Wear Your Cape to Work™

The Experimental Mindset

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0700

Today’s guest is Abby Bird, Senior Director of Program Management at bioMérieux. She leads a cross-functional team of program managers, project coordinators, technical writers, and change management experts across transformation and strategy projects in the medical device manufacturing industry.

Abby’s path towards project leadership started in science and healthcare and that start helped her thrive in a medical device world. But her real superpowers are experimentation and efficiency. She helps teams step back, see the bigger picture, and ask whether every step is truly moving the work forward. And she’s comfortable trying lots of paths to the best outcomes.

I know you’re going to love her sense of humor and this episode.

Show Notes

01:40 - Abby’s accidental entry into project management by way of science.

03:00 - Working on a science project researching pathogens and being asked to be the project manager, without the title.

04:25 - How scientific training shaped the way Abby sees projects.

05:36 - When Abby realized that her scientific training and natural proclivity for organizing things could come together in a role at work. Using bossiness for good.

07:14 - Putting your superpowers to work for the good of your organization and the world.

08:20 - What project work is like at a medical device manufacturer or in healthcare in general.

09:49 - The marrying of Abby’s scientific background and business acumen. Do you need a medical or science background if you want to be a healthcare PM?

11:17 - Why having diverse backgrounds and experiences on your team is really helpful.

11:45 - PMs can be apprehensive about transitioning into a new industry. What Abby recommends.

12:29 - Abby’s PMO work in transformation projects, change management, and efficiency, and why her timelines are pretty non-negotiable.

13:35 - Abby’s PMO handles such a diverse project portfolio. How does she lead teams with an efficiency mindset? She says it’s because she’s lazy.

14:59 - Abby recommends asking, “How can I make this easier?” and explains how that approach builds trust with her teams, the business, and leadership.

18:09—20:30 - Communicating with executives. There’s a perception that the C-suite just wants the numbers, but Abby believes they also want the impact.

20:36 - If you don’t explain something right the first time, you can pivot and take another stab at it. It’s not an audience with the Queen, lol.

22:00 - PMs need to communicate information. Abby shares advice about translating data and visuals into a story for the executive team.

24:30 - Efficiency can have some blind spots. Abby shares a few warnings about making every project about efficiency.

27:00 - Abby recommends first thinking, “What do I really want out of this conversation?” before she starts digging into each puzzle.

28:00 - Efficiency starts with understanding the real problem, not just doing work for work’s sake. Ask, “What are we actually solving?”

30:00 - Project managers need to get comfortable with discomfort.

31:36 - The experimental mindset of trying different ways to run things and look at things. Project management is fluid. Get comfortable with experimentation in the process.

Abby Bird on LinkedIn

Download the Project Data Backbone Guides for more reliable reporting.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Bringing Order to Chaos

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Brian Morin is the kind of transformation leader who can step into complexity, see what needs to be adjusted or refined, and bring order to chaos so the business can keep thriving.

In this episode, he shares the leadership superpowers behind that work, from building trust and listening through resistance to helping teams focus on outcomes, deliver value, and move strategic initiatives forward.

Brian talks with Trina Schaetz and Mathew Sparkes about how he naturally fell into project management, what he learned from leading large transformation work, and why the people side of change is usually the thing that makes or breaks the process.

In this episode

00:00 – Meet Brian Morin, a transformation leader who brings order to chaos

01:00 – How Brian naturally fell into project management through process improvement

04:40 – The shift from telling teams what to do to helping them understand what needs to be achieved

06:00 – Why even a perfect process will not work if people are not brought along

09:15 – Building the kind of trust that lets leaders support teams and still hold them accountable

11:30 – Standing up a compliance PMO during a time of high regulatory scrutiny

14:00 – Creating focus when priorities, findings, technology work, and resources are all competing

16:10 – Why transformation leaders need to see both the high-level picture and the close-up details

18:05 – Helping technology teams connect the work in front of them to the bigger strategic outcome

19:25 – A real example of helping a product team focus on the work that would make the biggest impact

22:00 – How trust makes it possible to challenge priorities without taking ownership away from the team

26:25 – Brian’s superpower: spending time with people, listening, and asking better questions

28:10 – Why owning mistakes and being transparent can build more trust than pretending to have it all figured out

29:30 – Leading Agile transformation in a way that helped teams deliver value faster and more predictably

32:15 – Staying level-headed when everyone is working hard, but the work still feels chaotic

34:45 – The framework Brian uses to look at outcomes, decision rights, priorities, trade-offs, risks, and visibility

36:15 – What resistance can tell you if you stop long enough to listen

38:10 – Bringing momentum to change

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

The Power of Genuine Connection

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Karla Mae Eidem, Global Head of Transformation and Project Delivery at Project Management Institute, joins Trina and Mathew to talk about the experiences that shaped the way she leads projects. Her career has taken her across countries, cultures, industries, and unfamiliar roles, where she learned to read between the lines, understand different perspectives, and find common ground with the people around her.

Her superpower, genuine connection, is at the heart of the conversation. Karla shares why project leaders need to understand not only the work, but also the business, the team dynamics, and the people responsible for making decisions. Those relationships take time to build, but they create the trust project leaders need to influence others, work through roadblocks, align teams with strategy, and earn a place at the decision table.

Show Notes

00:16 Meet Karla Eidem, Global Head of Transformation and Project Delivery at PMI

01:21 What is the Project Management Institute?

03:19 What is the difference between a PMO, TMO, and EPMO?

06:40 How Karla began her career in project management

08:33 How PMI chapters help project professionals build community

10:00 Growing leadership skills through PMI volunteer roles

13:26 How Karla moved from PMI volunteer to PMI employee

16:34 The people skills that shaped Karla’s project leadership career

18:08 Why genuine connection is a project leadership superpower

20:00 How courage, problem-solving, and curiosity help project leaders grow

22:00 How PMOs can create more value for the business

24:10 Why PMOs must navigate complexity, not just document it

24:27 How PMOs move from support function to decision partner

25:05 Why becoming a trusted decision partner takes courage

27:56 What is the PMI Talent Triangle?

28:20 Why business acumen matters for project managers

30:57 How project leaders translate between teams and business functions

32:00 Leading projects across cultures and languages

34:13 How to connect with stakeholders who have different personalities

34:35 Why stakeholder trust begins with genuine connection

36:43 How project leaders keep learning as their responsibilities grow

36:53 How to adapt to a new leadership role without losing authenticity

38:00 What is PMI’s MORE framework?

39:35 How the role of the project professional is changing

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Leading with Your Strengths

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0700

In this special live episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, recorded at the PMI Orange County Chapter in Anaheim, California, Trina Schaetz talks with Marjan Khan, HR Project Manager at Mazda North America Operations, and Tamas Vejsz, Senior Project and Program Leader at CTC Global.

Marjan and Tamas share how they discovered their leadership strengths, how those strengths were shaped by their career paths and life experiences, and why strong leaders do not have to be good at everything. The conversation explores structure, communication, consensus-building, career pivots, asking for help, and building the kind of network that helps cover blind spots.

01:15 Leading from authentic strengths, not an impossible ideal
01:32 Marjan’s nonlinear path into project management
02:22 Tamas’s path from engineering to project leadership
04:01 Recognizing the strengths people consistently come to you for
04:17 Marjan’s strength: bringing structure and clarity
04:42 How Marjan’s communication strength was shaped early in life
05:43 Tamas on leading technical teams through relationships and consensus
06:30 Your strengths may shift depending on the role or season
06:58 Tamas on honing strengths over the course of a career
08:06 Strong leaders know who helps them think better
08:20 The people who see your capability before you do
09:23 Mentors who help you grow through blind spots
10:07 Why trust matters when someone gives you hard feedback
10:25 Asking for help without treating it like weakness
11:24 Start small, learn, and grow from the support you receive
11:44 Marjan on building a project management network inside Mazda
13:00 Networking starts with people already close to you
14:10 Marjan on being brave enough to reach out
15:08 Different strengths, same strong leadership
15:42 Get brave, go out there, and build your network

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

The Power of Decisive Leadership

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina Schaetz and Mathew Sparkes talk with Misty Boyd, Senior Director of ePMO at LION, about the power of decisive leadership in project management. Misty shares how directness, action, and outcome-focused thinking can help PMO leaders move work forward, support executive decision-making, and keep project teams aligned to business strategy.

This conversation explores what it means to be a decisive project leader without becoming overly command-and-control. Misty talks about learning to balance directness with communication, how PMO leaders can translate project realities into business impact, and why the best decisions often come from clear data, trusted relationships, and a shared understanding of priorities.

