The Digital Project Manager

What happens when AI stops being a tool you type into and starts becoming something you talk to? In this episode, Galen Low sits down with Oliver Shoulson, Agent Design and Engineering Lead at PolyAI, to unpack the surprisingly human problem at the heart of conversational AI: most AI conversations still feel weird. From clunky chatbot scripts to overly polite “LLM voice” personas that sound like t...

Slide decks aren’t going away. Despite years of corporate eye-rolls, overloaded bullet points, and “this could’ve been an email” energy, presentations still sit at the center of how organizations align people around ideas. And now AI is crashing directly into that workflow. In this episode, Galen sits down with Morgan Cornelius, Chief of Staff at Decky and founder of mrcantile, to unpack why prese...

AI-powered PM tools promise everything from predictive risk alerts to automated status reports—but what happens when the tool you picked doesn’t actually deliver on the features that sold you in the first place? In this episode, Galen Low sits down with Emmanuels Magaya, Director of Technology at Tech Legends and Founder & CEO of Project Managers Africa, to unpack what organizations should do...

The pace of change in today’s workforce isn’t just fast—it’s compounding. In this episode, Galen sits down with higher education leaders Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich and Charlotte Bencaz to unpack what it actually takes to stay relevant when roles, tools, and expectations are shifting in real time. From the decline of entry-level roles to the rise of AI-augmented “power workers,” this conversation...

Project management certifications have become the industry’s favorite shorthand for competence—but what are they actually signaling? In this candid panel, Galen Low sits down with Crystal Richards, Dave Prior, and Karthick Nivas Ramdoss to unpack what certifications do (and just as importantly, what they don’t). From PMP to CSM to emerging AI-focused credentials like CPMAI, the conversation cuts t...

Most AI tools weren’t designed with kids in mind—but kids are using them anyway. That tension sits at the heart of this conversation with Aderonke Akinbola, where the question isn’t if we should build AI for children, but how we do it responsibly. From digital playgrounds that shape behavior to the long-term implications of data exposure, this episode explores why the stakes are fundamentally diff...

Soft skills are having a moment—but they’re still widely misunderstood, undervalued, or dismissed as “nice to have.” In this episode, Galen sits down with Yadi Caro to unpack why that perception persists—and why it’s costing teams more than they realize. Drawing from her experience working with elite technical teams in the defense sector, Yadi reframes soft skills as something far more rigorous: e...

AI transformation isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a human one. In this episode, Eric Porres (Chief AI Officer at Logitech) pulls back the curtain on what year two of an enterprise-wide AI transformation actually looks like. From shifting mindsets to scaling real adoption, this conversation gets into the messy middle: where curiosity turns into capability, and experimentation starts becoming systems...

AI is moving fast—but the underlying challenges aren’t new. In this episode, Galen sits down with Eugina Jordan to unpack what today’s AI boom can learn from past transformations like 5G. From tool overload to shaky business models, they explore why the winners of this wave won’t just be the biggest players—but those who can turn AI into real, usable value for everyday people. They also dig into w...

AI isn’t just another layer of tooling—it’s becoming the operating system for how professional services teams plan, deliver, and scale their work. In this conversation, Tim Fisher sits down with Joe DiPaulo (CEO of Accelo) to unpack how AI-native PSA platforms like Forecast are shifting teams from reactive firefighting to proactive, data-driven delivery. They explore what’s actually changing on th...

Capacity planning can feel like a tug-of-war between sales, delivery teams, and leadership—especially when growth goals collide with a team that already feels stretched. In this episode, Galen Low sits down with Brandon Llewellyn, Head of Delivery at Cirface, to unpack how delivery leaders can use data to diagnose real capacity issues, make smarter resourcing decisions, and avoid the trap of “just...

When AI hype is shouting “anything is possible,” it’s easy for teams—especially in regulated, risk-aware orgs—to feel like innovation is either reserved for the “creative people” or only happens in labs behind closed doors. JoAnn Stonier makes the case that innovation isn’t a personality type—it’s a muscle. You can train it, but you also need permission, constraints, and a shared way of working so...

