Project professionals across the globe deliver meaningful work in myriad ways—all with a goal to make the world a better place. So how did two project managers start their careers, one producing concerts across the globe and the other inspiring teams at LEGO? We discuss what makes them proud to be project managers, some of their favorite projects and more. 

Our guests are Jim Digby, PMP, project manager and tour and production director at Show Makers in Philadelphia, and Liliana Janette Gómez Castrejón, PMP, project manager at The LEGO Group in Herning, Denmark.  

Key themes

01:03 Delivering projects, from major music tours to LEGO

06:32 The project management skills that help deliver creative projects

08:40 Overcoming challenges with stakeholder management and finding your leadership style

12:39 Bringing creativity into leading creative projects 

17:55 Project manager pride: Creating healthy, diverse team environments 

Projects and products are becoming increasingly entwined. That ramps up the need to build greater collaboration between project managers and product managers. What’s similar—and different—about the roles? What strategies can you use to boost collaboration? And how does agile help everyone stay aligned? 

We get insights and tips from Adam Motiwala, a product manager at Google in Irvine, California in the United States, and Meg Sawachi, PMI-ACP, PMP, a senior project manager at GlobalLogic in Lund, Sweden. 

 Key themes

02:14 Today’s must-have skills for product managers and project managers

06:04 The biggest similarities—and differences—between product and project managers 

08:29 Building a strong partnership between a project manager and product manager

12:56 How agile helps project and product managers stay aligned

16:51 Words of advice to product and project managers to boost collaboration

What can project professionals around the globe expect to face in 2025? We talk with project leaders to help you prepare.  

Sanjukta Ghosh, PMP, data and AI leader at Siemens in Erlangen, Germany, and Alexandra Schutz, PMI-ACP, PMP, director of the program management office at Appfire in Washington, D.C., discuss what’s next for artificial intelligence in the project sphere, the increasing role sustainability and project management offices (PMOs) will play in value delivery and the must-have skills for 2025. They also share what they’re excited for in the new year.  

Key themes 
[02:31] How AI will dominate projects in 2025 
[11:20] Using AI to elevate sustainability objectives 
[13:07] PMOs stepping up to drive business transformation and deliver value
[16:01] Adaptability, strategic thinking, AI acumen: Skills you need for 2025
[20:40] The biggest surprises from 2024—and takeaways for the year ahead  

Five megatrends are reshaping The Project Economy, fundamentally altering how we live, work and play. We talk to project leaders taking on these trends through projects: 

 Farhad Abdollahyan, PMI-RMP, PMP, head of the project management office at the U.N. Office for Project Services in Niger, discusses the group’s infrastructure projects aimed at bolstering the country’s economy. He talks though how the organization measures these projects’ outputs and impact, and how it engages with partners to increase efficiency. 

 Rob Wilhite, senior vice president and director of global distributed energy at U.S. construction giant Black & Veatch, shares how he’s seen COVID-19 accelerate projects to battle climate change in the energy sector as well as AI’s growing role in infrastructure and engineering projects.

 Key themes 

[02:21] Investing in infrastructure to bolster Niger’s economy

[06:23] Measuring project outputs as well as outcomes and impact

[08:51] How partners contribute to success

[11:18] How COVID-19 is fueling projects to address climate change in the energy sector

[12:55] AI’s role in infrastructure, engineering projects 

The citizen development revolution has arrived. With low- and no-code platforms, more people can quickly learn how to build apps—without waiting for the IT department.

Arjun Jamnadass, managing director at FTI Consulting in London, discusses how citizen development can reduce the burden on IT teams and deliver the solutions teams need more quickly.

Christian Peverelli, co-founder of WeAreNoCode in Los Angeles, talks about empowering citizen developers and how organizations can make the most of the movement.

 Key themes

[01:05] The growth of citizen development

[03:26] Delivering value by quickly creating solutions

[06:08] Recognizing citizen development as another way to deliver projects

[07:59] Empowering nontechnical team members

[11:08] Rethinking agile with low- or no-code platforms

[13:19] Training citizen developers

The pandemic has fundamentally shifted how people work. While some sectors and regions struggle, others are full of activity. So what does that mean for project leaders and their careers in 2021? 

Alice Chow, a director at engineering giant Arup in Hong Kong, China, discusses what she’s seeing on the post-COVID jobs landscape. She also explains why project leaders should strengthen their listening skills. 

Lindsay Scott, co-founder of Arras People in London, shares her outlook on job hot spots for this year. The career columnist for PM Network also talks about how project leaders can align their personal risk appetite with career opportunities.
 

Key themes

[01:04] Uncertainty and opportunity in 2021

[02:32] The 2021 outlook

[04:38] Improving listening skills to better address clients’ needs

[07:46] Analyzing personal risk: Seeking safety or new opportunities in adversity

[12:08] The world of work post-COVID-19

Wildfires are a devastating, natural phenomenon. But as climate change makes the world hotter and drier, the threat has intensified. Following megafires on Australia’s Kangaroo Island and in the Pantanal in Brazil, project teams got to work helping animals and looking at ways to future-proof their increasingly fragile ecosystems.

