Not Your CEO's Insights

Our guest today is James Phillips, an Informatics Analyst at Altamed and a dynamic leader with a rich and diverse background spanning communications, public relations, marketing, project management, medical coding, and healthcare informatics.

James has been intentional about his professional development throughout his career. At every step, his sharp self-assessment has inspired him to acquire new skills, pursue additional degrees, and earn valuable certifications.

Over time, he has built an impressive "super suit" of project management skills and expertise—a journey reminiscent of Tony Stark crafting his Ironman suit!

What makes James truly remarkable, however, is his generosity in sharing his knowledge with aspiring project managers. He’s passionate about helping others identify their own paths and empowering them to navigate their personal PM journeys.

Today, James will share his insights on how to determine if project management is the right career for you and how to chart a successful path forward in this dynamic field.

Show Notes:

:30 – Meet James Phillips

Learn about James Phillips, an informatics analyst and dynamic leader with expertise spanning healthcare informatics, PR, marketing, project management, and medical coding. Discover how to know if you’re cut out to be a PMP (Project Management Professional) and how to connect with resources for certification.

2:31 – Started Out in Hawaii

James shares his roots in Hawaii and how they shaped his early journey.

3:00 – The 9th Island of Hawaii

Discover why UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) is considered the 9th island of Hawaii and how it became part of James’s story.

4:00 – Beginnings in PR & Marketing

James reflects on his early career in public relations and marketing, where glitz and glamour weren’t always what they seemed.

7:00 – Transition to Medical Coding

How James shifted to medical coding and discovered his passion for healthcare informatics.

8:30 – What Is Medical Health Systems Coding?

James explains the role of medical health systems coding and its importance in the healthcare industry.

9:54 – What Is Project Management?

What does a project manager do, and how can you start your career in this field? James shares his insights.

11:00 – Choosing Your Industry

Tips on how to choose the right industry for your skills and interests, based on James’s experience.

17:30 – Lean Six Sigma Certification

James discusses his Lean Six Sigma certification and its value for project managers.

19:00 – What Certifications Should You Get as a PM?

Explore the certifications that James recommends for project managers to excel in their careers.

20:00 – Work-Life Balance and Skills Balance

James shares his approach to balancing work, life, and skills development.

21:00 – Color Blocking: Scheduling for Balance

Learn how James uses color blocking and time management techniques to maintain work-life balance.

22:00 – Time Blocking in Your Calendar

Tips on effectively managing your time and prioritizing tasks with time blocking.

24:00 – Getting Involved in Your PMI Chapter

The benefits of engaging with your local Project Management Institute (PMI) chapter

In this episode, we talk with Mehul Shah, the Senior Director for the PMO and Operations at Universal Destinations and Experiences (Universal Studios).

He started out in electrical engineering and found his way thru data analytics into project management. He’s worked at PMOs in many different industries at companies like GE, Siemens, Scholastic, and now Universal and is going to share about his superpower of "techno-functional leadership" in building great teams that deliver the best project success. He'll also dive deep into intersection of project management, data analytics, AI and machine learning.

And you’ll hear a bit about what its like to work next door to roller coasters!

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Show Notes

2:00 - Intro to Mehul: Electrical Engineering background, PM leadership journey, and technical roles at GE and Accenture

3:00 - Modernizing legacy infrastructure and tech stacks

3:20 - Keys to team success: Collaboration and collective knowledge

4:17 - Transition from technologist to techno-functional leader

5:43 - Leveraging data insights for successful projects

6:00 - Modernization efforts: Driving business-critical initiatives

7:00 - Leadership programs at GE and early career growth

7:16 - Era of AI and NLP: Why data and AI are not optional

8:00 - Your data should do something for you: Making data actionable

9:00 - The three most important data points for any business

14:00 - The intersection of project management, data, and technology

15:00 - How project management has evolved over the past 20 years

19:00 - Reverting to spreadsheets when systems are disparate

20:00 - Change management and adapting to new tools

Working as a project manager in the non-profit world is rewarding. The projects you work on help fulfill a mission driven vision that you can "get behind". But it also comes with great responsibility when -for instance- you manage multi-million dollar grants which hinge on successful project outcomes.

Our guest on this episode is Michelle Dickstein, a PMP from the nonprofit sector - who has many PMP superpowers, including flexible communication, the ability to manage broad expectations, and functioning as a liaison between product teams.

