314: Mastering AI to Supercharge Your Project Delivery with Elise Stevens
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of WorkingIn this episode, Laura Barnard is joined by longtime friend and productivity powerhouse Elise Stevens to explore how AI is revolutionizing project delivery. Together, they break down the myths about AI taking over jobs and instead show how smart use of AI can elevate the role of delivery leaders. From email communication to risk management, Elise and Laura offer real-world, tactical advice on how to integrate AI to reduce admin burden and boost strategic IMPACT. What You’ll Learn: Why AI won’t replace delivery leaders but will elevate them instead How to use AI tactically to simplify daily project tasks How to reduce admin work and create more space for strategic engagement Which AI tools and strategies can accelerate delivery while lowering stress Why the best starting point is low-stakes, high-frustration work 👉 Press play to explore how AI is revolutionizing project delivery. Connect with Elise: Follow on LinkedIn Check out her website P.S. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book — it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free — grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. 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 BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS
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313: Confidence Isn’t the Prerequisite. It’s the Result.
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsYou don’t earn confidence by reading about it. You earn it by doing the reps – when things get messy, when plans fall apart, when you show up anyway. This episode will shift how you think about confidence and what it actually takes to build it. We’re unpacking the real reason so many capable leaders hold back. It’s not that they’re unprepared. It’s that they believe confidence should come before the leap. Inside this episode, I’m sharing what truly builds confidence for high-IMPACT leaders. Not theory. Practice. These are the same principles we use inside the IMPACT Engine System to help transformation professionals build capability they can count on. You’ll hear: Why confidence doesn’t lead. It follows. How a keynote gone wrong became one of my most grounded moments. The shift that changed how I approach fear, stage time, and risk. Why building competence is the only way to create lasting confidence. How we create safe, supportive practice spaces in our IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind. If you’ve been waiting for permission, clarity, or courage, this episode will give you something better: A starting point. The confidence you’re looking for lives on the other side of the work. And that work is what drives real IMPACT. 👉 Press play and start building the confidence that shows up after you make your move. P.S. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book — it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free — grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. P.P.S. Stop the chaos—start leading with confidence! The IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you expert coaching, hands-on support, and the blueprint to deliver real business value. Ready to accelerate your success? Join us 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 BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS
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312: Your Next Leader Is Already in the Room with Dawn Mahan
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsEveryone says PMOs manage projects. We say they build leaders. If you’re only focused on timelines and templates, you're missing your biggest opportunity: using real work to grow real leadership. In this episode, I’m joined by Dawn Mahan, founder of PMOtraining.com, international speaker, and creator of the award-winning ProjectFlo® Process Learning System. Dawn coined the term Projectland® and is the bestselling author of Meet the Players in Projectland, a game-changing guide to aligning roles and driving project success. Together, we show exactly how your PMO can become a leadership engine by turning everyday project roles into development opportunities. This isn’t about adding more to your plate — it’s about seeing the work already in motion as a platform for growth. Whether you're leading a small team or managing a full portfolio, you’ll walk away with clear strategies to build talent while delivering results. What You'll Learn: Why every role in “Projectland” is a chance to lead How to spot and support hidden talent across your organization Creative ways to build leadership skills in fast-paced environments How to frame the PMO as a leadership development partner for executives Why rotational roles, peer learning, and project-based growth can outperform traditional training 👉 Press play to discover how your PMO can shape the leaders your organization needs most. Connect with Dawn: Follow Dawn on LinkedIn Visit PMOtraining.com Access Meet the Players in Projectland🎧 Companion Episode: Don't miss Episode 250 – How to Build a PMO That Drives Results for deeper insights on this topic. Receive a confidential sample of Meet the Players in Projectland: Decide the Right Project Roles & Get People on Board P.S. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book — it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free — grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. 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...
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311: How Project and Product Teams Work Together
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Business AcumenIt’s time to end the turf war between product and project teams — and start building a system where both can win. In this episode, I’m outlining the exact steps to design a shared operating model that aligns product vision with delivery excellence. No more choosing sides. No more reorgs without results. Just a clear, practical path to accelerated strategy delivery. Learn to identify the key differences that make each role valuable — and show you how to turn tension into momentum, mismatched cadences into flow, and disconnected outputs into measurable outcomes. If your organization is serious about driving strategy forward, this episode is your blueprint. What You'll Learn: Why role confusion is wrecking your delivery speed How to co-create a delivery system — not just a plan The mindset shift from activity tracking to outcome delivery Ways to synchronize cadences and unify communication Why product–project tension isn’t a problem — it’s rocket fuel How shared wins create lasting IMPACT across the business 👉 Press play to learn how to align product and project teams around one system, one voice, and one mission. P.S. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book — it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free — grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. 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 BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS
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310: Why Project vs. Product Is the Wrong Debate
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Business AcumenIn this episode, I’m calling out one of the most misleading narratives in modern strategy delivery: the false choice between project-based and product-based delivery models. If your organization is stuck in a never-ending transformation loop — chasing Agile, shifting structures, debating delivery frameworks — this episode is your wake-up call. It’s not about projects vs. products. It’s about dysfunction vs. alignment. You’ll learn how the highest-performing organizations are breaking free from siloed thinking and aligning product managers, project managers, and delivery teams to drive outcomes, not just activity. If your teams are moving fast but going nowhere, it’s time to rethink your operating model — and I’ll show you how. What You'll Learn: Why the "project vs. product" debate is stalling progress How flawed operating models—not frameworks—are holding you back The critical role clarity executives keep overlooking How to align product vision with delivery excellence Why Agile alone won’t fix broken systems The model top-performing organizations use to accelerate results 👉 Press play to dismantle the false narrative and learn what really drives strategy delivery. P.S. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book — it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free — grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. P.P.S. ONLY TWO SEATS LEFT!! Something Big is Coming to London! On June 13, I’m hosting a small-group, full-day workshop: IMPACT Engine Fundamentals. If you’re tired of being stuck in the task trap and ready to drive measurable business value, this is your chance. We’ll walk through the Strategy Lifecycle, explore the IMPACT Driver mindset, and give you the foundation to transform your PMO or delivery team into a strategic powerhouse. Reserve your seat now. Space running out, so don't wait! 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 BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS
In this podcast, PMO leaders and those wanting to capitalize on the best of project management to deliver the organization’s strategy,will uncover the hidden secrets of the best PMOs, learn the game-changing techniques that transform any PMO into a value-driven IMPACT Engine, and explore the best ways for the PMO to become an integral part of the fabric and future of an organization. After spending two and a half decades helping organizations deliver change, with 15 of those years in the shoes of PMO leader inside organizations, Laura strongly believes that there is more to making an IMPACT than templates, tools, and process. She’ll show you how to make the shifts necessary to becoming a business focused PMO that will become an invaluable organizational asset. With her guests and insights, we explore the sticky situations and tough challenges PMO leaders face, from sorting through all of the “noise” about what the PMO “should” do to finding the best ways for your PMO to make an IMPACT. Listen in and you can discover how to shift your focus from outputs to outcomes, fundamentally changing the game for your PMO and personal success.
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