327: How to Create Exceptional Experiences with Neen James
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Business AcumenLuxury isn’t about cost. It’s about how people feel when they interact with you. This is what it means to adopt a luxury mindset. Leaders who stop acting like task-driven order takers and start thinking like concierges create experiences that build trust, influence, and lasting IMPACT. So if stakeholders are craving more connection and executives are looking for advocates they can count on, how do you rise to that level? In this week’s episode of the PMO Strategies Podcast, I’m joined by Neen James, a luxury experience expert and leadership strategist who helps C-suite leaders create exceptional experiences that drive results and deepen relationships. With clients including Four Seasons, Comcast, and the FBI, and recognition as a Top 30 Leadership Speaker by Global Gurus, Neen brings sharp insights on how leaders can use thoughtful touches to build trust and influence at the highest levels. Together, we talk about how the five “luxury levers” help you elevate stakeholder engagement, shift from transactional to transformational, systemize thoughtfulness, and design champagne moments that make people feel valued. What You'll Learn: Why luxury is about connection, not cost How to think like a concierge instead of a bellhop The five “luxury levers” that elevate every interaction How systemized thoughtfulness builds authentic loyalty What champagne moments look like inside projects and transformations How personalization, customization, and anticipation win executive buy-in 👉 Press play to learn how to build experiences that turn executives into champions, strengthen stakeholder trust, and drive lasting IMPACT. Connect with Neen: Follow her on LinkedIn Visit her website “Exceptional Experiences” Check out her Youtube channel Watch her “Exceptional Experiences" book trailer SPONSOR LINK: P.S. Exceptional experiences don’t happen by accident. They’re designed with the right system. The 2-Day IMPACT Engine Practitioner Training and Certification gives you hands-on practice with my signature six-stage framework so you can deliver measurable business value, build trust with executives, and walk away certified with your own IMPACT Action Plan. 👉 Click here to learn more about this virtual course taking place October 15 - 16. P.P.S. There's Still Time to Celebrate The IMPACT Engine Book One-Year Anniversary! Visit The IMPACT Engine book anniversary page to check out the book specials, freebies, enter the giveaway, and see what makes the IMPACT Engine System...
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326: Strategy Isn’t a Scary Word
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsStrategy is just planning for IMPACT. This is what PMO leaders do night in and night out: plan, prioritize, and align across the portfolio. That alone is influencing strategy. So if PMO leaders are experts in strategy, why are they still left out of strategic conversations? In this week’s episode of the PMO Strategies Podcast, I break down why the word “strategy” feels intimidating, why that belief holds teams back, and how to translate your daily work into the language executives expect. This episode is a practical guide for PMO and strategy leaders who want to lead the conversation with clarity and make the plan deliver real business value. What You'll Learn: Why “strategy” always comes back to a plan, and how to say that in plain language How to explain strategy as planning for IMPACT in terms your executives respect The role strategy plays in cutting projects, surfacing bottlenecks, and aligning capacity How to walk in prepared with two questions that change the room What to change in planning sessions so you shift from status to choices The simple language to claim your seat at the table and drive the conversation 👉 Press play to learn how to recognize your planning as strategy, claim your seat at the table, and lead decisions that drive IMPACT. P.S. If your PMO is still chasing tasks instead of driving strategy, it’s time for a reset. Join me October 15-16 for the IMPACT Engine Practitioner Course—a live, virtual two-day certification program designed to help you deliver real business value, not just reports. Seats are limited, so reserve yours now. P.P.S. There's Still Time to Celebrate The IMPACT Engine Book One-Year Anniversary! Visit The IMPACT Engine book anniversary page to check out the book specials, freebies, enter the giveaway, and see what makes the IMPACT Engine System unlike anything else. Whether you’ve been with us from the very beginning or are just discovering the movement, today’s the perfect time to celebrate with us. 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 INSTRUCTIONSMentioned in this episode:326: Strategy Isn’t a Dirty Word
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325: Why Public Sector Projects Really Fail with Matthew Oleniuk
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsPublic sector projects rarely fail because of bad process. They fail because of behaviors no one is willing to confront. In this episode, I’m joined by Matthew Oleniuk, senior public sector delivery advisor, oversight leader, and founder of TheRiskInsider.com. With 15+ years managing politically sensitive, billion-dollar projects, Matthew brings a refreshingly blunt perspective on what it really takes to lead under pressure. We break down how project failure in the public sector often has nothing to do with method and everything to do with misaligned culture, disengaged leadership, and risks buried under “green” dashboards. This episode is a candid roadmap for project professionals working in highly structured, politically charged environments who are tired of pretending the system is enough and ready to start delivering anyway. What You'll Learn: Why green dashboards can hide red-flag behaviors that derail delivery. How to stop mistaking oversight for progress. Why real risks don’t show up on a register and how to name them anyway. How courageous delivery leaders create “mini-cultures” of performance. What to do when the culture rewards compliance over outcomes. The one question every PMO should ask before creating a new tool or report. Press play to learn how real delivery happens when you confront what the process alone can’t fix. Connect with Matthew: Follow him on LinkedIn Visit his website Get early access on his course Download the Public Sector Project Health Check P.S. If your PMO is still chasing tasks instead of driving strategy, it’s time for a reset. Join me October 15–16 for the IMPACT Engine Practitioner Course—a live, virtual two-day certification program designed to help you deliver real business value, not just reports. Seats are limited, so reserve yours now. Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN |...
