
PMO Strategies
In this podcast, PMO leaders and those wanting to capitalize on the best of project management to deliver the organization’s strategy,will uncover the hidden secrets of the best PMOs, learn the game-changing techniques that transform any PMO into a value-driven IMPACT Engine, and explore the best ways for the PMO to become an integral part of the fabric and future of an organization. After spending two and a half decades helping organizations deliver change, with 15 of those years in the shoes of PMO leader inside organizations, Laura strongly believes that there is more to making an IMPACT than templates, tools, and process. She’ll show you how to make the shifts necessary to becoming a business focused PMO that will become an invaluable organizational asset. With her guests and insights, we explore the sticky situations and tough challenges PMO leaders face, from sorting through all of the “noise” about what the PMO “should” do to finding the best ways for your PMO to make an IMPACT. Listen in and you can discover how to shift your focus from outputs to outcomes, fundamentally changing the game for your PMO and personal success.
Latest episodes

Nov 15, 2021 • 34min
125: Build a High-IMPACT Team Using Character Strengths with Ruth Pearce
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills (Leadership)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
Did you know that there are certain character strengths that are more likely in PMO and project practitioners and some that are scarce? This gap is leading to some challenges in our ability to lead teams through change to deliver the high-IMPACT we’re intending on our projects.
As a long-time program manager, coach and character strengths practitioner, Ruth Pearce wanted to know if there are any positive personality characteristics that show up more (or less) in project personnel than in other people in the team or the general population. She collected data from hundreds of project, program, and PMO Leaders and the data was quite interesting…and very telling.
In this episode, Ruth will discuss those findings and how you can close any gaps you see in yourself or your teams.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Nov 8, 2021 • 30min
124: Do You Have What It Takes to Lead with Skip Weisman
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills (Leadership)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
In this episode, I’m chatting with Skip Weisman about the framework he’s used to help teams lead more effectively to get the best possible project outcomes. You’ll learn what these special traits are and why they are critical to your leadership success.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Nov 1, 2021 • 40min
123: The Role of the PMO in Strategic Planning with John Cable
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Business Acumen (Strategic and Business Management)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
What is the role of the PMO in Strategic Planning, is there one? If you lead a PMO do you participate in your organizations Strategic Planning process?
In this episode, John Cable, the Founder and Executive Director of the Project Management Center For Excellence at the University of Maryland will explore why the PMO leader should be at the table for the organizations strategic planning process and what the contribution may be. Listen in for a lively discussion!
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Oct 25, 2021 • 44min
122: How to Align Strengths in Your PMO with Jennie Fowler
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills (Leadership)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
Do you want to get the most out of your team to achieve the best results?
In this episode, I’m joined by my pal Jennie Fowler to discuss how you can align your teams strengths to the work they are doing to drive higher IMPACT across your projects. If you’re taking over a new PMO, building a team now, or simply running a PMO and want to drive the best results with your staff, you’ll learn the secrets here to aligning your teams based on their strengths (not just talents) to get the best results.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Oct 18, 2021 • 28min
121: What Senior Leaders Expect from Project Management Professionals with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills (Leadership)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
As the number of projects in organizations skyrocket, understanding project fundamentals and fostering project management skills have become essential. Leaders have too many projects with too little visibility into them, and they lack the project oversight and delivery competencies to untangle them.
In this episode, Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez details a recent survey with Harvard Business Review, looking at the current challenges faced by senior leaders when dealing with projects and project management, as well as their expectations for the future. The results should help us better understand how project managers can translate their hands-on knowhow up to the leader’s-eye view.
UMT360 Positioned in the 2021 Gartner MagicQuadrant for Strategic Portfolio Management.
Latest report is a must-read for any organization interested in understanding the strategic portfolio management capabilities needed to more effectively accelerate business transformation.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Oct 11, 2021 • 46min
120: Now is the Time to Build Your Project Management Consulting Business with Candice Benson
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Business Acumen (Strategic and Business Management)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
In this episode, Candice Benson shares key insights on how to build your project management consulting business. In addition to serving corporate clients for over 20 years in her Project Management consulting business, Candice has a passion for helping other project managers scale their businesses while making more money and having more freedom in their day.
Candice shares the mistakes she sees early and seasoned consultants making as well as the simple habits consultants can start building today that will get them more of the clients that need their expertise now.
Set strategy. Execute with agility.Drive business forward.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Oct 4, 2021 • 45min
119: PMO Value in a Changing Landscape with Steven Fullmer
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills (Leadership)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
In this episode, Steve Fullmer, talks about the necessary shift in understanding essential to thrive.
Executives regularly navigate complex business, political and social environments. Yet, how does one choose the best focus, pivot, and sustainably adapt to the changing business needs? The 21st century necessitates a cooperative, dynamic leadership tribe.
How do you as a pmo leader create and show your value in an ever-changing environment and your customers change their minds faster than you can update the requirements? We’re going to bust some myths about diversity and cultures, as well as dive into the places you should focus your PMO efforts to achieve the best results.
Cultures are not created, they evolve through needs and social pressures. Coordination of vision, strategy, tactic, and execution requires an integral approach. Enter the PMO. Where the P stands for People NOT Process.
Every approach toward individual and social success must be based on human potential, rather than behavioral guidelines.
Uncomplicate Your Project Portfolio
A lightweight solution to get you back to business with the right
projects and the right people at the right time.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Sep 27, 2021 • 51min
118: PPM is Dead, Long Live Strategic Portfolio Management with Ben Chamberlain
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills (Leadership)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
In this episode, Ben Chamberlain, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at UMT360, talks about why true business agility is impossible if execution is disconnected from strategy.
Indeed, Gartner now makes a clear distinction between traditional PPM execution tools and strategic portfolio management capabilities. If you’re still only focused on PPM project execution, or you’re using execution tools to try and address strategic portfolio management problems, you’re probably missing the critical capabilities needed to truly drive business transformation.
UMT360 Positioned in the 2021 Gartner MagicQuadrant for Strategic Portfolio Management.
Latest report is a must-read for any organization interested in understanding the strategic portfolio management capabilities needed to more effectively accelerate business transformation.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Sep 20, 2021 • 41min
117: The Expanding Role of the PMO in Driving Organizational Change with Michael DePrisco, PMI’s CEO
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills (Leadership)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
In this episode, Michael DePrisco, Chief Operating Officer at the Project Management Institute, sat down with Laura Barnard of PMO Strategies, to share some of PMI’s recent findings and thought leadership on how “gymnastic” PMOs are navigating the disruption of COVID-19 and beyond.
Mike and Laura touched on a wide range of topics, including how PMO leaders are acting as change makers and impact drivers in helping their organizations deliver on strategy with the highest possible return on investment.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Sep 13, 2021 • 41min
116: Why Agility Should be the Watchword of the PMO with Donna Fitzgerald
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills (Leadership)
Hey there, IMPACT Driver!
Before project management got subsumed by paperwork, a project manager's job was primarily focused on risk mitigation and risk avoidance. To do this job successfully required agility, rapid decision-making, and the right people on the team.
In this episode, Donna Fitzgerald will explore the mental models and project management techniques that once made meeting deadlines consistently possible.
She'll cover the relationship between risk and agility and what mental models help with increasing agility. She'll get to the bottom of why having the right project team is so critical for agility and risk management.
Uncomplicate Your Project Portfolio
A lightweight solution to get you back to business with the right
projects and the right people at the right time.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!
I welcome your feedback and insights!
I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!
Warmly,
Laura Barnard
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES
TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS