Project Zero

By Alex Tuck

From first steps to best practices — stories that shaped project leaders.

Project Zero is a podcast for project managers — and the PM-curious — who want more than frameworks

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FAQs about Project Zero:

How many episodes does Project Zero have?

The podcast currently has 26 episodes available.

Project Zero episodes:

February 12, 2026Navigating Complex Projects and Embracing Challenges in Project Management with Vidura Stich
In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck welcomes Vidura Stich, a healthcare management consultant from Freed Associates. Vidura shares his journey into project management, starting from his early career and the pivotal moments that led him to where he is today. He discusses the importance of structure and people skills in project management, as well as the impact of mentorship on his career. Vidura also provides insights into how AI is transforming the project management landscape, emphasizing the need to adapt and leverage AI tools for greater efficiency. The episode wraps up with advice for aspiring project managers and a look at the future of AI in the industry.

00:00 Welcome to Season Two of Project Zero
00:16 Meet Vidura Stitch: Healthcare Management Consultant
01:27 Vidura's Journey into Project Management
09:35 The Impact of Mentorship
10:56 Project Zero: A Defining Moment
16:58 Reflecting on Early Projects
17:29 The Thrill of Big Projects
19:14 Key Skills for Project Managers
21:46 The Impact of AI on Project Management
27:05 Innovative Uses of AI in Projects
32:17 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Connect with Vidura Stich
LinkedIn: Vidura Stich
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
33min
November 20, 2025Episode 25: Season One Finale Featuring Project Management Institute (PMI) Global Attendees
In this season one finale of Project Zero, Alex celebrates the show's success and shares memorable moments and favorite highlights from past episodes. The episode features insightful interviews with project leaders whom Alex met at PMI (Project Management Institute) Global. Guests include Marc Verbist discussing the intersection of music and project management, Tanya Boyd on her gumbo recipe metaphor for business success, Shawn Harris on AI integration in project management, and Alex Monroe on agile transformations in a marketing agency. We've brought you an extended episode, packed with valuable insights, practical takeaways, and reflections on the PMI Global conference. Enjoy the final episode and the diverse perspectives from PMI Global attendees.

00:00 Season One Finale Kickoff
00:14 Highlighting Top Episodes and Insights
01:57 Special Guests from PMI Global
04:03 Interview with Mark Verbist
16:52 Interview with Tanya Boyd
32:11 Interview with Shawn Harris
33:45 Exciting Developments in Remote Work and AI Integration
35:21 Insights from PMI Global Conference
36:05 The Role of AI in Project Management
37:53 Practical Applications of AI and Project Management
40:33 Shawn's Project Zero Experience
44:55 Alex Monroe's Journey in Project Management
59:50 Reflections and Future Directions

Connect with Marc Verbist
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcverbist/
Connect with Tanya Boyd:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-boyd-pmp-project-personality/
Listen to Tanya’s Full Project Zero Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504123/episodes/17516816
Connect with Shawn Harris:
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnharris/
Connect with Alex Monroe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-monroe-pmp-a3131224/
Gorilla76: https://www.gorilla76.com/
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/
Email: [email protected]
...more
1h 1min
November 13, 2025Episode 24: The Importance of Process Implementation for Nonprofits
In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck speaks with Galanda Brooker, Alex Morgan, and Martin Quatt about business process mapping. The discussion kicks off with introductions and highlights the importance of this method in improving organizational efficiencies. Martin explains the basics of business process mapping, starting from leadership acknowledgment of the need for change to gathering stakeholder input and creating iterative drafts. The guests share their favorite mapping tools and practical examples of successful implementations, detailing projects for organizations like CCL and St. Michael's College. The conversation also touches on adoption strategies and the value of thorough planning. Tune in for actionable insights on streamlining your company's processes and achieving substantial time and cost savings.

00:00 Introduction to Project Zero

00:09 Meet the Guests: Galanda, Alex, and Martin

02:08 Understanding Business Process Mapping

04:30 Favorite Mapping Tools

07:04 Real-World Examples of Process Mapping

07:43 Client Success Stories: CCL and St. Michael's College

13:36 Implementing Process Maps with Clickup

17:26 Project Timelines and Stakeholder Involvement

25:03 Ensuring Adoption of New Processes

27:37 Conclusion and Wrap-Up

Connect with Galanda Brooker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrooker/
Connect with Martin Quatt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-quatt/
Connect with Alex Morgan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderdmorgan/
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
29min
November 06, 2025Episode 23: Prioritizing People in Project Management with Cathy Matosky
In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Cathy Matosky, a strategic program manager for a digital advertising company and a consultant in operational excellence. Cathy shares her journey into project management, starting from her initial career in medical technology to her current roles. She discusses the importance of focusing on both technical execution and people management, the value of certifications like PMP and Prosci, and how AI is reshaping project management. Cathy emphasizes active listening and curiosity as crucial skills for project managers and advises continuous learning and mentorship for career growth.

