernstein, and other legendary maestros, he shows how leadership style is not fixed but evolves with culture, context, and experience. Just as conductors must adapt to each orchestra, project leaders must adapt to the unique culture of their teams and organizations. The discussion emphasizes how authority and autonomy can coexist, why culture and leadership are inseparable, and how leaders can expand their own style without losing authenticity.

Elizabeth Harrin, a skilled project management trainer and author of Managing Multiple Projects, joins the discussion with insights on juggling numerous projects. She shares practical strategies like using checklists and templates to streamline workflows, alongside the importance of portfolio thinking for prioritizing tasks. Elizabeth highlights the role of AI and automation in reducing cognitive load while emphasizing burnout prevention and inclusivity in team management. Her actionable advice aims to empower project managers to control their workloads effectively.

Play audio-only episode | Play video episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary The most dangerous issue facing a Project Management Office (PMO) is not sudden collapse but a gradual decline in relevance and impact. In this conversation, Mel Bost, author of Understanding Project Practices and Processes, shares his insights from Chapter Four of the book, which focuses on PMOs and project performance. He explains why PMOs often fail to deliver consistent value, even when they are not technically “broken.” He highlights overlooked factors, from alignment with organizational strategy to a lack of meaningful performance measures, that contribute to slow underperformance. The discussion underscores that without proactive adjustments, a PMO can continue to operate while its value to the business quietly diminishes.

Play audio-only episode | Play video episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary Project managers know that skill building requires consistency, but finding the right structure can be a challenge. Olivia Pekny introduces PM Master Quest, a program built around 30 days of practical, daily challenges that strengthen core project management capabilities. Instead of long theory-based courses, participants apply short, focused tasks directly to a project storyline, turning everyday actions into learning opportunities. The design is simple yet powerful: take one challenge per day, reflect on the experience, and gradually develop the mindset and behaviors that effective project managers demonstrate. Olivia explains how the program helps professionals at all levels gain traction in areas such as stakeholder communication, decision-making, and team leadership while creating momentum through daily practice.

Play audio-only episode | Play video episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary Project managers often excel at delivering on scope, schedule, and budget, but struggle when asked to prove the value of their work to senior leadership. Barbara Kephart brings her extensive experience in project, program, and portfolio management to address this common challenge. She outlines a clear approach to bridging the gap between technical project reporting and leadership’s focus on business outcomes. Drawing from her career in both public and private sectors, Barbara explains how understanding the language of leadership and linking project metrics to strategic objectives can transform how executives perceive your contributions.

Premium This is a preview of our premium episode. Full access is available only to premium subscribers. Click here and learn about the Premium Podcast to access this interview and transcript... Play audio-only preview episode | Play video preview episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Click above to play either the audio-only preview episode or video preview episode in a new window. Episode Summary Leadership expert Shyam Ramanathan joins Cornelius Fichtner to unpack what great leadership looks like for project managers. Shyam brings over two decades in IT, an extensive leadership blog with 400 plus posts, and two books, “Maximise Potential” and “Maximise Potential 2.” He outlines a clear, three-part foundation for leading well, then connects it to day-to-day project work. You hear how vision sets the direction, how the ability to inspire moves people to act, and how leading by example creates credibility. Shyam ties these principles to project realities like reading the charter, clarifying scope and budget, selecting and positioning the right people, and building a balanced team through honest self-awareness.

Play video episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. One Playlist. Sixty Free PDUs. Zero Hassle. We’ve made it incredibly easy for you to earn your Professional Development Units (PDUs) using Spotify. In this episode, Cornelius Fichtner explains how you can listen to 60 hours of curated podcast content from The Project Management Podcast and self-report those hours as free PDUs with PMI. Here’s how it works: Step 1 – Download the Tracking Spreadsheet: Use this spreadsheet to track your learning ➡️ Download Spreadsheet Step 2 – Listen and Track: Open the Spotify playlist, start listening, and log your progress in the spreadsheet ➡️ Open Spotify Playlist Step 3 – Self-Report with PMI: Use PMI’s CCRS platform to self-report your earned PDUs ➡️ Report at PMI Need More Help? Visit our detailed instructions and FAQ at Earn 60 Free PDUs on Spotify..

Play video episode | Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary Many project managers are trained to manage scope, schedule, and cost. But what happens when the project itself is the business? In this solo episode, Cornelius Fichtner introduces the Project Business Professional (PBP) certification and explains why it fills a major gap in traditional project management education. Drawing on his own recent experience earning the PBP credential, Cornelius walks through what makes project business fundamentally different from internal project delivery and why nearly half of all project managers are already operating in this external, client-facing space—whether they realize it or not.