Projectified

Over the last decade, governments across the globe have launched digital transformation projects, from digitizing services to revamping their online presence for better citizen engagement. We discuss this with:   Katrine Maria Krzeminski, program manager, Agency for Digital Government, Copenhagen: Krzeminski discusses her project to create personal pages for each citizen on the country’s public se...

The events of the past few years have wreaked havoc on the global supply chain. Organizations are responding with innovative projects to increase their resiliency. We discuss this with: Leefke Grosjean, senior researcher and project manager for 5G-Smart, Ericsson, Stockholm: Grosjean discusses how the 5G-Smart project is testing 5G’s potential in manufacturing, ways the team improved communication...

In the past few years, teams have had to rethink events of all types—conferences, award shows, concerts—to virtual or hybrid formats, innovating to keep attendees and audiences safe as well as engaged. We discuss this with: Nadja Burkhardt, supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, European Broadcasting Union, Geneva: She discusses how her team handles constant change to plan and execute the annu...

The time to act on climate change is running out, putting pressure on nations and organizations alike to help heal the plant. Project teams around the world are helping care for our planet. We discuss this with:  Karl Campbell, director, Latin American Pacific Islands, Re:wild, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Campbell discusses the program he’s leading to rewild 25 islands over the next decade, projec...

Project leaders make decisions on a nearly non-stop basis. But they also have access to a wealth of information that can help them make the right call. We discuss this with: Reuben Oshomah, PMP, regional director, West Africa, Avanti Communications, Lagos: He talks through what kinds of information project leaders should consult, and the role team members and stakeholders play in making smart deci...

Women have faced an uphill battle in the workplace, especially during the pandemic. But they continue to make strides with game-changing projects across sectors and around the globe. We discuss the state of the state for women project leaders with: Nontobeko Mathenjwa, project manager at South African National Roads Agency, Johannesburg: Mathenjwa discusses the challenges she faced early in her ca...

Even with disruption and economic uncertainty, the job market for project talent is booming—and it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. We discuss the changing world of work and career opportunities for project professionals with:  Elton Soares, PMP, electrical engineer and project manager at General Electric, Florianópolis, Brazil: Soares discusses the rise of people-centric leaders, the...

As digital transformation accelerates, companies may be leaving behind some users: the 1 billion people who experience some form of disability. Whether their project is in gaming or financial services, companies must ensure the digital world is an inclusive one. We discuss this with: Brannon Zahand, senior program manager, gaming accessibility at Microsoft, Seattle: He discusses creating the compa...

The pandemic has healthcare providers pursuing innovation like never before—but they must also ensure those cutting-edge ideas and technologies deliver value to patients. We discuss this with: Antoinette de Bont, dean of the Tilburg School of Social & Behavioral Sciences at Tilburg University, the Netherlands: She discusses the BigMedilytics project—an initiative that aims to bring data scienc...

As 2021 comes to an end, project leaders are looking back at what they’ve accomplished—and ahead to 2022. Projectified[R]   reconnects with guests from the last year to discuss the lessons they’ve learned, the biggest changes they’ve seen, the emerging must-have skills and what lies ahead in the new year. Guests include: Sevi Rich, BHP in Perth, Australia; Kris Sprague, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, Regeneron...

The financial services sector is evolving—using new technologies to meet changing customer preferences. We discuss the future of fintech with:  Michal Raczka, PMP, IT director at mBank, Warsaw, Poland: Raczka discusses how shifting demographics and customer habits are pushing digital transformation in the financial services sector, plus how low-code platforms are helping his teams deliver innovati...

Change is constant in The Project Economy. That means project leaders must adapt and evolve, too. Our guests discuss how leadership strategies are shifting—and offer hands-on advice for bringing out the best in teams. Tim Munden, chief learning officer and head of employee wellbeing at Unilever in London, discusses the move away from a command-and-control leadership model to one characterized by h...

Buckle up—the world is entering a new era of spaceflight as startup commercial ventures join forces with government agencies. We discuss turning cutting-edge innovation into reality with: Jermey Gajadhar, PMP, program manager at Virgin Galactic, Mojave, California: Gajadhar talks about building a project management foundation at Virgin Galactic, mitigating risk and what’s next for commercial space...