In This Episode

• How decisive leadership helps project teams move forward
• Why directness can be both a strength and a blind spot
• How PMO leaders support executive decision-making
• Why project work must connect to business value and strategy
• How to communicate tradeoffs, priorities, and project realities clearly
• What leaders rely on from the PMO when decisions need to be made
• How decisive people keep going when new information changes the plan

00:00 Meet Misty Boyd
02:05 From Trade Shows to Software Projects
03:00 Leading the ePMO at LION
05:20 Supporting the People Who Support First Responders
08:00 Learning to Lead in the Gray
11:10 Misty’s Superpower: Decisive Leadership
14:00 When Directness Becomes a Blind Spot
16:00 Untangling Years of Customization
19:15 Avoiding Analysis Paralysis
21:00 Balancing Speed, Buy-In, and Risk
22:15 Why Decisive Leadership Is Attractive
23:15 Helping Executives See Priorities Clearly
25:00 Connecting Project Work to Business Impact
27:10 Communicating Differently With Different Leaders
28:10 Showing Tradeoffs Before Decisions Are Made
31:15 When the Plan Changes
33:00 Picking the Work Back Up
34:15 Where Misty’s Leadership Strength Started
36:00 Final Thoughts on Decisive Leadership

This episode is especially helpful for project managers, PMO leaders, program directors, and operations leaders who want to lead with clarity, communicate value to executives, and make better decisions across complex project work.

About Project Insight
Project Insight is project and portfolio management software for growing companies that need better visibility across projects, resources, budgets, priorities, and work happening in multiple tools. Project Insight helps PMOs and project leaders centralize project data, reduce manual reporting, and give executives a clearer picture of organizational work.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

The Curious Yes

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina Schaetz talks with Ashley Simmons, VP of PMO at Summit Seven, about PMO leadership, stakeholder management, organizational strategy, and leading change with curiosity.

Trina first heard Ashley speak on a panel at PMO UnCon in San Diego in spring 2026, where Ashley’s talent for stakeholder management, organizational strategy, and change stood out right away.

In “The Curious Yes,” Ashley shares how she developed that strength across her career, from project specialist to PMO executive, and how some of the mindset behind it started even earlier, back when she was playing national team soccer.

This conversation is especially valuable for project managers, PMO leaders, and business leaders who want to build trust, support executive decision-making, and drive business value.

Topics include:

PMO value
Stakeholder management
Executive decision-making
Business acumen
Curiosity in leadership
Project manager career growth
Mentorship
The power of a “curious yes”

Watch the video version here

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Born with the Project Management Gene

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Trina and Mathew talk with Joe Pusz, better known as "PMO Joe," about discovering project management, learning from mentors, leading PMOs, and understanding the business value behind project work.

Joe shares why project leaders need to stay focused on purpose, customer needs, executive priorities, and the people doing the work. He also reflects on how being unemployed during the recession shaped his mission and inspired the work behind PMO Squad Staffing.

1:45 | Joe’s project beginnings
Joe shares how he first got started in project work.

5:00 | Preparing for Y2K
Joe talks about where his career went next, including Y2K and learning from his first great mentor.

6:30 | Leading projects across industries
Joe reflects on leading projects at Cessna Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, Textron Financial, and Wellstar Healthcare.

7:05 | First PMO leadership role
Joe shares how he stepped into his first PMO leadership role.

8:25 | Projects have a purpose
Joe talks about one of the most important lessons from his career.

10:30 | Earned-value management
The conversation turns to earned-value management and project performance. Joe shares that it does not matter how well the project is running if the work is not meeting the customer’s need.

12:00 | Understanding the business
Joe reflects on a mentor who helped him understand the business value of the project.

13:00 | Managing experienced teams
Joe talks about motivating and managing people with more experience through coaching, feedback, motivation, and team focus.

14:25 | Not having all the answers
Joe offers advice for PMO leaders managing big teams and large financial projects, including why you can never have too many mentors and why it is okay to say, “I don’t have all the answers.”

15:48 | Translating project information for executives
Joe talks about translating project information so executives can make strategic decisions.

18:44 | Correction
Trina mentions “Ashley Simpson,” but meant to say Ashley Simmons.

20:00 | Never forgetting that feeling
Joe shares what it was like to be unemployed during the recession and never forgot the feeling of struggling to provide for his family. That experience helped inspire PMO Squad Staffing.

23:00 | PMO Squad Staffing
Joe explains the special edge PMO Squad Staffing brings across tech, consulting, and staffing.

24:00 | Resume advice
Joe shares why resumes need to show results and business acumen. Joe explains why project professionals should stop applying for jobs.

27:45 | Be a force multiplier
Joe encourages people to connect with 10 PMO leaders for mentoring advice.

28:15 | Joe’s superpower
Joe shares how staying connected to what people are going through, especially when it mirrors something he has gone through, has become one of his superpowers.

29:00 | Take a bite of everything
Joe closes with the advice to take a bite of everything at the buffet.

PMO Squad Staffing Website: https://www.thepmosquad.com/

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Aligning People with Strategy

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Katharine Manchanda is a strategy and execution leader with experience across IT, banking, retail, automotive finance, loyalty programs, data and analytics, and the winery industry. Throughout her career, she has led projects and programs, helped grow PMOs, updated governance structures, and mentored project managers. We're excited to have her on the show because she is as passionate about people as she is about business strategy, and when you bring those two parts together, that’s when businesses really can move forward in what they want to accomplish.

Show Notes

1:16-2:47 | A career across industries
Katharine shares her background in project and program leadership across several industries, along with her experience growing PMOs and governance structures.

2:49-3:42 | Grocery and loyalty
Katharine reflects on her work in major grocery retail launching a loyalty program.

3:46-5:15 | How market and regulatory shifts impact project work
Katharine discusses how changing consumer behavior and new regulations can quickly reshape priorities, timelines, and project plans.

5:31-7:27 | Strategy on the go
Katharine and Trina talk about what happens when strategy changes interrupt long-range plans.

7:47-9:00 | From delivery to strategic thinking
She reflects on how depending on role, perspective needs to evolve from task-focused delivery to broader business relevance.

9:20-11:11 | What executives need to see
Katharine shares her thoughts on the information leaders need in order to make good decisions.

11:11-13:01 | Successful vs. relevant
Katharine explores the difference between delivering a project successfully and delivering benefits that still align with the original business strategy.

13:01-15:03 | Governance and decision speed
Katharine discusses how governance and access to executive sponsors can affect momentum.

15:03-17:38 | Risks and issues
The conversation turns to why leaders need visibility into risks and issues, not just status.

18:01-19:01 | Strategy work behind the scenes
Katharine reflects on the difference between frontline delivery and more strategic PMO roles.

19:04-20:05 | Aligning strengths to the work
This part of the episode looks at how leaders can match people’s strengths to organizational needs.

20:05-21:08 | Katharine’s superpower
Katharine shares why the people side of leadership matters most to her.

21:39-23:20 | Building a PMO
Katharine offers advice for organizations setting up a PMO.

23:20-24:29 | Capacity in real life
Katharine and Trina discuss workload, competing priorities, and the realities of capacity.

24:29-end | Aligning people to strategy
The episode closes with a look at how people, capacity, and strategy come together.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Conducting the Stakeholder Symphony

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Francis Solomon Knox is the Senior Director of Portfolio Management at Breakthrough T1D, a leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization. Throughout his career, he has led portfolio transformation work across government and nonprofit organizations. In this episode, Steve and Trina explore how Francis brings clarity, alignment, and forward motion to a complex web of stakeholders.

Show Notes

1:00-4:00 | An accidental start in project management
Francis shares how he unexpectedly found his way into project management.

6:00-8:00 | Harmonize, manage, deploy
Francis explains his ability to bring order to complex problems and stakeholder environments. He talks about how every project introduces change, and why thoughtful change management is essential when navigating complexity.

8:00-9:40 | Earning stakeholder buy-in
This part of the conversation focuses on building support for change. Francis discusses the importance of helping people understand the benefits, identifying early adopters, and creating momentum that others can follow.

9:40-12:00 | What it’s like to work at an organization like Breakthrough T1D
Francis gives a look inside Breakthrough T1D and the many teams working together to advance its mission, including research, science, grants, lobbying, and affordable care. Project teams play an important role in supporting and connecting that mission-driven work.

12:00-15:00 | Project management vs. portfolio management
Francis breaks down the difference between project management and portfolio management.

15:00-17:00 | Prioritization, business drivers, and difficult decisions
The conversation turns to prioritization and how PMO leaders help organizations make strategic choices when multiple initiatives are competing for the same resources.

7:00-22:00 | How Breakthrough T1D uses Project Insight for strategic portfolio management

Francis shares how Project Insight helps Breakthrough T1D manage its portfolio with centralized visibility across all projects & programs. The platform helps the team see what is happening, prioritize effectively, decide what needs attention now versus later, and help executives make strategic decisions. Project Insight's Jira integration has been particularly powerful. Teams can work in Jira and their input automatically updates project data.

23:00-24:00 | From chaos to symphony
Francis reflects on the idea that portfolio management is not about controlling chaos for its own sake. It is about creating alignment, rhythm, and coordination across many moving parts, more like conducting a symphony than reacting to noise.

24:00-end | Growing your change management style over time
Francis closes with a reminder that change management is a skill that develops with experience. The more you practice, the more value you can bring to your team, your stakeholders, and your organization.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Meeting Risk with Precision (NASA) Replay

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700

We’re replaying one of our most popular episodes this week as anticipation builds for NASA’s Artemis II mission, the agency’s first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina sits down with NASA PM, Jeff Conner, who spent 43 years working with space projects. From the early days of the shuttle program to coordinating recovery efforts after the Columbia accident, Jeff’s career spans some of the most mission-critical projects in NASA’s history.

This conversation explores Jeff’s career path, his family legacy in aerospace, and the mindset it takes to lead when failure is not an option.

Topics covered:

The family connection: Trina and Jeff as cousins
Jeff’s father’s role at NASA in the Air Force physical standards lab
Starting his NASA career as a mechanical engineer
Payload integration projects and contributing to the construction of the International Space Station
Installing payloads aboard space shuttle missions
Planning for shuttle emergency landings and alternate recovery locations
Project management in the 1980s: printed schedules, phone calls, and couriered memos
Reflecting on a bygone work era—before nonstop email and instant messaging
The Columbia accident and Jeff’s role in the Air Boss helicopter recovery operations
Risk as a defining factor in space projects—and how to lead within it
Jeff’s superpower: identifying risks early and turning them into opportunities for precision and excellence
How teams can minimize compounding issues when working on large, hazardous systems
Leading diverse teams through complexity, pressure, and change

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to manage projects where the margin for error is zero, this episode is for you.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

A Heart for Helping

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0800

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Amy Altomare shares how she built a Project Support Center at City of Hope, starting within the nursing department and expanding across the organization.

You’ll hear what project work looked like before that support existed, what it takes to earn trust and buy-in in a clinical environment, and the practical steps Amy used to create a model that helps teams lead meaningful projects with the right structure, coaching, and consistency.

Episode Breakdown

00:00–01:50 | Meet Amy Altomare and why project support matters in healthcare
01:50–03:00 | City of Hope origins
03:00–04:54 | Mission-driven work and improving how project work gets done
04:54–05:21 | Process improvement as “heart projects”

05:21–06:30 | Imposter syndrome and becoming the expert in how work gets delivered
06:30–08:00 | People notice your superpowers
08:00–09:00 | What it looked like before project management support existed

09:00–10:41 | Making change happen and making it stick
10:41–12:07 | “My tasks were not the most important.”

12:07–15:25 | Starting the Project Support Center and reducing burden for clinicians
15:25–16:29 | Formalizing processes and empowering departments
16:29–17:58 | Expanding support beyond nursing
17:58–20:00 | Getting buy-in through support and empowerment

20:00–22:00 | How to start a Project Support Center for your Orgaization
22:00–26:30 | Pitfalls to avoid: adoption, standardization, internal marketing
26:30–28:00 | Amy’s superpower: leading projects with heart
28:00–End | Flipping “process improvement” into “finding an assist”

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyea/

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

The Introvert Advantage

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

What if the qualities you once thought were holding you back were actually your greatest leadership strengths?

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, we sit down with Jorge Alzate, a former analytical chemist turned Digital Program Manager, who discovered that introversion is not a limitation. It is a leadership superpower.

From leading complex data separation during a major corporate divestiture to founding ForwardQuest Coaching, Jorge shares how self-awareness, thoughtful communication, and relationship-building transformed his career. If you have ever wondered how to thrive in an extroverted world without changing who you are, this conversation is for you.

Episode Breakdown
00:00–03:50 | From Analytical Chemist to Project Leader
03:50–05:00 | The Introvert’s Eye
05:00–06:00 | Going Beyond the PMP
06:00–07:30 | Finding the Dream Role
07:30–09:40 | From Individual Contributor to Leader
09:40–10:20 | Self-Analysis as a Leadership Tool
10:20–14:00 | The Tropicana Divestiture Challenge
14:53–16:00 | Agile Under Constraint
16:00–18:34 | Recruiting Volunteers
18:34–22:00 | The Introvert Super Skill
22:00–23:00 | Leading From Your Strengths
26:00 | The Thoughtful Speaker Superpower
27:00–29:00 | Coaching & What He Loves Most
29:00–34:00 | ForwardQuest Coaching
34:00 | Eliminating Limiting Beliefs

Connect with Jorge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgealzate/
Connect with ForwardQuest Coaching: https://forwardquestcoaching.com/
Jorge's Successful Introvert Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-quest-powering-introverts-success/id1857112685

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Managing Mega & Giga Projects

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

This episode is about the leadership superpowers required to run the biggest projects in the world. We’re joined by Tim McManus, a global expert in mega- and giga-project delivery who has led massive construction and infrastructure programs across continents. With experience across energy, transportation, and sports, Tim shares what changes at mega scale and why it demands a different kind of leader. Hear the stories and ask yourself if you have what it takes.

1. 00:00–03:41 | Introduction & Background
Tim’s path into mega- and giga-projects and his global career.

2. 03:41–05:00 | Early Leadership Lessons
The shift from managing projects to leading people.

3. 05:34–07:00 | Learning From Mentors
Why great leaders learn from those around them.

4. 07:12–07:39 | What Are Mega & Gigaprojects?
A clear definition across asset classes.

5. 07:52–08:22 | Global Scale & Impact
Why these projects exceed expectations worldwide.

6. 09:30 | A Light Moment
A humorous take on “mega projects.”

7. 09:50–11:00 | Beyond the Budget
Complexity, risk, and long-term impact.

8. 11:58–13:18 | Crossrail Case Study
Workforce challenges and strategic vision.

9. 13:23–14:50 | Strategic Project Approach
Why planning sets the foundation.

10. 14:57–18:15 | Defining Success
Legacy, people, and professional growth.

11. 18:15–19:22 | Industry Outlook
Why now is a compelling time in construction.

12. 19:58–22:23 | Favorite Megaproject
What made it stand out.

13. 23:36–24:30 | Common Challenges
Where mega- and giga-projects struggle.

14. 24:33–25:12 | The Planning Gap
Why planning is rushed at great risk.

15. 25:45–26:45 | Lessons Learned
The value of experience and insight.

16. 26:46–30:26 | Olympic-Scale Lessons
Leadership insights at extreme scale.

17. 30:49–31:00 | Legacy Benefits
Delivering lasting value.

18. 31:17–34:00 | Leadership Mindsets
Why many large projects lack leadership.

19. 35:00–35:40 | Choosing the Right Leader
How leaders are selected.

20. 35:40–37:00 | Leadership Traits
Communication, credibility, vision, and risk.

21. 37:23–End | Developing Your Skills
Continuing growth through learning and education.

Additional Resources

PMI Managing Mega-projects: https://bit.ly/4reLYdX

PMI Managing Giga-projects: https://bit.ly/4a9IFPr

The Art of Project Leadership (McKinsey): https://bit.ly/3ZiTw3z

Managing Big Projects – Tim McManus: https://bit.ly/3LSzv0k

Columbia Global Leaders in Construction Management: https://www.glcm.info/

Bent Flyvbjerg, How Big Things Get Done: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyvbjerg/

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Season 2 Recap

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0800

In this special wrap-up episode, Trina and Mathew look back on the standout moments and superpowers from Season 2 of Wear Your Cape to Work.

Together they revisit the insights, stories, and lessons that made this season unforgettable and share what they learned from each inspiring guest.

