Welcome to the People and Projects Podcast, where we provide interviews and insights to help you lead people and deliver projects. Since 2009, this show is brought to you by speaker, author, and executive coach Andy Kaufman. If you're looking for insights on project management, leadership, and how AI influences both of those, you've come to the right place! And if you hold a project management certification, you can even earn free PDUs for listening!
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PPP 484 | Coping with Digital Overwhelm Without Logging Off, with author Craig Mattson
vendredi 21 novembre 2025 • Durée 50:46
Summary
In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Craig Mattson, professor of communication and author of Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work. Rather than encouraging digital detoxing or escaping technology, Craig offers a refreshing way to understand and navigate the pressures of modern work. He introduces the idea of digiwhelm, explains why so much of our stress comes from the communication modes we inhabit, and shows how leaders can respond with intention rather than overload.
You will hear Craig describe why email can be more than information transfer, how mode switching differs from context switching, and why one-way communication sometimes matters more than dialogue. Craig also shares why signals like silence, gestures, and tone often communicate more than words. Before closing, he draws connections to life at home, offering ideas for families that feel overwhelmed by devices and demands.
If you are looking for practical insights to reduce digital overwhelm, improve communication, and lead with greater clarity and calm, this episode is for you!
Sound Bites
"Instead of digital minimalism, I recommend something like digital flexibility."
"Humans are essentially users and switchers of modes."
"What is going to be the defining overwhelm of my life?"
"You are always overwhelmed by something."
"Flexibility is the wisdom that my book is urging."
"Your words do things."
"Think about the voice of the email."
"A mode is an approach, it is a posture, it is a way of relating."
"Is there a way in which this is actually good for me and actually good for other people?"
If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we have a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. It is free and a great way to get a head start.
I know you want to be a more confident leader. That is why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It is 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it is all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks!
Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
PPP 483 | The Future of PMOs, AI's Impact, and Leadership Lessons with Amireh Amirmazaheri
mardi 4 novembre 2025 • Durée 48:10
Summary
In this episode, Andy talks with Amireh Amirmazaheri, CEO of PMO Solutions and a leading voice in the global PMO community. From growing up in Iran during a time of war to building a respected consultancy in Australia, Amireh shares how resilience and curiosity shaped her approach to leadership and enabling project success. You'll hear how PMOs have evolved from administrative hubs to strategic influencers, what it means to truly "speak the language of executives," and how to recognize when a PMO is at risk of drifting into irrelevance. We also explore how AI is transforming the work of PMOs and what leaders can do to stay ahead of the curve. Plus, Amireh offers practical advice on leading as a woman in project management and applying PMO principles at home as a parent.
If you're looking for insights on elevating PMO impact, executive communication, and leading through change, this episode is for you!
Sound Bites
"Limitations aren't always bad. They push us into the creativity zone."
"Executives don't want red or amber. They want to know where the ship is heading."
"When PMOs chase BAU firefighting, they lose their strategic brain."
"If PMOs stay educated and ahead of the game, they can influence the AI journey."
"It's okay to cry. Then think, learn, and lead."
"Um, should I tell you that my little one has a kanban board?"
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:31 Start of Interview
01:42 Early Life in Iran and Resilience
12:56 Lessons About Enablement
15:02 How PMOs Have Changed
18:55 Speaking the Language of Executives
21:22 Failure Clues and PMO Drift
25:11 Sponsorship as a Risk Factor
26:08 Using AI and Its Near-Term Impact on PMOs
32:25 Leading as a Woman
37:44 Applying PM and PMO Ideas at Home
40:22 PMO Global Alliance Overview
42:15 End of Interview
42:50 Andy Comments After the Interview
46:22 Outtakes
Learn More
You can learn more about Amireh and her work at , or connect with her on .
Level Up Your AI Skills Pass the PMP Exam This Year Join Us for LEAD52
PPP 474 | A Candid Conversation with Stuart Taylor: LinkedIn, Careers, and AI
jeudi 14 août 2025 • Durée 39:06
Summary
In this candid live-stream conversation, Andy chats with content creator and project leader Stuart Taylor, the mind behind the Influential PMO platform and the Stuart Taylor Project YouTube channel. They dig into the difference between influencers and thought leaders, how to choose topics that genuinely help practitioners, and what to do when metrics don't match the effort. Stuart shares practical strategies for building professional visibility on LinkedIn and YouTube, including how to craft resonant messages, handle trolls, and focus on service over self-promotion.
The discussion also explores Stuart's experiment asking whether AI could manage a project. Spoiler: AI is a strong team member for first drafts and research, but a weak project manager. They wrap with career advice for today's shifting job market, including why to think like an internal consultant and how to future-proof your career by learning in public.
If you're looking for insights on personal branding, creator tactics, and AI's real role in project work, this episode is for you!
Sound Bites
Regarding AI: "It cannot be the project manager. It's spineless. It is a weakling leader."
"There is no such thing as a permanent job anymore."
"Share what you know and people will be drawn to you for what you are sharing."
"Learn to make a resonating message. Learn how to share value."
"I never did this to become internet famous… What problem do I want to solve? That's it."
