The Digital Project Manager

How to Measure the True Impact of Your Projects Oct 29, 2024

In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, the traditional metrics of project management—the iron triangle of scope, schedule, and budget—often fall short in measuring true project success. As projects become increasingly complex, there's a growing need to redefine success metrics to ensure that projects not only meet deadlines and stay within budget but also deliver meaningful and lasting impact.
Galen Low is joined by Pam Butkowski (SVP of Delivery Management at Hero Digital) & Stephanie Best (Managing Director at Greannmhar) to delve into the importance of looking beyond conventional metrics to redefine what success means in project management.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Pam and Stephanie on LinkedIn
Check out Greannmhar and Hero Digital

How to Choose the Right Volunteer Opportunity to Grow in Your PM Career Oct 22, 2024

Volunteering has long been an avenue for individuals to give back to their communities, but its impact on professional development, particularly in project management, is a lesser-known benefit.
Galen Low is joined by Yasmina Khelifi (Senior Project Manager) & Mayte Mata Sivera (Head of PMO) to discuss how their volunteer experiences have significantly propelled their careers.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Mayte and Yasmina on LinkedIn
Get 15% off Mayte & Yasmina's book The Volunteering Journey to Project Leadership

Three Toxic Things About Agency Life (And How To Avoid Them) Oct 15, 2024

In today's ever-changing job market, the true sense of security isn't found in the confines of our current employment but in our ability to generate income through building new relationships.
Galen Low is joined by Max Traylor—The Consultant’s Consultant and Founder of Max Traylor LLC—to delve into the concept of job security and emphasizes that true stability in one's career stems from developing the ability to generate income independently of a single employer.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Max on LinkedIn and X
Check out Max’s website
Beers with Max Podcast
Max’s book: Agency Survival Guide

How PM's Can Deliver More Strategic Value In A GenAI World Oct 09, 2024

In an era marked by rapid technological evolution, project managers stand at the forefront, uniquely positioned to harness these changes to deliver strategic value. The burgeoning world of generative AI offers both challenges and opportunities.
Galen Low is joined by Jean Kang (Founder of Path To PM), Ordonna Sargeant (Director of Data Governance at American Express), Mukhtar Kadiri (Program Director at WorkTipsPro) to explore the current landscape and future directions for project managers.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Jean, Mukhtar, and Ordonna on LinkedIn

How I Deliver Programs That Span The Digital And The Physical Oct 01, 2024

In today's fast-paced market, mastering the complexities of hybrid project management has become a necessity. Hybrid project management, which blends traditional and agile methodologies, allows for more flexible and efficient project delivery.
Galen Low is joined by Ann Campea—VP of Operations at TrueSense Marketing & Host of The Everyday PM Podcast—to share her wealth of experience from overseeing iconic toy brands at Hasbro to navigating dynamic tech environments at Amazon and Apple.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Ann on LinkedIn
Check out TrueSense Marketing
The Everyday PM Podcast

Do Project Managers Make Good Consultants? Sep 24, 2024

In a digital landscape that's constantly evolving, the role of project managers and other agency professionals is being redefined. It's no longer sufficient to simply manage tasks; the expectation now is to adopt a consultant mindset, one that actively seeks to add value at every turn.
Galen Low is joined by Max Traylor—The Consultant’s Consultant and Founder of Max Traylor LLC—to explore how shifting your perspective from merely completing projects to becoming a trusted advisor can unlock new opportunities, enhance client retention, and significantly grow your career.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Max on LinkedIn and X
Check out Max’s website

What I Wish I Knew Before I Took My First Director-Level Agency Role Sep 17, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital project management, rising through the ranks from individual contributor to a director-level role can seem like a daunting but exhilarating climb.
Galen Low is joined by Jessica D'Amato Crosby—Director of Digital Marketing at Vye—to explore her journey and the pivotal lessons she learned along the way.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn and X
Check out Vye

Why EQ Is The Key To Successful AI-Enabled Projects Sep 10, 2024

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the role of project managers is constantly being redefined. As we delve deeper into the age of AI, one might wonder how traditional project management skills can coexist and even thrive alongside these technological advancements. Enter emotional intelligence (EQ), often hailed as a project manager’s secret weapon.
Galen Low is joined by Ann Campea—VP of Operations at TrueSense Marketing & Host of The Everyday PM Podcast—to discuss the intersection of AI and EQ in the realm of project management.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Ann on LinkedIn
Check out TrueSense Marketing
The Everyday PM Podcast

Why Volunteering Matters To Me (And Why It Should Matter To You, Too) Sep 03, 2024

Volunteering has long been a noble endeavor, but did you know it can also be a game-changer for your career, especially in project management?
Galen Low is joined by Karl Sakas—Agency Advisor at Sakas & Company—to uncover how volunteer work can set you apart in the competitive field of project management.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Karl on LinkedIn
Check out Sakas & Company
VolunteerMatch (directory for finding volunteer opportunities)
Idealist.org (volunteer listings, in additional to full-time jobs)
Pro bono marketing: 10 guidelines for non-profit clients

How PMs Can Unify Marketing, Sales, & Customer Success to Deliver Impactful Projects Aug 27, 2024

In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, the success of any digital product hinges not just on the technology behind it but also on the harmonious collaboration among various teams within an organization.
Galen Low is joined by Jessica D'Amato Crosby—Director of Digital Marketing at Vye—to delve into the increasingly important trend of breaking down the silos between digital marketing teams, sales teams, customer success teams, and many others, to create a unified and seamless customer experience.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn and X
Check out Vye
The book Jess mentions is “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard” by Chip and Dan Heath

How To Facilitate Remote Workshops With Physical Props Aug 20, 2024

In today's rapidly evolving digital world, the ability to effectively facilitate remote and hybrid workshops has become an invaluable skill, particularly for project managers.
Galen Low is joined by Theresa Bailey—Founder of Starfish Synergies—to share actionable tips for facilitating engaging and productive workshops in both remote and hybrid settings.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Theresa on LinkedIn
Check out Starfish Synergies

How to Identify & Support Your Best Accidental Project Managers Aug 14, 2024

In today’s fast-paced business environment, project management is more critical than ever. But should you appoint an existing employee to take on the role or hire a dedicated project manager?
Galen Low is joined by Karl Sakas—Agency Advisor at Sakas & Company—to explore whether deputizing (or appointing) a project manager is a short-term solution or a long-term strategy.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Karl on LinkedIn
Check out Sakas & Company
Don't hire "reluctant employees" at your agency
Unsung heroes: 42 ways your PMs saved your agency this week
Are project managers "work babysitters"?
Save $100 on Karl's on-demand "Agency PM 101" training for deputized project managers, with code DPMPODCAST at checkout.

How to Build Connectedness & Improve Wellness in Your Project Team Aug 08, 2024

In today’s fast-evolving remote work landscape, fostering team collaboration and togetherness has become paramount.
Galen Low is joined by Theresa Bailey—Founder of Starfish Synergies—to provide invaluable insights into transforming team dynamics, building connections, and creating a safe environment for innovation and productivity.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Theresa on LinkedIn
Check out Starfish Synergies

How To Talk With Leadership Teams About Ownership & Accountability Jul 30, 2024

Have you ever been part of a project that seemed to be going smoothly until it suddenly derailed due to unclear roles and responsibilities? Or perhaps you've found yourself in a frustrating situation where everyone seems to be pointing fingers, blaming others for not pulling their weight. The RACI matrix, a simple yet powerful tool, can be the antidote to these organizational headaches.
Galen Low is joined by Cassie Solomon—Award-winning Author & the CEO of The New Group Consulting—to delve into the intricacies of RACI, exploring how it can transform the way teams collaborate and achieve their goals.
Resources from this episode:

Join DPM Membership
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Connect with Cassie on LinkedIn
Check out The New Group Consulting
Growing Pains: Building Sustainably Successful Organizations
Leading Successful Change: 8 Keys to Making Change Work
Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey?

Enterprise RACI: Effective Decision-Making at Scale Jul 23, 2024

In today's fast-paced business environment, efficient decision-making processes can be the difference between success and failure. Organizations often struggle with bottlenecks and unclear responsibilities, which can hamper progress significantly. The venerable RACI chart, a tool for defining roles and responsibilities, emerges as a beacon of clarity—not just at the team level but also at the enterprise level.
Galen Low is joined by Cassie Solomon—Award-winning Author & the CEO of The New Group Consulting—to explore the transformative potential of RACI.

How Agencies Can Get The Most From Their Freelance PMs Jul 09, 2024

In today's fast-paced, ever-evolving digital world, agencies are increasingly relying on the flexibility and expertise of contract project managers to navigate complex projects efficiently.
Galen Low is joined by Marissa Taffer—Founder of M. Taffer Consulting—to dive deep into the intricacies of hiring and maximizing the value of contract project managers.

Co-Regulation and Emotional Intelligence in Project Management Jun 27, 2024

In today’s dynamic world of project management, the intersection of neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety is becoming increasingly critical.
Galen Low is joined by Carole Osterweil—Project Troubleshooter, Executive Coach, Author, and founder of Visible Dynamics—to delve into the role of understanding human behavior in achieving project success.

The Impact Of Return To Office On Project Managers Jun 11, 2024

The ever-evolving workplace dynamics, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, have brought forth an array of challenges and opportunities in the field of project management. Organizations are grappling with the question: Can a return-to-office mandate coexist with high project productivity?
Galen Low is joined by Karla Eidem, Regional Managing Director (North America) at Project Management Institute, to shed light on this intricate issue.

A Digital PM's Guide To Privacy In 2024 May 29, 2024

Data privacy has transcended beyond mere legal checkboxes into a realm where ethical considerations and user trust define the success of digital projects. With the rapid advancements in technology, the handling of user data has become a complex web of responsibility that project managers cannot afford to overlook.
Galen Low is joined by Mackenzie Dysart, Delivery Principal at Thoughtworks, to give listeners a comprehensive roadmap to navigate the often murky waters of digital privacy.

The Future of PMOs and How to Support Informal PMs May 07, 2024

In the dynamic world of digital project management, the role of the project manager is continually evolving, adapting to the ebbs and flows of the industry's needs. Amidst this evolution, the emergence of informal project managers is a trend that cannot be overlooked.
Galen Low is joined by Bruno Morgante, VP Global Head of PMO at The Adecco Group, to delve deeper into this phenomenon and its implications for the Project Management Office (PMO).

The Evolution of Agile Principles & How to Apply Them in Today’s World May 02, 2024

The Agile methodology has undoubtedly revolutionized project management, reshaping the way teams collaborate, deliver value, and embrace change.
Galen Low is joined by Jim Highsmith, co-author of the Agile Manifesto, to discuss the ongoing evolution of Agile principles and their application in today's ever-changing digital landscape.

How to Use AI to Tailor Your Status Reports for Your Audience Apr 16, 2024

The art of effective communication within project management cannot be overstated. As the digital world evolves, the role of AI in this domain has become increasingly significant. But can generative AI be trusted to tailor your project status updates?

Galen Low is joined by Devin Mahoney, CEO of QTalo, to unravel the complexities of project communication in the digital age.

What If Project Management Was Taught In Grade School Apr 02, 2024

In a world that's increasingly governed by complex projects and collaborative efforts, the question arises: why isn't project management being taught in grade schools?
Galen Low is joined by Mark Burnett, CEO of Reasoning With Mark, to introduce a revolutionary idea: integrating project management skills into grade school curricula.

Can Behavioral Science Make Your Projects More Successful? Mar 20, 2024

In the rapidly evolving world of project management, methodologies such as Agile and Waterfall have long dominated the discourse. However, the integration of behavioral science into project management practices is carving out a new frontier, promising more effective and human-centered methodologies.
Galen Low is joined by Dr. Josh Ramirez—CEO of The Institute for Neuro & Behavioral Project Management—to talk about the role of behavioral science in project management, how it impacts our beloved project methodologies, and why it could become an important part of the future of project management.

Not Your Parents’ PMO: How To Rebrand Your PMO And Double Your Success Rate Mar 07, 2024

What is the role of a PMO in a modern organization, and why do people think that it's only administrative?
Galen Low is joined by Olivia Montgomery—Senior Analyst at Capterra—to discover how the often-misunderstood role of PMOs is revolutionizing the business world.

How AI Can Help PMs Deliver Feedback Feb 22, 2024

How can Generative AI enhance your team's feedback process?
Galen Low is joined by Projjal Ghatak—CEO and Founder of OnLoop—to unlock the secrets to elevating your team's performance through the power of Generative AI in feedback delivery.

You’re Using Notion Wrong: How to Set up PM Software for Serious Project Work Feb 07, 2024

Is Notion fit for managing complex digital projects that involve larger organizations?

Galen Low is joined by Frances Odera Matthews—Founder of The Notion Bar—to shed light on some of the biggest mistakes people make when configuring and driving adoption around Notion and other project management tools.

How To Plan Your PM Career with DPM Expert, Pam Butkowski Jan 30, 2024

Ever wondered how to climb the professional ladder from intern to Senior Vice President?
Pam Butkowski, Senior Vice President of Delivery Management at Hero Digital, joins us to unravel career trajectories for digital project managers.
Whether you're contemplating a shift in roles, looking to maximize your impact as a PM, or simply seeking inspiration for your professional journey, this episode is charged with strategies to steer you towards success. Join us, and let's map out the future of your digital project management career together.

How To Land A Project Management Job With No Experience Jan 16, 2024

In the ever-evolving field of project management, professionals often find themselves considering the best path to success. Should they specialize in a specific area or gain a diverse range of experiences?
Galen Low is joined by Jean Kang—Sr. Program Manager at Figma & Founder of Path To PM—to talk about her journey of career pivots and how each pivot contributed to her current role.

How Soft Skills Can Land You A Job In Project Management Jan 10, 2024

Have you ever looked back at the twists and turns of your career path and wondered how each step led you to where you are today?

Our guest, Ryan Gilbreath, joins us to share his journey to where he is today.

From the childhood dream of becoming an archaeologist to beat-making in college, Ryan's story is a great reminder of how our early passions often pave the way for future successes.

How To Get Promoted & The Truth About Life As A Senior PM Dec 21, 2023

What’s the difference between managing projects and leading projects?

Galen Low is joined by Tracy Hennessey and Pam Butkowski—the VP and SVP of Delivery Management at Hero Digital—to talk about career paths for project managers, specifically what options lie beyond the Senior Project Manager role, what it takes to get there, and what people don’t tell you about how it changes your professional life when you do get there.

How A Toxic Workplace Made Me A Better Project Manager Dec 12, 2023

Ever found yourself struggling in a toxic corporate culture? You're not alone.
Join us as we share our experiences navigating the choppy waters of project management and how to adapt, survive, and thrive.
Our guest, Karen Chong, is a seasoned digital project manager and a respected DPM community member. With her background in psychology, she brings a unique perspective to our conversation—sharing her journey from understanding human behavior in a clinical setting to implementing it in project management.
Karen offers insightful advice on the art of dealing with cross-cultural teams and the hiccups that language barriers can create, along with the importance of adapting project management to fit the team and project at hand.