Precision under constraint.
The season opened with Jeff Conner, program manager from NASA, who described project management before online tools existed. Paper files, couriers, and in-person signoffs still led to flawless execution. His story showed how precision and accountability were the original super tools.
Courage in leadership
David Doty’s episode, It Takes Courage, stood out for his transparency and strength. Building a district from scratch under scrutiny, he modeled brave leadership and reminded us to celebrate real wins.
Admirable endeavors: global aid when everything changes
Lucas King explained how policy shifts or crises can reshape USAID projects overnight, proving adaptability across governments and cultures.
Empowering people’s strengths
Project Insight customer Linda Goodrich of CureIS showed how aligning people’s passions with their work improves results through forecasting and a balanced pace.
Finding calm thru clarity
Lisa Haymes of Rimkus showed how organization creates calm and confidence.
Curiosity as a catalyst
Renee Clayton of Byte Strategies urged PMs to stay curious, experiment, and use AI thoughtfully to stay adaptable.
Grit with generosity
Charlene Reynolds, Director at John Wayne Airport, advanced by taking tough projects and shared guidance on leadership, motivation, and mentoring.
Reliability that builds trust
Fisayo Folarin rebuilt her project management career after moving from Nigeria to Canada, showing how reliability and honesty build trust.
Comfortable in conflict
Agatha Agbanobi’s passion for HR and DEIB work showed how empathy and courage turn conflict into progress and reminded us to see what teams carry beyond work.
Decisive steadiness
Sanjiv Bhagat from Amazon explained how a bias for action drives innovation, pairing decisiveness with humility in global logistics.
Innovation with integrity
Steve West reflected on the shift from faxed spreadsheets to real-time dashboards and the vision for one connected command center giving leaders a complete picture of work.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Innovation with Practicality

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Steve West has seen project management evolve from the days when building an extranet to share files felt revolutionary to today’s era of AI-driven collaboration. As Product Manager at Project Insight, he’s witnessed every major shift—from desktop tools to browser-based systems to intelligent automation.

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina, Mathew, and Steve talk about the early days of project management software, how teams learned to collaborate online, and why the leap from desktop to browser was such a defining moment for the industry. They explore how the PMP framework and artificial intelligence continue to shape the way Project Insight builds features that empower people—not just projects.

Steve’s story is one of innovation, persistence, and belief in connecting people through technology.

Episode Highlights

What project management looked like before the cloud—and why extranets were considered cutting-edge
The leap from desktop tools to browser-based platforms and why many resisted at first
How collaboration and visibility ultimately triumphed over siloed software
The evolution of Project Insight and how its product philosophy grew from those early challenges
How the PMP framework continues to guide modern PM practices
The impact of artificial intelligence on portfolio and resource management
Why Steve believes project management has always been about people first, technology second
Reflections on what’s next for project management and AI

🔗 Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-west-cali/

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Bias Towards Action (PM at Amazon)

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Today on Wear Your Cape to Work, we’re joined by Sanjiv Bhagat, Manager of Program Management at Amazon. Sanjiv shares his journey from technical roles in the public sector to leading global logistics initiatives, how his love of puzzles shapes his prioritization skills, and why every project must start with the problem—not the tool. He also explains Amazon’s leadership principles, including Jeff Bezos’s “two-way vs. one-way door” decision framework, the bias toward action, and the minimum regret lens. Along the way, Sanjiv highlights how leaders can cut through tunnel vision, view their portfolios as a whole, and connect spend to true value delivered.

What you’ll take away from this episode:

Why projects must begin with the problem before jumping to solutions or tools
How puzzles and prioritization sharpen decision-making in complex environments
Jeff Bezos’s decision framework: one-way vs. two-way doors
Bias toward action and the minimum regret lens as antidotes to analysis paralysis
Customer obsession as the north star for projects at every level
Building a PMO that partners with the business, measures value, and stays simple
Helping leaders see the full picture: portfolio alignment, spend vs. outcomes, and strategic value
Humility and continuous learning as hallmarks of strong leadership

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Getting Comfortable in the Fire (CHRO Project Management)

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0700

We’re excited to welcome Agatha Agbanobi, founder and principal consultant of ResonantHR to the WYCTW podcast. With more than 15 years in project and program management and six years in HR leadership, she shares what it’s like to lead initiatives in employee relations, conflict resolution, workforce development, and DEIB.

Agatha — unlike most of us — is comfortable being close to the fire. She uses her superpowers of values-based leadership, empathy, and people skills to help resolve conflict, build stronger company cultures, and connect HR initiatives directly to business goals. In this conversation, she talks about the evolving role of HR leaders, why proving ROI matters, and what inspired her upcoming Values-Driven Leadership Podcast.

Episode Highlights

Starting in education and international development, but always leading projects
Finding her way into HR through DEIB work and expanding into HR leadership
Why she pursued her PMP and how it strengthens her HR practice
What makes HR and DEIB project work unique
Tying HR projects to organization-wide initiatives and eliminating silos
Why today’s CHRO must evolve into a strategic business partner
Her commitment to DEIB and standing up for what she believes in
How empathy, people skills, and hope for resolution guide her leadership
Her “superpower” of being comfortable in high-conflict situations
A preview of her upcoming podcast on values-based leadership

🔗 Connect with Agatha: LinkedIn

ResonantHR Website

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Project Management on a New Continent

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Fisayo Folarin has built a reputation for being someone you can count on. Whether leading digital banking projects in Nigeria or driving SaaS implementations in Canada, her superpower is reliability combined with a deep commitment to transparency, communication, and continuous & curious learning.

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina and Mathew talk with Fisayo about what it takes to restart your career in a new country, why project managers must be both curious and courageous, and how she helps teams achieve “100% efficiency” by asking the right questions and translating priorities between stakeholders.

Fisayo’s story is one of transformation from starting out in customer service to becoming a trusted coach and delivery expert in tech, fintech, and SaaS.

Episode Highlights

How she went from customer service to project analyst before she even knew how to use Excel
What it was like to restart her project management career after moving from Nigeria to Canada
The four skills she believes every project manager must develop:
• Curiosity to ask why
• Transparency about what you know (and what you don’t)
• Communication that truly lands and is understood
• A willingness to keep growing and scale up your skills
Key differences between project work in credit unions and commercial banks
What “100% efficiency” really looks like in project delivery and how she helps teams get there
How she explains scope, priorities, and customizations clearly to clients
Why emotional intelligence is an essential but often overlooked part of project success
Her tips for knowing when to keep what’s working and when to adjust what’s not
How she coaches others to define their own ways of working
Her personal superpowers: reliability, transparency, and helping teams get aligned and deliver

🔗 Connect with Fisayo: LinkedIn

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Pioneering AI for Project Leaders

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Today we’re joined by René Clayton, an AI strategist, PMP, author, & transformation leader with 20+ years in financial services, IT, & emerging tech.

As founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Byte Strategy, René helps small businesses & fintechs bridge the gap between project management and AI. With MIT training and deep experience in automation and AI strategy, she shares how project managers can embrace technology with confidence & lead in an AI-driven world.

In this episode, René takes us from her early career in project management to her current role shaping AI strategy, offering practical advice on how PMs can stay relevant, resilient, & future ready. 🚀

Episode Highlights

1:42 – How René got started in PM
2:40 – Earning her PMP & senior PM role at a credit union
3:20 – Early planner: bridal event coordinator at 18
4:30 – Taking on roles she didn’t yet know: “Commit and figure it out”
5:30 – Why you should glue yourself to subject matter experts
5:50 – Converting 800 credit unions & the camaraderie of success
6:45 – Project health colors: don’t fear “red” projects
8:12 – Ethically bound to tell the truth at all times
10:18 – Leading an online credit card platform change with many stakeholders
11:44 – Awakening to AI a decade ago, calling it “Augmented Intelligence”
13:23 – Diving into RPA, NLP, ML, chatbots, IoT, & AI strategy
16:04 – Generative AI & staying in touch with the niche
17:00 – René’s vision: how AI can assist PMs & why you must get comfortable with tools
18:42 – AI changes daily, so yesterday’s knowledge isn’t enough
22:00 – Talking about HeyGen for Agentic Clones
24:00 – Future-proofing your PM career by playing with AI today
25:00 – René’s favorite AI models & how she uses them
27:00 – Using AI to consolidate artifacts & interact with docs
29:00 – Security around GPTs
32:00 – Hallucinations, GPT drift, & when you might not need AI at all
33:00 – Consulting with Byte Strategy to help companies discern the right path
35:00 – Why EI (emotional intelligence) & AI go hand in hand
36:00 – Relational prompting & strategies to talk with AI
37:00 – Ethics, compliance, & why a PM must stay in the loop
38:00 – Core competency: conversing with AI
39:00 – Be curious, play, have fun, & keep learning

Referenced Book: Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollack

Books by René Clayton

How to Talk to Anyone with Ease: 21 Actionable Skills for Young Adults

Women’s Success in Corporate Leadership

Cómo Hablar Con Cualquier Persona Con Facilidad (Spanish Ed.)

Generative AI: For Women Who Mean Business, A Workbook

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

It Takes Courage (PM in Public Education)

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, we talk with David Doty, an education leader who’s taken on some of the toughest assignments in the field.

From launching a brand-new school district in a divided Utah community to transforming educational access for incarcerated adults, David has led complex, high-stakes projects under intense public scrutiny.

We explore what it takes to lead systems change, build trust in fractured environments, and stay grounded in purpose when the pressure is on. This one’s about courage, collaboration, and the kind of steady leadership that actually gets it done.

2:00 – From Spanish Teacher to Education Leader
David shares his journey through teaching, law, administration, and consulting.