PMI’s 2021 Most Influential Projects highlights nearly 250 initiatives that deliver serious innovation in everything from healthcare to mobility. We discuss two of those projects with: Josh Katz, founder and CEO of YellowHeart, New York City: Katz discusses how his company collaborated with the Kings of Leon to create a first-of-its-kind NFT package—paving the way for other artists to use the emer...

Infrastructure projects form the bedrock of modern society­—delivering expressways, clean water supplies, internet access and a bevy of other essentials. Yet project leaders must also ensure these initiatives deliver value now—and for decades to come. We discuss this with: Innocentia Mahlangu, PMP, senior civil engineer and project manager at Hatch, Johannesburg: Mahlangu discusses the socioeconom...

As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, consumers are increasingly interested in electric vehicles (EVs). And that means lots of projects, not just to deliver cool new products, but also the underlying infrastructure that supports them. We discuss e-mobility trends with:  Gaurav Batra, global advanced manufacturing and mobility analyst team leader at EY in New Delhi: Batra discus...

Data fuels collaboration and innovation—but it can also be a vulnerability. That means project leaders must keep security and risk top of mind—at all times. We discuss this with:  Tim Hurley, PMP, cybersecurity project manager, Sempra, San Diego, California: Hurley discusses why teams must address security concerns early—and often—and offers his advice to project leaders on how to keep data secure...

With disruption a near constant, project leaders must be able to solve complex problems in uncertain situations. We discuss this with:  Raquel Selem Moreira, design and innovation project manager at Pierre Fabre Group, Rio de Janeiro: Selem Moreira talks about breaking down complexity on projects and using design thinking to deliver innovative solutions. Marianna Sarmiento, assistant director of a...

When the pandemic hit, many hallmarks of city life—public transportation, skyscrapers with shared amenities, bustling streets—flipped from pros to cons. But don’t count cities out. We discuss how project teams are reimagining the urban environment with: Jun Huang, partner, Wei Yang & Partners, London: Huang discusses the aspects of urban life most strained during the pandemic—and how cities ca...

In today’s competitive world of work, career-focused project leaders are learning to set themselves apart from the pack with a strong personal brand story. We discuss branding tips and tricks with:  Pascale Sablan, associate at Adjaye Associates, and founder and executive director of Beyond the Built Environment LLC, both in New York City: Sablan shares how she created—and redefined—her personal b...

The pandemic has drastically changed the way many people live and work—and also brought a new focus on mental health. What does that mean for project teams? We discuss the issue with:  Carrie Fletcher, PMP, vice president, people and experience at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto: She discusses how a healthy staff can boost company performance, the signs a team member may be str...

Fueled by bold thinking and a deep commitment to social impact, a new generation of leaders is out to build a better world. PMI Future 50 leaders both past and present discuss how young people are changing the world of projects. The episode includes a conversation between Ackeem Ngwenya, co-founder of Reframd in Berlin, and Julissa Mateo Abad, PMP, digital transformation manager at Distribuidora C...

From digital twins to 3D printing, cutting-edge tech is disrupting the construction industry. Guests are:  Miguel Monteiro, project director, Besix, Dubai: Monteiro discusses how technology is helping improve efficiency and safety on the Uptown Tower project. He also talks about how project leaders can encourage teams to try out new tech and how to measure ROI.  Matt Gough, director of innovation,...

On Projectified ®’s 100th episode, we hit the fast-forward button to see what The Project Economy might look like over the next decade. One thing is clear: Our changing world demands a new kind of leader. Guests are:  Marcelo Tocci, PMP, commercial aviation, program management office and deputy program director, Embraer, São Paulo: Tocci discusses the need for future-focused project leaders to con...

Few project leaders saw COVID-19 coming. That points to a new mindset required to identify, manage and mitigate risks throughout the project life cycle. Gone are the days of a risk register dutifully filled out and then tucked away in a desk drawer. Guests are:  Michael O’Connor, PhD, PMP, PgMP, director, strategy and project management at Medtronic, Minneapolis: O’Connor talks about building risk...