How To Embrace AI While Keeping Your Projects Human Nov 28, 2023

Ever imagined a world where AI liberates us from mundane tasks, freeing us to channel our unique skills and creativity?

Galen Low is joined by Kelli Korducki—Independent Journalist (wrote for The Atlantic, The New York Times and NYT Magazine, Insider, The Guardian, and more)—to talk about the use of AI tools and large language models in digital industries.

What Makes a Good PM & How Much Technical Knowledge You'll Need Nov 21, 2023

Ever wondered what it takes to lead a team and grow a department into a $1.7 million powerhouse?
Tune in as we glean insights from the inspiring journey of Christina Avino—an associate director of project management at Seer Interactive—whose strategies and experiences have helped her shape her PM department into a lucrative business arm. From her humble beginnings as a co-op student at a marketing agency, she’s honed key project management skills and attributes. She shares with us what makes a great project manager, the importance of technical know-how, and the number one skill that all PMs must master.

How To Be A Political Strategist & Gain Popularity As A PM Nov 08, 2023

What does it really mean to be the "popular" PM?
Galen Low is joined by Thako Harris—a seasoned agency leader and VP of Operations at Skully Rebels—to talk about what it means to be the project manager that everyone wants to work with, and how it's got way more to do with organizational politics than it does just minding the triple constraint.

How To Nail Agency Growth in the Fast-Paced Digital Era Oct 26, 2023

In the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is both a challenge and a necessity.

Galen Low is joined by Tammy Valentine—President of LuckyTamm Digital Marketing—to talk about what it takes for boutique agencies to keep pace with the breakneck speed of digital marketing.

How To Become A Better PM Through Peer Mentorship Oct 19, 2023

Imagine landing in the challenging world of project management and finding a community that not only supports but fuels your professional growth.

Keegan McCready, has harnessed the power of communities like the DPM and the local PMI chapter to transform his career journey. Keegan's story is the living proof of the impact of a supportive community network that helped him not just survive a layoff but thrive in unexpected ways.

Listen in to hear Keegan's experiences of building relationships, solving complex problems, and scaling Asana across an organization with the collective wisdom of his peers.

How To Harness The Power Of Your Org's PMO In Digital Transformation Oct 11, 2023

What if we told you that purpose-driven Project Management Offices (PMOs) could dramatically transform your company's productivity and bottom line?
That's exactly what we're unpacking today with Joe Pusz—Founder and President of The PMO Squad. With years of experience and a passion for project management, Joe shares his journey from corporate project manager to PMO guru, explaining why he is on a mission to help companies identify and harness the power of their PMOs.
Tune in to explore the challenges and solutions for PMOs in leadership development programs, and the potential of training budgets to fund professional coaching.

How Joining An Online Community Can Help You Grow As A PM Oct 04, 2023

Ever wondered how being part of various online communities can provide value to your career?

Nicolassa Galvez, CEO and Founder of Chingona Coach, offered us a wealth of insights on this topic as she shared her approach to managing time and contributions within these digital realms and introduced the unique concept of anti-career coaching.
She shared how diverse communities—ranging from anti-career coaching to Latinas growing their businesses—provide her with mentorship, a sounding board, and an invaluable resource pool.
This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to grasp the power of professional communities and the realities of a project management career.

How to Make Agile Work Effectively at Agencies Sep 28, 2023

Ever wonder why agencies grapple with the transition from traditional project management to Agile methodologies?
Wonder no more! Dave Prior—Certified Scrum Trainer and Agile thought leader—shares how to implement Agile in an agency context. Drawing from his experience in a New York digital agency, Dave dives into the hurdles around adopting Agile and how past failures can lead to skepticism towards this methodology.

How To Handle Project Changes When They Happen Without Your Approval Sep 14, 2023

Ready to tackle the project changes that inevitably come up? Want to understand how to effectively manage underperformance within your team?

Our seasoned panel of Digital Project Management professionals — Pam Butkowski, Sally Shaughnessy, & Patrice Embry — share their tried-and-tested strategies to navigate these situations with poise and effectiveness. They'll guide you through scenarios such as clients adding deliverables, new clients rotating into a project team, and underperforming team members. You'll discover the power of leading with empathy, advocating for your project, and understanding the cause and effect of changes.

How To Run An Effective Retro & Apply Lessons Learned to Future Projects Sep 12, 2023

Learn to navigate your next project retrospective with ease!

Galen Low is joined by Payson Hall—Principal Consultant at Catalysis Group—to talk about project retrospectives: how to run them effectively and how to ensure that the lessons you capture in your retrospectives actually translate into improvements for future projects.

Agency vs In-House PM: Which Role is Best? Aug 29, 2023

Get ready to elevate your project management game as we sit down with Melody MacKeand, a Principal Consultant for Partner Enablement at Teamwork. With a career spanning from project coordinator to PM program manager and portfolio manager, Melody's journey is studded with insights and invaluable lessons. She spills the beans on her unique career trajectory, influenced by her parents' roles as project managers and fueled by her pursuit of relevant certifications. Listen in as Melody lifts the curtain on the vital skills every PM should hone, unveils the secrets behind her successful transition from agency to corporate roles, and shares the sage advice she'd impart to her younger self.

How To Catapult Ahead In Your Career By Making Your Role Redundant Aug 23, 2023

Ever thought about making yourself redundant to supercharge your career?
Galen Low is joined by Alyson Caffrey—Owner and Operator at Operations Agency and Master of Maternity Leave—to talk about making yourself redundant and how that might be the best thing you can actually do for your professional career.

How To Make A Career Out Of What Interests You Aug 17, 2023

"What do you want to be?" It's the age-old question. And, to help you answer this question for yourself, we're sharing real stories of project managers and how they navigated their career journey to get to where they are today.
In this episode, Michael Mordak is joined by Sara Fisher—Director of Project Management—to talk about her passion for both graphic design and accounting and how she accidentally fell into a role where she can combine her many passions into one.

How to Become A Great Facilitator & Why It'll Make You A Better PM Aug 08, 2023

Struggling with the facilitation aspect of your role as a project manager?
Galen Low is joined by Alice Jakins—Founder & Owner of Getting Digital Done—to talk about the reasons why being a good facilitator is one of the most important superhero skills you can hone as a project manager in 2023, and what you can do to get better at it.

Finding Your Path To Project Management Jul 30, 2023

DPM expert & long-time community member Robyn Birkedal shares about the journey that took her from rebellious student to insertion order faxer and eventually to Digital Project Manager.

How To Select Project Management Software The Right Way In 2023 Jul 19, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Joe Ateya—Lead Software Advisor at SoftwareSelect—to talk about project management software and the journey that nearly every organization faces to get from sustained pain to sustainable efficacy through tools and technology.

How to Unlock Your Best PM Self Through Community Jul 14, 2023

How can you become the best PM you can be?
In this episode, host Michael Mordak is joined by Matthew Fox—Independent Consultant—to talk about how community has impacted his professional career and why you should definitely get involved in adventure racing.

How We Used Agile And Blockchain To Build An Intelligent Vaccine Supply Chain Jul 05, 2023

Martin Gelb & Bill Moroz share how their team helped their government spin up an innovative, purpose-built, blockchain-based intelligent supply chain in a matter of months to ensure COVID-19 vaccines were delivered safely and within tolerances across a massive geographical area.

How To Build Your Brand Through A PM Community Jun 28, 2023

Michael Mordak is joined by Patrice Embry—Freelance Project Manager & Certified Scrum Master—to talk about how community has impacted her professional career and helped her build her own brand as a freelance project manager.