Rafael Hoogesteijn, jaguar program conflict director at Panthera in Porto Jofre, Brazil, discusses how teams collaborated with the government and local community stakeholders to help the jaguar population as wildfires raged in the Pantanal.

 Pat Hodgens, fauna ecologist at Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife in Kingscote, Australia, talks about how teams are collaborating on the Kangaroo Island recovery, an effort that made PMI’s 2020 list of Most Influential Projects. He shares details on his team’s efforts to aid a small marsupial native to the island after its habitat was burned in the bushfires.

 Key themes

[01:12] Wildfires: A growing threat around the globe

[03:08] Teams, firefighters & military work together to fight Pantanal wildfires

[07:04] Partnering with the community to help jaguars

[12:10] Initiatives to help the Kangaroo Island dunnart

[16:29] Lessons Learned: Act fast and put resources toward wildfire prevention

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. While there have been promising results, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. 

Mac Glovinsky, global program manager at UNICEF, talks about how his team accelerated the growth of Learning Passport, a virtual education program that’s ranked number 3 on PMI’s 2020 list of Most Influential Projects. He also shares how despite increased digitalization, there’s still a need for humans to be involved in online learning. 

Boye Oshinaga, co-founder and CEO at Gradely, discusses the project to create the online learning platform and how the team blends virtual learning with in-person instruction. 

And virtual learning isn't just for students—project leaders can use online tools and classes to upskill, too. Tony Byrnes, PMP, director of program management at Altice USA, discusses how PMTraining.com’s live online training classes helped prepare him and his team for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification exam.

Key themes 

[00:58] Virtual learning: Promising results with room to grow

[02:19] Accelerating and expanding UNICEF’s Learning Passport

[07:50] The future of edtech: Delivering access as well as learning 

[12:19] Working with teachers to create online lessons

[15:39] Blending virtual learning and in-person instruction

[19:00] Using online learning for professional development

Projects have the power to not only benefit business but society as a whole. But to achieve positive social impact, the same strategic mindset behind the drive for bottom-line results must be applied to ensure projects create a better world.

TED@PMI speaker and marketing consultant Khulan Batkhuyag discusses how keeping things simple can help teams be agile and how her visits with Mongolian nomads changed her views on sustainability and her approach to projects.

Okka Phyo Maung, co-founder, CFO and CMO at RecyGlo, shares how the Myanmar startup is using tech to reduce pollution in waterways through better waste management and data analytics. He also talks about how his company is helping make the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals a reality. 

Key themes 

[01:10] Seeking positive social impact isn’t just the right thing—it’s also the smart thing to do

[03:36] Keeping things simple to increase agility

[06:28] Sustainability: Developing something that’s resilient 

[09:54] Consider the social impact of your work
 [12:43] Pursuing positive social impact through data 

[14:44] Why the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals are so important  Projects have the power to not only benefit business but society as a whole. But to achieve positive social impact, the same strategic mindset behind the drive for bottom-line results must be applied to ensure projects create a better world.   
 
 

TED@PMI speaker and marketing consultant Khulan Batkhuyag discusses how keeping things simple can help teams be agile and how her visits with Mongolian nomads changed her views on sustainability and her approach to projects. 

Okka Phyo Maung, co-founder, CFO and CMO at RecyGlo, shares how the Myanmar startup is using tech to reduce pollution in waterways through better waste management and data analytics. He also talks about how his company is helping make the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals a reality. 

Key themes 

[01:10] Seeking positive social impact isn’t just the right thing—it’s also the smart thing to do

[03:36] Keeping things simple to increase agility

[06:28] Sustainability: Developing something that’s resilient 

[09:54] Consider the social impact of your work
 [12:43] Pursuing positive social impact through data 

[14:44] Why the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals are so important  

PMI’s 2020 Most Influential Projects highlights more than 250 bold, breakthrough efforts—spanning sectors and continents. Guests discuss three of those initiatives: 

Hugh Lawson, project director at Sydney Metro in Sydney, discusses how the massive project will transform transportation in the city and how COVID-19 created opportunities to challenge long-held assumptions. 

César García Marirrodriga, project manager at the European Space Agency in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, shares what scientists hope to learn about the heliosphere from the Solar Orbiter’s seven-year mission. 

