Episoder
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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 -
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 -
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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 -
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making one giant leap in the space industry. In celebration of World Space Week, we’re highlighting how project teams are tapping AI for space exploration and innovation. A project leader from the European Space Agency shares how his team created a “flying laboratory” so that other organizations from across the globe could experiment with new tech—including AI—in space. And NASA’s chief artificial intelligence officer shares how teams are using AI on projects and how the U.S. space agency is ensuring ethical, responsible AI use across teams.
Key themes
[02:29] Why ESA created a “flying laboratory,” the OPS-SAT Space Lab service [05:41] How to experiment with AI—and use it in the right projects
[11:27] Why the space industry views AI with heavy interest—and healthy skepticism
[14:32] What NASA’s chief artificial intelligence officer is focused on
[16:42] How the U.S. space agency is using AI on projects
[22:04] How NASA ensures ethical, responsible AI use across teams
[26:58] How AI could transform space projects -
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally shifting how we work, but it’s imperative to use the emerging tech responsibly. Guests explore the major AI ethics concerns for project professionals and recommend good practices teams can employ to use and create ethical AI. They also share examples of how project teams handle AI ethics concerns—and how those concerns can impact companies’ regulatory compliance, reputation, risk management and even innovation.
Key themes
[03:34] Strategies to create—and implement—AI ethics practices on teams
[07:02] How a team handled ethics concerns of biased data
[11:44] Keeping your AI ethics policies flexible for the tech’s continued advancement
[14:01] AI ethics concerns project professionals are facing today
[15:47] How ethical AI impacts organizations’ regulatory compliance, innovation, risk management and even social responsibility
[18:20] Meta’s good practices for using or creating ethical AI
[22:57] What AI ethics training should include—and how often it should be updated -
Conflict can occur on any project. And project professionals should know how to defuse it. Guests share tips for resolving conflicts on projects, how these strategies shift depending on the source, the must-have skills for effective conflict resolution and how project professionals can strengthen their conflict resolution capabilities.
Key themes
[01:06] Why conflict management is a must for successful project delivery
[04:43] Strategies to manage—and resolve—conflicts resolution on projects
[12:39] Why you should change up your strategies depending on who is in conflict
[15:55] Ways project professionals can boost their conflict resolution skills
[21:51] Resolving a conflict with active listening, increased transparency and consistent communication
[27:55] Conflict management strategies for in-person vs. remote team members
[29:54] Lessons learned: Understand different perspectives and listen with empathy -
Mistakes happen. It’s how you respond that really matters. In a group discussion, three project professionals share how they turned failure into lessons learned and career maturity. How do you help team members overcome mistakes? And how can project leaders create a culture that accepts mistakes—and spins them into opportunities for greater efficiency and innovation?
Key themes
[01:58] What is failure—and how has your view of it changed throughout your career?
[07:31] Project professionals share their mistakes—and the biggest lessons learned from them
[17:29] How failure can fuel innovation and efficiency
[22:06] Ways to create a team culture that accepts mistakes with accountability
[31:08] Tips on how to bounce back—and grow—from failure -
The agriculture industry will need to feed a projected 10 billion people by 2050. To meet this demand, project teams are transforming production—finding climate-friendly ways to maximize yields. Guests share how they’re helping agriculture giants like Cargill reduce carbon emissions through supply chain operations and farming practices. Plus, how indoor farms are delivering fresh produce year-round in Dubai’s desert climate.
Key themes[01:06] What’s spurring innovations in agriculture
[04:51] Helping food and ag giant Cargill decarbonize, implement regenerative agriculture practices
[09:50] Building buy-in for change when stakeholders have long-held processes
[11:37] Tips for managing a project with diverse stakeholder groups
[14:24] Growing fresh produce consistently in an arid, desert climate
[17:33] Sensors, internet of thing, the cloud: The tech behind sustainable indoor farming
[19:51] Collaborating with partners to scale up—and share success -
Project teams behind the biggest events must manage stakeholders and resources to deliver thrilling experiences. But there’s a growing focus on sustainability, too—making sure events mitigate negative impacts on the planet. We speak with project leaders making two major spectacles—the Paris Olympics and Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix—more sustainable.
