Most job seekers think interviews are about experience.
 Recruiters know they’re about perception, clarity, and trust.

In this Live conversation, a Director of Recruiting with 20+ years of experience breaks down what actually happens behind the scenes—from first impressions to AI screening myths to why two equally qualified candidates don’t get the same outcome.

We cover:

• What recruiters notice before the first interview question
• Why “Tell me about yourself” eliminates strong candidates
• The biggest interview behaviors that quietly disqualify people
• How recruiters really evaluate communication and credibility
• Why ATS systems don’t work the way LinkedIn claims
• The truth about AI interviews and resume screening tools
• How to stand out when everyone is “qualified”

If you’ve ever felt like hiring is opaque, unfair, or rigged—this conversation explains why and shows you how to navigate it strategically.

This isn’t motivational advice.
 It’s recruiter reality.

Follow Elias at https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliascobb

Find his book on amazon at: https://a.co/d/1GWky20

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Most project managers are trained to execute tasks,  not to drive business outcomes.

In this PM Career Growth LIVE, we sit down with Mark Rozner, PMO leader with 20+ years across healthcare, finance, and enterprise tech, to break down the real shift from tactical PM to strategic business partner.

This conversation goes far beyond frameworks.

We unpack:

Why “installed system” is NOT a success metric

The hidden reason PMs struggle to influence executives

How scope creep actually signals poor decision frameworks

What leaders really listen for in steering committees

How PMs can manage trade-offs instead of tasks

The mindset shift that separates PMs from PMO Directors

If you’re a PM who wants visibility, influence, and trust at the leadership table, this episode is required viewing.

📌 Whether you’re a Project Manager, Program Manager, TPM, or PMO leader, this is how execution turns into strategy.

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Most PMs never get invited into strategy conversations, not because they lack talent, but because they don’t know how to think and speak in strategy language.

In this live conversation, Dr. Marc Sniukas (strategic advisor to global CEOs, author of The Art of Opportunity, and creator of Better Strategy OS) joins Elizabeth Dworkin and Justin MacBale to break down the 4 layers of strategy,  and how project and program managers can finally earn a seat at the table.

You’ll learn:
-What strategy really is (hint: it’s not just a plan or a PowerPoint)
-The 4 layers of strategy: network, corporate, business, and functional
-How portfolio, program, and project management connect to those layers
-How to prioritize strategic challenges using “business survival” as your filter
-The difference between a project that’s off-track and a strategy that’s broken
-How PMs can move from task reporting to decision-enabling
-How to tie risks, trade-offs, and decisions back to business impact & survival
-Ways to cut through noise, eliminate non-strategic work, and focus on what matters
-Practical ways PMs can become strategic partners and build career visibility

If you’re a PM, program manager, or PMO leader who’s tired of being “just execution,” this session will show you exactly how to think, speak, and operate like a strategist,without needing a VP title.

🔗 Connect with Marc Sniukas:
Better Strategy OS & Make Better Strategy School: makebetterstrategy.com
LinkedIn:   / sniukas  

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Executive presence isn’t a title, it’s how you communicate, influence, and lead under pressure. In this PM Career Growth episode, Professor and executive educator Dr. Josh Hammonds (Rollins College; consultant to Uber, Paylocity & more) breaks down the science of credibility, influence, and “reading the room” so Project & Program Managers can drive decisions, de-escalate tense meetings, and show leadership on Zoom and in the boardroom.

You’ll learn:

• What “Executive Presence” really means (credibility, trust, competence, likability) and why it’s the modern rebrand of ethos
• The 4 listening styles on every team (People, Action/Achiever, Explorer/Strategist, Fixer/Detail) and how to tailor your message to each
• How to encode ideas clearly (brain → words) so you sound decisive, not scattered
• Practical ways to de-escalate a hot room (be the thermostat, not the thermometer)
• Micro-expressions & body language 101 to truly “read the room”—even through a screen
• Building presence at every career level: aspiring PMs, new PMs, and seasoned leaders
• When to say “no” without losing trust; how reliable follow-through builds authority
• Video & Zoom presence: hooks, agenda control, transitions, posture, eye contact, audio

If you want to move from task driver to trusted strategic leader, this conversation gives you the language, the frameworks, and the reps.

👥 Guests & Hosts
• Guest: Dr. Josh Hammonds — Professor of Communication & Leadership, Executive Educator & Consultant
• Hosts: Elizabeth Dworkin & Justin J. MacBale, PM Career Growth

🔔 Subscribe for weekly deep dives on project leadership, stakeholder management, influence, and career growth. Join our community of project managers and take your skills to the next level!

💬 Drop your questions in the comments, we’ll answer the best in a follow-up!

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PMOs get a bad rap.
 “Red tape.”
 “Process police.”
 “Report factories.”

In this episode, we sit down with Noah McCloud, founder of Optigold PMO, to break that stereotype and talk about how to turn your PMO into a strategic engine that leaders actually fight to keep.

We dig into:

• What modern PMOs really are (beyond “project management office”)
• Why so many PMOs struggle to show value
• How to build intake, governance, and metrics that actually tie to business outcomes
• Why only 18% of organizations feel their PMs have strong business acumen—and what to do about it
• How PMs can step up from “task managers” to business partners and eventually PMO leaders

If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I prove my PMO isn’t just overhead?” or “How do I become more strategic as a PM?” — this one’s for you.

Guest: Noah McCloud, Founder of Optigold PMO

Noah McCloud is the founder of Optigold PMO, where he helps organizations build, elevate, and optimize PMOs so they function as true strategic partners, not overhead. With 20+ years of experience guiding portfolios, programs, and PMOs across multiple industries, Noah specializes in:

• Connecting strategy to delivery
• Turning PMOs from administrative functions into strategic value engines
• Designing PMO services that focus on outcomes, not just process

You can find Noah at:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-mccloud-55219446/
• Website & blog: optigoldpmo.com
• 00:00 – Intro & why PMOs get a bad reputation
• 02:00 – What is a PMO today? Mission control for change.
• 06:00 – Process police vs. strategic partner: why PMOs lose trust
• 08:30 – Why intake is the first lever for value (and chaos control)
• 13:30 – Prioritization, governance, and tying to strategic themes
• 18:00 – Getting real feedback: surveys, 1:1s, and culture challenges
• 24:00 – Metrics that matter: from “on time/on budget” to business impact
• 30:00 – Safe-to-fail experiments, innovation, and not smothering ideas
• 32:30 – AI, PMOs, and the risk of junk data
• 37:00 – Demonstrating tangible value to teams & executives
• 41:00 – The business acumen gap: why PMs struggle with impact
• 47:00 – Changing methodologies & making hybrid actually work
• 52:00 – Growing into PMO leadership & final advice for PMs

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In this insightful episode, hosts Elizabeth and Justin kick off their PM Career Growth series with an engaging session featuring Elias Cobb, Director of Recruiting at QuantX. Elias shares his extensive expertise in the recruitment process for project managers, revealing crucial tips on resume optimization, the importance of job titles, the role of certifications like PMP, and navigating the recruitment cycle. Key highlights include actionable advice on writing impactful resumes, understanding how AI and recruiters screen candidates, and effectively networking to stand out in the job market. This episode is an invaluable resource for both seasoned and aspiring project managers seeking to advance their careers.
 
 Follow: Elias Cobb at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliascobb/

Follow Elizabeth Dworkin at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ElizabethDworkin
https://www.peaktransformationservices.com

 Follow Justin J. MacBale at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinjmacbale/
https://www.pragintionpm.com

Follow PM Career Growth on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmcareergrowth

 00:00 Introduction and Welcome
 01:19 Introducing the Guest Speaker: Elias Cobb
 02:02 Elias Cobb's Background and Experience
 03:50 Understanding the Recruitment Process
 07:16 Job Requisitions and Qualifications
 09:10 Industry Experience and Transferable Skills
 12:22 Recruitment Challenges and Filtering Techniques
 16:53 The Role of AI in Recruitment
 20:25 Optimizing Your Resume for ATS
 26:59 Project Management Resume Tips
 31:00 Top Qualifications for Project Managers
 32:54 Importance of Budget Responsibility
 33:38 Challenges in Switching Industries
 35:17 Hot Topics in Project Management
 36:35 The Value of PMP Certification
 43:04 Resume Writing Tips
 50:24 Networking and Job Applications
 53:38 Final Q&A and Conclusion
 
 #jobtips #jobsearchstrategy #resumewriting #projectmanagementtips

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