Rob Wright, of Public Services and Procurement Canada, talks about how the project team created a long-term vision with built-in flexibility for a multiyear restoration of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  

Key themes 

[00:56] PMI’s 2020 Most Influential Projects

[02:24] Sydney Metro to bring new ways to move around the city

[04:43] Challenging long-held assumptions and finding opportunities in COVID-19

[07:00] Sydney Metro transforming transportation for years to come

[09:31] Solar Orbiter: Unlocking secrets of the sun

[12:25] Creating a long-term vision with built-in flexibility for Parliament Hill Rehabilitation

[15:03] Using Centre Block as an apex project to drive strategy

[17:37] Lesson learned: Bring construction and design together on day one

Command and control leadership is losing ground to a new style—one that emphasizes creativity, resilience, authenticity and a willingness to reach out for help. Two TED@PMI speakers discuss the must-have skills of the modern leader.

Billy Samuel Mwape, PMP, assistant information and communications technology manager at Development Bank of Zambia in Lusaka, discusses resilience and letting team members make mistakes. He also talks about a very personal project: unifying a team of therapists in response to his son’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

Chiwuike Amaechi, PMP, principal subsea intervention engineer at Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Co. in Lagos, Nigeria, discusses the power of storytelling and shares how he uses the skill to drive home the points he wants to make to his team.

Key themes 

[01:17] Leaders wielding creativity, empathy and resilience

[02:46] Traits of resilience: Know the roadmap and be transparent

[07:01] How uncertainty drives creativity

[12:19] Using storytelling to unite teams

[14:20] The role of listening for storytellers

[16:06] When crafting stories, reflect and be deliberate

Innovation in the healthcare sector takes time—with companies devoting long hours to research and clinical trials while adapting to regulatory changes along the way. 

 Leo Rapallini at Medtronic in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA discusses how his team upgraded the world’s smallest pacemaker for a bigger share of the market. He talks about how company culture and a passionate, multidisciplinary team helped the organization deliver disruptive innovation. 

 Andy Molnar at UVD Robots in Boston, Massachusetts, USA shares how the company scaled up to meet a global increase in demand for its autonomous disinfection robot. He also discusses how he sees bots helping humans do more strategic work in healthcare.  

 Key themes 

[02:16] Staging development: Starting pacemaker innovation with the Micra VR

[06:08] Micra AV: Giving a tiny pacemaker an upgrade

[08:25] Company culture, passionate team key to disruptive innovation

[12:07] COVID-19 shines spotlight on sanitation across industries

[14:13] How UVD Robots scaled up to meet spike in demand

[19:06] Robots not taking over—helping humans do value-added work in healthcare

India is at a crossroads, a moment that may determine whether its economy can grow fast enough to support its rising population. To survive—and thrive—will require new ways of thinking.

Rachna Singh, IT deployment program manager at Amazon in Bengaluru, discusses how the IT business has changed in India over the course of her career, what lies ahead—and the skills project professionals need to succeed in the sector.

Ankur Jain, founder and CEO at Bira 91 in New Delhi, talks about some of the challenges he’s faced while scaling up his craft brewery and how cross-functional teams are helping his company innovate.

Key themes 

[01:14] A time of growth in India 

[03:03] Change of mindset and innovation in IT

[05:40] Focusing on communication, risk and technical skills

[08:06] Bringing craft brewing to India  

[13:43] How cross-functional teams help Bira 91 innovate 

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

There’s a lot riding on the future of food—our personal health, the health of our environment and the growing issue of food security. One potentially promising solution? Plant-based foods.

Giulia Braghieri, head of growth and expansion at NotCo, discusses how the Chilean company uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to create plant-based versions of food staples like mayonnaise, milk and more. She also talks about how NotCo uses agile to turn the founder’s ideas into reality.

Troy Swope, co-founder and CEO of Footprint, discusses plant-based packaging for food. He shares how each project pushes the U.S. company to innovate and iterate its products.

Key Themes 

[00:56] The plant revolution in the food industry

[03:00] Using AI, machine learning to create plant-based food

[07:26] Using agile to turn ideas into reality

[10:45] Effect of consumer climate awareness on the food industry  

[12:51] From microprocessors to food: Creating plant-based food packaging 

[15:48] Focusing on customers and their products 

Innovation separates the leaders from the laggards. While there’s no surefire path to the kind of breakthrough creative thinking that leads to the next big thing, organizations are on the prowl for ways to spark innovation.

Vidhya Abhijith is the co-founder of Codewave Technologies in Bengaluru, India. The PMI Future 50 leader talks about the link between design thinking and innovation, and how team members can push one another to think differently.

Yuri Bartzis, innovation manager at Pomerleau in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, discusses how the company’s innovation teams seek out new technologies and working processes. He also talks about one of the innovation team’s pilot projects with Spot, an autonomous robotic canine. 

Key themes 

[00:42] Building cultures to spark innovation

[03:19] How design thinking can help deliver innovative solutions

[04:06] Stakeholders, team members, customers—all can share innovative ideas

[08:10] Innovation initiatives to embrace new tech, work processes

[10:48] Testing Spot, the autonomous robot, on a project site

[12:26] Buy-in from upper management key to embrace innovation

The World Bank estimates 1 billion people experience some form of disability. That means accessibility must be built into how teams approach every project—helping them deliver more value to everyone.