Key themes
[02:45] The Olympic and Paralympic Games’ growing focus on sustainability
[05:57] Using temporary infrastructure at the Paris Olympics
[15:03] How others can maximize sustainability in their projects
[17:41] Building buy-in for sustainability initiatives in the events sector
[21:59] Making the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix better for the planet—and fans
[26:11] Managing stakeholders while keeping sustainability at the forefront
[28:00] Ways to measure the success of sustainability-focused projects -
A strong innovation culture can transform organizations—seeding a first-mover mindset that empowers teams to discover whole new ways of thinking. Guests discuss strategies to develop mindsets and create spaces where team members feel comfortable to explore, the project management office’s growing role to nurture new ideas, and how to ensure innovation initiatives drive real value.
Key themes
[02:07] The PMO’s role in fostering a culture of innovation
[03:46] Strategies to drive innovation within project teams
[08:29] Practices to avoid: What can hinder an innovation culture
[10:30] Advice for PMO leaders on how to encourage innovation
[12:00] How an innovation culture brings big benefits to organizations
[21:09] Ways to create psychologically safe spaces for faster innovation
[28:09] Must-have skills for a culture of innovation -
There’s a generational shift in the workforce—and the newest members are bringing new ideas to mentorship. Our joint discussion with a mentor and mentee explores their experience and the shared benefits. The conversation includes strategies for discussing and setting career goals, the biggest lessons they’ve learned from one another, and how those learnings have helped advance their careers. Plus, why project professionals should consider mentorship.
Key themes
[01:00] Gen Z crave mentors—and the opportunity to share their knowledge
[02:34] Mentor and mentee relationship: How Nigel and Joy became mentor and mentee
[04:59] Strategies for creating career goals
[13:04] Lessons learned: Taking skills gained from mentoring sessions into project management careers
[17:52] The benefits of mentee and mentor relationship
[20:14] Why project professionals should consider mentorship—as a mentor or mentee -
Startups need to stay lean to deliver results in today’s stagnant global economy. As they reassess how to manage projects, startups are refining how they use agile. Guests discuss how their ways of working have evolved to meet the changing needs of their projects—and the marketplace—and how they’re finding opportunities to incorporate AI into agile.
Key themes
[01:53] FutureFit AI’s agile journey: Refining ways of working as company maturity increased
[07:36] Learning how to tailor agile for each project
[10:04] Incorporating AI into agile
[14:44] Why agile and startups are a great match
[16:25] Embracing agile to pivot fast and meet a changing marketplace and customer needs
[20:59] Improving agile to align ways of working across teams
[24:02] Tips for startup survival: Be data-driven, willing to learn and ready to navigate complexity and uncertainty -
Artificial intelligence is transforming how project managers work, helping them build schedules, analyze data and identify risks. So what skills and knowledge will help project professionals thrive in the AI era? Guests discuss practical ways to build AI acumen—and how marketing your AI expertise can deliver a career advantage.
Key themes
[00:50] AI acumen: A career differentiator for project professionals
[03:16] How to build AI skills outside of work: Practice prompts and check out courses and webinars
[08:52] Ways to market your AI expertise
[11:16] AI knowledge sharing and use cases can help set you apart
[16:20] How to treat AI tools as “virtual colleagues”
[17:29] Why building AI skills will futureproof your project management career -
Today’s tech-driven ways of working often mean more efficiency and flexibility. But all that hyperconnectivity can be a risk to the well-being of project teams. Guests flag the potential warning signs for digital burnout—and how they set boundaries. They also explain how project leaders can support teams to preserve a healthy relationship with work-related tech.
Key themes
[02:03] Technology is connecting more people—but with fewer communication limits
[03:58] Creating work tech boundaries for your well-being
[07:04] Watching out for tech burnout on project teams
[10:35] Tech positives for project professionals: Greater flexibility and a productivity boost
[13:53] Possible tech negatives: Changing stakeholder expectations and greater complexity in day-to-day work
[16:59] How reflection can create more balance -
A career in project management isn’t always linear. Some people gradually advance from one position to the next, while others come to the profession from a different career path altogether. Guests discuss the moves they’ve made, how they assess when they’re ready for a new role, what they’ve learned from opportunities that didn’t work out, and why you should always invest in yourself—so you’re ready for next opportunity before it arrives.
Key themes
[02:17] How helping a colleague became a project management career
[04:51] Asking managers and colleagues for career advice and support
[06:20] Lessons learned from not getting hired—and upskilling for the next opportunity
[10:27] Starting a new position? Don’t be afraid to ask for help
[13:55] What’s the right time for a career move?
