PMO Strategies

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working

Most PMOs acknowledge risk management. Very few actually practice it. There is a difference between logging risks and managing them, and that gap is quietly costing organizations the projects they cannot afford to lose.

In this episode of the PMO Strategies podcast, I am joined by Russ Parker, PMP®, PMI-RMP®, PMI-ACP®, owner of 44 Risk PM and a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer. Russ draws direct parallels between military planning discipline and how project organizations should embed real risk expertise to stop operating in perpetual crisis mode and start delivering the outcomes they were hired to produce.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why risk registers get created once and never revisited, and the pattern behind it
2. The three root causes that turn risk management into an organizational formality
3. How project managers accidentally become fire starters instead of fire preventers
4. What a Risk Management Professional actually does inside a PMO
5. How AI accelerates risk identification, historical analysis, and risk workshop preparation
6. One of the most underused tools in project management
7. Why positive risks are being ignored and what that costs your project delivery
8. Practical steps to build risk management discipline right now

Press play to discover how adding disciplined, specialized risk management to your PMO structure could be the most strategic decision you make for your project delivery outcomes this year.

Connect with Russ Parker:

Follow Russ on LinkedIn

Learn more about 44 Risk PM

Subscribe to The Bearded Risk PM on YouTube

P.S. If leadership keeps questioning the value of your PMO, the problem is probably not your team. It may be your starting point. Join me on Tuesday, June 2 at 12:00 PM EDT | 5:00 PM BST for a free House of PMO webinar on how PMOs can become seen, trusted, and valued for the IMPACT they create. This is also a great opportunity to ask questions if you’ve been curious about IMPACT Engine Fundamentals, IMPACT Engine Practitioner, or the full IMPACT Engine System. Register for the free webinar here.

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights!

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Failure hits differently when you lead transformation.

When governance fails to stick. When prioritization gets ignored.

When a roadmap stalls. It feels personal.

But what if it's not failure? What if it's feedback?

In this episode, I challenge the belief that setbacks are verdicts.

We reframe them as data that sharpens strategy and design.

What You'll Learn:

• Why transformation setbacks feel personal for PMO leaders

• The difference between failure thinking and feedback thinking

• How governance breakdowns expose executive misalignment

• The early career lesson that led to The IMPACT Engine

• What failing forward looks like in disciplined PMO leadership

🎧 Press play to shift from protecting credibility to strengthening your system.

P.S. Is your PMO seen as overhead instead of strategic? Most PMOs don't fail because of people or tools. They fail because of positioning. Watch the free Rescue Your PMO webinar to assess what's going wrong and fix it fast. Learn more and register now.

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights!

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working

Challenge a common belief: moving faster means accepting more risk.

That tradeoff is outdated.

My guest this week is Egil Østhus, Co-founder and CEO of Unleash, a leading open-source feature management platform helping enterprises reduce innovation risk and connect software delivery directly to measurable business outcomes. Egil brings experience from both engineering and PMO leadership roles, giving him a rare perspective that bridges strategy, delivery, and real-world execution.

Together, we explore how PMO and transformation leaders can go fast and stay in control by shifting from celebrating releases to measuring real business outcomes. Traditional delivery metrics like on-time and on-budget are not enough. Senior leaders don’t care that software was deployed. They care whether it improved customer experience, reduced risk, or increased revenue.

What You’ll Learn:

1. Why shipping to production is not the same as delivering business value
2. How controlled feature releases create faster learning cycles
3. Why small experiments outperform large scope commitments
4. How to measure success through stakeholder-defined outcomes

If you are ready to accelerate strategy delivery without creating operational chaos, this episode will reshape how you think about speed, risk, and IMPACT.

👉 Press play and start iterating your way to measurable business value.

Connect with Egil:

Follow him on LinkedIn

Learn more about Unleash

P.S. If leadership keeps questioning the value of your PMO, the problem is probably not your team. It may be your starting point. Join me on Tuesday, June 2 at 12:00 PM EDT | 5:00 PM BST for a free House of PMO webinar on how PMOs can become seen, trusted, and valued for the IMPACT they create. This is also a great opportunity to ask questions if you’ve been curious about IMPACT Engine Fundamentals, IMPACT Engine Practitioner, or the full IMPACT Engine System. Register for the free webinar here.