She has her masters in public health and also brings expertise in setting up enterprise PMOs, which she amusingly refers to as "Mary Poppins syndrome"—but you'll have to listen to find out why.

*Introducing Michele.

*PM geek moments.

*Michelle’s PMP journey.

*Universal PM challenges across industries.

*Being a PMP in the nonprofit sector.

*Mission-driven projects.

*Supporting medical teams with PMP skills.

*Pregnant with twins during a project.

*Other unexpected health challenges.

*Navigating government-funded grants.

*Flexible communication strategies.

*Ensuring realistic timelines.

*Michele's Blog

Project Insight Website: projectinsight.com

Watch Video Podcast https://youtu.be/HqX50u6krSU?si=JHlHkBtZ7k52uVuM

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This episode features "Time Ninja," Lindiwe Stenberg, PMP of PayPal. She's a master of setting realistic project timelines to make time for work-life balance. (Something often elusive in a project manager's world).

Listen now, to hear about the "Gantt chart in her head" and how to stack projects to make work efficient as possible.

*Productivity Balanced with Work-Life Balance: Lindiwe shares strategies for balancing high productivity with personal life.

*Setting Realistic Timelines: The superpower of establishing achievable project deadlines.

*Seeking Efficiencies: Techniques to execute tasks without wasting time.

*Work-Life Balance for Project Managers: Tips on maintaining harmony between work and personal life.

*Time Management Skills: Gathering abilities to effectively manage timelines.

*Nursing and Time Management: Applying nursing time management skills to project management.

*The Art and Intuition of PM Skills: Exploring the skill, art, and intuition involved in project management.

*Mental Gantt Charts: How to visualize project timelines internally.

*Stacking Projects: Learning to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

*Efficient Execution: Executing tasks efficiently without unnecessary delays.

*Setting Work Boundaries: The importance of stopping work at a specific time.

*Project Communications: Understanding how others' work impacts yours, especially in cross-functional teams.

*Automating Messages and Emails: Utilizing automation in project collaboration.

*Event Project Management Powers: Special skills required for managing events.

*Balancing Multiple Roles: Managing a full-time job, master's studies, volunteer work, and serving as a chapter secretary.

The cyber landscape is changing constantly. Cybersecurity Project Managers have to be comfortable with change at any moment-even if it means not completing a project they started. In episode 2 of "WYTCW", we talk to cyber program managers, Jen and Sukanya about what it’s like to manage security projects for the largest gaming company in the world, Activision Blizzard King.

This episode of Wear your Cape to Work features Steven Hall, a project manager from fairlife, milk company. We're applauding Steven's knack for cross-functional relationships and how his belief in farilife's mission to "nourish the modern world" fuels his daily project work...or it is he really fueled by chocolate milk?

The tech industry is at the forefront of innovation and problem solving. And while engineering and computer-related roles are some of the fastest growing fields in the U.S., women only hold about 25% of those positions.

We sat down with Christine Cunliffe, Chapter Director of ChickTech OC, and Ellen Tran, volunteer with the organization, to discuss the importance of presenting hands-on tech opportunities to the community, company diversity and how their organization helps women excel in the tech field.

To learn more about ChickTech or to donate, visit their website: https://chicktech.org/

The Project Management job market is as competitive as it is diverse. How do you set yourself apart? We know there are many questions surrounding getting your PMP certification such as, "When as a project manager should you make it official?" or "Does the certification make the person?"

We sat down with Melvin Randle, Independent Project Management Consultant, to get some answers and he walked us through how those three letters known as PMP impacted his career as a project manager.

Ghostwriters — They're the unsung heroes of the content world, quietly helping to establish your favorite brands and influencers as thought and industry leaders. We talk benefits, challenges and down right obscure with ghostwriter Sarah Fister Gale to discuss the "snackable content" she writes.

Artificial Intelligence has emerged on the scene as a gamechanger, soon to be disrupting every aspect of our lives. Aside from understanding what AI is, the more important question to address is HOW it’s changing the landscape of business and the economy.

We talk with Adrien Book, strategic consultant specializing in emerging technologies and blogger about what should be asked of tech companies and of humanity when it comes to AI.

Read Adrien's blog: https://hackernoon.com/@ThePourquoiPas