What happens when a journalist accidentally lands in project management — and discovers the same skills that drive powerful storytelling also drive successful delivery?

In this thoughtful and honest episode, Fatimah is joined by Eva Pareja, Integrated Project Manager, communicator, and multicultural marketing specialist, whose career journey spans journalism, media, advertising, public relations, and nearly 30 years of cross-functional project delivery.

Born in Spain and now based in Chicago, Eva shares how her early career in radio and television unexpectedly shaped her approach to leadership, stakeholder engagement, and project management. From understanding audiences and navigating deadlines to translating between competing priorities, she explores why communication may be one of the most underrated skills in modern project delivery.

Together, they unpack how project management has evolved over time — from process-heavy coordination to increasingly strategic leadership — and why agility today is less about speed and more about intentional, responsive decision-making. The conversation also explores multicultural teams, assumptions in leadership, continuous learning, mentorship, and the growing importance of emotional intelligence in increasingly complex environments.

Eva reflects on her PMP journey, lessons from PMO mentorship through The PMO Leader, and shares practical advice for emerging project professionals: stop making assumptions, listen more intentionally, and lead with ownership rather than authority.

If you’ve ever questioned what makes a great project manager beyond frameworks and certifications — or wondered how communication, culture, and curiosity shape long-term success — this episode offers a refreshing perspective on leadership in practice.

In this episode:

2:57 Pivoting from Journalism to PM

5:50 Marketing Projects and Real Deliverables

9:41 Multicultural Teams and Clear Alignment

15:04 Building PMO Skills Through Mentorship

24:44 Start Owning Decisions and Stop Assumptions

…and more.

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and explore what project leadership looks like when communication, adaptability, and intentionality come first. 

Connect with Eva: www.linkedin.com/in/eva-pareja

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!
 
We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact  

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.  

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'. 

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/  

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...