How Digital Communities Help You Win At Work Jun 28, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Michael Mordak—Community Producer at The Digital Project Manager—to announce a new podcast series—The Spotlight Series—about real digital project managers and their stories. Michael shares how this new series will spark new ideas, shed light on the inner workings of our industry, and provide a truly human perspective to your own journey.

How To Develop The Next Generation Of Top Project Managers May 31, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Barbara Kephart—Founder of Projects Pivot—to talk about the "project managers" that don't yet know they're project managers and how businesses can identify and groom individuals like these to become top performers in their project management practice.

How To Build Long-Term Loyalty With Virtual Contractors May 18, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Natasha Golinsky—Founder and Lead Technical Project Manager at On Purpose Projects—to talk about how you can build a loyal, high-performing team from an otherwise disparate, rag-tag group of remote contractors.

The 3 Growth Levers Of Agile Strategy Apr 27, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Simon Severino—CEO & Founder of Strategy Sprints—to break down the processes behind an agile business and how you can make agile strategy a reality for your own.

Is Quiet Quitting Just Setting Clear Boundaries? (And What It Means For PMs) Apr 10, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Sarah Hoban—Senior Director, Program Management Office at Aura—to explore how quiet quitting might actually just be healthy boundary-setting, and what that means for employers, teams, project managers, and the future of work.

What's A RAID Log (And How To Integrate One Into Your Project Workflow) Mar 27, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Kim Essendrup—CEO and Co-Founder of RAIDLOG.com—to talk about RAID logs and how to integrate them into your modern project workflow.

The Future Of The PMP, What It Lacks, And How To Fill The Gaps Mar 13, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Crystal Richards—Principal & Owner of MindsparQ—to highlight what skills a PMP certification doesn't necessarily teach you, how to fill those gaps through professional development, and what the future holds for PMI and the PMP designation.

Getting PMP Certified (And Why It Matters) Feb 28, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Crystal Richards—Principal & Owner of MindsparQ—to talk about what it means to become a certified project management professional, dispelling common misconceptions about the PMP, and digging in to some of the often overlooked advantages of certification.

How to Optimize your Project Management Portfolio Feb 13, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Michelle Watkins—Founder & Managing Partner at Global PMO Partners—to talk about project portfolio management, how to optimize it, and how to get executive buy-in for investing in a tool that helps your projects and businesses run better.

Invisible PM Skills (And How To Hone Them) Jan 25, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Jen Dary—a leadership coach, speaker, and founder of Plucky—to talk about those crucial but otherwise adjacent and invisible skills that separate the great project managers from the rest of the pack.

How To Modernize RACI And Get Team Buy-In Jan 10, 2023

Galen Low is joined by Cassie Solomon—an organizational change and digital transformation leader and author of “Leading Successful Change: 8 Keys To Making Change Work”—to talk about roles and responsibilities and whether a good old RACI chart is still an effective way to achieve clarity on who does what within your team and across your organization.

Humanizing Rapid, Relentless Change Dec 13, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Jon Brombley—Product And Operations Leader at Container Exchange Services—to share his experiences with rapid, relentless change and how he found a way to thrive within it.

Getting A Seat At The Table Of Strategic Planning Nov 27, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Olivia Montgomery—champion of the social sciences, a former PMO director, and a published thought leader—to talk about strategic planning and whether project management has a place at the table.

Delivering AI Projects Nov 23, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Ronald Schmelzer and Kathleen Walch—the managing partners and lead analysts behind Cognilytica, and the hosts of AI Today—to lift the lid on why AI projects fail and why responsible project management is so important to the success of artificial intelligence.

Can Sales And Delivery Teams Get Along? (with Nick Wilkinson from Steamclock) Nov 10, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Nick Wilkinson—the Client Partnerships Manager at Steamclock Software—to talk about the tension between business development teams and project delivery teams and how to make that a healthy tension that pushes your organization forward instead of creating drag.

Developing A Change Mindset (with Melody MacKeand from Teamwork) Oct 25, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Melody MacKeand—a platform rollout specialist and change management champion—to talk through the change management process and how project managers can benefit from developing a change mindset.

Why It’s Getting Harder To Land A PM Role Oct 11, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Jeff Chamberlain—a seasoned IT project management consultant—to tell us what’s different about getting a job as a PM today and shares his tips on how to get yourself noticed.

Measuring Busyness Vs Measuring Results Sep 27, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Fred Fowler—a Level 3 certified Scrum master who has published multiple books on the Scrum methodology—to teach us how to stop measuring busyness and start measuring outcomes.

5 Tips For Managing Multiple Projects Sep 12, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Elizabeth Harrin—an award-winning blogger and author of several books about project and change management—to break down the five tips for managing multiple projects effectively so you can stop sacrificing your evenings and weekends.

The Role Of Project Management In Business Development Aug 24, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Christian Banach—an agency veteran and fierce entrepreneur who grew his own agency into 7-figure revenue—to explain why having a business development mindset can be a game changer for project managers and walks us through his proven framework.

PMBOK 7th Edition And The PM Revolution (with Jesse Fewell) Aug 02, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Jesse Fewell—Founder of Fewell Innovation—shares his story of contributing to the 7th edition of PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge and discusses the implications of the trends in project management that it reflects.

PM Software: Shiny Objects or Gamechangers? Jul 12, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Gray Mackenzie, Co-Founder of ZenPilot, to talk about project management software, whether or not you really need it, and things to avoid when selecting the right tool for your team.

Is Digital PMing Really A Thing? (with Brett Harned) Jun 29, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Brett Harned, Digital PM Consultant and Founder of The Digital PM Summit, to dive into two questions we get all the time: what is digital project management, and how is it different from other types of project management?

Noticing Joy: Leading with Human Centered Project Management Jun 22, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Courtney Johnston, the Director of Community Engagement at The Digital Project Manager, to talk about why keeping humans at the center of digital project management is so important and what results you can expect if you do it right.

3 Warning Signs Your Digital Transformation Is About To Stall May 31, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Bill Moroz, Senior Project Manager at WMA Inc., to break down the most common warning signs that your transformation is in jeopardy and arm you with practical tips on how to respond accordingly to keep the momentum going.

How Solid Program Management Helps Organizations Scale (with Sarah Hoban from Gemini) May 12, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Sarah Hoban, Lead Program Manager at Gemini, to dive deep into the role of the program manager in creating a framework for people-centric change, and how organizations can support that role to achieve healthy, sustainable growth.

Getting The Most Out Of A Software Demo (with Olivia Montgomery from Capterra) Apr 20, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Olivia Montgomery, an Associate Principal Analyst at Capterra, to break down some of the most effective strategies for making the demo phase of your software selection process heaps more relevant to your organization’s specific needs.

How Project-Level Innovation Can Influence Broader Change (with Tim Creasey from Prosci) Mar 29, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Tim Creasey, CIO of Procsi, to explore ways that project managers and leadership teams can collaborate to give micro-innovations a seat at the table for more macro-level changes and how that can help a business thrive.

Finding The Perfect Interlock Between Ops And PMO (with Alyson Caffrey from Operations Agency) Mar 21, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Alyson Caffrey, CEO of Operations Agency, to unpack exactly how to find that perfect interlock between ops team members and project managers to grow the business in a way that everyone on the team can benefit from.

Can Being A Digital PM Get You Into The C-Suite? (with Julia Rajic from No Fixed Address Inc.) Feb 14, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Julia Rajic, the Senior Vice President of Operations at No Fixed Address Inc. to discuss the various career paths of a digital PM, how PMO leaders can support their teams’ professional growth, and whether being a digital PM can get you into the C-suite.

