As digital transformation accelerates, companies may be leaving behind some users: the 1 billion people who experience some form of disability. Whether their project is in gaming or financial services, companies must ensure the digital world is an inclusive one. We discuss this with:Brannon Zahand, senior program manager, gaming accessibility at Microsoft, Seattle: He discusses creating the company’s Game Accessibility Testing Service—one of PMI’s 2021 Most Influential Projects—and increasing representation of the disability community in the gaming industry.Christina Papadimitriou, accessibility specialist and senior digital expert at Atos, Athens: She talks about the ways project leaders can embed accessibility into their projects right from the start and what’s next for digital accessibility.Key themes[02:28] Increasing accessibility awareness [03:48] Building accessibility guidelines for Xbox[07:46] Creating a scalable program to test video games for inclusive design[13:47] Integrating accessibility in processes and products [17:23] How project teams can learn about accessibility [19:36] What’s next in digital accessibility

Projectified with PMI

Accessibility In a Digital World

The pandemic has healthcare providers pursuing innovation like never before—but they must also ensure those cutting-edge ideas and technologies deliver value to patients. We discuss this with:Antoinette de Bont, dean of the Tilburg School of Social & Behavioral Sciences at Tilburg University, the Netherlands: She discusses the BigMedilytics project—an initiative that aims to bring data science and healthcare together—and how project leaders can help team members collaborate.Christine DeVol, PMP, director of the enterprise project management team at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, USA: She shares how her team—the 2021 PMO of the Year Award winner—pivoted and reprioritized its project portfolio as COVID-19 spread. DeVol also discusses a project to help connect new cancer patients to experts quickly and safely. Key themes[01:34] Exploring new ways to use big data in healthcare[04:41] Improving collaboration [07:22] How data science could transform patient care[09:36] How Moffitt Cancer Center adapted during COVID-19[15:28] Ensuring innovation delivers value to patients 

Healthcare Innovation: Keeping the Focus on Patients

As 2021 comes to an end, project leaders are looking back at what they’ve accomplished—and ahead to 2022. Projectified[R]  reconnects with guests from the last year to discuss the lessons they’ve learned, the biggest changes they’ve seen, the emerging must-have skills and what lies ahead in the new year.Guests include: Sevi Rich, BHP in Perth, Australia; Kris Sprague, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, New York, USA; Alice Chow, Arup in Hong Kong; Leyla Zelaya, United Nations Environment Programme in San Salvador, El Salvador; and Miguel Monteiro, Emaar in Dubai.

Looking Back at 2021—and Ahead to 2022

The financial services sector is evolving—using new technologies to meet changing customer preferences. We discuss the future of fintech with: Michal Raczka, PMP, IT director at mBank, Warsaw, Poland: Raczka discusses how shifting demographics and customer habits are pushing digital transformation in the financial services sector, plus how low-code platforms are helping his teams deliver innovative products.Kimwood Mott, project manager, digital currency implementation at Central Bank of the Bahamas, Nassau: Mott discusses creating Sand Dollar, the first government-backed digital currency—that’s number 5 on our Most Influential Projects list. He talks through how the team built buy-in and his advice to other leaders looking to launch similar projects.

The Future of Fintech: Customer-Centricity Fuels Innovation

Change is constant in The Project Economy. That means project leaders must adapt and evolve, too. Our guests discuss how leadership strategies are shifting—and offer hands-on advice for bringing out the best in teams.Tim Munden, chief learning officer and head of employee wellbeing at Unilever in London, discusses the move away from a command-and-control leadership model to one characterized by humility and vulnerability. He also offers tips for creating a more inclusive culture by leaders listening to team members and modeling the behavior they want to see.Plus, three project leaders discuss the changing leadership landscape: Jaspreet Dol, CAPM, PMP, DXC Technology in Manila, the Philippines; Geetha Gopal, PMP, Panasonic in Singapore; and Neeraja Ganesh, Aspire For Her in Bengaluru. 