"Because you don't understand how the algorithm works. You think your whole network's ignoring you, and in fact, all that's happened is maybe less than 10% of your network has seen the message before the algorithm realized that your message wasn't resonating."
"It will be the penny pinching execs who want to save a few dollars, who will take your job, and they'll replace it with a machine that can do 50% of your job for a fraction of your price, and they'll live with the 50% they can't do."
Chapters
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PPP 384 | Andy Interviews An AI: Introducing PMeLa
Épisode 384
jeudi 6 juillet 2023 • Durée 25:30
Introducing PMeLa
It's impossible to avoid hearing about AI these days. From those who praise it to those who warn about an impending apocalypse because of it, there is no shortage of opinions or predictions about it. Instead of talking about the pros and cons or capabilities of AI, we're going to try something different in this episode.
Today I'm going to interview an AI!
To my knowledge, this is the first time a podcast focused on project management and leadership has had an AI guest so thank you for joining me on this inaugural experience!
My guest today is PMeLa (PM for Project Management and L for Leadership). PMeLA is an AI persona that I've been developing for a while now. My goal has been to craft a persona with helpful insights into the world of leading and delivering and in this episode, we'll find out how she does!
I think her best moments are actually in the outtakes so stay around until the very end!
What's a question you'd like to pass by PMeLa? Send them to show@peopleandprojectspodcast.com. I'd love to include your questions in a future episode! Thanks!
AI for Project Managers and Leaders
With the constant stream of AI news, it's sometimes hard to grasp how these advancements can benefit us as project managers and leaders in our day-to-day work. That's why I developed a new e-learning course: AI Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Using AI in Your Everyday Work.
This self-guided course is designed for project managers and leaders aiming to harness AI's potential to enhance your work, streamline your workflow, and boost your productivity.
Go to ai.i-leadonline.com to learn more and join us. The feedback from the program has been fantastic. Take this opportunity to unlock the potential of AI for your team and projects.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
PPP 383 | Feeling Stuck? The Science Of Getting Unstuck, With Adam Alter
Épisode 383
vendredi 23 juin 2023 • Durée 38:03
Feeling Stuck
Can you think of situations when you felt stuck? I recently talked with someone who feels stuck in their career. Some of my MBA students feel stuck--unsure about what path to pursue in their career. I have dear friends walking through difficult medical issues and feeling stuck—unsure about what to do next.
Whether it is major situations like those or the smaller ones that confront us as part of life, feeling stuck is a common experience for us, and today I'm excited to introduce you to one of my favorite new books.
Adam Alter joined us back in episode 177 to discuss his book Irresistible. If you haven't listened to that, I highly recommend you go back and check it out--the challenges and the ideas are just as relevant today as they were 5 years ago.
Adam returns in this episode to talk about his new book Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most. this book is packed with practical ideas that can help you with your current challenges and those you'll inevitably encounter in the years ahead.
With the constant stream of AI news, it's sometimes hard to grasp how these advancements can benefit us as project managers and leaders in our day-to-day work. That's why I developed a new e-learning course: AI Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Using AI in Your Everyday Work.
This self-guided course is designed for project managers and leaders aiming to harness AI's potential to enhance your work, streamline your workflow, and boost your productivity.
Go to to learn more and join us. The feedback from the program has been fantastic. Take this opportunity to unlock the potential of AI for your team and projects.
PPP 382 | Balancing The Now And The Future: How To Make Tomorrow Better Today, With Author Hal Hershfield
Épisode 382
jeudi 15 juin 2023 • Durée 45:57
Balancing The Now and The Future
Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with some amazing bosses. One was a woman named Cindy. What made her stand out? She constantly encouraged us to look beyond our day-to-day tasks. As a Vice President, I was under her guidance, and she, a Senior VP, was persistent in pushing us to plan for the future and break free from the firefighting of the present.
This isn't just an issue for me and my colleagues at that time; it's something many of us encounter. Of course, it's important to be present and appreciate the moment, but in various aspects of our lives—be it projects, careers, health, or more—we often fail to look far enough ahead. This preoccupation with the present can hold us back from a better future.
We all want a brighter tomorrow, whether for our projects, careers, relationships, health, or more. But evidence suggests that our relationship with the future can be a bit tricky. Sometimes we need a "Cindy"--someone to help us learn to look further down the road. Hal is that person, and his book is a valuable resource I'm confident you'll benefit from. I'm excited to share our conversation with you!
Episode 313, with Brian David Johnson about his book The Future You
Episode 87, with Cecily Sommers about her book Think Like a Futurist
AI for Project Managers and Leaders
PPP 381 | How To Make Wiser Decisions, With Human Performance Expert Dr. Jim Loehr
Épisode 381
samedi 3 juin 2023 • Durée 53:35
Making Wise Decisions
Think about some past decisions. Can you recall one that turned out well and another that, in hindsight, didn't go as planned? It's important to analyze these instances - what factors influenced those outcomes?
We all make countless decisions in our daily lives, both personally and professionally. Recognizing the patterns behind our successful and unsuccessful decisions can be a powerful tool in enhancing our decision-making skills.