Project Teams Without Project Managers: Exploring The PM Dilemma (with Julia Ryzhkova from Railsware) Feb 01, 2022

Galen Low is joined by Julia Ryzhkova, the Product Manager at Railsware to discuss how one organization is successfully building complex software solutions using distributed, self-managing squads and what that means for digital project management at large.

Secrets Of A High-Performing Enterprise Delivery Team (with Dharma Mehta from Roku) Nov 02, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Dharma Mehta, the Director of Program Management at Roku. Dharma shines a light on the impact an Enterprise Program Manager can have based on his career working in some of Silicon Valley’s most influential companies. Listen to learn the secrets of a high-performing enterprise delivery team.

Can Psychology Make You A Better PM? (With Olivia Montgomery From Capterra) Oct 19, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Olivia Montgomery, a Senior Analyst at Capterra. She shares how her blend of PM skill and background in social sciences helps her navigate personalities within IT projects. Listen to learn how psychology can make you a better PM.

How Will DPMs Influence The Future Of Work? (with Sarah Hoban) Sep 28, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Sarah Hoban, a project manager, product manager, and strategy consultant with 10+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams of engineers and business analysts to execute high-risk multi-million dollar projects. Listen to learn how DPMs are poised to influence the future of work.

How To Talk About Risk And Have Everyone Listen (with Shashwati Roy) Sep 14, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Shashwati Roy, a project manager by profession. She completed her Masters's in Statistics and has worked in the IT Industry ever since. She has extensive experience in the areas of Quality, Release, and Project Management. Listen to learn how to talk about risk and have every one listen.

Making Your Value Visible As An Agency Project Manager (with Pam Butkowski from Hero Digital) Sep 01, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Pam Butkowski, VP of Delivery Management at Hero Digital. She’s spent the majority of her career in client-facing organizations leading digital project management teams at organizations including The Nerdery, Wunderman Thompson, and AIM Consulting. Listen to learn how to make your value visible as an agency project manager.

How To Make Content Creation A Mandatory Part Of Everyone's Job (with Alexa Alfonso from Crema) Aug 03, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Alexa Alfonso, DPM Expert and Manager of Client Engagement at The Nerdery. In her previous role as Director of Growth at Crema, Alexa made content creation a mandatory part of everyone's job. Listen to how she did it, what challenges she faced, and what impact it’s had on the team.

How To Leverage People Data To Run High-Performance Project Teams (with Bentzy Goldman from Perflo) Jul 20, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Bentzy Goldman, Founder, and CEO of Perflo, an innovative and fully distributed startup that helps project teams and their leaders stay aligned and collectively find ways of continuously improving team performance. Listen to learn how to leverage people data to run high-performance project teams.

How To Create A Psychologically Safe Team Environment And Why It Matters (with Samantha Schak from PM with Purpose) Jun 30, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Samantha Schak, founder of PM with Purpose which helps individuals and companies empower their project managers to unlock their full potential. As for side projects, Samantha produces a mental health podcast, But Have You Considered Therapy? Listen to learn how to create a psychologically safe team environment and why it matters.

How To Get The Raise Or Promotion You Know You’ve Earned (with Sally Shaughnessy from Aten Design Group) Jun 23, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Sally Shaughnessy, Director of Project Management at Aten Design Group, a digital agency based in Denver, Colorado, delivering full-service web projects for the public sector and non-profit clients. Listen to learn how to get the raise or promotion you know you’ve earned.

Managing Stakeholder Dynamics: Why Meeting Strategy Matters (with Laura Lussier from 10up) May 18, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Laura Lussier, a lead technical project manager at 10up where she leveraged scrum agile methodologies to deliver large-scale digital content management projects. Listen as they share some meeting strategies and tips on how to navigate complex and politicized stakeholder environments.

How To Keep Bad Meetings From Stalling Good Projects (with John Furneaux from Hive) May 10, 2021

Galen Low is joined by John Furneaux, CEO and co-founder of Hive to discuss John's recent article on how to keep meetings productive, collaborative, and clear so that you move the ball forward on your project every time.
Here's a link to John's article on The Digital Project Manager: https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/bad-meetings-kill-good-projects-survivor-guide/

Do Project Management Certifications Matter In Digital? (with Candice Wyatt from Red Door Interactive) Apr 19, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Candice Wyatt, director of project management at Red Door Interactive.
Candice is a veteran delivery leader in both digital solution development and omnichannel brand communications. She has worked with brands including WD 40, Titleist, Bosch, Intuit, and Asics. In her spare time, she's also a writer and a proud supporter of girls in tech.
Tune in as they discuss whether project management certifications are still valuable and how you can leverage them to get your maximum return on investments.

Using Enterprise Data To Communicate Impact & Celebrate Wins (with Agile Delivery Champion, Bill Moroz) Apr 11, 2021

Galen Low is joined by Agile delivery champion, Bill Moroz where they break down how to leverage enterprise data, to celebrate the success of your project and build long-lasting trust with your stakeholders and your team.

How To Build A Culture Of Data-Driven Estimation (with Marcel Petitpas from Parakeeto) Mar 31, 2021

Galen Low chats with Marcel Petitpas, CEO of Parakeeto, a tool that makes sense of historical data to help produce estimates for agencies and in-house teams alike. Tune in to learn about the qualitative side of data-driven estimation and how you can build a culture of data-driven estimation to avoid unique snowflake situations.

How To Build An Agency Sales System (with Lee Goff) Mar 15, 2021

Ben Aston is joined by Lee Goff, Digital Agency Coach, Automation Consultant and Founder of MarketingAgencyCoach.com. Listen as they share tips and tricks on developing an effective sales systems to convert leads to new business for your agency.

Humanize Your Team Resourcing Process To Boost Long-Term Culture (With Morgan Megannety From Skeleton Crew Creative Studio) Feb 16, 2021

Learn tips and tricks for humanizing your team resourcing process and boost long-term culture with agency operations guru, Morgan Megannety.

How To Find And Develop DPMs Who Can Own Technical Complexity (with Matthew O'Bryant from Oomph Inc.) Feb 05, 2021

Learn to hire and grow DPMs who are technical enough to own complex projects with VP, Professional Services at Oomph, Matthew O’Bryant.

You Might Be Looking At Milestones All Wrong (with John Carter from TCGen) Jan 11, 2021

Learn how to use project milestones to empower teams, drive product-market fit, and build trust with innovator and TCGen founder John Carter.

How To Make Your Project Management Socially Intelligent (With Kim Wasson From IvyBay Consulting LLC) Oct 24, 2020

Calling herself a "professional project untangler", Kim Wasson sums up years of experience consulting with teams in program management, project management, process management, and quality assurance in this podcast episode.
Kim has developed deep expertise in software development methodologies and agile processes—and she has witnessed the impact of socially intelligent teams time and time again.
In this episode, Kim explains what social intelligence is, why it's important, and practical examples showing how to use socially intelligent practices as a project manager.

How To Optimize Your Process With Workflow Management (with Marc Boscher from Unito) Oct 09, 2020

Learn how to maximize your team's time by creating workflows that streamline your project processes from Unito Founder and CEO Marc Boscher.

Beyond The Prototype (With Douglas Ferguson from Voltage Control) Sep 24, 2020

How to bridge the gap between exploration and launch? Douglas Ferguson, entrepreneur and human-centered technologist, gives a 6 step plan to follow after a design sprint so you can release something into the wild.

Working Back To Go Forward (With Jeff Gothelf From Gothelf.co) Sep 01, 2020

Learn from agile coacher, speaker, and author Jeff Gothelf about working backwards to go forward with less risk and more confidence in your projects.