I welcome your feedback and insights!

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Business Acumen

Industry benchmarking has become one of the most sophisticated ways leaders justify decisions they already want to make.  

“Top-performing organizations are doing this.”  

“Best-in-class companies operate at this maturity level.”  

Suddenly the direction feels obvious. Except it isn’t. 

In this episode, I examine how benchmarking quietly derails performance when context is mistaken for strategy. Maturity chasing feels disciplined. Governance expansion feels responsible. But when structure outpaces capability, execution slows instead of accelerates. 

You’ll hear why benchmarking is politically powerful, how maturity models create false signals of advancement, and where complexity without capability creates fragility inside your governance systems. 

What You’ll Learn 

1️⃣Why benchmarking reduces accountability instead of strengthening it 

2️⃣How maturity scores improve while performance stays flat 

3️⃣The structural law that complexity must match capability 

4️⃣The disciplined test leaders should apply before adopting any benchmark 

▶️Press play to learn how to design governance systems for measurable IMPACT instead of optics. 

P.S. Stop doing everything yourself and start driving transformation. The IMPACT Engine System™ is our self-paced, implementation framework designed for strategy delivery leaders. Show up with the clarity and confidence your organization needs. Learn more and get started today! 

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

If spreadsheets were the secret to PMO credibility, you’d already have a seat at the executive table. 

Instead, many PMO leaders are buried in trackers, refining templates, and chasing status updates… still not being seen as strategic partners. 

In this episode, I’m reflecting on why tools feel productive but often keep you stuck. I share how over-processing slows you down, how documentation gets mistaken for delivery, and what to focus on instead if you actually want traction and trust. 

What You’ll Learn: 

✅ Why tools feel safe but don’t build credibility 

✅ How over-governance turns you into the bottleneck 

✅ Why documentation is not the same as delivery 

✅ What happens when you stay buried in templates 

✅ How to pivot from tracking activity to driving real business value 

Spreadsheets are useful. Templates are helpful. But they are not the secret to successful leadership. 

👉 Press play and learn how to stop hiding in tools and start leading with strategy.  

P.S. If you’re tired of polishing dashboards and ready to build a true strategic operating system, the IMPACT Engine System™ gives you the framework to shift from tracking work to driving measurable IMPACT. Learn more and register today! 

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

If someone looked at your calendar for the last two weeks, would they see a business leader or a high-priced administrative assistant? 

You tell everyone you’re strategic. You say you’re focused on value. But if your day is packed wall to wall with status updates, meeting invites, and data chasing, your calendar is telling a different story. It’s telling your organization that you are in the weeds, you’re overwhelmed, and you aren’t available for the strategic conversations that actually move the needle. 

In this episode, we talk about the "Time Audit." I share a story about a colleague who mastered the "Power Hour" and why most PMO leaders are doing $15 an hour work while receiving a $50 an hour paycheck. It is time to stop proving you can do everything and start showing you know what to prioritize. 

What You’ll Learn: 

• How to conduct a real time audit to identify your leadership leaks 
• The math behind why "comfort work" is threatening your strategic value perception 
• Why no one ever got promoted for being excellent at Excel 
• How to reclaim your "Power Hour" to focus on strategy before execution 

▶ Press ️play to learn how to audit your time and shift your focus back to where it belongs: on strategy, alignment, and driving business IMPACT. 

P.S. Looking for more guidance on how to build your strategic value as a PMO, transformation, or strategy delivery leader? The IMPACT Engine System helps leadership teams shift from reactive oversight to outcome ownership with the strategic alignment and clarity they need. Learn more and get started today!   

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working

Is your PMO measured by how tightly it controls process and compliance, or by how much it actually contributes to the bottom line? 

Old school PMOs were built for predictability, documentation, and control. In a business landscape that moves this fast, that model has a shelf life. The real divide today is control versus contribution. The PMOs that adapt faster deliver outcomes sooner, earn stakeholder trust, and prove their value with data. 