00:00 Welcome to Project Zero
00:20 Meet Cathy Matosky: Strategic Program Manager
00:49 Cathy's Journey into Project Management
02:04 The Importance of Certifications
02:57 Embracing Change Management
05:51 The Cyclical Nature of Projects
07:44 Project Zero: Cathy's First Major Project
13:00 The Impact of AI on Project Management
16:02 Essential Skills for Project Managers
18:29 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers
22:22 Defining Project Success
25:07 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connect with Cathy
LinkedIn: Cathy Matosky
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
26min
October 30, 2025Episode 22: Top Leadership Takeaways for Project Managers with Alec Jacobson
In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Alec Jacobson, an ESG consultant and co-founder of AB Power. Alec shares his unique career journey from a freelance journalist and nonprofit founder to his current roles at TetraTech and AB Power. He discusses the skills he developed along the way, including project management as a journalist and leadership lessons learned at Booz Allen. Alec also elaborates on his Project Zero experience, founding a nonprofit news group, and the crucial lessons he learned about communication, giving feedback, and team leadership. They also touch on how AI could impact project management tasks and the importance of junior roles in the professional pipeline.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:42 Alec's Background and Career Journey
02:22 First Encounters with Project Management
03:46 Lessons from Booz Allen
06:31 Project Zero: Founding a Nonprofit News Group
09:05 Key Lessons Learned
15:45 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers
17:46 The Future of AI in Project Management
24:10 Career Reflections and Final Thoughts
27:11 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connect with Alec Jacobson
LinkedIn: Alec Jacobson
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
28min
October 23, 2025Episode 21: Key Priorities for Project Managers to Achieve Effective Service Delivery
This discussion focuses on key areas project managers should prioritize for effective service delivery in small businesses or departments. Emphasis is placed on the importance of comprehensive communication plans, the cadence of communication methods, and ensuring stakeholders are well-informed and engaged throughout the project. The conversation also addresses practical approaches to organizing project documentation, transitioning projects into operations, creating project plans using methodologies like waterfall and agile, and managing risks and issues. The panel also discusses negotiation and escalation tactics to foster better teamwork and adherence to project goals.

00:00 Introduction to Project Management Focus Areas
00:20 Importance of Communication in Project Management
01:14 Effective Communication Strategies
03:43 Live Meetings vs. Asynchronous Communication
06:17 Organizing Project Artifacts
11:56 Building a Project Plan
21:41 Risk and Issue Management
28:38 Assessing Project Risks and Their Impact
29:45 Documenting and Tracking Decisions
30:58 Simplifying Risk Management Processes
31:45 Leveraging AI for Decision Tracking
32:09 Client Communication and Conflict Resolution
33:08 Learning from Past Projects
34:48 Fear Setting and Risk Management
37:14 Negotiation and Escalation Tactics
39:01 Building Strong Relationships for Project Success
43:36 Aligning Projects with Company Mission
51:39 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Connect with Galanda Brooker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrooker/
Connect with Jessica Caresse
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-caresse/
Connect with Alex Morgan
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderdmorgan/
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
38min
October 16, 2025Episode 20: The Project Manager’s Balancing Act with Pete Walker
In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Peter Walker, a co-founder of Navigate, about his extensive experience in project management. Pete shares his journey from being an industrial engineer and psychologist to a project manager working on transformation projects and process re-engineering. Highlighting his 'Project Zero'—an ERP transformation at General Dynamics—Pete recounts the challenges and lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of communication and adaptability. The discussion covers the evolving role of project managers, the significance of organization skills, and actionable advice for aspiring project managers.
00:00 Introduction to Project Zero
00:08 Meet Pete Walker: Co-founder of Navigate
00:30 Pete's Journey into Project Management
01:45 The Role of Engineering and Psychology
03:04 First Major Project: ERP Transformation
10:33 Lessons from Project Zero
15:41 The Importance of Communication
18:31 Future of Project Management
23:01 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers
26:51 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connect with Pete Walker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walkerbusinessconsulting/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigate-and-company/
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
28min
October 09, 2025Episode 19: Breaking Through Your Comfort Zone as a Project Manager with Saby Waraich
In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck welcomes keynote speaker and upcoming author, Saby Waraich. Saby shares his extensive experience spanning 30 years in technology, currently serving as Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Clackamas Community College. He discusses his journey from software development in India to becoming a PMO manager in the U.S., highlighting key projects, especially a challenging transformation at the City of Portland. Saby introduces his framework ‘SCARE to CARES’ for managing complex transformations, touching on key topics such as leadership and communication. He emphasizes the importance of influence as a fundamental skill for project leaders and shares advice for aspiring project managers on achieving career growth. The episode closes with Saby's insights on the practical applications and ethical considerations of AI in project management.