Making Agile Work With Metagility (With David Bishop From Agile Worx) Jul 31, 2020

Create an agile framework for your org—learn from David Bishop, technologist, consultant, entrepreneur, and author of a book on a novel concept called "Metagility".

Break It Down: Write A Great Work Breakdown Structure (with Emily Luijbregts from Siemens) Jul 24, 2020

Discover how to reduce complexity and confusion by breaking down your projects into bite-sized pieces that everyone can understand.

Use Project Scope Statements To Save Your Bacon (with Robyn Birkedal) Jul 17, 2020

Discover why scope statements will save your (project) bacon. Learn how to write bullet-proof scope statements, and use them in your projects.

Leading Projects Beyond The Iron Triangle (with Susanne Madsen) Jun 19, 2020

What does it take to go from manager to leader? Hear from Susanne Madsen, internationally recognized leadership coach and consultant.

Why Curiosity Matters—And How To Cultivate It (With Dr. Diane Hamilton From Tonerra) Jun 06, 2020

Do you ever think to yourself, there must be a better way of doing this? Why does this project have to be so painful? The good news is there probably is a better way, and your curiosity might just be the catalyst for making change happen.

Today I'm joined by Dr. Diane Hamilton. the Founder and CEO of Tonerra and Co-Founder of DIMA Innovations, nationally syndicated radio host, keynote speaker, author, and the former MBA Program Chair at the Forbes School of Business. Her groundbreaking work in the area of curiosity helps organizations improve innovation, engagement, and productivity—and today, she's sharing with us her tips for becoming more curious in order to transform the way we work.

Putting Developers In Front Of Clients (with Michael Luchen from Crema) May 26, 2020

If you, like me, are nervous to get your team in front of clients, keep listening: we'll talk about the benefits of client-facing teams and how you, as a project manager, can help pull it off.

Making Career Transition Work (with Dr. Eric Wright from Vets2PM) May 12, 2020

Whether you're moving in, out, or across project management, career transition can be incredibly difficult. Today, I'm joined by Eric Wright, military vet, doctor of business, keynote speaker, coach, and founder of Vets2PM and the Veteran Project Management Mentor Alliance. He met his fair share of career transition hurdles, so now he's helping others and talking about how other people can make more successful transitions in their careers.

How To Create Agility In Projects (with Dimitar Karaivanov from Kanbanize) Apr 27, 2020

In this episode, CEO and Co-founder of Kanbanize Dimitar Karaivanov shares his expertise on how to become more agile through a kanban approach.

Getting Things Done Right (with Michael Luchen from Crema) Apr 12, 2020

Tired of working hard on a project only to have sneaky bugs get in the way at the final UAT? In this episode, I'm joined with DPM expert and product coach Michael Luchen where we discuss the power of a quality management plan in order to get things done right and improve product and process.

How To Build Your PM Toolkit (with Sally Woolston from Nzime) Feb 26, 2020

Looking to grow your PM toolkit and improve processes and efficiency within projects? In today's episode, I'm joined with Sally Woolston where we discuss how we can develop more efficient processes, choose the right tools for our projects, and roll them out across the organization.

Project Economy (with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez from GSK) Jan 30, 2020

In this episode, Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez—author of “The Project Revolution”, "Lead Successful Projects" and “The Focused Organization”—tells the story of project-based work through the centuries. This perspective puts the role of project managers in a new light, showing how projects, the universal model of collaboration, are the driving force behind the major accomplishments in our civilization.

Risky Business (with Kiron Bondale from World Class Productivity) Jan 24, 2020

It's one thing to learn risk management theory, but how do you actually manage risk in real life? In this episode, Kiron Bondale shares his expertise and insights on project risk management strategies and lessons-learned from his years of experience.

Project Manager Or Project Leader? (with Rebecca Germond from FCV Interactive) Jan 20, 2020

There's no comparing when it comes to leadership and management. They're both very important. And there isn't one right way of doing either. In this episode, Rebecca Germond explains the difference between managing and leading and how to utilize the traits of both to become a rockstar PM.

Why Should I Trust You (with Mike Clayton from OnlinePMCourses) Jan 11, 2020

What is the most valuable asset any project manager can have? Trust. In this episode, I talk with Mike Clayton, author of 14 print books on project management, about the components of trust—credibility, reliability, intimacy—and how to earn the trust of your colleagues and clients.

How To Project Manage A Corporate Website Build (With Rich Butkevic From Project Zendo) Dec 16, 2019

An interview with Rich Butkevic, PMP and CSM, about how things fall through the cracks on a corporate website projects so you can prevent them from happening in yours!

Scaling Agile (With Giovanni Asproni From Zuhlke Engineering Limited) Nov 25, 2019

In this episode, we tackle the golden question: how do you scale agile teams and organizations? Following up on his article on "The Hard Truth About Scalability", Software Architect, Programmer, Coach, and Consultant Giovanni Asproni talks about the pitfalls of scaling agile—and how to avoid them.

Onboarding The Right Way (With Sarah Hoban From Booz Allen Hamilton) Nov 13, 2019

Following her article on How To Write An Employee Handbook, PMP certified project/program manager and strategy consultant Sarah Hoban shares her thoughts on how we as project managers can help onboard new employees the right way.

How To Get Website Content From Clients (With James Rose From Content Snare) Nov 06, 2019

A must-listen episode for anyone in account or project management who finds themselves stuck in a perpetual cycle of chasing down clients for files and assets. We talk with James Rose, Co-Founder of Content Snare, a tool designed to help agencies get the right files from clients, on time, and in the right format. Yes, please!

Management Styles (With Tucker Sauer-Pivonka From Crema) Sep 05, 2019

There is no one-size-fits-all management style that works. In this podcast, we dig into the good and the bad of various management styles: Results-based, Democratic, Transformational, Servant Leadership, Transactional. We talk about how personality plays into it, and which styles have worked best for us—and why.

Give Your Colleagues Better Feedback (With Ryan Schaefer From Viget) Aug 26, 2019

How do you give useful feedback to people on your team, even when you don’t have domain expertise? Do you embrace the feedback process, or run from it? Today, we chat with Ryan Schaefer, a digital agency PM who’s worked with brands like Dole Foods and Disney, as he explains how to give great feedback that’ll help your teams deliver better work and keep your projects on track.

How To Manage Stakeholders (With Kelly Suter From Mirum Agency) Jul 09, 2019

In this episode, we join Kelly Suter (as of her last episode, she was in a Technical PM role; now she’s an Executive Producer at Mirum agency) to talk about stakeholder management. Learn her expert tips for managing various types of stakeholders—clients, technical stakeholders, executives, and more.

Managing Project Budgets And Profitability (With Tomislav Car From Infinum) Jul 09, 2019

Pick the brains of Tomislav Car, the CEO at Infinum, an independent software design and development agency that Tom co-founded while a college student. He went on to create Productive, a web-based agency management tool built to fix the problems his own agency was then experiencing. Learn about managing a profitable agency and using tools to be more productive from a Founder and CEO with a deep understanding of how agencies really work.

SMART Project Objectives (With Mackenzie Dysart From Reason One) Jul 01, 2019

A project objective describes the “what” of your project. But a well-defined project objective does so much more—it wraps your deadline, your KPIs, and your process all into one guiding statement. Listen to PMP and CSM certified Mackenzie Dysart as she talks about how to write objectives that truly guide your projects.

Switching From Waterfall To Duration & Price Contracts (With Tucker Sauer-Pivonka From Crema) Jun 24, 2019

Learn about agile-based contracts from Tucker Sauer-Pivonka, Director of Product Management at an agency that uses something called a “Duration & Price” contract. He dives into his DPM Case Study to talk about why this contract works for their agency and the practicalities of implementing it with clients.