In this episode, I have an incredible conversation with Youssef Mouzahem, Senior Associate Director of Commercial and Contracts at Jacobs. We dig into how you can evolve your PMO from enforcing processes to driving real business value.

What You’ll Learn: 

• Why traditional PMOs are losing relevance and exactly what is replacing them 
• How to balance structure with speed through adaptive governance 
• The critical role of predictive analytics in proving business value to executives 
• How to move your PMO from compliance driven to results driven 
• The first steps to diagnose your PMO’s maturity and start building your roadmap 

▶ Press ️play to learn how to shift your PMO from process-heavy control to an agile, data-driven engine of measurable business value. 

Connect with Youssef Mouzahem: 

Follow Youssef on LinkedIn 

Learn More About Jacobs

P.S. The IMPACT Engine System helps leadership teams shift from reactive oversight to outcome ownership with the strategic alignment and clarity they need. Learn more and get started today!  

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

85% of managers are accidental managers; promoted without preparation. So how do you uncover blind spots, strengthen psychological safety, and lead with clarity? 

Ben Perreau, CEO of Parafoil, combines AI and behavioral science to help managers become stronger leaders. Discover why traditional leadership development fails PMO leaders and how leadership intelligence offers a practical approach to continuous growth through real-time feedback. 

What You’ll Learn: 

• Why 85% of managers feel unprepared for leadership 
• Blind spots AI helps you spot in real time 
• How AI-powered feedback differs from traditional coaching 
• The single most important feedback ritual every leader needs to put in place 
• Why your superpower isn't in fixing weaknesses; it's in building on your strengths 

Press ▶️ play above to discover how leadership intelligence can transform the way you lead your team. 

Connect with Ben 

Email the Parafoil team 

Connect on LinkedIn 

P.S. Want to move from accidental manager to strategic leader? The IMPACT Engine System gives you the framework to uncover your blind spots, build team trust, and lead with confidence. Learn more and register here. 

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

You know that feeling when you're working incredibly hard, but executives still ask, "What is the PMO actually doing?" 

It's frustrating. You're drowning in meetings, status reports, dashboards, and escalations. So much motion, yet stakeholders still don't see your value. 

The problem isn't your effort. It's clarity. 

In this episode, I'm sharing three deceptively simple questions that change everything about how you're perceived as a PMO or transformation leader. These questions are the difference between being seen as someone who tracks work and being seen as someone who drives business outcomes. 

When you consistently ask these questions, you stop sounding like an order taker and start sounding like a strategist. You move from execution to intent. From activity to IMPACT. 

What you'll learn: 

• How to reframe your work in business terms that resonate with executives  
• Why "because leadership asked for it" is a red flag for misalignment 
• The fastest way to build credibility by reporting IMPACT instead of progress  
• How these three questions anchor directly into the IMPACT Engine System  
• How to transform your PMO from a reporting function to a support partner 

👉 Press play to discover how three simple questions can elevate your entire approach to PMO leadership. 

P.S. If you're ready to become the strategy navigator your business needs, the IMPACT Engine Practitioner Certification gives you the coaching, tools, and step-by-step framework to make it happen. This live online workshop runs for four half-day sessions: February 11-12 and 18-19, 2026. Learn more and register now! 

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

There’s a moment I see over and over again with PMO leaders. 

You’re working hard. 

You’re doing what you were taught. 

You’re tracking delivery, building governance, reporting status, and trying to “earn” credibility. 

And yet…you’re still stuck. 

Still being pulled into admin work. 

Still left out of strategy conversations. 

Still wondering why leadership doesn’t see you as a true partner. 

In this episode of the PMO Strategies podcast, I’m sharing 10 things PMO leaders need to know, but probably don’t. 

Not because you’re not capable. Not because you’re doing it wrong. But because most PMO leaders were never taught what actually builds credibility, trust, and influence at the leadership level. 

What you’ll learn: 

• Why being busy doesn’t equal being strategic 
• The difference between project delivery and strategy delivery 
• Why confidence comes from structure, not having all the answers 
• How reporting activity erodes credibility while outcomes build trust 
• What PMO leaders must stop doing if they want a seat at the table 

🎧 Click play now to rethink what it really means to lead a PMO. 

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS