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Subtle problems often start long before a project shows obvious signs of distress. Leaders feel the pressure to deliver momentum, teams shift toward activity over outcomes, and stakeholders slowly fade as competing priorities pull them away. In this conversation, Matthew Oleniuk brings his experience from overseeing large public sector projects and highlights seven early indicators that signal when a project is heading toward trouble. He explains why these issues are easy to ignore, how they quietly compound over time, and why strong leadership vigilance matters more than any dashboard color. He also describes how patterns like output beating outcome, performance theater, and risk box ticking show up in real projects and why they are so harmful when left unchallenged.

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The eighth edition of the PMBOK Guide has dropped and it represents another significant evolutions in PMI’s standards. This conversation takes listeners directly inside its development. Jesse Fewell, who chaired the PMBOK Guide 8 effort, offers a detailed look at how tens of thousands of data points, practitioner feedback, and extensive review cycles shaped the newest edition. He explains how the standard brings greater clarity, a more intuitive structure, and practical guidance that aligns with the way projects actually unfold rather than how we might idealize them on paper. This episode also highlights major updates, including a fully revised definition of a project and a modernized view of project success that emphasizes value, perception, and consensus across stakeholders, even when budgets or schedules are challenged.

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Project leadership is more than delivering on time and budget. It is about leading people with honesty, awareness, and courage. In this episode, leadership coach and author Susanne Madsen joins Cornelius Fichtner to discuss how project managers can transform their project outcomes by developing authentic leadership. Drawing from her acclaimed book, *The Power of Project Leadership*, Susanne explains the Project Leadership Matrix, how to assess whether we are proactive or reactive, and how self-awareness is the foundation of great leadership. She also unpacks how leaders can balance people and task focus while recognizing that reactivity often stems from corporate culture rather than personality.

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When stakeholders doubt the schedule, they doubt the leader behind it. Project schedules are more than a collection of dates... they are instruments of leadership that can either inspire confidence or create skepticism. In this conversation, Michael Pink, CEO of SmartPM Technologies, joins Cornelius Fichtner to explain how schedule visibility enables project leaders to see risks early, prevent overruns, and lead with credibility. Drawing from his experience in analyzing thousands of construction projects, Michael explains how transparent and data-driven schedules elevate leadership trust, keep teams aligned, and ensure projects stay on course.

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Managing more than one project at a time can feel like a constant balancing act, and for many project managers it is part of everyday life. In this conversation, Elizabeth Harrin joins Cornelius Fichtner to discuss the updated second edition of Managing Multiple Projects and the changes it brings. The discussion highlights how Chapter 7 has been reframed as "Practices," offering practical approaches for building sustainable success. Listeners will gain clear advice on where to start, how to set boundaries, and which methods can lighten the workload without sacrificing quality.

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The most dangerous issue facing a Project Management Office (PMO) is not sudden collapse but a gradual decline in relevance and impact. In this conversation, Mel Bost, author of Understanding Project Practices and Processes, shares his insights from Chapter Four of the book, which focuses on PMOs and project performance. He explains why PMOs often fail to deliver consistent value, even when they are not technically “broken.” He highlights overlooked factors, from alignment with organizational strategy to a lack of meaningful performance measures, that contribute to slow underperformance. The discussion underscores that without proactive adjustments, a PMO can continue to operate while its value to the business quietly diminishes.

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Project managers know that skill building requires consistency, but finding the right structure can be a challenge. Olivia Pekny introduces PM Master Quest, a program built around 30 days of practical, daily challenges that strengthen core project management capabilities. Instead of long theory-based courses, participants apply short, focused tasks directly to a project storyline, turning everyday actions into learning opportunities. The design is simple yet powerful: take one challenge per day, reflect on the experience, and gradually develop the mindset and behaviors that effective project managers demonstrate. Olivia explains how the program helps professionals at all levels gain traction in areas such as stakeholder communication, decision-making, and team leadership while creating momentum through daily practice.

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Project managers often excel at delivering on scope, schedule, and budget, but struggle when asked to prove the value of their work to senior leadership. Barbara Kephart brings her extensive experience in project, program, and portfolio management to address this common challenge. She outlines a clear approach to bridging the gap between technical project reporting and leadership’s focus on business outcomes. Drawing from her career in both public and private sectors, Barbara explains how understanding the language of leadership and linking project metrics to strategic objectives can transform how executives perceive your contributions.

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Many project managers are trained to manage scope, schedule, and cost. But what happens when the project itself is the business? In this solo episode, Cornelius Fichtner introduces the Project Business Professional (PBP) certification and explains why it fills a major gap in traditional project management education. Drawing on his own recent experience earning the PBP credential, Cornelius walks through what makes project business fundamentally different from internal project delivery and why nearly half of all project managers are already operating in this external, client-facing space—whether they realize it or not.

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This episode flips the script on traditional project management education by using memes to deliver real, applicable insights. Cornelius Fichtner selects seven past podcast interviews and distills their core lessons into memorable memes. Each meme acts as a springboard into deeper project truths, making this a visually rich episode that’s equal parts fun and functional. Topics span remote leadership, stakeholder communication, power skills, data literacy, and more. This creative format makes complex ideas stick and gives project managers simple reminders they can laugh at and learn from.

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Project teams often finish on time and on budget only to face silent rejection from users. Change-management practitioner Mario González joins Cornelius Fichtner to map out the “adoption gap” and how to close it. Mario manages public-sector projects and brings fifteen years of leading agile transformations. He explains practical ways to detect early signs of low adoption, measure real usage with crisp KPIs, and listen for informal feedback that exposes hidden concerns. Listeners learn why classifying stakeholders as supporters, neutrals, or resistors creates clarity and how to move each group toward active buy-in.

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For many project managers, the urge to command every meeting and own every milestone feels natural. But veteran program manager Anisha Manvatkar proves that the most effective leaders often work in silence. In this conversation with Cornelius Fichtner she shares how “invisible leadership” unites purpose, communication, and AI-powered efficiency to deliver high-performing projects at Nvidia and beyond. Listeners hear why stepping out of the spotlight lets teams step up, how a clear “why” keeps momentum when priorities shift, and where AI can shoulder the busywork so people focus on innovation.

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Constant change, evolving stakeholder needs, and dispersed teams can twist even the best-planned projects into knots. Leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry (Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group and author of Flexible Leadership) joins Cornelius Fichtner to unpack a practical roadmap for staying effective when everything around you shifts. Drawing on three decades of coaching leaders in more than 50 countries, Kevin explains why rigid command-and-control approaches snap under real-world pressure, how “flexors” help you bend without breaking, and where to start if your calendar already looks like a game of Tetris.

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In today's episode, we're diving into the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for project managers. Join Cornelius Fichtner and special guest Lenka Pincot, Chief of Staff to the CEO at PMI, as we explore how AI is revolutionizing the field of project management and what you can do to stay ahead of the curve.

Episode Highlights:

• Understanding the AI Revolution: We kick off the episode by setting the stage for AI's impact on project management. Lenka Pincot joins us to shed light on this rapidly evolving landscape.
• Future-Proofing Your PM Career: We discuss the necessity for project managers to develop AI competencies, focusing on AI literacy, data proficiency, ethical awareness, adaptive thinking, and tech collaboration.
• Adapting to AI in Project Teams: The conversation will explore how AI integration affects entire project teams, and the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and AI acceptance.
• PMI's Course Spotlight: We delve into PMI's "Generative AI Overview for Project Managers" course, an essential resource for staying updated in this changing field.

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In today's conversation, we are delving into one particular area of project management – mastering the essential soft skills. Soft skills, often dubbed as 'power skills,' form the backbone of project management, shaping the culture, ethics, motivation, and creativity in a team. As the world of project management continues to evolve, the emphasis on these skills has grown significantly. Yet, despite their importance, they often remain underappreciated and underdeveloped.

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In this episode, we embark on a journey through the avenues of corporate project management training and its unparalleled significance in today's shifting market dynamics. With market trends evolving at an unprecedented pace, how can businesses equip themselves to navigate these changes and remain at the forefront of their industries? The answer might very well be found in the depths of project management training.

Are you curious about how corporate project management training might offer businesses a compass to adapt and flourish amidst evolving market dynamics? Dive deep into the core of this topic with our guest, Jonathan Hebert. Together, we unravel the transformative power of this training, focusing on strategies, essential skills, and insights that can steer businesses towards sustained success.

And if you're eager to read more on this very topic, we have a treat for you! Head over to Navigate Change where we've curated four in-depth articles diving deeper into the impact of project management training in the corporate landscape:

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In this episode we once again delve into the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Project Management. Our focus right now is to explore the pervasive buzz around AI in the PM landscape because the integration of AI into project management has been making waves across industries. And I have no doubt that you must have stumbled upon an intriguing article or LinkedIn post making (sometimes wild) predictions and highlighting the profound influence of AI on project management roles, right?

It's undeniable that AI's presence is reshaping our professional landscape, but to what extent? What should be the role of AI in our world? Has AI impacted your daily tasks or decision-making processes in project management? What are the challenges?

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In this episode, we're taking an insightful journey into the world of project management standards. As you might have experienced, the recent shift of the ANSI standard from a process-based to a principles-based model has left a gap in practical project management guidance. Thankfully, the ISO 21502 standard is here to fill that void, albeit, at just 42 pages, it could use a little more depth. Enter 'Inside the BlackBox Project Management,' an enlightening resource by Bill Dannenmaier that complements the ISO standard with real-world project management experience. Bill joins us today to discuss key principles, real-world scenarios, the ISO 21502 standard, pre-project planning, earned schedule, and much more.

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In this episode, we are delighted to host Laura Brandenburg, a seasoned Business Analyst, CEO, and founder of Bridging the Gap. She shares her wealth of experience and knowledge, navigating the fascinating intersection of business analysis and project management.

Diving deep into the career path of a Business Analyst, Laura helps unravel the trajectory one can expect, skills required, and significant turning points that shape the BA career. She provides insights for those eager to step into the BA world, suggesting strategies for transitioning from other fields, addressing potential challenges, and sharing invaluable resources for those starting out.

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In this episode, we're going to look into how digital agencies are harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for their project management approaches. And if the term “digital agency” is new to you, then don’t worry because we’ll explain exactly what this is.