It's such a different book than I expected, and I mean that as a compliment. If you take even a couple of ideas from today's discussion and Jim's book, you will be a step ahead on your upcoming decisions. I can't wait to share this discussion with you!
Episode 295, with Don Moore about his book Perfectly Confident
AI for Project Managers and Leaders
With the constant stream of AI news, it's sometimes hard to grasp how these advancements can benefit us as project managers and leaders in our day-to-day work. That's why I developed a new e-learning course: AI Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Using AI in Your Everyday Work.
This self-guided course is specifically designed for project managers and leaders aiming to harness AI's potential to enhance your work, streamline your workflow, and boost your productivity.
PPP 380 | How To Navigate Stressful Conversations With That Friend (Or Stakeholder) You Don't Agree With, With Guest Mónica Guzmán
Épisode 380
mardi 23 mai 2023 • Durée 56:31
Dangerously Divided Times
I'd like you to think of some examples of divides in your life.
It could be with a friend or relative that has radically different beliefs about politics or social causes. Or it could be someone at work that you just strongly disagree with. The differences have created a divide.
The reason I want you to think about them is because we're having an important discussion today about how to have fearlessly curious conversations in dangerously divided times.
If you feel the polarization in culture and in the workplace is just too daunting to do anything about, Mónica's book is packed with practical ideas that you can start implementing right away. This remarkable woman is on a mission to help us address the divides in our life--and she's been making a difference. I consider this a must-read book and can't wait to introduce some of the ideas in today's discussion.
If you've listened for a while, you've heard me talk about our e-learning program entitled Getting Stuff Done: Project Management for Students. The feedback from the program has been fantastic but here's what I want you to know. We radically reduced the price to just $49 US. We want to make it available to as many people as possible. If you have a high school or college-age student in your life and want to invest in their ability to lead and deliver, you can do that now for an even better price. Give them a head start to more confidently lead and deliver. Learn more and get a copy for them at . Thanks!
PPP 379 | Overcoming Fear And Uncertainty: A Guide To Risk-Taking, With Author Angie Morgan Witkowski
Épisode 379
samedi 8 avril 2023 • Durée 31:19
"What's A Risk You're Glad You Took?"
I asked this question to my LinkedIn network recently, and it led to a long thread of responses. The two most mentioned examples were job changes and moving to a new place to live. Maybe one of those might be your answer as well. An opportunity came up, you said Yes, and it turned out to be a great decision.
Yet changes like these are a risk. Even if you don't like your current job, you might land in a worse situation by leaping into a new role. The uncertainty associated with risk is why many people stay stuck in situations that are sucking the life out of them.
Chances are there is a risk you've been considering. Whether it's with risks on your projects at work, with your career, or with something at home, I'm excited to introduce you in this episode to Angie Morgan Witkowski. She's the author of a new book entitled Bet On You: How to Win with Risk. It's a great read that helps us reframe how we look at risk and give us the courage to move forward when faced with uncertainty.
Ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? LEAD52 is your 5-minute weekly pass to leadership intelligence. You get 52 weeks of learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Join us at https://GetLEAD52.com.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
Talent Triangle: Power Skills
The following music was used for this episode:
Music: Romantic Interlude [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: License (CC BY 4.0):
PPP 378 | How To Say It Right The First Time, With Pitch Perfect Author Bill McGowan
Épisode 378
lundi 13 mars 2023 • Durée 48:23
Say It Right the First Time
So much of what we do when leading teams and projects comes down to communication. Whether it's written or spoken, with a large audience or an informal conversation or email, much of our success comes down to how effectively we understand others and are understood by them.
I'm joined in this episode by one of the foremost communication coaches in the world. Bill McGowan is hired by corporate leaders, athletes, and other celebrities to prepare them for media interviews and significant presentations. And he's the author of a book we'll discuss in this episode entitled Pitch Perfect: How to Say It Right the First Time, Every Time.
Ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? LEAD52 is your 5-minute weekly pass to leadership intelligence. You get 52 weeks of learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Join us at https://GetLEAD52.com.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you, too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start.
I know you want to be a more confident leader—that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks!
Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
Talent Triangle: Ways of Working
Topics: PMOs, Executive Communication, Leadership, AI in Projects, Change Management, Strategic Thinking, Women in Leadership, Organizational Influence, Resilience, Stakeholder Engagement, Career Growth, Continuous Improvement
Interview with Giannis Antetokounmpo available on: SBNation.com
With the constant stream of AI news, it's sometimes hard to grasp how these advancements can benefit us as project managers and leaders in our day-to-day work. That's why I developed a new e-learning course: AI Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Using AI in Your Everyday Work.
This self-guided course is designed for project managers and leaders aiming to harness AI's potential to enhance your work, streamline your workflow, and boost your productivity.
Go to ai.i-leadonline.com to learn more and join us. The feedback from the program has been fantastic. Take this opportunity to unlock the potential of AI for your team and projects.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
Go to ai.i-leadonline.com to learn more and join us. The feedback from the program has been fantastic. Take this opportunity to unlock the potential of AI for your team and projects.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
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