Projectified® Podcast

Climate change is one of the world’s greatest threats—and project leaders around the globe are stepping in, helping mitigate its effects with ambitious and innovative initiatives. One guest discusses the need to be agile as his company launches one of the world’s largest solar projects, while another talks about the value of nature-based solutions designed to promote both environmental and societal well-being.

COVID-19 has forever changed how—and where—we work. Some people are returning to the office, while others are remaining remote or adopting a new hybrid style. It’s up to designers to reimagine offices in ways that encourage collaboration and innovation, no matter where team members are. Guests discuss the changing purpose of the office and how the pandemic fueled interest in biophilia, air quality and touchless tech. 

The pandemic forced project leaders to adapt like never before—changing workflows, communication styles and team cultures to fit the largely remote reality. But as many people return to their offices, leaders are in for another round of change. Guests discuss how they led virtual teams during the COVID crisis and how they’ll adapt those lessons learned for the future—whether teams are in the office, working from home or both.

As the world marks International Women’s Day this week, Projectified^® spoke with two female project leaders making their mark in traditionally male-dominated sectors. Guests discuss the pandemic’s oversized toll on working women, ways companies can improve gender equity and how they’re supporting future female leaders.

When project management office (PMO) leaders help craft strategy, they can deliver more value. Guests discuss how many forward-looking companies are evolving their PMOs to be a strategic force. These are the PMOs making the most of business opportunities and measuring success beyond whether projects are delivered on time and on budget.

Five megatrends are reshaping The Project Economy—fundamentally altering how we live, work and play. Guests discuss how they’re addressing these changes: taking on shifting globalization dynamics with infrastructure investment and targeting climate change with AI on construction projects.

The citizen development revolution is here. With low- and no-code platforms, more people can quickly learn how to build apps. Guests discuss how organizations can make the most of citizen development—empowering teams to deliver the solutions they need, without waiting for the IT department.

The pandemic has forced a fundamental shift in how people work. While certain sectors and regions struggle, others are full of activity. Guests discuss the jobs outlook for project leaders in 2021, including emerging must-have skills and ways to align risk with opportunity.

When wildfires strike, project teams get to work—not just stomping out the flames, but helping animals and their ecosystems recover. Following megafires on Australia’s Kangaroo Island and in the Pantanal in Brazil, guests discuss how project teams collaborated to preserve threatened populations of jaguars and dunnarts, and what can be done to prevent future catastrophes.

Virtual learning was already a high-growth sector, but that was nothing compared to skyrocketing usage among children shut out of schools by the pandemic in 2020. Guests from UNICEF and Nigerian startup Gradely discuss how each of their teams accelerated their efforts to meet students’ needs during the pandemic, the continued role of in-person teaching in online environments and the future of virtual education. 

All projects have an impact—and it’s up to project leaders to make sure the impact is positive. [email protected] speaker Khulan Batkhuyag shares how her visits with Mongolian nomads changed her views on sustainability and her approach to projects. And RecyGlo’s Okka Phyo Maung discusses how his Myanmar startup uses tech and data analytics to reduce pollution in waterways.

PMI’s 2020 Most Influential Projects highlights more than 250 bold, breakthrough projects—spanning sectors and continents. Guests discuss three of those initiatives: one out to transform transportation in Sydney, one that aims to unlock secrets of the sun and one that modernizes the historic campus of governmental buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 

Two [email protected] speakers discuss a new type of leader emerging: resilient, authentic, creative. Billy Samuel Mwape, PMP, at the Development Bank of Zambia, talks about setting out a roadmap but being flexible enough to pick up—and adapt—from failure. Chiwuike Amaechi, PMP, with Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Co., shares how he uses the power of storytelling to lead his team.  

The global health system demands nonstop innovation—but those advances also must be delivered safely. Medtronic’s Leo Rapallini discusses how his team brought together people from across disciplines to upgrade the world’s smallest pacemaker—and grab a bigger market share. And Andy Molnar talks about how UVD Robots scaled up to meet a big increase in demand for its autonomous disinfection robots once COVID-19 hit. 