3:40 – Launching Canyon School District
Superintendent of Utah’s first new district in 100 years: 34K students, $200M budget.

4:12 – A Referendum and a Split
The district formed by splitting from Jordan SD—one of the largest in the U.S.

5:30 – Starting From Scratch
Tasked with opening an entire school district in just 12 months.

6:00 – Kitchen Table Planning
Mapped out operations, staffing, and logistics at home—45 buildings, full IT, HR, and transport systems.

7:45 – Legal Mindset in Action
His law background helped navigate voting rights, benefits transfers, and property issues.

9:00 – PM Insight: Getting People Behind You
Trina highlights the core PM skill of rallying support for massive initiatives.

10:45 – Incompatible Expectations
Managing conflicting demands from parents, employees, and politics.

11:34 – Stabilizing the Workforce
Visited 45 schools for face-to-face staff meetings to calm fears and build trust.

12:15 – Annual 1:1s With Staff
Held personal meetings with each staff member every year.

13:05 – “We All Have to Work Together”
A reminder that students are coming—ready or not.

14:08 – The Power of Vision
Great leaders define and communicate a compelling vision.

15:19 – Giving Every Student Our Best
Basic literacy and high-quality instruction are non-negotiable.

16:16 – Brown v. Board of Education
Equity in education is still a personal and professional calling.

17:31 – Passion Powers the Team
David’s focus on disadvantaged students sets the tone.

19:00 – Correctional Education Coding Program
Launched tech training for incarcerated women—"making the world better is our work."

20:00 – Academic Program Management at WGU
Aligning stakeholders and launching impactful Master’s programs.

21:00 – Data-Driven Success
Uses data to ensure educational projects achieve their goals.

22:00 – “The Projects Are the People”
Education projects are always about the humans they serve.

23:00 – Who’s the Customer?
Balancing student and employer needs in curriculum design.

25:00 – Breaking the Status Quo
Innovation is hard in institutions built to resist risk.

27:00 – Politics in Public Education
Navigating legislation, parental input, business pressures, and teacher advocacy.

28:00 – Social Media & Stakeholder Division
Everyone’s an expert when it comes to their kids—public discourse adds pressure.

29:00 – Adaptability is Key
Shifting plans, budgets, and strategies in real-time.

31:00 – Collaboration is Non-Negotiable
Listening empathetically, hiring well, and building coalitions.

32:00 – Leading with Respect
Even critics should feel heard—David wants respect for his listening.

33:00 – Facing the Mountain Together
Persistence, flexibility, collaboration—that’s what made it work.

34:00 – Leadership Takes Courage
It's lonely, it's hard—but it’s also deeply rewar

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Cracking the Glass Ceiling (PM in Aviation & Transportation)

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Episode Summary:
Charlene Reynolds began her career answering phones as a receptionist, a role many women were steered into. But she knew she was capable of more. Each time someone said she needed a degree or certification to move up, she earned it.

Charlene built her path by raising her hand for difficult projects, leading through uncertainty, and elevating voices others overlooked. Now one of only 25 women in the U.S. running a commercial airport, she shares how she leads with transparency, adapts quickly, and keeps doors open for others to grow.

⏱ Topics Covered

3:12 – Early career development: Starting as a receptionist and recognizing her potential
4:37 – Growth mindset: Told she didn’t qualify, so she made sure she did
7:04 – Project ownership: Volunteering for tough, abandoned projects
8:27, 9:17 – Public-private strategy: Launching a $1M sponsorship and city bike share
10:29 – Talent recognition: Spotlighting quiet contributors to build success
13:24 – Mentorship and succession: Helping others rise through coaching and access
15:09 – Organizational transparency: Joining the C-suite and opening her door to all
17:34 – Crisis leadership: Leading through the first COVID fatality in Arizona
19:03 – Visible leadership: Walking the terminal to stay present and accessible
21:09 – Process adaptation: Redesigning rent relief to support retailers
23:23 – Stakeholder engagement: Meeting every new employee one-on-one
23:39 – Human-centered leadership: Letting people see her as a person, not just a boss
25:00 – Continuous learning: Solving for the 20 percent that’s new or different
27:06 – Professional resilience: Holding your head high through internal challenges
28:33 – Opportunity evaluation: Choosing the right fit after being a finalist elsewhere
29:07 – Cross-functional management: Using business acumen and curiosity to lead diverse teams
32:27 – Relationship building: Building trust before you need it
35:17 – Change leadership: Modeling the behavior first and leading by example
37:56 – Collaborative visioning: Asking others for their vision, not just sharing hers
38:39 – Inclusive transformation: Bringing people into the process instead of pushing change
39:40 – Executive communication: Coming to leadership with solutions, not just problems
40:47 – Leadership maturity: Using your voice, staying clear, and never delegating up

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

The Peace of Organization (PMO Leadership)

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Lisa was making daily to-do lists by age seven—not to be productive, but because it brought her peace. That instinct stayed with her and evolved into a leadership superpower. In this episode, Lisa shares how her natural drive to plan and prioritize led her into project management, how she grew into a PMO leadership role, and how Project Insight gave her team visibility across IT, marketing, and business portfolios.

⏱ Timestamps & Topics
00:00 – 03:00
Lisa’s earliest memory of planning: daily checklists at age 7

03:00 – 06:00
Why planning brought her peace—and how that ritual stuck

06:00 – 08:00
Her method for avoiding overwhelm with fast-win sub-lists

08:00 – 10:00
Project management felt like a natural extension of who she was

10:00 – 13:00
Her nonlinear journey: from project coordinator to PMO manager

13:00 – 16:00
On underselling herself and learning to step into leadership

16:00 – 18:00
Launching the PMO at Rimkus and supporting company-wide transformation

18:00 – 21:00
Implementing Project Insight to bring visibility and structure

21:00 – 23:00
Expanding the PMO to include marketing and business projects

23:00 – 25:00
Tailoring project approaches to fit different teams

25:00 – End
Advice to future PMO leaders: trust your instincts, and stay organized

A link to Project Management Offices: A Practice Guide on the PMO website. PMI Members can download it for free now: https://www.pmi.org/standards/pmo

A link to Project Management Offices: A Practice Guide on Amazon - available August 9: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Management-Offices-Practice-Guide/dp/1628258225/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NZBMBAQUMBUK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Gs5ULHn6bvKTvveZPnO071RE1PT8uqJvN9fVlqCyOCsrzlocwqMuaSoyN6pjOzf4pbI9Ndj9hGJAfjNhJFimmRbESuH6y56hKaiPnB_riv4.CCdfwOPiP7eJEtAmBgCbdjOb8UnW20pUepYv0hkXl3c&dib_tag=se&keywords=pmi+pmo+practice+guide&qid=1751440452&sprefix=PMI+PMO%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-1

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Matching People to Purpose (PM in Delivery)

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Episode Summary:
In this episode, we talk with Linda Goodrich, the VP of Delivery at CureIs Healthcare. CureIs a customer of Project Insight, and so we have been fortunate to get to see Linda's superpowers over the years. Operationally, she might be known for bringing a structure to project management org-wide, but her real PM personal superpower is having a keen awareness of her team, their capacities, passions, and helping them find their most fulfilling roles in the workplace.

Show Notes

00:00 – 02:00
Introduction and Linda’s early tech background

02:00 – 04:00
Starting in help desk, managing projects without knowing it

04:00 – 06:00
Gaining project experience prior to pursuing PMP certification

06:00 – 08:00
PM as the liaison between leadership and operations

08:00 – 10:00
Exposure to agile, forecasting, and real project complexity

10:00 – 13:00
Tracking capacity and allocation across teams

13:00 – 15:00
Using Project Insight to get real-time visibility into team bandwidth

15:00 – 17:00
How project data informs delivery timelines and sales commitments

17:00 – 19:00
Putting a dollar value on meetings and resource decisions

19:00 – 21:00
Making data actionable is the most important visibility

21:00 – 23:00
Helping team members blossom: right person, right role

23:00 – 25:00
Creating a framework for mentorship, motivation, and fun

25:00 – 27:00
PMBOK as a guideline, not a rigid rulebook

27:00 – 29:00
Balancing structure with energy and team spirit

29:00 – 31:00
The CureIS experience team and how they view their customers

31:00 – 33:00
What project work looks like in healthcare

33:00 – 35:00
Using Project Insight to unify sales and delivery processes

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Managing Global Aid Projects (PM at USAID)

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, we dive into the world of international development project management with Lucas King of DAI, a leading USAID contractor. Lucas shares what it’s like managing global development projects where the stakes are high, but the rewards are even higher. And then throw in giant pivots of uncertainty from the recent DOGE cuts to USAID project budgets...you need a real superhero to keep the plates spinning.

