Behind The Scenes of Transformation

S2 E4: Speaking with Ethan Schwaber on the subject of Strategic Pllanning & Execution, we confront theory with reality. He has built top-performing PMOs and has a track record of driving strategic impact, improving margins and enhancing client and employee satisfaction. Ethan recently co-developed and delivered the PMO Business Practitioner Certification Programme alongside five global PMO experts. The main points we cover are:[2:53] What is strategic planning?[6:15] How many ways to do execution well?[10:11] What about soft skills?[20:24] Which hard skills are important?[23:38] How does Agile fit into strategic planning?[27:24] Final thoughtDid you enjoy this episode? Get in touch: https://ricbos.com⁠ . Get to know Ethan better: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanschwaber/ .#podcast #career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #programmemanagement #portfoliomanagement #changemanagement #gestiondeprojet #projektleitung #transformation #leadership #softskills #hiring 4EYKO2TV9FMKYVRJ

S2 E3: Today I speak with Demi Anderson as we go behind the scenes of the Enterprise PMO – EPMO. Demi has three decades of experience in project, programme, and portfolio management and delivery, spanning a number of industries over four global regions. She has established and led high-impact PMOs and delivered strategic solutions. Demi also serves as a judging committee member for the PMO Global Alliance, further underscoring her thought leadership. We go into the subject with the following questions:[3:47] Why are PMOs the latest craze?[8:41] What proportion of PMOs are supportive, controlling, directive?[13:51] Is a Portfolio Management Office the same as an EPMO?[19:35] How does Enterprise Project Governance fit into the picture?[23:39] Why are some firms slow to set up an EPMO?[32:39] Final thoughtDid you enjoy this episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com⁠ . Get to know Demi better: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demi-anderson/ and the PMO Global Alliance: https://pmoga.pmi.org#podcast #career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #programmemanagement #portfoliomanagement #changemanagement #gestiondeprojet #projektleitung #transformation #leadership #softskills #hiring 4EYKO2TV9FMKYVRJ

S2 E2: My guest Adam Jacobi talks to us about communication on international projects. Adam is an accomplished interim change director and leadership coach, who is fluent in English, French, German, and Italian. He has been in the business of change for thirty years, in different industries. We go into the subject with the following questions:[3:38] How do you approach communication on international projects?[10:13] What’s a good example of communication failure you were involved in?[15:29] What should the project manager be doing, or not doing?[18:15] How important is it to speak languages?[27:00] Final thoughtDid you enjoy this episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com⁠ . Get to know Adam better: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobi43/ .#podcast #career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #programmemanagement #portfoliomanagement #changemanagement #gestiondeprojet #projektleitung #transformation #leadership #softskills #hiring 4EYKO2TV9FMKYVRJ

S2 E1: We kick off the second season with Aina Alive who talks to us about the PMO – Project Management Office. Alina is a strategic advisor in the areas of organisational transformation, high pressure leadership, and strategic delivery. She leads her boutique consultancy BeeAgile, has co-authored books such as The Evolution of the PMO, and Mastering Solution Delivery, and hosts the PMO Community podcast. We go into the subject with the following questions:[3:10] What PMO patterns do you see internationally?[9:33] Which strategies from the past are obsolete?[14:40] Is there a mismatch between IT PMO and Business PMO?[20:51] What are the biggest urgencies in the PMO world right now?[25:33] Final thoughtDid you enjoy this episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com⁠ . Get to know Aina better: https://beeagilenow.com and https://ainaalive.substack.com .#podcast #career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #programmemanagement #portfoliomanagement #changemanagement #gestiondeprojet #projektleitung #transformation #leadership #softskills #hiring 4EYKO2TV9FMKYVRJ

S1 E10: In this episode I speak with Philippe Mathijs who is a distinguished executive coach and leadership consultant, renowned for his transformative approach in cultivating effective leaders and empowering organizations. His expertise encompasses Business, Risk, and IT disciplines. He spent over a decade merging business, coaching, and mentoring, eventually dedicating his life to his passion - helping individuals reach their full potential. In this area of human potential and organizational excellence, Philippe has led learning programs and coached across various industries.[.] What do you do?[.] What did you do previously?[.] How has your relationship with the profession evolved?[.] What do executives look at when deciding how to pursue transformation?[.] What worries the C-level when it comes to transformation?[.] What do you look for when hiring transformation professionals?[.] What main changes have you seen in the business of transformation?[.] Do you have a memorable project?[.] Final thought.Did you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Philippe better: https://reachoutstanding.com .#podcast #career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #programmemanagement #portfoliomanagement #changemanagement #gestiondeprojet #projektleitung #transformation #leadership #softskills #hiring

