Projectified

Success is in the eyes of the beholder. For projects, that means winning over the top decision makers in the C-suite. How can project management office leaders best share project progress with executives? How can you better engage the C-suite to manage their POVs? We discuss this with Douglas Pulini, PMP, PMI-PMOCP, head of the strategic management office at SPC Brasil in São Paulo, and Stephan Wohlfahrt, PMI-ACP, DAVSC, PMP, head of the project management office at Bosch Mobility in Stuttgart, Germany. Key themes00:56 The C-suite’s role in project success02:33 How PMO leaders decide what information to share with executives05:24 Ways to engage executives to benefit project success10:26 Choosing how to best present project updates to the C-suite14:28 Must-have skills for PMO leaders to effectively manage stakeholder perceptions

Every project—no matter the sector or region—can be led and managed more sustainably. How can project professionals gain executive buy-in for sustainability efforts? How have they put environmental and social responsibility front and center in their work? And how can other project leaders further develop their knowledge of sustainability in their sectors? We discuss this with Pratik Mishra, PMP, senior strategic portfolio manager at Zalando in Berlin, and Michael Mylonas, GPM-b, PMP, director of project management at the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government in Tsilhqot’in Title Land, Nemaiah Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Key themes00:52 Why you should embed sustainability into every project phase04:29 Gaining stakeholder buy-in for sustainability on projects08:49 Building environmental and cultural sustainability into a community center project12:16 How project professionals can develop their sustainability knowledge 15:26 Ways you can boost sustainability in your projects

Project professionals across the globe deliver meaningful work in myriad ways—all with a goal to make the world a better place. So how did two project managers start their careers, one producing concerts across the globe and the other inspiring teams at LEGO? We discuss what makes them proud to be project managers, some of their favorite projects and more. Our guests are Jim Digby, PMP, project manager and tour and production director at Show Makers in Philadelphia, and Liliana Janette Gómez Castrejón, PMP, project manager at The LEGO Group in Herning, Denmark.  Key themes01:03 Delivering projects, from major music tours to LEGO06:32 The project management skills that help deliver creative projects08:40 Overcoming challenges with stakeholder management and finding your leadership style12:39 Bringing creativity into leading creative projects 17:55 Project manager pride: Creating healthy, diverse team environments 

Projects and products are becoming increasingly entwined. That ramps up the need to build greater collaboration between project managers and product managers. What’s similar—and different—about the roles? What strategies can you use to boost collaboration? And how does agile help everyone stay aligned? We get insights and tips from Adam Motiwala, a product manager at Google in Irvine, California in the United States, and Meg Sawachi, PMI-ACP, PMP, a senior project manager at GlobalLogic in Lund, Sweden.  Key themes02:14 Today’s must-have skills for product managers and project managers06:04 The biggest similarities—and differences—between product and project managers 08:29 Building a strong partnership between a project manager and product manager12:56 How agile helps project and product managers stay aligned16:51 Words of advice to product and project managers to boost collaboration

Iterating has become the business norm—but project teams are struggling to keep up with the relentless pace of change. How can change management professionals and project leaders help? We discuss this with: Sharon Casey, director, change management, Adobe, Austin, Texas, USA: Casey discusses how the persistent pace of change is affecting project teams and contributes to change fatigue. She also explains how change practitioners can support project professionals and teams going through change—sharing how her team’s “service tiers” offer assistance—and ways to ensure project teams and senior stakeholders buy into change initiatives. Plus, how artificial intelligence is helping leaders at Adobe learn to better manage change.  Senkodi Murugesan, CPMAI, PMP, previously a project manager at Howden, a Chart Industries company, Chennai, India: Murugesan discusses how change has evolved through his career, how to find opportunities amid sudden change on a project, and he shares an example of how he led teams through a major tech change. He also explains why an agile mindset is crucial when it comes to leading project teams through change.Key themes[02:08] How the increasing pace of change affects teams[04:02] Building buy-in for change—and avoiding burnout[09:16] How Adobe change practitioners support teams during change[11:18] Using AI to assist project leaders during change initiatives [16:15] A project professional’s perspective on how managing changed has evolved[18:51] Helping teams through major tech changes [21:38] An agile mindset: A must-have for project leaders handling change