We explore how project management in the international development sector differs from corporate environments — from navigating donor requirements and political shifts to empowering local communities and building sustainable impact. Lucas’s project management "superpowers" shine through: his ability to stay calm under pressure, bridge gaps between diverse stakeholders, and build trust across cultures.

If you’re curious about careers in global project management, managing USAID-funded initiatives, or what it takes to thrive in the dynamic world of development work, this episode offers a real-world look inside.

00:00 – Introduction and kickoff

00:35 – Meet Lucas King: Journey to international project management at DAI

01:30 – How Lucas launched his career managing development projects around the world

03:10 – How project management for international development differs from corporate PM work

05:05 – Core skills for success: adaptability, relationship-building, navigating uncertainty

07:00 – Lucas’s project management "superpowers":

Remaining calm in high-stakes environments
Translating between field teams, technical experts, and donors
Building collaboration across countries and cultures

09:15 – Inside USAID project management: Managing funding, compliance, and mission-driven goals

12:00 – How politics, local dynamics, and sustainability impact project delivery

14:20 – Advice for project managers considering careers in global development

16:00 – Final reflections: Why working in international development is both challenging and deeply rewarding

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Meeting Risk with Precision at NASA

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina sits down with Jeff Conner, who spent 43 years as a project manager at NASA. From the early days of the shuttle program to coordinating recovery efforts after the Columbia accident, Jeff’s career spans some of the most mission-critical projects in NASA’s history.

This conversation explores Jeff’s career path, his family legacy in aerospace, and the mindset it takes to lead when failure is not an option.

Topics covered:

The family connection: Trina and Jeff as cousins
Jeff’s father’s role at NASA in the Air Force physical standards lab
Starting his NASA career as a mechanical engineer
Payload integration projects and contributing to the construction of the International Space Station
Installing payloads aboard space shuttle missions
Planning for shuttle emergency landings and alternate recovery locations
Project management in the 1980s: printed schedules, phone calls, and couriered memos
Reflecting on a bygone work era—before nonstop email and instant messaging
The Columbia accident and Jeff’s role in the Air Boss helicopter recovery operations
Risk as a defining factor in space projects—and how to lead within it
Jeff’s superpower: identifying risks early and turning them into opportunities for precision and excellence
How teams can minimize compounding issues when working on large, hazardous systems
Leading diverse teams through complexity, pressure, and change

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to manage projects where the margin for error is zero, this episode is for you.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Season Two Trailer

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Wear Your Cape to Work is a podcast hosted by Project Insight.

We believe that project and program managers truly are the superheroes of every organization. Our guests have poured their lives and talents into driving successful project outcomes for industries across the world. They wear their capes to work every day, and we want to celebrate them. We want you to hear their stories and be inspired to wear your own cape to work.

Don't miss these exciting conversations with PMPs from companies like fairlife, Universal Studios, Activision Blizzard, PayPal and more.

Subscribe and follow on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and other favorite podcast channels.

Follow Project Insight
Website: https://projectinsight.com/
LinkedIn: /company/projectinsight
Instagram: /projectinsight/
X formerly Twitter: /projectinsight
Facebook: /ProjectInsightPMSW
Free PDU Project Management Webinars: projectinsight.com/project-management-webinars

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Season One Finale

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0700

Hosts Trina and Mathew recap the first season of "Wear Your Cape to Work."

Tune in to reminisce about a great first season.

Season One Superheroes:

Stephen Hall, Project Manager, fairlife Milk.
Jen & Sukanya, Cybersecurity Program Managers, Activision Blizzard King
Lindiwe Stenberg, Project Manager, PayPal
Michelle Dickstein, Project Manager & DEI Co-Chair, Non-profit Healthcare
Mehul Shah, Senior Director PMO, Universal Destinations
James Phillips, PMP & Informatics Analyst, Healthcare
Sree Karanakarun, Senior IT Project/Program Manager, Community Government
Kevin Perkins, Sr. Director Product Management, Inovalon
Jeremiah Hammon, PMP, Project Revolution
Emma Kelly, Program Manager, The Water Project
Kristina Curtiss, PMP, CEO, VP of Communications, PMI San Diego

Season Two will Air in May/June 2025.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Project Manager as Translator (PM in Healthcare IT)

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0800

Episode Summary:

In this episode, we sit down with Kristina Curtiss to discuss the unique role of project managers as translators—bridging the gap between technical teams, stakeholders, and business objectives. Kristina shares her journey from office management to leading large-scale healthcare and IT projects.

2:12 Kristina’s early career at Home Depot
3:00 Transitioning from office management to construction projects – similarities in organizational skills
3:35 The role of time management, operational logic, and communication in project management
4:30 Entering the healthcare project management space
5:41 Implementing EPIC healthcare information systems
6:00 Moving into IT project management and navigating the transition
7:30 How leaders identify and nurture talent within their teams
8:20 The challenge of relocating IT teams across 5 hospitals and 28 clinics
9:42 The importance of change management—engaging stakeholders and addressing resistance
10:15 Using emotional intelligence to understand and address concerns
10:55 Managing scope creep and keeping projects aligned
11:15 The unique skill of translating technical details into business impact
11:45 Preparing organizations for transformation—from paper-based health records to digital systems
14:45 How Emotional Intelligence 2.0 helped Kristina refine her ability to translate across teams
15:45 Building strong workplace relationships for career success
18:00 "Level Up Your Leadership"—the role of emotional intelligence in advancing leadership skills
19:00 PMI San Diego and the value of professional communities
20:20 Relationship management as a key leadership skill
21:00 Getting the PMP Certification and its impact on her career
22:30 How great leaders recognize untapped potential and open new career opportunities
23:00 Accepting constructive feedback and authentic compliments to grow professionally
23:50 The debate: Are project managers born or made?
25:00 Coaching and consulting—helping others shine in their careers
26:00 Finding fulfillment through volunteering and mentoring
27:15 Team assessments—recognizing individual strengths to build high-performing teams
28:00 Kristina’s role as VP of Communications and its impact on her leadership journey
Unstoppable: The Rise of Female Global Leaders

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Aligning Projects & Empowering People (PM in Humanitarian Aid)

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 04:00:00 -0800

In today's episode we talk with Emma Kelly, a program manager from The Water Project. She shares about managing projects in the humanitarian sector where projects can span across continents...where part of your resource force is the community you are working in... and when you don't always have access to the internet. Hear about how program managers align projects with strategic initiatives and empower people to do their best work for a very important cause.

Episode Highlights:

Emma's Passion for Water
Community management in Humanitarian Projects
Project Implementation in the Humanitarian Sector
From Research to Projects in Action
Community as Stakeholders and resources
3 Main program locations: Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone.
Mission to provide full saturation/coverage of the area. A framework of coverage
Program Management: Managing Projects: Aligning projects with strategic initiatives.
Program Management: People Management: Empowering people to do their best work.
Cultural nuances of Intercultural teams
Diversity of Understanding = Diversity of Ideas
Coming into a new community
Strengths of Intercultural teams.
Managing teams in different countries
Project Types in the Water Sector
Ground Nut Soup
The goal of full saturation
Shared vision with teams
Transparency with public and donors
How can you support the Water Project
The Water Promise
Commitment to Monitoring and Reporting and Evaluating Projects
Emma’s superpower of empowering people to do their best work.
Relationships, Trust, Reliability: The Water Project's pillars
How do you manage projects without the internet
Working to understand risks and issues to reduce future downtime.
Sticking to the plan when there are obstacles.

Show Links:

The Water Project

Follow Emma Kelly

Follow Trina Schaetz

Follow Mathew Sparkes

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Passion for PMBOK (PM in Nuclear & Defense)

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0800

Today's guest is Jeremiah Hammon, PMP. His passion for PMBOK guidelines is contagious, and his company, Project Revolution stands, by and supports project managers who are headed to certifications or who want to gain leadership roles in their organization.

02:00 – Jeremiah’s history: Becoming an accidental project manager in manufacturing.
02:15 – Why he believes people drive business success.
02:40 – The key to success: Learn the sector, understand processes, and build relationships.
03:02 – How he discovered PMBOK methodologies.
03:30 – Earning his PMP: A turning point that opened doors to nuclear energy.
04:00 – Transitioning to nuclear & robotics—how PMP was essential.
04:45 – PMBOK’s role in high-stakes industries.
05:15 – His new sector: Missile Defense—Quality Systems, Manufacturing, and Compliance.
06:17 – A reminder: No PM succeeds alone—teams drive success.
06:45 – Building bridges as a PM and aligning stakeholders.
07:19 – "Your network is your net worth"—inspiring teams to achieve the impossible.
08:00 – Unlocking team potential: Listening, understanding, and caring.
09:30 – Fitting relationship-building into a packed schedule.
09:55 – Project Revolution’s mission: Creating better leaders for a better world.
11:05 – Helping professionals pass PMP exams & apply principles effectively.
12:00 – Leadership training and PMBOK as a guiding framework.
13:00 – What is PMBOK? Its role in structured project management.
15:00 – Project Insight: A PM software built on PMBOK best practices.
15:36 – The career impact of earning a PMP.
16:40 – The societal impact of project managers shaping the future.
17:00 – Project Revolution as a strategic partner in PM implementation.
18:00 – Overcoming resistance to change in projects.
19:00 – Aggregating data across teams & software for better decisions.
20:00 – Managing healthy tension in projects.
21:00 – Emotional intelligence as a core PM skill.
21:30 – Leadership training and growth in project management.

