Projectified

As PMI celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look back at some of the most influential projects of the past 50 years. Guests discuss how these projects led to new ways of thinking, new technologies and how they changed the world.   Ahmed Bouzid, the former head of product on Amazon’s Alexa team, shares what inspired the project. Plus, he talks about how focusing on a minimum viable product helped the team gain feedback from customers—and ultimately deliver a mega-successful product.     Antti Heinonen, former director of banknotes at the European Central Bank, discusses how the team made the largest currency changeover of all time happen—without a glitch.   Aristides Patrinos, former director of biological and environmental research at the U.S. Department of Energy, talks about the inspiration for the Human Genome Project and what it could mean for medicine in the future.    Ilya Marotta, the Panama Canal’s chief operating officer, shares why the project to expand the canal was so important to the country, and how clear structure and strong leadership helped keep team members on track.   Key themes [00:23] Most influential projects of the past 50 years [03:12] Q&A with Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa [05:41] Focusing on minimum viable product and customer feedback [07:46] Hopes for Alexa—and her role in human interaction [09:39] How the euro was launched [11:23] Taking exceptional measures to prepare billions of coins and banknotes [14:29] The euro’s role in cultural change [16:03] Inspiration for the Human Genome Project [17:47] A new approach and specific roles for scientific researchers [19:59] A completed genome sequence: what followed and what’s to come [21:26] The importance of the Panama Canal expansion to the country’s economy [22:42] Building a project team that could deliver on time

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

The world is changing fast. And big changes come with new risks—and new security vulnerabilities. Guests discuss emerging threats, what projects introduce the most security risk and how organizations can protect themselves. Albert Torres, PMP, cybersecurity program manager at Lockheed Martin in San Antonio, Texas, USA, outlines how to keep cloud-based projects secure. Kimberly Valentine, program manager for the office of the chief information security officer (CISO) and senior manager overseeing cybersecurity operations at Brunswick Corp., based in Denver, Colorado, USA, shares how she’s integrating cybersecurity reviews into the organization’s project planning process. Retired Air Force Brigadier Gen. Greg Touhill, president of Cyxtera Federal Group in Washington, D.C., was the United States’ first CISO during the Obama administration. He discusses what he learned during his time in public service and the greatest threats organizations need to defend against.   Key Themes: [00:22] Cybersecurity risks—and potential costs [03:14] Securing cloud-based projects [05:39] Creating a unified front [07:13] Building a cybersecurity culture [10:27] Lessons from the United States’ first CISO [14:15] Organizations face threats from outside and within [19:11] Strategies to succeed in security-focused projects

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

Digital transformations aren’t just technology projects. They’re people projects. Guests discuss the skills and tactics that can help bring an entire organization together around a common vision—and keep everyone focused on the end goal.   Jan Olesen, PMP, head of agile transformation for Manulife in Hong Kong, China, outlines how agile principles and approaches can help teams navigate change efficiently—and help them move forward when there is resistance to change.   Seema Sadhu, PMP, senior project manager at PVH in Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA, shares how breaking transformations into smaller projects make them more tangible and easier to manage.   Rob Loader, PMP, the executive in charge of capital management at Telstra in Melbourne, Australia, discusses Telstra’s digital transformation and how his team has delivered strategic outcomes.   Key Themes: [00:23] What defines a digital transformation? [03:50] How to overcome resistance to change [07:21] One transformation, many projects [08:57] From vision to reality  [10:32] Building consensus for a better future [11:58] Leading with purpose [16:32] From a telco to a tech company [19:06] Mapping a digital transformation

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

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

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.

Cities are growing—and fast. By 2030, two-thirds of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas. Guests discuss how development projects can boost economies and spur job creation while preserving the natural resources communities rely on. Hassan Aboelnga, PMP, is an urban water security researcher at Koln University of Applied Sciences, and a management committee member of specialist groups at the International Water Association, based in Cologne, Germany. He outlines how taking a systems approach can help project managers deliver more sustainable water infrastructure projects. Kaustubh Tamaskar is a senior urban planner and designer with Beca and an urban resilience consultant for the World Bank based in Auckland, New Zealand. Kaustubh discussed how teams can keep sustainability front and center on development projects—even when they need to move quickly. Suresh Kotla, PMP, director of sustainable manufacturing for the Institute for Sustainable Communities in Mumbai, India, shares how his organization helps drive investment in sustainable development projects by fostering public-private partnerships. Key Themes: [00:29] Effects of rapid urban population growth [02:33] Bringing sustainability within reach [04:46] Future-proofing sustainability projects [08:01] Managing water scarcity [10:50] A systems approach to sustainability [13:11] Roadblocks to sustainable development [14:54] Balancing economic and environmental needs [18:52] How to scale up adoption of new models

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