Managing A 2-Week Project (With Jenna Trunzo From Globant) May 22, 2019

Ever managed a super short project? Learn real-life tips for short projects in this episode, where PM Jenna Trunzo discusses the case study she conducted after managing a 2-week project. Learn what worked, and why—and what she had to change in order to deliver a project within such a short time frame.

Burn Baby, Burn (With Lynn Winter From Manage Digital) Apr 02, 2019

Feeling strung out? Isolated? Indifferent? In this DPM podcast, we take a pause to talk about an important topic for digital workers: burnout. Join Lynn Winters as she shares her burnout stories and gives tips for identifying and recovering from burnout.

Managing A Portal Web Build (with Rebecca Germond from FCV Interactive) Mar 18, 2019

Building a web portal? In this episode, Rebecca Germond (Director of Client Services at FCV) dives into the tools, processes, and day-to-day challenges specific to managing a portal build. Ace your web portal build as you learn from her team’s real-life mistakes and success stories.

New Project Management Highlights, Articles & Podcasts (With Robyn Reynolds From Freelance Producer) Mar 18, 2019

Get the scoop on all the latest from The Digital Project Manager in February 2019—new case studies, podcasts, and articles to help you deliver better projects!

Project Management & The New Business Process (With Peter Levitan From Saatchi & Saatchi) Feb 26, 2019

How can project managers work better with business development and sales in order to win more projects that your agency can successfully deliver? Find out in this interview with agency growth consultant Peter Levitan, who has owned his own shop, worked with clients like Nike and Saatchi & Saatchi, and has bought and sold three ad agencies.

How To Plan An Agile Sprint (With Alexa Huston From Crema) Feb 11, 2019

Because I'm Worth It (with Tucker-Sauer Pivonka from Crema) Jan 21, 2019

Do you feel like you have to prove your worth as a project manager? In this episode, PMs Ben Aston and Tucker Sauer-Pivonka make the case for project managers, talking about why the PM role is important and how to deal with negative views from various stakeholders on a project.

How To Get Into Project Management (with Suze Haworth) Jan 14, 2019

In this episode, PM Suze Haworth shares insight for new PMs, talking about what project managers do, how to build the right skills for the role, how to prepare for a project manager interview, and where you can plan to take your career.

Start Your Projects Right (with Suze Haworth) Dec 12, 2018

Are you starting your projects off on the right foot and giving them the best chances for success? Project beginnings can be ambiguous and confusing—in this episode, Suze Haworth shows us her approach for getting clarity, setting expectations, and making sure the bases are covered, before the project is underway.

Happy Holidays For Everyone (with Mackenzie Dysart from Reason One) Nov 27, 2018

Planning a vacation? In order to step away from work without having to answer emails during your time off, you need a successful project handoff. In this episode, PM Mackenzie Dysart walks you through the steps to make project transitions a breeze so you can enjoy your vacation and ensure you don’t return to chaos!

Nailing Requirements (with Kelly Suter From BI Worldwide) Nov 08, 2018

When requirements are too loose, your results are undefined and unpredictable. Too tight, and you end up with blind spots. In this episode, PM expert Kelly Suter tell us how to nail the requirements gathering process so your clients know what’s being delivered and your teams know exactly what they’re delivering.

Being A More Productive PM (With Laura Bosco) Nov 07, 2018

If you ask just about any PM how their work is going, how do you think they'll respond? 'Sorry, I've got no time to talk right now, I'm totally slammed! Maybe we can touch base next week? '
My own experience of PM'ing is that it's a demanding role, we carry the responsibility of delivering a project to our best ability and we desperately want our projects to succeed. So we run around as though our pants were on fire, trying to herd cats, and doing things that we think will make our project succeed. But is our busyness really helping deliver a better project? Is it really helping our team, and our client? Maybe, but often, it's not. So what's the solution? All will be revealed in today's podcast as we talk about ways that we can be less busy, but more productive.

Controlling (Scope) Creeps (with Suze Haworth) Oct 29, 2018

Scope creep can be very costly and very hard to identify—and, luckily, very manageable. In this episode, we talk about scope creep, what causes it, and ways to manage scope creep with Suze Haworth, a Senior Digital Project Manager with over a decade worth of experience in web builds, social campaigns, and digital media.

Don’t Keep “Doing The Project Dishes” (With Patrice Embry) Oct 24, 2018

How do you draw the line between project management and becoming everyone else’s personal admin? As a PM, do you find yourself doing the “project dirty work?” In this episode, PM expert Patrice Embry dishes out valuable advice for PMs who suspect that they’re taking on too much admin work and want to get back to doing what they do best—being a PM!

Manage Your Agile Teams Without Them Knowing (With Sarah Hoban From Booz Allen Hamilton) Oct 15, 2018

“Oh, I love being managed!”, said no one ever. How do we manage our teams effectively without being micromanager? How do we manage agile teams who don’t want to be managed? In this episode, Sarah Hoban, a PMP-certified Project and Program Manager, talks about how to do your job effectively as a project manager on the sly.

Colouring In The Project Lines (With Maik Stettner From EA Games) Oct 10, 2018

Are you delivering projects on budget, on time, and in scope? You want your team to be able to hit their milestones—and it’s your job to guide the process with project controls. In today’s DPM podcast with project manager expert Maik Stettner you’ll learn how to use project control documents like status reports and RAID logs in order to keep your projects on track.

Make An Agile Contract That Works (with Alexa Huston from Crema) Sep 19, 2018

Triumph over the contracting madness: Alexa Huston explains how an agile contract can benefit your project—and how to get buy-in from clients. This episode offers welcome advice for anyone struggling with the awkward space between fixed scope and agile projects, discussing the challenges, benefits, and drawbacks of working with different types of agile contracts.

Master Art Of Finishing Projects Well (With Patrice Embry) Jul 26, 2018

If we don't end our projects right, we can end up going over budget, delivering late, annoying our team, and the client. Ben chats with Patrice to discuss how we can end projects better with a checklist of what to do, and what not to do.

Rules For Remote Leadership (with Wayne Turmel from Remote Leadership Institute) Jul 18, 2018

Leading remote teams can be tough - but is it because our teams suck, or because we're not leading our remote teams well? Find out as Ben talks to Wayne, simple rules you can apply to be a better remote leader.

Pimp Your Agile Ride (with Alexa Huston from Crema) Jul 10, 2018

One way to do optimize your agile approach is to make your meetings or ceremonies more effective. Ben Aston talks to Alexa Huston about sprint planning, daily standups, sprint reviews and sprint retrospectives to give you the inside track on how you can do them better.

Save Your Project With A Project Initiation Document (with Maik Stettner from FCV Interactive) Jul 05, 2018

Sometimes projects go off the rails simply because we jump into them too fast. Ben Aston talks to Maik Stettner about how we can use a project initiation document, or project brief to get everyone on the same page at the start of the project to make project kickoffs more effective.

Stop Pointing Fingers—Use A RACI Chart (with Suze Haworth) Jun 21, 2018

Projects are tricky often because we're working with teams that can be inconsistent, egotistical, and unreliable. So how on earth do we manage a project when we've got all that to contend with along with delivering the project? Ben Aston talks to Suze Haworth to discuss how we can use RACI charts to clearly define roles and responsibilities, stop things falling through the cracks, and prevent misunderstandings on our projects.

DPM Podcast: Make Sense Of Your Project Manager Responsibilities (With Patrice Embry) Jun 14, 2018

Are you an average project manager or one that's destined for greatness? The difference is not so much about what you do, it's all about how you do it. Ben Aston talks to Patrice Embry to discuss how we can take those everyday responsibilities of a project manager and do them better. Find out what you should really be doing to separate yourself from the pack, and accelerate your PM career.