Humility & Vulnerability: The New Leadership Mindset

Buckle up—the world is entering a new era of spaceflight as startup commercial ventures join forces with government agencies. We discuss turning cutting-edge innovation into reality with:Jermey Gajadhar, PMP, program manager at Virgin Galactic, Mojave, California: Gajadhar talks about building a project management foundation at Virgin Galactic, mitigating risk and what’s next for commercial spaceflight. Pierrik Vuilleumier, project manager at the European Space Agency, Noordwijk, the Netherlands: Vuilleumier discusses collaborating with established agencies and space startups on the Sentinel-6 project, and why teams must be ready to adapt and problem solve.

One Giant Leap for Space Exploration

PMI’s 2021 Most Influential Projects highlights nearly 250 initiatives that deliver serious innovation in everything from healthcare to mobility. We discuss two of those projects with:Josh Katz, founder and CEO of YellowHeart, New York City: Katz discusses how his company collaborated with the Kings of Leon to create a first-of-its-kind NFT package—paving the way for other artists to use the emerging tech.Patrick Omondi, PhD, director, Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Naivasha, Kenya: Omondi discusses how the team overcame the challenges it faced conducting Kenya’s first systematic wildlife census and how the data will be used to protect the country’s wildlife—and its tourism sector.

Leadership Lessons from Most Influential Projects 2021

Infrastructure projects form the bedrock of modern society­—delivering expressways, clean water supplies, internet access and a bevy of other essentials. Yet project leaders must also ensure these initiatives deliver value now—and for decades to come. We discuss this with:Innocentia Mahlangu, PMP, senior civil engineer and project manager at Hatch, Johannesburg: Mahlangu discusses the socioeconomic impact of infrastructure projects, the need for meaningful stakeholder engagement and future-proofing for long-term value. Casey Canfield, PhD, assistant professor, engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, USA: Canfield discusses how COVID-19 heightened awareness of the need for digital infrastructure, the pilot project she’s leading to expand broadband access in rural areas and how she’s measuring social impact.

Infrastructure: Tackling the Needs of Today—and Tomorrow

As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, consumers are increasingly interested in electric vehicles (EVs). And that means lots of projects, not just to deliver cool new products, but also the underlying infrastructure that supports them. We discuss e-mobility trends with: Gaurav Batra, global advanced manufacturing and mobility analyst team leader at EY in New Delhi: Batra discusses how the pandemic—and climate change—shifted EV adoption rates, and the role of government leaders in boosting the EV ecosystem.Dan O’Shea, director of utility strategy and business development, EV infrastructure at ABB in Seattle: O’Shea talks about what’s needed to build out EV charging infrastructure and how projects leaders can adapt to the industry’s rapid rate of innovation. 

Next-Gen Mobility: Building the EV Ecosystem

Data fuels collaboration and innovation—but it can also be a vulnerability. That means project leaders must keep security and risk top of mind—at all times. We discuss this with: Tim Hurley, PMP, cybersecurity project manager, Sempra, San Diego, California: Hurley discusses why teams must address security concerns early—and often—and offers his advice to project leaders on how to keep data secure. Maxine Holt, senior research director, cybersecurity at Omdia, London: Holt talks about the cybersecurity practices organizations should be implementing and why teams need to analyze cyber risks—as well as their potential impact. 

Data Lockdown: Managing Cybersecurity Risk

With disruption a near constant, project leaders must be able to solve complex problems in uncertain situations. We discuss this with: Raquel Selem Moreira, design and innovation project manager at Pierre Fabre Group, Rio de Janeiro: Selem Moreira talks about breaking down complexity on projects and using design thinking to deliver innovative solutions.Marianna Sarmiento, assistant director of administration at Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, Riverside, California, USA: Sarmiento shares how she’s using PMI’s Wicked Problem Solving framework to take her team virtual. 