As India’s population grows, so must its economy. And that requires new ways of thinking. Rachna Singh, IT deployment program manager at Amazon, talks about how India’s IT sector has changed and what lies ahead. And Ankur Jain, founder and CEO of Bira 91, shares the challenges of scaling up his craft brewery and how cross-functional teams are helping his company innovate.

A not-so-new ingredient is disrupting the food industry: plants. Giulia Braghieri, head of growth and expansion at NotCo, discusses how the Chilean company uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to create plant-based takes on food staples like mayo and milk. And Troy Swope, co-founder and CEO of Footprint, shares how his company is shaking up grocery store aisles with plant-based food packaging.

Innovation can give companies that elusive edge—but only if they build a culture with the power to fuel truly creative thinking. Vidhya Abhijith, co-founder of Codewave Technologies and a PMI Future 50 leader, talks about the link between design thinking and innovation. And Pomerleau’s Yuri Bartzis discusses how the Canadian construction company’s innovation teams drive the use of new technologies and working processes. 

When accessibility is a key focus, a project can deliver more value to everyone. Kathryn Rutkowski, PMP, senior program manager at Atlassian, discusses how to bring an accessibility sensibility to project teams. Matt Ligas, principal at Michael Graves Architecture & Design, shares what he learned from a project to build accessible homes for military families. 

Without a permanent physical office, digital nomads are leading projects as they travel the world. Ott Vatter, managing director of the e-Residency program in the Republic of Estonia, shares how the project helped create a community for digital nomads. Christina Nguyen, PMP, strategy practice leader for Global Professional & Field Services at Dell Technologies, shares her digital nomad experience and how it changed how she leads projects and teams. Plus, how PMTraining.com helped the team led by Matt Koch, PMP, vice president and director of operations for the federal business unit at Atkins North America.

The world’s historic and cultural sites connect us to human history. Projects to preserve or restore these sites must be handled with care. Ray Pepi, president and founder of Building Conservation Associates, discusses managing priorities on preservation projects and the future of structural conservation. Kacey Hadick, director of project development at CyArk, talks about working with teams around the world to digitally document cultural heritage sites under their care.

PMI is shining the spotlight on the Future 50: Young project leaders making their mark with bold thinking and innovative projects. In this episode, you’ll hear from honorees Kenneth Harris II, a senior satellite engineer at NASA; Geetha Gopal, PMP, a senior infrastructure projects manager at Panasonic Asia Pacific; and Miishe Addy, co-founder and CEO of Jetstream Africa. Also, PM Network^® writer Tegan Jones discusses how this youthquake is transforming The Project Economy. 

Today, collaborative, engaging leaders are in demand. With the uncertainty of the pandemic and the need for virtual teams, this skill set has never been more valuable. Penny Pullan, PhD, PMP, founder of Making Projects Work Ltd., discusses facilitative leadership and what virtual teams need to succeed. Luiz Dias, PMP, PgMP, head of digital, portfolio transformation at the Department for Work and Pensions in the United Kingdom, shares the importance of communication and a calm, positive attitude when leading teams in uncertain times.

When an organization focuses on diversity, added value is sure to follow. Along with bringing different mindsets and skill sets, diverse team members will challenge one another and approach problems from new angles. Blair Taylor, a partner in the Workforce of the Future practice at PwC, shares the importance of empathy and how diversity yields better business results. Annice Joseph, co-lead for Inclusive Career Journeys at SAP, shares how cross-generational teams bring innovation, creativity and group wisdom to projects. 

In the coronavirus pandemic, fact-checking organizations are delivering projects to separate truth from rumors. Silvia Cavasola, project manager, Pagella Politica, discusses a chatbot project to answer COVID-19 questions. Itziar Bernaola, director, Newtral Educación, talks about her organization’s automation project to help fact-checkers verify an increasing number of coronavirus questions.