Find Jeremiah on LinkedIn

Find Trina

Find Mathew

Project Revolution website

Project Insight's PMBOK-compliant Features by Domain

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Project Management in the 4th Dimension (PM in SaaS)

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 20:00:00 -0800

Today’s superhero guest is Kevin Perkins, a long-time technical product manager with years of experience shaping and considering SaaS product development. He joins Steve West, CEO of Project Insight, for an engaging conversation on their early entrepreneurial friendship and the evolution of project management—where it was 20 years ago, where it stands today, and where it’s headed in the future.

Can we trust Kevin’s insights on what’s next? Absolutely. His superpower lies in his ability to see the big picture, anticipate industry trends, and lead innovation before the rest of the world is ready. You won’t want to miss this discussion!

1-5 min: Kevin’s Journey in Product Management

Kevin’s career path and how he got into product management
Steve and Kevin’s entrepreneurial connection
Early entrepreneurs when the internet was born
What was data connectivity like before the internet?
Pre-online project management and learning as you go

5-12 min: The Evolution of Project Management & Kevin's Superpower

Early tools in the early internet
Agile born out of necessity
Creating products to be monetized or invested in
Digitizing businesses
Superpower of self-placement in the history and future of project management

12-16 min: Building High-Performing Project Teams

How teams adapted before modern PM software
People want software developed yesterday – agile as a response
How Agile helps keep projects iterating and customers informed

16-23 min: How Tech is Transforming Project Management

The first chats weren’t Teams and Slack
Extranets – before the cloud application idea
Taking company intranet activities and exposing them to external platforms
Transformation of PPM tools – many tools emerged and disappeared

23-24 min: Expert Insights on Scaling & Growth

Willingness to change – staying adaptive in tech and business
Don’t have to be an expert, but must keep moving with technology

24-36 min: The Future of Project Management

Project Management from the dotcom days to now
Kevin’s endeavor with Squeezer app – making web pages mobile-friendly
Cobbling tools together to make systems work
Putting project management online
Interoperability with best-of-breed tools
Bringing in t-shirt sizes and story points and converting them into measurable data
Tightly integrating applications to bring data to PMs

36-41 min: Riffing on the Future: AI, PM, and Beyond

Future of project, program, product, and portfolio management
AI skepticism & anticipation
2025 – the year of the agent?

Follow Kevin / kevinperkins

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Cutting Through the Chaos (PM in Community Gov't)

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:00:00 -0800

Our superhero PMP guest today is Sree Karanakarun!

Born and raised in India, Sree earned a degree in engineering and began her career as a mainframe IT developer. She quickly advanced through roles as a Business Analyst, Project Coordinator, and Project Manager, spending over 20 years in healthcare project and program management.

Then, she made a bold career pivot—leaving healthcare to become a Senior IT Project Manager for Douglas County, Colorado, managing projects in the community government sector.

In this episode, Mathew and I will dive into what it’s like to switch industries completely and explore her superpower: cutting through chaos as a project manager. 🚀

2:00 – Introduction to Sree
Sree shares her journey in IT, healthcare, and government project management.

4:00 – Walking in the Shoes of the Team
Her rise through roles—Business Analyst, Tester & QA, Developer, Architect, and Project/Program Manager.

5:00 – Speaking "Developer" as a PM
Understanding terminology, methodologies, workflows, and processes to bridge teams effectively.

6:00 – Seeing Through the Chaos
Using experience to close the gap between business and technology.

7:00 – Solving Puzzles
Balancing tools, technology, and teams. How PMs build trust and highlight contributors.

10:00 – Representing vs. Doing the Work
A PM’s role in ensuring work is accurately represented.

11:30 – Healthcare Project Management is Like an Ocean
Managing large-scale projects with a broad perspective.

12:18 – Staying High-Level
Focusing on the big picture without getting lost in details.

13:12 – Industry Terminology Matters
Each project is a stepping stone; knowing sector-specific terms is key.

15:48 – The Significance of Healthcare Projects
Critical, mission-driven work with lasting impact.

16:30 – Healthcare Project Types
A look at the projects shaping the industry.

19:25 – Shifting to Community & Government Projects
Exploring public sector work and its effect on daily life.

21:00 – A Universal PM Language
PMs share common processes and challenges across industries.

22:40 – Emotional Intelligence in PM
A crucial skill for managing teams and stakeholders.

25:00 – Strategic Thinking & Seeing Through Chaos
Lessons from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

27:00 – Understanding People in Projects
Navigating stakeholders, leadership, and team dynamics.

27:30 – PM Appreciation Every Day
Recognizing project managers' contributions.

28:56 – Group Projects & Collaboration
Why teamwork is central to success.

31:00 – PMI Mile Hi Chapter
Discussing PMI’s role in the PM community.

LINKS:

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Developing the Powers Within (PM in Health Informatics)

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

Our guest today is James Phillips, an Informatics Analyst at Altamed and a dynamic leader with a rich and diverse background spanning communications, public relations, marketing, project management, medical coding, and healthcare informatics.

James has been intentional about his professional development throughout his career. At every step, his sharp self-assessment has inspired him to acquire new skills, pursue additional degrees, and earn valuable certifications.

Over time, he has built an impressive "super suit" of project management skills and expertise—a journey reminiscent of Tony Stark crafting his Ironman suit!

What makes James truly remarkable, however, is his generosity in sharing his knowledge with aspiring project managers. He’s passionate about helping others identify their own paths and empowering them to navigate their personal PM journeys.

Today, James will share his insights on how to determine if project management is the right career for you and how to chart a successful path forward in this dynamic field.

Show Notes:

:30 – Meet James Phillips
Learn about James Phillips, an informatics analyst and dynamic leader with expertise spanning healthcare informatics, PR, marketing, project management, and medical coding. Discover how to know if you’re cut out to be a PMP (Project Management Professional) and how to connect with resources for certification.

2:31 – Started Out in Hawaii
James shares his roots in Hawaii and how they shaped his early journey.

3:00 – The 9th Island of Hawaii
Discover why UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) is considered the 9th island of Hawaii and how it became part of James’s story.

4:00 – Beginnings in PR & Marketing
James reflects on his early career in public relations and marketing, where glitz and glamour weren’t always what they seemed.

7:00 – Transition to Medical Coding
How James shifted to medical coding and discovered his passion for healthcare informatics.

8:30 – What Is Medical Health Systems Coding?
James explains the role of medical health systems coding and its importance in the healthcare industry.

9:54 – What Is Project Management?
What does a project manager do, and how can you start your career in this field? James shares his insights.

11:00 – Choosing Your Industry
Tips on how to choose the right industry for your skills and interests, based on James’s experience.

17:30 – Lean Six Sigma Certification
James discusses his Lean Six Sigma certification and its value for project managers.

19:00 – What Certifications Should You Get as a PM?
Explore the certifications that James recommends for project managers to excel in their careers.

20:00 – Work-Life Balance and Skills Balance
James shares his approach to balancing work, life, and skills development.

21:00 – Color Blocking: Scheduling for Balance
Learn how James uses color blocking and time management techniques to maintain work-life balance.

22:00 – Time Blocking in Your Calendar
Tips on effectively managing your time and prioritizing tasks with time blocking.

24:00 – Getting Involved in Your PMI Chapter
The benefits of engaging with your local Project Management Institute (PMI) chapter for networking and growth.

27:00 – Other Resources
James highlights additional resources for aspiring and current project managers.

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Building Teams & Roller Coasters (PM at Universal Studios)

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

In this episode, we talk with Mehul Shah, the Senior Director for the PMO and Operations at Universal Destinations and Experiences (Universal Studios).

He started out in electrical engineering and found his way thru data analytics into project management. He’s worked at PMOs in many different industries at companies like GE, Siemens, Scholastic, and now Universal and is going to share about his superpower of "techno-functional leadership" in building great teams that deliver the best project success. He'll also dive deep into intersection of project management, data analytics, AI and machine learning.