Emotional intelligence has always mattered in project work—but in the age of AI, it’s becoming a differentiator. In this episode, Galen sits down with Nadja El Fertasi, founder of Thrive with EQ and former NATO leader, to unpack how EQ shows up in high-stakes digital transformation—and why it may be the most overlooked risk mitigation strategy in your toolkit. Drawing from nearly two decades insid...

In a job market that’s already shaky, it’s easy to see AI-led automation as salt in the wound. But Wade Foster flips that framing: pushing into AI is actually one of the kinder things organizations can do—because it strips away the “mysticism” and replaces it with something more useful: a pragmatic understanding of what AI can save you from (tedious, brain-draining tasks) and what it can’t replace...

Trust in AI isn’t a vibe—it’s something you can intentionally design for (or accidentally break). In this episode, Galen sits down with Cal Al-Dhubaib to unpack “trust engineering”: a shared toolkit that helps cross-functional teams (engineering, UX, governance, risk, and business) talk about the same trust risks in the same language. They get into why “boring AI is safe AI,” how guardrails and hu...

PMOs are at a crossroads. As AI-led transformation accelerates, many organizations are still treating PMOs as project police—while quietly expecting them to deliver strategic clarity, risk foresight, and business value. In this conversation, Galen sits down with Amireh Amirmazaheri to unpack why that disconnect exists, what PMOs need to unlearn to move forward, and how the role must evolve if it’s...

Do project management methodologies still matter when AI can generate plans, notes, and schedules in seconds? In this episode, Galen sits down with Stan Yanakiev to unpack why the answer is still a firm yes —but with an important caveat: methodologies have to adapt. Together, they explore how PMs can move faster with AI without losing control, context, or the human side of delivery. The conversati...

AI is touching every role, every industry, and every level of an organization—but that doesn’t mean every project manager needs to become an engineer. In this conversation, Galen Low sits down with AI strategist and engineering leader Kesha Williams to talk about what PMs really need to know to stay relevant in an AI‑infused world. They explore how to lead AI‑related projects without getting lost...

Navigating government grants and funding opportunities can feel like deciphering ancient runes, but for project leaders working in innovation and R&D, cracking that code could be a game-changer. In this episode, Galen chats with Rachel Huang, founder of ClaimKit, about how public and private funding mechanisms can be more accessible—and faster—for startups and innovation projects. Drawing on h...

In a world where AI hype is everywhere, what does meaningful, grounded transformation actually look like? In this episode, Galen Low sits down with Michael Domanic, VP and Head of AI at UserTesting, to unpack how AI is being strategically integrated into core business functions—not just to ride the hype wave, but to unlock measurable value. From demystifying the ROI of AI to cultivating a culture...

Amid the buzz around AI in project management, what’s actually changing on the ground? In this special episode of The Digital Project Manager podcast, producer Becca Banyard steps in as host alongside Tim Fisher, VP of AI at Black & White Zebra, for a live conversation from our "Future of AI in Project Management" event series. They’re joined by Harv Nagra from Scoro to dig into how...

Building AI teammates isn’t a future-state fantasy—it’s already happening. Megan Ratcliff shares how she tackled resource constraints in SaaS marketing by creating a custom AI ecosystem that filled key gaps across content, strategy, and cross-functional alignment. The result? Less time on execution, more space for strategic leadership. This conversation brings grounded insight into how AI can be u...

Project managers are often tasked with delivering “on time and on budget”—but what if that’s not enough? In this episode, Galen Low sits down with Stephen Devaux, a longtime project management theorist and the mind behind techniques like critical path drag and value breakdown structures. Together, they unpack why project leaders need to start managing their work like investors—not just builders—an...

Feeling behind on your agency's data game? Marcel Petitpas, CEO of Parakeeto, joins Galen Low to reframe what it really takes to build profitable, data-driven operations. Hint: it’s not about buying software or pushing for time tracking compliance. Marcel breaks down why starting with metrics, models, and meaning—not tools—is the real shortcut to operational clarity. With real-talk on utiliza...

What if regulation wasn’t a blocker to AI transformation—but a strategic advantage? Galen sits down with Lauren Wallace—former Chief Legal Officer at RadarFirst and a veteran in legal, product, and AI governance—to explore how regulated industries can harness their existing compliance muscle to lead responsibly in the AI era. They get into the practicalities of building privacy-first AI strategies...