Project Leaders Solving Complex Problems: Top Tricks & Tips

When the pandemic hit, many hallmarks of city life—public transportation, skyscrapers with shared amenities, bustling streets—flipped from pros to cons. But don’t count cities out. We discuss how project teams are reimagining the urban environment with:Jun Huang, partner, Wei Yang & Partners, London: Huang discusses the aspects of urban life most strained during the pandemic—and how cities can change in response. He also shares ways project leaders can best collaborate with multiple stakeholders to keep citizen needs at the forefront.Zhengkai Jiang, PMP, senior project manager, CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd., Zhuzhou, China: Jiang discusses rail transit trends and his project to design and manufacture fully autonomous trains. Soo-Jin Kim, head of the urban policies and reviews unit, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris: Kim discusses how cities can become more sustainable, walkable and resilient, plus how digital transformation is changing urban life. Key themes[01:13] The growth—and evolution—of cities[03:33] COVID-19’s stress test on urban life[06:15] Urban development trends: creating sustainable, inspiring cities[09:15] Collaborating with stakeholders while keeping citizens’ needs at the forefront[12:18] Next-gen public transit: autonomous rail[17:04] Three steps for a more resilient city[19:15] Urban digital transformations [20:54] Making cities more adaptable, walkable and eco-friendly

Cities of the Future: The New Urban Development

In today’s competitive world of work, career-focused project leaders are learning to set themselves apart from the pack with a strong personal brand story. We discuss branding tips and tricks with: Pascale Sablan, associate at Adjaye Associates, and founder and executive director of Beyond the Built Environment LLC, both in New York City: Sablan shares how she created—and redefined—her personal brand and how it influences her thinking on projects. Jon Michail, founder and group CEO of Image Group International, Melbourne: Michail offers advice for project leaders on building and marketing their personal brand—and the ROI they can expect.Key themes[00:21] Everyone has a personal brand—and can market it[01:46] Conveying your mission and values in personal branding[05:25] Using your personal brand as a guidepost[10:03] Showcasing your value in a changing world of work[11:55] Personal branding tips for project leaders

Personal Branding for Project Leaders

The pandemic has drastically changed the way many people live and work—and also brought a new focus on mental health. What does that mean for project teams? We discuss the issue with: Carrie Fletcher, PMP, vice president, people and experience at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto: She discusses how a healthy staff can boost company performance, the signs a team member may be struggling with mental health issues, and the challenges and rewards of her own organization’s initiative to support employee well-being.  Aga Swiatowa, PMP, vice president, technology and innovation at Discovery Inc., Wrocław, Poland: She discusses how project leaders can improve their teams’—and their own—mental health, connect with virtual and hybrid teams, and help team members returning to work after mental health leave.  Key themes[00:17] The growing focus on mental health in the workplace[04:30] How a healthy staff improves company performance[07:10] Rolling out a mental health program across an enterprise[15:05] Signs a team member may be struggling with mental health issues[18:46] Check-ins with virtual or hybrid teams[20:03] Supporting a team member returning from mental health leave

Mental Health Check

Fueled by bold thinking and a deep commitment to social impact, a new generation of leaders is out to build a better world. PMI Future 50 leaders both past and present discuss how young people are changing the world of projects. The episode includes a conversation between Ackeem Ngwenya, co-founder of Reframd in Berlin, and Julissa Mateo Abad, PMP, digital transformation manager at Distribuidora Corripio in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The two discuss social impact, inclusion and other shifts they see on the project landscape. Teen inventor Gitanjali Rao also drops by to discuss her iterative process of innovation, building credibility as a young woman in STEM and her advice on how people can create positive change—no matter their age.  Key themes[01:13] Future 50: Young project leaders making their mark[05:05] Driving change and inclusion[08:13] A new, more collaborative leadership style[16:50] Taking an iterative approach to innovation [18:10] Age versus ability: Proving leaders can make a difference at any age 

PMI Future 50: Young Leaders Building a Better Tomorrow

Projectified with PMI is your guide to the future of project management. Created by Project Management Institute, this podcast is for people who lead strategic initiatives and collaborate on teams to deliver value to their organizations. It features dynamic thought leaders and practitioners who share their real-world experiences and expertise to inform, inspire and prepare you for success.

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Projectified with PMI

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