As geopolitical volatility reigns, organizations must increasingly anticipate, assess and manage the risks that come in such a complex project environment. How is this turbulence affecting project leaders? How are they incorporating geostrategy into their risk management processes? We discuss this with: Heather Buchanan, PMI-RMP, PMP, supply chain project manager, Canada Goose, Toronto: She discusses how geopolitical volatility’s impact extends beyond the triple constraint. She explains how project teams are handling change with strategic shifts and proactive planning, and how she ensures her teams keep geopolitical considerations at the forefront. Plus, Buchanan talks about how subject matter experts, tech tools and even PMI helps her stay up-to-date on geostrategy. Rosa Gilsanz, PMI-RMP, PMP, project leader, Bayernoil, Munich: Gilsanz shares why geopolitical issues can wreak havoc with energy projects, the importance of a diverse team in risk identification, prioritization and mitigation planning, and how she uses clear communication and knowledge sharing to bolster her team’s resilience and adaptability amid uncertainty. Key themes[01:09] Geostrategy’s impact on project teams’ risk management [03:25] Managing risk and change with flexibility and contingency planning  [05:49] Discussing geopolitical considerations—from tariffs to labor laws—with teams[08:10] Identifying and prioritizing risks with AI, subject matter experts and online alerts[12:19] How the energy sector is affected by geopolitical volatility[15:14] Why you need a diverse team for risk management practices [17:03] Improving risk resilience on teams through communication and knowledge sharing

The youngest generations in the workforce don’t just want jobs—they want to deliver impact. What skills do project professionals need to ensure their efforts lead to deep social impact? And how do they build support for these initiatives? We discuss this with:  Martin Irungu, founder and executive director, Empower and Serve Kenya (EmpServe), Nairobi: Irungu’s upbringing inspired him to create an organization focused on positive social impact. He shares how EmpServe Kenya is upskilling the next generation of changemakers, and how his teams engage with communities to build trust and support for projects. Nuria Gabriela Soistata Ruiz, innovation and impact programs lead, Makesense Americas, México City: One of her org’s programs helps students build leadership skills while managing positive social impact projects in México City. Soistata Ruiz explains how she and her teams keep partners and program participants engaged and reveals the skills she leans on in her social impact work. Plus, how other project professionals can find opportunities that focus on their passions.  Key themes[01:00] Why the next generation wants to deliver positive social impact [04:10] Helping young Kenyans upskill to make change in their communities[07:54] Building buy-in through community ownership and local project champions[13:32] Measuring success through program alumni [15:55] Helping students lead projects to make a difference in México City [22:11] Must-have skills for social impact: Adaptability, empathy and assertive communication[23:39] Finding the right organization to help you deliver positive social impact

In this engaging discussion, Joe Campa, a strategic excellence expert at Ontario Power Generation, Aimee Cowan from Deloitte specializing in human capital, and Gemma Konrad, career development director at Mars, share their insights on internal talent development. They highlight the importance of nurturing talent to combat disengagement. The trio explores how to identify promising team members, boost engagement through emotional safety, and utilize innovative upskilling methods like mentorship and technology to retain top talent.

Fernanda Bertino, a lead project manager at Cirion Technologies in Rio de Janeiro, shares valuable insights into standing out in today's competitive job market. She highlights the importance of AI proficiency, effective communication, and data analysis as critical skills for project professionals by 2025. The discussion also covers how to market your skills effectively on résumés and in interviews, while emphasizing the value of upskilling through online courses and networking to enhance employability.

With wildlife populations plummeting, conservation teams are fighting back, using cutting-edge technology to track and protect the world’s flora and fauna. We discuss this with:  Shannon Dubay, director of conservation technology, Panthera, Cape Town, South Africa: Dubay discusses how teams use camera traps, satellite imagery, AI and other technologies in cat conservation, how teams are analyzing and acting on data faster in Zambia, how tech advancements have changed teams’ success metrics in conservation projects, plus how predictive analytics could transform conservation efforts moving forward. Dave Thau, global data and technology lead scientist, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), San Francisco: Thau talks about how the role of AI has evolved in conservation and helped boost efficiency. He also discusses WWF’s ManglarIA Project, which uses  AI and other tech to measure the impact of climate change on mangroves in Mexico. Plus, Thau takes listeners through how the team is leaning into innovation and adaptability as well as working with community members to futureproof their efforts. Key themes[02:33] Using camera traps, drones and AI to conserve cats in the wild[07:41] How teams are analyzing—and acting on—data faster [11:10] Tech’s impact on success metrics for conservation projects[12:02] How predictive analytics could change future conservation projects[14:58] The evolution of AI in conservation projects[17:35] How WWF is using AI to measure the impact of climate change on mangroves in Mexico[20:26] Focusing on innovation, adaptability and community engagement in conservation