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324: Your First 90 Days to PMO Leadership Success
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsMany leaders think their job when stepping into an existing PMO is to keep things running smoothly. But most of the time? That’s exactly how you miss the chance to make it matter. In this episode, I walk you through how to take charge of a PMO you’ve inherited, using the IMPACT Engine framework to understand why it exists, reset its purpose, and realign it with today’s business needs so it delivers real IMPACT in its first 90 to 180 days. I'll share why momentum without direction is just motion and the exact steps to diagnose how your PMO is seen, reset its purpose, and make early changes that earn trust without resistance. This episode will give you a clear plan to reset alignment, build credibility, and create the PMO that’s needed now, not just the one you were handed. What You'll Learn: The first shift you must make in week one (hint: it’s not templates). How to assess reality fast without a months-long audit. Which 2–3 high-IMPACT services to (re)launch first. Building a 90–180 day plan that earns buy-in and trust. How to prove the model with early wins leaders can feel. The rhythm to keep relevance as strategy changes. 👉 Press play to learn how to step into an existing PMO, earn trust fast, and set the stage for real IMPACT. P.S. If your PMO is still chasing tasks instead of driving strategy, it’s time for a reset. Join me October 15–16 for the IMPACT Engine Practitioner Course—a live, virtual two-day certification program designed to help you deliver real business value, not just reports. Seats are limited, so reserve yours now.P.P.S. On September 10, we’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of The IMPACT Engine! Whether you already own the book or have been waiting to grab a copy, now’s your chance. Not on the newsletter yet? Join today so you don’t miss the exclusive September 9 sneak peek at special offers and giveaways—my way of saying thanks for an incredibly IMPACTful year! 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 INSTRUCTIONSMentioned in this episode:325: MATTHEW...
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323: Communicate With Courage with Dori Gilbert
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsEveryone thinks strategy fails because of poor execution. But most of the time? It’s poor communication. In this episode, I’m joined by Dori Gilbert—an executive coach, transformation strategist, and certified PMO leader who’s helped delivery teams and executives close the gap between strategy and execution by developing what she calls “communication agility.” It’s a framework built on three essential traits: courage, context, and conflict fluency. We get into why executives hesitate to delegate, why middle managers struggle to advocate, and why project leaders often avoid the very conversations that could change everything. This episode gives you practical tools to build trust, shift perception, and communicate with strategic presence—even when the stakes are high. This episode will give you a clear path to elevating your visibility, earning stakeholder buy-in, and leading through change with confidence and clarity. What You'll Learn: Why leaders don’t trust handoffs (and how to fix it) The 3Cs of Communication Agility How to develop strategic presence (without faking confidence) What “empathetic action” looks like in real conversations How to lead up, out, and across with clarity and influence 👉 Press play to learn how to build real traction with your words, not just your workload. Connect with Dori: Follow her on LinkedIn Check out her website Visit KiteAgility.com Download Your Internal Conflict Messaging System Guide P.S. If you’re ready to lead with clarity instead of noise, The IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you the tools, coaching, and support to communicate with confidence and influence at the highest level. Click here to learn more 🚀 P.P.S. On September 10, we’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of The IMPACT Engine! Whether you already own the book or have been waiting to grab a copy, now’s your chance. Not on the newsletter yet? Join today so you don’t miss the exclusive September 9 sneak peek at special offers and giveaways—my way of saying thanks for an incredibly IMPACTful year! 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
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.
South Africa