[15:54] Taking a job in a new sector—or a new country
[19:50] How transparency and vulnerability can help you succeed
[22:40] Gauging whether or not you’re ready to take on a new role -
Technology is helping project teams make a positive social impact—an accelerator for addressing everything from the effects of climate change to gender equality. Guests discuss how they’re using tech in two projects: One helps adolescent girls develop skills in STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts and math—to create future tech leaders and build a more inclusive sector. The other project pairs tech tools with Indigenous knowledge to ensure local communities can more safely travel across Canada’s arctic region.
Key themes
[01:21] How UNICEF is preparing girls for futures in tech
[06:39] Using tech tools to gather feedback from stakeholders across the globe
[09:10] Measuring the Game Changers Coalition’s direct and indirect social impact
[14:26] Using tech in your project? Ensure it’s making a real difference
[16:14] Pairing tech with Indigenous knowledge: How SmartICE works with communities to measure sea ice thickness
[21:41] Engaging with stakeholders to create customer-centric project processes
[23:14] Embracing continuous improvement to develop better tech and training practices
[27:16] How project managers can focus on the social impacts of any project—no matter the sector -
Building sustainable infrastructure doesn’t just protect people and the planet—it boosts the bottom line. Project teams must deliver assets that can withstand the extreme effects of climate change. Guests discuss the growing focus on climate-resilient infrastructure, how to manage stakeholders across project partners and communities, and which skills project professionals need to lead these initiatives. Plus, an in-depth discussion about a major infrastructure overhaul program in Peru, with projects focused on climate resilience and delivering long-term value.
Key themes
[02:28] Climate change’s systemic effects on infrastructure—and why that’s a challenge for project professionals
[07:49] Must-haves for climate resilience projects: Curiosity, communication skills and community engagement
[13:49] What trends are next in climate-resilient infrastructure
[17:29] The growing momentum for climate-resilient infrastructure
[19:53] How Peru is rebuilding after 2017 El Niño, creating climate-resilient infrastructure, education and health centers
[25:39] Future-proofing Peru’s reconstruction program through knowledge transfer -
Navigating change is nothing new for project professionals. And this year is no different. How can being flexible and resilient help them seize job opportunities—and deliver value for organizations? Guests in this roundtable discussion talk about sector-specific job trends, the must-have skills needed to navigate challenges and how AI is changing project management now and in the years ahead.
Key themes
[01:30] Job opportunities for project professionals in IT, renewable energy and construction
[07:13] Top challenges project professionals might face for the rest of this year
[11:18] Market knowledge, influence, and leadership skills: The must-haves for today’s project professionals
[14:27] AI’s effect on project management
[18:32] What trends are creating a buzz for project professionals in 2024 and beyond -
In today’s ever-evolving project environment, project professionals need to be flex-ready problem solvers. But how do they learn to choose the right ways of working—or know when to anticipate the need to adapt to change? Guests discuss how they empower project professionals at their organizations to become strategic decision makers—whether it means tailoring ways of working to fit projects and teams or implementing new tech tools.
Key themes[02:19] Updating CDW’s PMO for greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and upskilling among project professionals
[05:34] How continuous learning encourages greater autonomy
[08:21] Empowering project professionals with clear guidelines, expectations and ownership of initiatives
[13:13] Delegation and trust: Two must-haves for empowering project and program managers
[14:52] How Airbus’ engineering PMO focuses on tailored, empathetic project support
[17:42] Why empowerment leads to better engagement and project outcomes
[19:56] What you need to know to choose the right ways of working for your team
[21:46] How PMO leaders can encourage teams to embrace unknowns in new tech or ways of working -
There’s a glaring gender gap, in both artificial intelligence and project management. But as demand for AI talent surges, there’s an opportunity to close those gaps. Ahead of International Women’s Day, our guests discuss the gender gaps they’ve experienced in their careers in tech, how greater team diversity helps minimize algorithmic biases in AI projects, what they’ve learned from leading AI initiatives and building their AI expertise, and ways to help more women pursue careers in AI.
Key themes
[02:36] Bridging the gender gap: How diversity benefits AI initiatives
[05:21] Identifying and mitigating risks in generative AI projects
[07:52] Top advice to women in tech: Know your worth, be yourself and continue to learn
[12:55] Building AI knowledge in a changing business landscape
[16:15] Minimizing AI algorithmic biases with multiple perspectives
[19:08] Ways to help more women kickstart their careers in AI - Vis mere