S1 E9: Here I speak with Richard Overy who was originally destined to become a doctor, but took a year out and accidentally started writing scientific code. This led to him being on the first Computer Science degree course in the UK surrounded by punch cards and ticker tape. A 25-year career in the leisure industry saw Richard take Board responsibility for not only IT but also all the operational side of the business of some 600 staff and GBP 55m turnover. We cover the following points amongst others: The military origins of PRINCE2 and how war showsyou your true path, which overlaps with podcast episodes 4a and 4b       The universal strength of soft skills and why weshould focus on them more, especially when it comes to challenging situations How training and certification have gone fromniche to minimal entry requirements in a short amount of time Why every project manager should make sure s/heknows what “wrong place, wrong time” means in the local language The questions I put to Richard:[.] What do you do?[.] What is your career path?[.] How did you get into project management?[.] How have you seen the profession evolve?[.] What are your daily challenges?[.] What specific indicators do you look at?[.] Do you have a memorable or funny project?[.] Final thought.Did you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Richard better: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-overy-710aa210/ .#podcast #career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement#programmemanagement #portfoliomanagement #changemanagement #gestiondeprojet#projektleitung #transformation #leadership #softskills

S1 E8: In this episode I speak with Nataliya Wiedemeyer who is the founder of Graviteams Management Consulting. Nataliya stands for future-ready leadership, innovative business models and engaged teamwork. She is also a certified Project Management Professional, Business Coach, and Prosci Change Practitioner, and has many years of experience working in complex organizational environments in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. [.] What do you do?[.] What has been your path?[.] Tell us more about the people side of projects.[.] What stands out when you think back on the profession?[.] How has the profession evolved?[.] What challenges do you face?[.] Which success factors come to mind?[.] Do you have a memorable project?[.] Final thoughtDid you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Nataliya better: www.graviteams.com⁠ .#career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #programmemanagement #portfoliomanagement #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #softskills #podcast

S1 E7: My seventh guest is Anara Asylbekova, who has a nearly 20-year career in innovation, generating value-added services and refining the end-user experience on a global scale. She has a rich background in both healthcare and fintech, exemplifying versatility and strategic acumen.We talk about how a project management mindset canprovide benefits, and why soft skills should be the focus. Building project expertise from scratch because of sparse information on the profession is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that Anara also shares. We also cover how AI can help portfolio managers, and how to nurture children’s interest in the profession.[.] What do you do?[.] What have you learned in each of your previous roles?[.] What got you into project management?[.] How have project management professions evolved since you started?[.] Do you face the same types of challenges today as before?[.] Are the success factors the same?[.] Do you have one particular project that remains in your memory?[.] Would you like to share a funny project story?[.] Final thoughtDid you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Anara better: http://agilementor.me and https://little.pm .#career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #programmemanagement #portfoliomanagement #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #entrepreneur #mindset #podcast #connection

S1 E6: My sixth guest is Monica Mahi Matthijs, who has been working in the area of project and change management for 20 years. After roles as systems analyst, business analyst, and consultant, she moved into programme management. She has worked at companies such as Ernst& Young, Deloitte, RBS, EDF, and Al-Futtaim.Our conversation covers the journey that the team needs to be taken on, narratives, core skills, and how the zig-zags of experience make the depth of the experience. We also focus on how one difficult stakeholder was taken on that journey and ended up being a vocal supporter.[.] What is your role today?[.] What are the main steps in your career?[.] How has the profession evolved since the 2000s?[.] Has the way we approach projects changed?[.] Are there any constants in the change profession?[.] What have been your success factors?[.] Do you have a memorable project?[.] Final thought.Did you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Monica better: https://eqbrains.com .#career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #entrepreneur #sustainability #gcc

S1 E5: My fifth guest is Zam Kaderkutty, who has over 30 years’experience on major transformational programmes for both private and public sector clients. He started out in software engineering and then realized he enjoyed being the project manager, so decided to make a career out of it. He has worked at Serco, Fujitsu, and Computacenter.Join us on a reflection of the Project Management profession, in particular how certification and sustainability are not a given in all parts of the world, and the improvement of soft skills. We also look at the specifics of the Gulf region, the universality of success, and how getting what you asked for might not make you happy.[.] What do you do?[.] What have you learned in your career?[.] What evolution have you seen in the profession?[.] What challenges do you face in your work?[.] What are today's success factors in the project world?[.] Do you have a funny project story?[.] Do you have a memorable project?[.] Final thoughtDid you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Zam better: https://faze3consulting.com .#career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement#changemanagement #transformation #leadership #entrepreneur #sustainability #gcc

