Projectified

Kathleen Walch and Ron Schmelzer, experts in AI project management at PMI Cognilytica, explore the pitfalls of AI projects. They discuss common failure reasons like poor data quality and the unique challenges of managing AI. The duo emphasizes the need for structured approaches and setting smart metrics to ensure real ROI. They also share strategies on balancing urgency with quality and the importance of continuous learning in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Tune in for insights on navigating the complexities of successful AI initiatives!

International Women’s Day is a clarion call for gender equality—and project professionals around the globe are taking bold action to advance the cause. Our guests discuss the projects they’re leading to empower girls and women, how they ensure they’re delivering positive social impact, and how they keep themselves—and their teams—motivated in the face of adversity. Our guests include Cecile Pilot, senior project and capacity building officer at Defence for Children International in Geneva, and Marwa Hammad, head of global gender strategy and the Youth Education and Entrepreneurship program at Schneider Electric Foundation in Cairo. Key themes[02:17] Supporting young women to drive change in their local communities and on the global stage[05:43] Creating Schneider Electric Foundation’s global gender strategy and a program for youth education and entrepreneurship[09:48] Overcoming funding and legal challenges along with battling stereotypes [17:13] How to stay motivated and—resilient—in the face of adversity[21:25] Measuring success and positive social impact[23:48] The vision for greater gender equality in the years ahead

Sanjukta Ghosh, a Data and AI leader at Siemens, and Alexandra Schutz, Director at Appfire, dive into the future of project management. They discuss how AI will transform projects by 2025 and the crucial role of sustainability. Ghosh emphasizes using AI to elevate sustainability objectives, while Schutz highlights the increasing importance of PMOs in driving business transformation. Essential skills like adaptability and AI acumen are also outlined as key for success in the evolving landscape, alongside their excitement for the innovations ahead.

To ensure projects deliver real social impact, organizations and their teams need to set clear targets, track progress—and adjust when plans and variables shift. We host a joint discussion with Karlijn Sibbel, innovation director at Notpla in London, and Grzegorz Wach, refugee employment initiative lead at NESsT in Warsaw. They discuss their work on two of the PMI 2024 Most Influential Projects, detailing the metrics used to track progress and measure positive social impact as well as the challenges teams face when aggregating this data. They also share their biggest lessons learned when it comes to measuring social impact.Key themes[02:46] How Notpla uses seaweed and plants to make biodegradable packaging[06:23] How NESsT is empowering refugees and migrants to access quality jobs[08:49] Using multiple metrics to track progress and measure a project’s social impact[15:03] Top challenges teams face when measuring social impact[23:04] Delivering positive social impact in the face of increased scrutiny[27:13] Lessons learned: Embracing partners and pushing industry benchmarks forward

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call to action to help people and the planet—and projects aligned to those goals require strong collaboration with stakeholders, whether they’re government agencies, teachers or farmers. We discuss this with: Jenny Buccos, CEO of EXPLR and co-director of the National STEM Festival, New York City: Buccos discusses how she and her team worked with the U.S. Department of Education along with corporate and philanthropic partners to bring the National STEM Festival to life. She also talks about the skills she leaned on to build stronger relationships with partners, the festival’s future and how STEM can help make a big impact on UN SDGs. Simon Dyer, CEO, Virtual Irrigation Academy, Sunshine Coast, Australia: Dyer shares VIA’s history and how small-scale farmers, their communities and governments are using VIA’s tech and the data it generates to make informed irrigation decisions. He also talks about the importance of face-to-face conversations with stakeholders, cultivating partners within the communities projects are happening in, and his biggest lessons learned from collaborating with stakeholders. Key themes[02:17] Bringing stakeholders together for the National STEM Festival[07:18] Collaborating with partners without losing sight of a project’s goal[08:42] Leaning on time management and stakeholder engagement to build partnerships[13:25] How STEM can help teams achieve UN SDGs[16:26] How farmers, communities and governments use VIA’s tech to make informed irrigation decisions[22:09] The power of face-to-face interactions with stakeholders—and embracing community partners[26:38] Lessons learned: Don’t assume your stakeholders’ pain points and don’t discount your stakeholders’ knowledge

Gary Archer, Director of Performance and Sustainability at OneSubsea, shares insights on sustainable practices in the oil and gas sector. Tiago Voronsky, Engineering Director at GE Vernova, discusses how technology aids in integrating renewable energy into the grid. They explore the urgent global shift toward cleaner energy, the importance of innovative tech to reduce emissions, and the essential skills project managers need to lead these initiatives. Digitalization and collaboration emerge as key themes in enhancing energy efficiency and tackling the energy trilemma.

Matt Austin, VP of project management at Jellyfish, and Jill Lyons, SVP of Creative Operations at Maximum Effort, share their insights on project management's essential role in creative agencies. They discuss how agility and adaptability are crucial for meeting tight deadlines and navigating complex projects like the marketing campaign for Deadpool and Wolverine. Collaboration and communication are highlighted as key strategies for overcoming challenges, while flexibility becomes paramount in the dynamic world of creative work.

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 

Naveen Godh-Bobbery, Chief Manager at ICICI Bank specializing in AI ethics, and Leah Lee, Technical Program Manager at Meta focusing on ethical AI practices, delve into the vital role of ethics in AI for project management. They discuss strategies for implementing ethical practices, highlight real-world examples of managing biased data, and explore how flexible AI ethics policies can adapt to rapid technological advancements. The conversation also underscores the impact of ethical AI on regulatory compliance, risk management, and social responsibility.

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