Kathryn Rutkowski, PMP, senior program manager, Atlassian, Sydney, Australia, discusses how bringing in experts can help bring an accessibility sensibility to project teams. She also talks about designing projects with accessibility customers in mind to create a better experience for everyone.

Matt Ligas, principal, Michael Graves Architecture & Design, Washington, D.C., USA, discusses a project to build accessible homes for military families and how feedback from the homes’ occupants has influenced design decisions. He also shares how architects play a key role in keeping an accessibility focus on projects.

Key themes 

[00:57] Increased awareness, legislation for accessibility

[02:36] Building accessible sensibility into project teams  

[06:01] Design thinking: Think of accessibility customers as people with difficulties, not disabilities 

[08:07] Pushing Atlassian’s accessibility program forward

[10:02] Making accessibility standard on projects, products

[11:34] Personal experience puts focus on accessible design

[13:29] Customer-focused design on Accessible Military Housing project

[17:21] State of accessibility: We’re doing better than ever, but there’s still work to be done 

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 in Tallinn, Estonia, discusses how the project helped create a community for digital nomads. 

Christina Nguyen, PMP, strategy practice leader for Global Professional & Field Services, Dell Technologies, Austin, Texas, USA, talks about leading a project portfolio as a digital nomad. She also shares the lessons she learned and how the experience changed how she leads projects and teams. 

Plus, the value of online upskilling. Matt Koch, PMP, vice president and director of operations for the federal business unit at Atkins North America, shares how his team benefited from the online courses at PMTraining.com

 Key themes

[03:28] The need for community among digital nomads
[07:29] Discovering the “new normal” of the digital nomad lifestyle
[10:17] Building connections through empathy
[11:54] New challenges of remote working during COVID-19
[15:21] Remote upskilling through PMTraining.com

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 in New York, New York, USA, talks about managing priorities of preserving a building’s cultural and historical significance while also setting it up for continued use. He also discusses how he sees structural conservation changing in the future.

Kacey Hadick, director of project development at CyArk in Oakland, California, USA, talks about working with teams around the world to digitally document cultural heritage sites under their care, the challenges these teams face and how they can use the data in the short term as well as in the future.

Key themes

[02:40] Preserving history with the future in mind

[03:58] Importance of research in restoring or conserving cultural properties 

[08:14] Future of historic preservation and sustainability

[09:24] Digitally documenting cultural heritage sites and on-site problem-solving

[11:43] Using data to call for action in Rapa Nui

[15:13] How teams can use digital documentation now and in the future

A new generation of leaders is creating, transforming and defining The Project Economy. Meet a few members of PMI’s Future 50, a group of rising project leaders who are making their mark with bold thinking—and innovative projects. 

Kenneth Harris II, senior satellite engineer, Joint Polar Satellite System, NASA, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA, talks about his career journey and the future of project teams and STEM talent. 

Geetha Gopal, PMP, senior infrastructure projects manager, Panasonic Asia Pacific, Singapore, discusses the value of data, embracing AI and machine learning, and creating change within organizations. 

Miishe Addy, co-founder and CEO, Jetstream Africa, Accra, Ghana, shares how her organization focused on customers while digitizing logistics and connecting African supply chains. 

And PM Network® writer Tegan Jones discusses how this youthquake is reshaping the future and accelerating innovation in the project world. 

Key themes 
[00:50] The Future 50: Rising young project leaders transforming The Project Economy
[02:52] Passion for the cutting-edge and family inspiration at NASA
[05:32] All leaders are different
[06:30] Focus on the future: More specialized project teams and the next generation of STEM talent
[08:09] AI, machine learning and their value to organizations
[10:30] Create change by gaining management support, evaluating resistance and listening
[12:27] Taking the entrepreneurial spirit from the U.S. to Ghana
[14:13] Customer focus in digitizing logistics, creating supply chains
[17:27] Organizations moving from perfection to continuous learning and innovation
[21:06] Putting the focus on results, not ego

What skills will help project leaders succeed in times of uncertainty? As organizations pivot and deploy virtual teams, collaborative, engaging leaders are steering their teams to success. Penny Pullan, PhD, PMP, founder, Making Projects Work Ltd., Loughborough, England, says when you’re working virtually, command and control doesn’t work. She shares the value of facilitative leadership and the importance of building a team culture and relationships when leading virtual teams.

Luiz Dias, PMP, PgMP, head of digital, portfolio transformation, Department for Work and Pensions in the United Kingdom, Newcastle, England, discusses how he and his teams have added daily standups and opened more lines of communication during COVID-19. He also shares how keeping a calm, positive attitude can help when leading teams in uncertain times.