S1 E4b: My fourth guest is Chris O’Connor, who has more than 30 years of experience leading teams of all sizes in finance, technology enablement, and professional services business units. He has been active in the US Army, KPMG Consulting, BearingPoint, and BoozAllenHamilton, and today is principal consultant at Change Smith which focuses on organisational change.Join us as we discuss capable yet miserable team members, value propositions in different contexts, and the positive result of being vulnerable. Equally we unpack typical team dysfunctions, and how we today seem to be providing solutions before identifying the problems. Plus, why even tough guys have a soft side.>>> THIS IS A 2-PART PODCAST <<<[.] What challenges do you typically face with your clients?[.] What are the success factors for organisational health?[.] What is driving the surge in material about behaviour impacting performance?[.] Does one particular project stand out in your memory?[.] Final thought.Did you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Chris better: https://www.changesmithusa.com/ .#career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement#changemanagement #transformation #leadership #entrepreneur #teamdysfunction

S1 E4a: My fourth guest is Chris O’Connor, who has more than 30 years of experience leading teams of all sizes in finance, technology enablement, and professional services business units. He has been active in the US Army, KPMG Consulting, BearingPoint, and BoozAllenHamilton, and today is principal consultant at Change Smith which focuses on organisational change.Join us as we discuss capable yet miserable team members, value propositions in different contexts, and thepositive result of being vulnerable. Equally we unpack typical team dysfunctions, and how we today seem to be providing solutions before identifying the problems. Plus, why even tough guys have a soft side.>>> THIS IS A 2-PART PODCAST <<<[.] What do you do exactly?[.] Is your work different to change management?[.] What have you learned in your career?[.] What about business leader expectations versus team neglect?[.] Is going from leading a platoon into project management a natural progression?[.] How have project management, management consultancy, and organisational change evolved since 2000?Did you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Chris better: https://www.changesmithusa.com/⁠.#career #pmo #projectmanagement#programmanagement #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #entrepreneur#teamdysfunction

S1 E3: My third guest is Martin Goff, who has over 20 years' experience on banking, media, and telecoms projects. He started out in software engineering, then realised that project management would be a better fit, so obtained PRINCE2 qualification. He was at Fujitsu for many years and today acts principally as a Senior Program Manager. Join us on a reflection of the project management profession, on aspects such as confusing Project Management with Programme Management skillsets, flexibility to meet demands, and how tools have matured. We also cover people management, communication, and the importance of understanding both the WHAT and the WHY of each project. VUCA is again cited, as is the buzz of completing a project. Anyone heard about BASIC, PASCAL, COBOL, PINO?[.] What does a senior programme manager do?[.] How did you get into the profession?[.] What is important for project success?[.] What is specific about being a project manager?[.] Is there a particular project which stands out for you?[.] Final thoughtDid you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Martin better: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-goff/.#career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #entrepreneur #PodcastFan #InspiredListening

S1 E2: My second guest is Serge Garazi, who has worked over 20 years in banking and FinTech, as "IT for Business". He graduated from Swiss Institute of Technology and Rotterdam School of Management, and was at UBS, Julius Bär, BNP Paribas, ABN Amro and Rothschild. He is the founder of POCMa which provides large-enterprise skills to small and medium-sized companies, in the areas of project management and operations managementJoin us on a reflection of the project management profession, from calibrating IT expertise for business value, to avoiding burn-out. We discuss hybrid methodology, change management, VUCA, and today's pressures on the profession, as well as how animals can benefit the team.[1:46] What is your role today in project management?[3:00] What has your career been so far?[6:11] What brought you into project management?[10:42] Have you often had to perform two positions at once?[12:19] What has been important for your project success?[15:59] How has the project management profession evolved?[20:48] What sort of challenges do you face?[23:51] Do you have a memorable project?[27:10] What is your funny story?[.] Final thoughtDid you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Serge better: https://www.pocma.ch/.#career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #entrepreneur #PodcastFan #InspiredListening

S1 E1: My first guest is Mi Sook Park who has over 30 years' experience in projects. She is PMP and Lean Six Sigma certified, and started working at Ikea before moving on to ABB and NKT. In addition to focusing on quality, she is very keen on culture and competence management, and currently looking at digitalizing and communicating corporate culture. She recently started her own consulting company .Join us on a reflection of the project management profession, from the progressive awareness that it was project management she was doing, to a deep-rooted understanding of how team spirit, togetherness, and achievement combine to give that unique buzz. We also cover the concepts of timing, trust, role expectations, project rebirth, and ornithology.[1:55] What do you do?[4:03] In terms of project management career, what have you done so far?[7:57] Why did you go into project management?[10:42] What have you found to be important for project success?[14:55] How has the project management profession evolved since you started?[18:55] Are there any particular challenges you still face today, after 30 days?[21:06] Which project do you remember the most?[24:08] Do you have a funny project story?[27:44] Final thoughtDid you enjoy the episode? Follow us and leave a review! Get in touch: https://ricbos.com. Get to know Mi better: https://www.miparkconsulting.com/.#career #pmo #projectmanagement #programmanagement #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #entrepreneur