Make Your Status Reports Useful (with Robyn Reynolds) May 31, 2018

If you've ever got yourself in a pickle on your projects because you didn't have written evidence of your discussions with your clients, then this episode is for you! Ben Aston talks to Robyn Reynolds about the often forgotten status report and how they can save your bacon. Find out what you should put in it, how you can make them less of a pain to create and make them useful for you, the client and your project team.

Managing Expectations The Right Way (With Natalie Semczuk from Talkanatalk) May 14, 2018

We all know communication is a massively important part of our project manager role. But what are the tools we can use to be better at it? One of them is a communications plan. Ben talks to Natalie about how you can use a communication plan to manage expectations better - keep listening to find out how you can stop clients badgering you for information, and get the things you need from your clients!

Make Your Sprint Retrospectives Awesome—Here’s How (With Alexa Huston From Crema) Apr 30, 2018

Do you feel like your team is making the same mistakes over and over again? It's probably because they are - and it's probably because you're not helping them change! Ben and Alexa talk about how we can use sprint retrospectives to highlight opportunities for change, generate process improvements, and move the team in the right direction. Listen to discover some practical applications to making sprint retrospectives as productive as possible.

Productivity Hacks Beyoncé Would Be Proud Of (with Tucker Sauer-Pivonka from Crema) Apr 17, 2018

Being productive isn't about doing more, it's about being smarter. Ben talks to Tucker to discuss how - the time management hacks we can use to be (nearly) as productive as Beyoncé! Listen up for for really practical tips and simple hacks that are going to save you stacks of time and get you back on top of your PM game.

Get Your Bearings On A New Project (with Joanna Leigh Simon) Jan 23, 2018

Starting new projects can be incredibly daunting, particularly if you're working on a new client, new in the agency, or on the receiving end of a shoddy handover. Ben Aston talks to Joanna Leigh Simon to discuss the questions to ask about the project plan, team, client and work to get your bearings and get a project in order. Listen up to learn how you can make your own project onboarding experience a whole lot less stressful.

Made To Lead (with Karl Sakas from Sakas & Company) Dec 19, 2017

As project managers, we're in the business of managing teams. But are we managing them, and leading them well? Ben Aston chats with Karl Sakas, author of, 'Made To Lead', to discuss how can we lead our teams be more effective, cast vision better, and manage with strategies that are effective for delivery.

Get More Stuff Done As A Project Manager (with Cedric Waldburg from SendTask) Dec 12, 2017

Project managers are masters of getting stuff done. But what are the tricks for getting more stuff done, better? Ben Aston chats with Cédric Waldburger, founder of SendTask, to discuss everything from crypto currencies to founding companies, and how we can get more done by making our lives simpler.

Are you Really A Good Project Manager? (with Lina Calin from Forest Made) Dec 07, 2017

Are you actually good at what do you do? Deep down, do you sometimes wonder if you're actually a project manager charlatan, or in the wrong career altogether? Ben Aston chats with Lina Calin to discuss how we can know if we're really doing a good job of this project management thing.

What You Can Stop Doing On Your Projects (with Patrice Embry) Nov 15, 2017

The pressure to do the right thing and be seen to do the right thing is immense. But should we be doing all those project management things, all the time? Ben Aston talks to Patrice Embry to discuss how you can save yourself time by cutting the extraneous things from your PM routine.

Are You Leading Your Projects - Or Just Managing Them? (with Colin Ellis) Nov 07, 2017

Beyond managing projects, how can we use our emotional intelligence to be project leaders? Ben Aston talks to Colin Ellis, author of The Conscious Project Leader to discuss building a positive project culture and leading our projects so that our teams are engaged and motivated to succeed.

Introducing Dear DPM – Anonymous Advice For Digital Project Managers (With Robyn Reynolds) Nov 02, 2017

Ben Aston and Robyn Reynolds introduce an anonymous advice column for digital PM's to ask awkward questions and share their own stories of managing tricky situations in the life as a digital project manager.

Lessons Learned & Tales Of A Remote Project Manager (with Natalie Semczuk from Talkanatalk) Oct 30, 2017

Ben discusses the life of a 'remoter' project manager with Natalie Semczuk, and her new DPM(ish) newsletter. After a tragic internet malfunction, the conversation pivots to unpacking typical project problem areas, why and how it's important to document lessons learned, and what to do with those lessons, to stop making the same mistakes.

Making Process Change Work (with Alexa Huston from Crema) Oct 23, 2017

How you can make Scrum work in an agency, and how do you make any process change effectively? In this podcast, Ben Aston talks to Alexa Huston about her introduction of Scrum at the agency Crema and you can make process changes with your team and tools work for everyone.

How To Get The Best From Your Development Team (with Kelly Suter from Irish Titan) Oct 17, 2017

The relationship between a project manager and their development team can often be a tricky one - so how can we make it better? Kelly Suter joins Ben Aston to discuss techniques you can use to build a better dynamic with your development team and tools she's using to run projects.

How To Build Strong Relationships With Clients & Teams (with Lina Calin from Forest Made) Sep 11, 2017

Solid relationships are crucial to the success of projects - but how do you put that into practice? Lina Calin joins Ben Aston to discuss the techniques you can use to build a stronger, more dynamic and successful team.

Artificial Intelligence & The Future of Project Management (with Dennis Kayser from Forecast) Sep 07, 2017

Will our jobs as project managers be taken over by artificial intelligent PM bots? Discover in this podcast with Dennis Kayser from Forecast.it and learn about how they're using artificial intelligence and machine learning to help project managers make better decisions and automate repetitive PM tasks.

How To Be An Invisible Project Manager (with Justin Handler from O3 World) Aug 22, 2017

Is project management a thankless job, and should you strive to be an invisible PM? Ben Aston debates with Justin Handler how to do invisible project management; understanding technology, setting your team up for success, client and expectation management, and having difficult conversations.

Building & Scaling Project Management Teams (with Brian Kessman from Lodestar Digital) Aug 18, 2017

Ben Aston chats with Brian Kessman about the best ways to build and scale a project management team, particularly within in agency. They cover everything from defining the purpose, getting the right people, establishing the right partnerships, setting in place the right processes and monitoring the PMO's performance.

Project Management Best Practices: What You Should Be Doing Each Month (with Joanna Leigh Simon from The Heads of State) Aug 04, 2017

Ben Aston chats with Joanna Leigh Simon, discovering her personal DPM story and chatting about the project management best practices that you should be doing each month. Covering the whole gamut of a monthly project reset, discover how to enhance your workflow, decrease the daily stress, and keep your projects running smoothly.

What Exactly is a Digital Project Manager? Debunking The DPM Name Game (round table discussion) Jul 21, 2017

Emily Carbonell-Ferguson hosts a roundtable discussion with Patrice Embry, Abby Fretz and Ben Aston on the sometimes confusing job titles we use as we progress through our DPM careers; digital project manager vs senior digital project manager vs producer vs account manager - what's it all about? Is there really any difference between us? Or should we be calling ourselves something different altogether?

Project Management Hacks (with Natalie Semczuk) Jul 13, 2017

In this episode, Ben Aston chats with Natalie Semczuk about project management hacks, diving into the details of automation you can setup, tools you can use, techniques you can apply and philosophies to adopt that'll make your DPM life a whole lot easier.

Welcome To The DPM Podcast Jul 10, 2017

In this inaugural Digital Project Manager podcast, Ben introduces the vision of the Digital Project Manager site, http://www.thedigitalprojectmanager.com, shares his story of becoming a DPM and gives an overview of what you can expect from this podcast.

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