00:00 Introduction to Project Zero Podcast
00:34 Meet Saby: A Journey in Technology and Leadership
02:35 From Software Developer to Project Manager
04:00 The PMP Certification: A Turning Point
06:59 Project Zero: The High-Stakes Challenge
08:28 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Challenges
12:26 Delivering Success Against All Odds
14:16 From Scare to CARES: Leadership Lessons
15:26 Building Trust and Empowering Teams
15:50 Scare to Cares Framework
16:00 Handling Media and Public Perception
18:26 Project Success Amidst COVID-19
19:14 Internal Team Dynamics and Challenges
22:59 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers
27:10 The Role of AI in Project Management
31:36 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Connect with Saby Waraich
LinkedIn: @Saby Waraich
Website: sabywaraich.com
YouTube: @SabyWaraich
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: @Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: @Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
33min
September 25, 2025Episode 18: Developing a Custom Onboarding Plan from Scratch with Matt Mayabb
In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Matt Mayabb, Senior Director of Program Management at NeuroFlow. Matt discusses his journey from working at Humana to being part of NeuroFlow through its acquisition of Quartet Health. He details his nonlinear path in project management, sharing experiences from his early career in a call center to leading complex healthcare projects. Matt highlights key skills for project managers, the importance of listening and empathy, and the potential impacts of AI on the field. He also shares insights into his first major project, onboarding a new executive at Humana, and offers advice for aspiring project managers.

00:00 Introduction to Project Zero
00:18 Meet Matt Mayabb: Senior Director at NeuroFlow
01:20 Journey from Quartet Health to NeuroFlow
01:52 Matt's Pathway into Project Management
04:56 Implementing Innovative Programs at Quartet
15:54 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers
17:53 The Impact of AI on Project Management
21:28 Defining Success in Project Management
23:26 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Connect with Matt Mayabb
LinkedIn: Matt Mayabb
Connect with Alex Tuck
Personal LinkedIn: Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
25min
September 18, 2025Episode 17: Building a PM Career With Senior Project Manager Walt Sparling
In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Walt Sparling, an author, podcaster, and senior project manager with an international real estate company. Walt shares his journey from working in mechanical, electrical, and architectural design to becoming a project manager. He discusses his transition into project management, the challenges and learning experiences during his career, and his first significant ground-up project. Walt emphasizes the importance of communication, organizational skills, and mentorship in project management. He also touches on his use of AI tools for personal projects and the evolving role of AI in the industry. Walt's story highlights the value of adaptability, continuous learning, and the impact of effective communication in successful project management.

00:00 Welcome to Project Zero

00:29 Meet Walt Sparling: From Design to Project Management

02:14 Walt's First Official PM Role

04:12 The Transition from Design to PM

05:36 The Importance of Organization

10:55 Project Zero: Walt's First Ground-Up Project

13:25 Challenges and Mentorship in Project Management

20:41 The Role of Communication in PM Success

24:00 AI's Impact on Project Management

28:42 Reflecting on Success and Sharing Wisdom

Connect with Walt Sparling
LinkedIn: Walt Sparling
Website: pm-mastery.com
Podcast: PM-Mastery
Connect with Alex:
Personal LinkedIn: Alex Tuck
Website: www.tuckconsultinggroup.com
Company LinkedIn: Tuck Consulting Group
Email: [email protected]
...more
32min

FAQs about Project Zero:

How many episodes does Project Zero have?

The podcast currently has 26 episodes available.