Key Themes

[02:08] Leading virtual teams with facilitative leadership

[04:02] Creating a culture for virtual teams 

[05:28] Building relationships with your team members

[08:43] Communication more important than ever in COVID-19

[11:39] Being open to reinvention and keeping a calm, positive attitude 

[13:25] Characteristics of a great leader: compassionate, concerned for team members and confident

Diverse project teams deliver value. A team that offers a wide variety of mindsets and skill sets will outperform the competition, as members challenge one another and approach problems from new angles. That often leads to innovation.

Blair Taylor, partner, Workforce of the Future, PwC, Seattle, Washington, USA, says diversity unlocks potential. It yields better business results, and diverse teams create personal connections between people. He also discusses how he believes empathy—associative and acquired—is the missing ingredient to see more progress in diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Annice Joseph, co-lead, Inclusive Career Journeys, SAP, Bengaluru, India, shares how cross-generational teams bring innovation, creativity and group wisdom to projects. She also talks about how SAP’s cross-generation mentoring initiative has helped managers learn and change their behavior on their own teams.

Key Themes 

[02:27] Diversity yields better business results, sends a message about an organization’s values and stimulates personal connections 

[06:16] Empathy—associative and acquired—is often a missing ingredient 

[11:05] Fostering a diverse environment and recruiting diverse talent 

[13:36] Multigenerational teams bring innovation, creativity and group wisdom 

[15:04] Changing behavior through SAP’s cross-generation mentoring initiative

[17:02] Creating teams with skills and talent from across an organization

In the coronavirus pandemic, following the wrong information could be a fatal error. That’s why fact-checking organizations are delivering projects to separate truth from rumors. Silvia Cavasola, project manager, Pagella Politica, Milan, Italy, shares how teams from multiple organizations are working together to create a chatbot to answer COVID-19 questions. She also talks about the chatbot’s potential to create a closer relationship between readers and fact-checking platforms.

Itziar Bernaola, director, Newtral Educación, Madrid, Spain, says her organization is facing an increasing number of fact verification requests due to COVID-19. Bernaola shares how she’s leading her team through a stressful time and discusses an automation project to help fact-checkers verify coronavirus information faster.

Key Themes

[02:05] Expanding fact-checking beyond the political world to include nonpolitical, coronavirus misinformation

[03:50] Project of necessity: A chatbot for COVID-19 queries

[07:27] Creating a relationship between readers and fact-checking platforms

[09:27] Leading a team with an increased workload in a stressful time

[12:46] Using automation to verify information

The world of business will look different after COVID-19, setting the stage for project professionals to lead the way into the next normal.

Lindsay Scott, PM Network career columnist and co-founder of Arras People, London, England, shares how skills development—including certifications and specialized training—and maintaining your professional network can help project professionals prepare for the competitive job market to come. She also talks about how young project leaders can find their voices and bring their perspectives to help create change.

Mike DePrisco, vice president, global experience & solutions, PMI, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA, talks about the online version of the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification exam. Also: three free courses from PMI to help project leaders continue their professional development from home.

Key themes 

[01:58] Prepare for competitive job market by developing skills, maintaining professional network

[08:34] Using certifications, specialized training to stand out from other applicants

[11:58] The value of servant leadership

[15:40] Young project professionals finding their voice, bringing their perspectives to create change

[17:56] PMP certification exam now available online 

[23:22] Free courses, digital resources from PMI to upskill while working from home 

[25:26] Project professionals can help world recover after COVID-19

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

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of risk management. David Hillson, PhD, PMI Fellow, founder of The Risk Doctor Partnership, Petersfield, England, discusses identifying and analyzing risk in innovative and novel situations. Dr. Hillson says COVID-19 isn’t currently a risk—it’s a problem—and the risk management task is to look at the uncertainties that could come next.

Mohamad ElHelaly, PMI-PBA, PMI-RMP, PMP, assistant project manager at Orascom Construction, Cairo, Egypt, shares his top lesson learned from previous projects: Change is inevitable. He also talks about how risk management shouldn’t work in a silo and should be integrated into project processes and decisions.

Key themes 

[02:11] Identifying, analyzing risk in innovative scenarios

[03:39] Risk’s effect on objectives, managing threats and opportunities 

[06:00] Look for uncertainties to come from COVID-19

[11:35] Flexibility, resilience in society, organizations, projects and people

[13:36] Lesson learned: Change is inevitable; you must adapt

[16:23] Integrating risk management into all project processes

On Earth Day, ProjectifiedTM looks at projects to preserve the planet. Devan Wardwell, director of growth at Forest Carbon in Jakarta, Indonesia, discusses a project to restore peatlands. He also talks about using satellite data and sensors to monitor the project’s progress and make data-driven decisions.

Michael Sweet, PhD, a researcher at the University of Derby in Derby, England, and an officer of the International Coral Reef Society, discusses two projects aimed at restoring coral reefs—one focused on abandoned fishing gear, the other, a physical restoration project. He also shares the challenges facing coral rehabilitation projects, including disease and rising sea temperatures.

Key themes 

[03:03] Restoring peatlands in Indonesia

[06:30] Satellite data, sensors help project teams make data-driven decisions

[11:34] Helping coral reefs by removing abandoned fishing gear and physical restoration projects

[14:36] Challenges to coral rehabilitation projects

The Project Economy calls for a new look at the structure and dynamics of project teams. Ingrid Smith, head of PMI’s Thought Leadership in London, England, shares the power skills that will help teams succeed. She also discusses the importance of empathy while working on virtual teams and how ready-for-anything teams are agile, collaborative and put the customer first.

Peter Moutsatsos, PMP, chief project officer at Telstra in Melbourne, Australia, shares how the organization’s shift to agile at scale has improved team flexibility and changed the focus to measuring outcomes. He also says teams should be created to fit a particular project challenge.

Key themes 

[01:53] Using power skills to succeed in The Project Economy

[05:22] Ready-for-anything teams are agile, collaborative and put the customer first 

[07:12] Empathy’s importance in virtual teams

[09:42] Creating greater team flexibility through agile at scale at Telstra

[13:56] Shifting sponsors to drive teams

[19:30] Building the right teams for particular project challenges

With arenas being built across the world and industry revenues on the rise, esports is leveling up. Joe Marsh, CEO of T1 Entertainment & Sports in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, discusses two major esports construction projects. The first is the headquarters for T1 Entertainment & Sports in Seoul, South Korea, which will be a space for the organization, gamers and fans. The second is the Fusion Arena, which is being built specifically for esports in Philadelphia.

TL Frasqueri-Molina, PMP, project management office lead and lead project manager in the broadcast technology group, esports, at Activision Blizzard in Pasadena, California, USA, talks about the growth of the esports industry, with larger companies entering the space and wider audience reach. She also shares how collaboration and clear communication across multiple teams is critical in launching esports leagues.

Key themes 

[03:31] Creating a facility for an org, gamers and fans

[06:50] Building an esports arena from the ground up 

[12:03] Esports industry growth and wider audience reach

[13:34] Launching esports leagues takes collaboration and communication 

5G networks are coming online around the world, bringing new, innovative project opportunities. Will Townsend, senior analyst, networking infrastructure and carrier services at Moor Insights and Strategy in Austin, Texas, USA, discusses how latency reduction will drive innovation on projects. He also shares early 5G use cases involving edge computing.  

Odianosen Peter Ebhabha, PMP, project director at Huawei in Lagos, Nigeria, talks about how infrastructure, politics and funding can affect 5G launches in emerging markets. He also talks about 5G’s impact on the internet of things, remote medical support and education in remote areas.

Key themes 

[01:42] Latency’s role in innovative 5G projects

[05:17] Challenges in emerging markets: infrastructure, politics and funding

[08:51] Potential innovations to IoT, healthcare and education

[12:39] 5G brings big data and need for skills in data analytics

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 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 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, collaborating with organizations in other countries to adapt strategies and the toll fighting an epidemic can take. Dr. Dhillon also talks about the value of early detection and how that can be applied to the coronavirus.

Key themes 

[02:55] Strategizing to fight the Ebola outbreak in Guinea

[06:49] The emotional and physical toll of fighting an epidemic 

[10:22] Lesson learned: The value of early detection 

[13:23] Testing challenges for 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 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, says there are multiple barriers to success in customer experience, such as a lack of money, time or in-house expertise. Anne also shares how to help organizations instill a customer-focused approach and how feedback—and your response to it—can increase people’s trust in government.

Key themes 

[00:34] Governments striving for better customer experiences

[01:59] Barriers to customer experience success: Money, time, in-house expertise 

[04:24] Establishing a customer-focused approach

[08:46] Using design thinking to find failure points faster

[09:44] Being open, human-centered and iterative to gain a better understanding

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 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, discusses the increasing number of infrastructure projects in the country. She also talks about raising awareness of project management and the value project professionals can add.  

Sheillah Karimi, senior program coordinator—water, sanitation and transport at KfW Development Bank in Nairobi, Kenya, discusses leading a water supply project and how she’ll apply lessons learned to future projects. She also says sustainability will become central to infrastructure investments due to climate change. 

Key themes

[01:02] Africa’s growth, rapid urbanization are leading to more projects

[02:09] Projects promoting industrialization in Tanzania

[05:39] Increasing awareness of project management and its value

[09:32] Organizations striving for innovative, data-driven projects

[11:08] Coordination and engagement key in Nairobi water supply project

[14:57] Reconciling theory and practical knowledge

Ahead of International Women’s Day, ProjectifiedTM hosted a roundtable with three women to discuss their experiences leading projects and programs and their hopes for the next generation of women in the profession.

Varsha Advani, PMP, senior technical program manager at Akamai Technologies in Bengaluru, India, talks about the importance of mentorship and how company-structured programs can help build a culture of learning. She also hopes to see more women in management roles moving forward.

Selenne Berthely, PMP, project manager, Banco de México, Mexico City, Mexico, discusses how leaders need both technical and people skills and shares her advice to other women in the profession—remain true to yourself and focus on your team.

Asya Watkins, PMP, manager of pharmaceutical implementations at EnvisionRxOptions and founder of Women Of Project Management in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, discusses how mentorship helped her career and the lessons she learned from being the only woman on some of her teams. She also shares ways men can advocate and support women on project teams.

Anna Tavis, PhD, academic director of human capital management, New York University, New York, New York, USA, shares how organizations can use data-driven metrics and better measurements of collaboration to help gender equity.

Key themes

[01:25] Creativity, empathy and freedom make projects challenging and fulfilling

[03:33] What leaders need: People skills, relationship building, communication

[06:23] Sharing experiences and learning through mentorship

[13:58] Advocating for women through partnership on projects, speaking up

[17:07] Hopes for the future: More women in management roles

[20:49] Measuring performance and impact of an individual on a team

As expectations for financial services change, legacy institutions and startups alike have to innovate. Andreas Madjari, PMP, project management governance specialist at Erste Group in Vienna, Austria, discusses agile’s role in creating the group’s internet banking platform, George. He also shares a look at the future—from stabilization to more online services.

Alicia Levine, the COO of Chipper Cash based in London, England, discusses the growing investment in fintech in Africa. She also talks about mobile money removing barriers for people who don’t use traditional banks and how new methods of transferring money can help people build digital financial histories.

Key themes

[03:11] Empowering teams for agile development

[06:47] Innovating to meet customers’ needs with reliability

[10:15] Fintech’s growth in Africa 

[12:20] How mobile money opened the door for new currency transfer options, digital financial identity

[16:10] Fintech in Africa going digital—from banking to currencies

Public and private organizations across the globe are taking action to reach net-zero emissions targets—investing heavily in new technology to build resilient and efficient energy systems. Guests discuss the push for cleaner energy, the tech their teams use to develop cleaner energy solutions and the skills project professionals need to lead these projects.

Key themes
[01:43] What’s behind the global push for a clean energy transition? 
[04:33] Using new tech and operational practices to reduce carbon emissions in oil and gas production
[10:57] The must-have skills to deliver tech-forward clean energy efficiency projects
[15:05] Tech that’s helping connect renewable energy sources to the grid 
[19:02] Executing a tech upgrade to a decades-old binational hydropower plant
[24:33] What’s next for a clean energy transition? Greater digitalization in the energy sector

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 and head of the Future of Mobility Lab in Brussels, Belgium, talks about changing mobility demands—for both people and goods—and the challenges to integrating self-driving cars into the current mobility landscape.  

Mike Goodrich, executive director—corporate development and global mergers & acquisitions at General Motors in Detroit, Michigan, USA, led the electric and autonomous vehicle program at GM for several years. He shares how creative problem solving helps project teams working on new tech like autonomous vehicles and the challenges organizations face to gain people’s trust.

Key themes:

[05:40] Increasing demand in passenger—and goods—mobility

[06:59] Self-driving cars’ effects on mobility systems

[11:24] Facing project challenges with collaboration and accountability

[12:46] Creative problem solving’s role in first-of-its-kind projects

[15:02] Consumer skepticism in the tech—and trust—race

What does the 2020 jobs scene look like for project professionals? In the season 3 opener of ProjectifiedTM, we get the scoop from Lindsay Scott, PM Network career columnist and co-founder of Arras People in London, England. She discusses the state of the job market as a potential recession looms and how a strong network and working across sectors can help project professionals in times of economic uncertainty. She also talks people skills— including a new focus on empathy and mental health among project leaders.

David Paré, PMP, CTO for healthcare business at DXC Technology in Perth, Australia, discusses how AI will change work. He also offers tips for using champions to sell tech projects.

Key themes:

[02:51] Project opportunities during economic uncertainty

[08:23] A stronger focus on empathy and mental health

[12:36] Understand what you need to learn—and unlearn

[15:40] Must-have skills for healthcare projects

[16:43] How the AI upheaval will change work

[18:46] Managing tech, change and stakeholders

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

Narasimha Acharya, PMP, assistant director in the client technology practice at Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, talked about adapting to evolving trends and advocating for change.

Mike Palladino, PMP, head of the Agile Center of Excellence at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Paoli, Pennsylvania, USA, discussed how teaching needs to change and encouraged new project managers to accept ambiguity. 

Fernando Antonio Oliveira, E2 program director for Embraer in São José dos Campos, Brazil, proposed new ways of working—from how we use data to finding ways to change the world.

Kaustuv Bagchi, head of India operations for oil and gas offshore projects for LT Hydrocarbon Engineering in Mumbai, India, talked about how disruptive technology can help younger project managers learn different skills.

Olivier Schmitt, CEO of The Project Group France SAS in Lyon, discussed how organizations struggle to integrate emerging points of view from up-and-coming project professionals entering the workforce.

Key themes

[00:58] Positioning yourself for success in a time of change

[02:10] Honing new ways of thinking and adjusting to change

[04:56] Using data for prevention instead of reaction 

[06:28] Disruptive technology as a teaching tool

[08:47] Bringing together new and established ways of working

[09:48] Why you should seek a mentor—even if it takes time

[12:44] Avoiding the right versus wrong mentality

[13:56] How do you want to change the world?

As technology evolves, so does the way we work. At PMI Global Conference, Bob Safian, founder of The Flux Group and former editor-in-chief of Fast Company, talked about how technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning present project leaders with new opportunities—as well as new risks. He also discussed the factors fueling The Project Economy—and why as the world of work continues to shift, the most important skill is the ability to keep learning.

Key themes:

[01:01] Why we’re moving to The Project Economy

[03:17] Technology’s effect on business

[06:51] Risks project leaders face as the world of work evolves

[10:08] New opportunities coming from The Project Economy

[12:13] The new needed skill: Continue learning new skills

[13:28] How projects can leave a lasting legacy

Almost every executive is talking transformation. But the real test is whether project leaders 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.

Ricardo Vargas, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP, executive director of the Brightline Initiative, discussed how organizations need to focus on people and culture—not just technology—during transformations. And that starts with getting executives and project teams on the same page.

Tahirou Assane, PMP, director of operations for the Brightline Initiative, shared how finding internal champions to back transformation initiatives will help keep things on track and build more buy-in. He also discussed how organizations need to prepare employees to accept, adopt and embrace change as the new normal.

Key themes:

[00:22] Challenges to transformation

[01:22] Putting people, culture at the center of transformations

[03:00] How internal champions can increase buy-in

[04:17] Accepting and embracing transformations as the new standard

[07:25] Getting executives and project teams on the same page

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 must-have skills and looked back at some of the projects that inspired them.

Fernando Antonio Oliveira, of Embraer in São José dos Campos, Brazil, and Shobhna Raghupathy, PMP, with Proficient Project Consulting Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, shared how Apollo 11 and the World Wide Web influenced them.

Laila Faridoon with the PMI UAE chapter in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Vinod Kumar Paidakula, PMI-ACP, PMP, PgMP, with KLC Consulting in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, discussed how project management has evolved with the mainstreaming of agile and the introduction of disruptive technologies.

Narasimha Acharya, PMP, of Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, talked about how technologies like artificial intelligence can change the profession—he believes for the better. Marc Lahmann with PwC Switzerland in Zurich shared how organizations are using simple AI, such as automation or chat bots, as well as advanced AI, like machine learning, predictive and fully autonomous project management.

Taiwo Abraham, PMP, with Horizant and Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, discussed the new must-have skills like strategic thinking and how volunteering can help project professionals gain experience.

Key themes

[00:22] Highlights from PMI’s Global Conference 2019

[01:43] Inspirational and influential projects

[05:32] Agile going mainstream

[08:23] Technology’s impact: Transformation, tools and more

[10:14] AI—both simple and complex—in project management

[13:01] Broader roles lead to skill shift for project leaders

Are you ready for The Project Economy? At PMI Global Conference 2019, PMI President and CEO Sunil Prashara discussed how global trends like population growth and alternative energy are driving The Project Economy, the new opportunities coming from AI and other disruptive technologies, and how project and program managers can prepare themselves for the future.

Key Themes

[01:47] Global trends influencing project work

[04:30] Work is changing: From lifelong careers to project-based roles

[06:00] Needed skill sets in a shifting project landscape

[06:52] How automation, AI can lead to opportunities in project management

[07:45] Preparing for the future of The Project Economy

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

Today’s creative agencies need to move rapidly, whether they’re executing campaigns, capitalizing on pop culture moments or averting a crisis. Project management helps channel that urgency into strong execution and buzz-worthy results. In a joint discussion, two project leaders at creative agencies discuss which project management skills help teams turn their ideas into reality and reveal how they overcame challenges in high-stakes projects, including a major localization and transcreation initiative and the marketing campaign for Hollywood blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine.

Key themes
[02:39] The role of project management at creative agencies
[07:05] The project management skills and domain expertise that help creative teams thrive
[11:05] Agile, predictive or hybrid: Picking the approach that’s right for a project
[17:10] How a project manager’s focus on risk identification and tailoring workflows helped a team stay on track
[19:42] How communication and collaboration helped Maximum Effort deliver Deadpool & Wolverine—and the film’s marketing plan
[21:41] Embracing flexibility and adaptability in creative project life cycles

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