The world of professional development will look different after COVID-19, and project professionals will lead the way into the next normal. Lindsay Scott, a PM Network career columnist and co-founder of Arras People, says maintaining your professional network and developing your skills will help prepare you for the competitive job market to come. Mike DePrisco, Vice President, Global Experience & Solutions at PMI, shares that the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification exam is now being offered online. And hear about free courses to help project leaders upskill from home. 

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of risk management. David Hillson, PhD, PMI Fellow, founder of The Risk Doctor Partnership, says risk managers need to look ahead and consider what uncertainties could come from the COVID-19 fallout. Mohamad ElHelaly, PMI-PBA, PMI-RMP, PMP, assistant project manager at Orascom Construction, says change is inevitable. He talks about how risk management should be integrated into all project processes and decisions. 

On Earth Day, Projectified^® looks at projects to save the earth. Devan Wardwell, director of growth at Forest Carbon, discusses a project to restore peatlands and the technology teams use to make data-driven earth saving decisions. Michael Sweet, PhD, a researcher at the University of Derby and an officer of the International Coral Reef Society, talks about challenges facing coral restoration projects.

The Project Economy calls for a new look at the structure and dynamics of leading project teams. Ingrid Smith, head of PMI’s Thought Leadership, shares the power skills that will help project teams succeed. Peter Moutsatsos, PMP, chief project officer at Telstra, discusses how the organization’s shift to agile project teams at scale has improved flexibility and how teams should be created to fit a particular project challenge.

With arenas being built across the world and industry revenues on the rise, esports is leveling up. Joe Marsh, CEO of T1 Entertainment & Sports, discusses two construction projects focused on esports—one in Seoul, South Korea and the other in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. TL Frasqueri-Molina, PMP, project management office lead and lead project manager in the broadcast technology group, esports, at Activision Blizzard, talks about the industry’s growth and the critical role of collaboration and communication in launching esports leagues.

5G networks are coming online around the world, bringing new, innovative project opportunities. Will Townsend, a senior analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy, discusses how latency reduction will drive innovation on projects. Odianosen Peter Ebhabha, a project director at Huawei, talks about the infrastructure and funding needed to launch 5G in emerging markets. 

The COVID-19 outbreak is affecting countries, people and projects around the globe. It’s one of several deadly diseases the world has faced in recent years. Dr. Ranu Dhillon, a faculty member at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, served as the special adviser to the president of Guinea during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. He discusses creating strategies to control the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, the value of early detection and how that can be applied to the coronavirus.  

Can government interactions ever be smooth? Nations around the world are working on upgrading these citizen services. Anne Petersen, director of experience design at 18F, shares how they sidestep barriers to customer experience success and the mindset needed to achieve a customer-focused approach. 

Home to some of the world’s fastest-growing cities, Africa is poised to become a hub for projects—and talent. Bulla Boma, PMP, head of the commercial project management office at MIC Tanzania PLC, discusses the increasing number of infrastructure projects in Tanzania and growing awareness of the project management profession. Sheillah Karimi, a senior program coordinator at KfW Development Bank, talks about a water supply project she’s leading in Kenya and how sustainability will become central to future projects. 

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Projectified^® hosted a roundtable with three women to discuss their experiences leading projects and programs: Varsha Advani, PMP, with Akamai Technologies; Selenne Berthely, PMP, with Banco de México; and Asya Watkins, PMP, with EnvisionRxOptions and Women Of Project Management. Also, Anna Tavis, PhD, shares how hiring practices can help achieve gender equity on teams.

As expectations for financial services change, legacy institutions and startups alike have to innovate. Andreas Madjari, PMP, project management governance specialist at Erste Group, discusses agile’s role in creating the group’s internet banking platform, George. Alicia Levine, COO at Chipper Cash, discusses the fintech boom in Africa and the projects it may lead to in the near future. 

From air taxis to bullet trains, what was once thought of as futuristic transportation is now closer to becoming a reality. François-Joseph Van Audenhove, a partner at Arthur D. Little, talks about changing mobility demands—for people and goods. And Mike Goodrich, an executive director at General Motors, shares how creative problem solving helps project teams working on new tech like autonomous vehicles.

What does the 2020 jobs scene look like for project professionals? In the season 3 opener of Projectified^®, we get the scoop from Lindsay Scott, PM Network career columnist and co-founder of Arras People. She discusses how a potential recession could affect projects—and careers. Plus, DXC Technology CTO David Paré, PMP, talks AI in the healthcare industry. 

There’s a lot of change happening in project management. So we talked with five project professionals about what’s new and next for 2020—and beyond. They discussed new ways of thinking and what next-gen project leaders mean for the future of work. 

As technology evolves, so does the way we work. Bob Safian, founder of The Flux Group and former editor-in-chief of Fast Company, discusses the risks and opportunities project leaders face in a changing world of work—and why the most important skill is the ability to keep learning.

Almost every executive is talking transformation. But the real test is whether they can make it a reality. Two leaders from the Brightline Initiative discuss why successful transformations are really about bringing people together—and winning over their hearts and minds.

As the business world changes, so too does project management. At PMI’s Global Conference 2019, project and program leaders shared how the profession has evolved, discussed the new must-have skills and looked back at some of the projects that inspired them.

Are you ready for The Project Economy? At PMI Global Conference 2019, PMI President and CEO Sunil Prashara discussed global trends driving The Project Economy, and how project and program managers can prepare themselves for the future.

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.

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.  

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Your professional network is a gold mine. But how can you get more from your connections without asking too much? Guests share how joining communities, volunteering professional services and building stronger relationships have helped them advance their careers.

With business moving at breakneck speeds, there’s no time to waste on persistent problems. Guests discuss how they find quick fixes under pressure and what it takes to attack complex issues at the source.

Industry 4.0 technology is pushing manufacturers to disrupt—or be disrupted. Guests discuss the trends and technologies transforming the sector. Plus, the global head of IoT Services at Siemens outlines the key skills project professionals need to navigate organizational change.

Global markets are shifting rapidly, creating new career opportunities for those willing to make big moves. Guests discuss how to prepare for the transition—and Amtrak’s EPMO head shares why project talent is well suited to make this type of leap.

The next generation of project managers isn’t satisfied with the status quo—and leaders must be ready to adapt. Guests discuss how they encourage collaboration across age groups, and a PMO director from Slack outlines how to recruit and retain young talent.

The World Economic Forum predicts it will take 108 years for women to achieve equal status globally. Guests discuss how organizations can level the playing field—and the manager of global programs for UN Women shares recent project wins.

Predictive analysis. Machine learning. Robotic automation. AI technologies are coming of age—and it’s time for them to start earning their keep. Learn how organizations are turning the hype into hard numbers.

Seismic market shifts have reshaped entire sectors and shaken up the project landscape. Learn how global business trends are impacting the job market for project and program managers—and what skills will help future-proof your career.

Creativity is the spark behind every bright idea—but it needs the right environment to flourish. Learn how leaders can give their teams both the structure and inspiration they need to think outside the box. Plus, Nickelodeon’s senior director of creative project management shares three creativity killers to avoid.

Mergers and acquisitions can take years—and they don’t always deliver the intended value. Learn how program and project managers on the front lines can ensure the success of mission-critical integrations. Plus, one of Google’s M&A program managers shares his industry expertise.

Talent turnover is unavoidable. Brain drain is not. Global experts discuss how effective knowledge transfer keeps organizations firing on all cylinders. Plus, NASA’s chief knowledge officer outlines how breakthrough innovations are made possible by sharing lessons learned.

The competition for top project talent is heating up. Global business leaders discuss how they’re attracting top performers and building their project management bench.

Innovation, uncertainty, rapid change—the defining factors of the modern marketplace are making projects increasingly complicated. Guests discuss how they’re overcoming complexity to deliver transformative projects.

What does it take to be an effective leader in a rapidly shifting business environment? Guests discuss in-demand leadership skills—and how to keep fast-moving projects on track. Featuring Robert Safian, founder of The Flux Group and former editor of Fast Company.

Bleeding edge projects have the potential to disrupt the marketplace and reshape entire sectors—if they can make it across the finish line. Project leaders share how they shepherd and support extreme innovation in the face of increasing uncertainty.