And you’ll hear a bit about what its like to work next door to roller coasters!

Follow Mehul Sha
Follow Trina Schaetz
Follow Steve West

Show Notes

2:00 - Intro to Mehul: Electrical Engineering background, PM leadership journey, and technical roles at GE and Accenture

3:00 - Modernizing legacy infrastructure and tech stacks

3:20 - Keys to team success: Collaboration and collective knowledge

4:17 - Transition from technologist to techno-functional leader

5:43 - Leveraging data insights for successful projects

6:00 - Modernization efforts: Driving business-critical initiatives

7:00 - Leadership programs at GE and early career growth

7:16 - Era of AI and NLP: Why data and AI are not optional

8:00 - Your data should do something for you: Making data actionable

9:00 - The three most important data points for any business

14:00 - The intersection of project management, data, and technology

15:00 - How project management has evolved over the past 20 years

19:00 - Reverting to spreadsheets when systems are disparate

20:00 - Change management and adapting to new tools

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Spreadsheets are My Jam (PM in Non-Profit)

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 13:00:00 -0800

Working as a project manager in the non-profit world is rewarding. The projects you work on help fulfill a mission driven vision that you can "get behind". But it also comes with great responsibility when -for instance- you manage multi-million dollar grants which hinge on successful project outcomes.

Our guest on this episode is Michelle Dickstein, a PMP from the nonprofit sector - who has many PMP superpowers, including flexible communication, the ability to manage broad expectations, and functioning as a liaison between product teams.

She has her masters in public health and also brings expertise in setting up enterprise PMOs, which she amusingly refers to as "Mary Poppins syndrome"—but you'll have to listen to find out why.

Introducing Michele.
PM geek moments.
Michelle’s PMP journey.
Universal PM challenges across industries.
Being a PMP in the nonprofit sector.
Mission-driven projects.
Supporting medical teams with PMP skills.
Pregnant with twins during a project.
Other unexpected health challenges.
Navigating government-funded grants.
Flexible communication strategies.
Ensuring realistic timelines.

Michele's Blog

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Project Ninjas Need Balance Too (PM at PayPal)

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

This episode features "Time Ninja," Lindiwe Stenberg, PMP of PayPal. She's a master of setting realistic project timelines to make time for work-life balance. (Something often elusive in a project manager's world).

Listen now, to hear about the "Gantt chart in her head" and how to stack projects to make work efficient as possible.

Productivity Balanced with Work-Life Balance: Lindiwe shares strategies for balancing high productivity with personal life.
Setting Realistic Timelines: The superpower of establishing achievable project deadlines.
Seeking Efficiencies: Techniques to execute tasks without wasting time.
Work-Life Balance for Project Managers: Tips on maintaining harmony between work and personal life.
Time Management Skills: Gathering abilities to effectively manage timelines.
Nursing and Time Management: Applying nursing time management skills to project management.
The Art and Intuition of PM Skills: Exploring the skill, art, and intuition involved in project management.
Mental Gantt Charts: How to visualize project timelines internally.
Stacking Projects: Learning to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Efficient Execution: Executing tasks efficiently without unnecessary delays.
Setting Work Boundaries: The importance of stopping work at a specific time.
Project Communications: Understanding how others' work impacts yours, especially in cross-functional teams.
Automating Messages and Emails: Utilizing automation in project collaboration.
Event Project Management Powers: Special skills required for managing events.
Balancing Multiple Roles: Managing a full-time job, master's studies, volunteer work, and serving as a chapter secretary.

Lindiwe Stenberg, PMP

Trina Schaetz, Project Insight

PMI-Los Angeles Chapter

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Call of Duty Meets Candy Crush (PM in Cybersecurity)

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0800

In 2023, Microsoft acquired the Activision Blizzard gaming franchise for $75 billion and now owns games like “Call of Duty.” “World of Warcraft,” “Diablo,” “Overwatch,” and “Candy Crush,”

With over 400 million monthly active players across 190 countries, they take gaming security seriously to protect the joy of the game.

In episode #2 of Wear Your Cape to Work, we’ll talk with cybersecurity program leaders, Jen and Sukanya about what it’s like to work for a gaming company, and how cyber projects have their own set of project management challenges.

Listen now to pick up tips from these superhero PMPs about:

Building rapport across large remote teams
What it’s like to be a PM in Cybersecurity
Embracing the change commonly a part of Cybersecurity projects
How to manage work during mergers and acquisitions
Whether to specialize in cybersecurity project management or to try different PMP paths

Time stamps
0:00 – Introduction

2:00 – Gaming Connections Across Teams

4:06 – Remote Team Interactions

6:00 – Jen’s Superpowers for Team Building

6:15 – The Bygone Watercooler Days

8:27 – Gaming Features in Microsoft Tools

9:00 – Bringing Epic Entertainment to Work

9:15 – Protecting the Joy of the Game

11:00 – Jen’s Journey into Security Project Management

12:00 – Gaming Security is Fun Security

12:30 – Pivoting in Security PM

14:30 – Annual Process Reviews

15:00 – Organizational Change in Mergers and Acquisitions

16:00 – Positive Ideas About Change

16:30 – Rebuilding the Plan Mid-flight

17:30 – Personality Tests and SWOT Analysis

18:40 – Leveraging Team Strengths

19:00 – Hiring for Weaknesses

19:20 – DISC Personality Tests

19:38 – Working with Different Personalities

20:00 – Building Relationships: The First Superpower

20:52 – Superhero Avatars at Work

21:30 – Sukanya’s Superpower

22:30 – To Specialize or Diversify in PM?

25:00 – Exploring PM Industries

26:00 – The Cybersecurity PM Experience

27:20 – Getting Certified in Cybersecurity for Free

28:00 – Closing Thank-Yous

Show Links

Start your Career in Cybersecurity
Free Entry-level Cybersecurity Training + Certification Exam
Click here

DiSC Personality Training and Personality Test

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Chocolate Milk & Attitude Changes (PM at Fairlife Milk)

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0800

This episode of Wear your Cape to Work features Steven Hall, a project manager from fairlife, milk company. We're applauding Steven's knack for cross-functional relationships and how his belief in farilife's mission to "nourish the modern world" fuels his daily project work...or it is he really fueled by chocolate milk?

Timestamps
00:00:00 🎙️Welcome to WYCTW podcast
00:00:37 ✨ From the Production Floor to Project Management
00:00:58 🐄Nourish the Modern World
00:01:19 🍫 Let’s Talk Favorites!
00:02:00 💡 Revolutionizing Milk
00:03:34 🤖 AI in Project Management
00:05:39 🤫 Secret Recipes: KFC, fairlife, Coca-Cola
00:07:21 💖 When Milk Saves Lives
00:11:17 🌎 Big Goals
00:13:45 🛠️Project Managers Strategy to Execution
00:15:37 💪 Superpower Alert: Cross-functional relationships
00:17:32 🧠 Empathy FTW
00:19:33🌀 The Art of Attitude Adjustments
00:22:09❤️Falling in Love with Chaos
00:29:32🎉 Cheers with Superhero Mugs
00:30:18🦸‍♀️ Wrap-Up

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Apple
Spotify
RSS https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss

Follow Project Insight

Website: projectinsight.com
LinkedIn: /company/projectinsight
Instagram: /projectinsight/
X formerly Twitter: /projectinsight
Facebook: /ProjectInsightPMSW
Free PDU Project Management Webinars: projectinsight.com/project-management-webinars/

Superhero Avatar Generator:
Turn yourself into a superhero and download your image.
https://bit.ly/3BiHpej

Order WYCTW Mug:
Order a "Wear Your Cape to Work" mug with your new superhero image.
https://projectinsightmerch.myshopify.com/

Follow Steven Hall, PMP
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-hall-a59b4532/

Follow Mathew Sparkes
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-sparkes/

Follow Trina Schaetz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinaschaetz/

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS

Trailer: Wear Your Cape to Work

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0800

Wear Your Cape to Work is a podcast hosted by Project Insight.

We believe that project and program managers truly are the superheroes of every organization. Our guests have poured their lives and talents into driving successful project outcomes for industries across the world. They wear their capes to work every day, and we want to celebrate them. We want you to hear their stories and be inspired to wear your own cape to work.

You won't want to miss any of our exciting conversations with PMPs from companies like fairlife, Universal Studios, Activision Blizzard, PayPal and more.

Subscribe and follow on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and other favorite podcast channels.

Follow Project Insight
Website: https://projectinsight.com/
LinkedIn: /company/projectinsight
Instagram: /projectinsight/
X formerly Twitter: /projectinsight
Facebook: /ProjectInsightPMSW
Free PDU Project Management Webinars: projectinsight.com/project-management-webinars

Project Insight Website

Watch Video Podcast

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
RSS