From hurricanes to hunger, disasters are getting more intense and more expensive. Hear how global project leaders have managed emergency response and recovery efforts—and how they’re making their communities more resilient for the future.

Making the world a better place is no simple task. Especially when funding is in short supply. Leaders from government agencies and NGOs share how transparency and accountability help them do more with less on their projects and programs.

A rapidly shifting business landscape is forcing project teams to be more flexible. Global project leaders share how they deliver fast-paced results—without sacrificing quality.

Smart tech investments in infrastructure take center stage in our discussions with project leaders. They discuss how they’re helping communities meet needs that last for the long haul.

Insights from global experts for how project and program teams can respond to shifting priorities, when to pull the plug on an outdated project—and what it takes to deliver real strategic value.

International project and program leaders discuss how they deal with disruption and navigate uncertainty in a constantly shifting landscape.

Global project leaders discuss how to ace an interview, landing your next big promotion and the skills that set top-performing project professionals apart.

Global project leaders discuss how to make hyper-innovation happen, the keys of managing virtual teams, and navigating an uncertain project landscape.

In this episode, Jane Canniff and Carrie Fletcher discuss what it takes to be a woman in charge, and Lindsay Scott shares research on gender trends in project management.

In this conversation, recorded at EMEA Congress 2018, John Daly and Henk van Huyssteen discuss how digitization is changing the way projects are run — and the skills project and program managers need to stay one step ahead.

Jim shares insights on the past, present and future of IBM's PMCoE, including its focus on attracting and developing tomorrow's project leaders, the challenge of balancing traditional methods with agile approaches, and the keys to remaining relevant over two decades.

In part two with transformation expert Kevin Murphy, Kevin discusses how project managers serve as big-picture change agents, developing a future mindset, how to instill new behaviors for creating a change-ready culture, and dealing with resistance.

Andy defines leadership and teams in this episode and among the topics of discussion, he touches upon agile principles to bring out the best in the teams you lead.

Kevin defines transformation, highlights what’s different for leaders, and makes a case that project professionals can achieve their best work when co-creation is achieved.

Dana shares insights on building strong work relationships between millennials and managers. With perspectives from both sides, she identifies behaviors and mindsets to foster cross-generational collaboration and understanding.

Doug shares experiences and insights from managing PMI's 2017 Project of the Year. You’ll learn how the team overcame dangers of the work environment and the technical, talent, and communications challenges of the project.

Jane discusses how project management is changing and how it differs among the for-profit and global development sectors.

Picking up our previous conversation on "pitching projects," Oren practices what he preaches — diving right into describing "a path to payoff" to follow when running team meetings or presenting a solution to stakeholders.

Real-world business examples of digital transformation enlighten part two of our conversation with Anand, as we dive more deeply into the role of cross-functional teams and discuss the culture challenges that must be addressed.

We return to the oft-neglected role of creativity in project management as Scott shares insights on bringing fresh-thinking and innovative problem-solving to your projects and teams, regardless of the work environment.

Lauri shares insights and lessons learned on adopting and integrating agile principles and practices into a variety of work environments. Lauri also covers the PMO’s role in supporting teams, hybrid approaches, and dealing with complexity.

Oren makes a compelling case for why pitching an idea or solution is a crucial skill for project managers, and he offers tips for getting buy-in and selling the future. Oren shares common mistakes we make in presentations and how we can avoid them.

Scott highlights the need to bring creativity to process-orientated environments and addresses the often misunderstood, neglected role of creativity in project management.

In this conversation, Chui summarizes vital research on the impact that AI will have on industries and particular jobs. Project managers will hear how to prepare and thrive in this fast-emerging, exciting and uncertain landscape.

Jackie shares down-to-earth advice, including developing your own leadership style, learning from executive stakeholders, asking “awkward questions” and building trusted relationships, which is the “conduit to influence.”

In this conversation, Anand provides an overview of the digital landscape, why it is important to every organization’s future, the roles of project management in digital transformation, and culture challenges.