Welcome to The PMO Huddle, the podcast for Project Management Office (PMO) Leaders by PMO Leaders.
Our goal is to offer on-the-ground insights into this challenging and exciting role through the lens of those who’re experiencing it first-hand.
Your host, Hussain Bandukwala, is the CEO of Parwaaz Consulting, where we help organizations become better at managing their projects, set up PMOs and make them run like well-oiled machines.
Episode 0001: Monique Powell
Our guest for this episode is Monique Powell.
Monique Powell is a Project Management Professional with 17 years of progressive experience. She is a mother of 4, devoted wife, and Christian Minister who believes in being a strong leader and most importantly serving. She is motivated, inspired and allied with the Project management Profession. She is energized by solidifying effective, functional PMOs, consulting, reviewing & diagnosing Project Management challenges that beset organizations and most importantly, providing PMO strategic value. She is best recognized known by her unscripted maxims which bring life to learning and ensures knowledge she provides is digestible by the receiver, retained, and aligned with practical knowledge.
And here’s what we talked about:
- What keeps you busy outside work?
- So you’ve been a PMO leader twice – this is your second time – did you have to setup a PMO from scratch both times around? How was the experience from one vs. the other?
- What did you feel you did the first time around that in hindsight you feel you could’ve done differently?
- And you’ve lead PMOs in both organizations that are product-based organizations – so how or when was the need felt to bring in project management along with product management?
- What’ve been the best resources that have helped you along the way?
- What’s the biggest challenge you have with your specific role right now and what’s your plan to conquer it?
- What’s one question that you’d ask yourself that I haven’t asked you?
- [Signature Question]
Episode 0002: Priya Khokhar Cutts
Our guest for this episode is Priya Khokhar Cutts.
Priya K Cutts is a PMO Director at Rally Health (United Health Group). She started her career in digital entertainment spanning music, art, games and most recently found her passion in the health tech space. Her focus has been small start ups and working on scaling their project management operations. Originally from Pakistan, the youngest of four girls, Priya had been settled in the US for the past 13 Years. She lives in San Francisco CA with her husband Dave, her two year old son Mikhail and they’re about to welcome their second son in June 2020.
And here’s what we talked about:
- What keeps you busy outside work?
- Did you setup the PMO at Rally Health or take up an existing one? How were the first few months for you as a PMO Leader?
- How have you trusted your guts and instincts in your role as a PMO Leader?
- Which three people have been most influential to you?
- What advice would you give to your peers and aspiring PMO leaders
- [Signature Question]
Episode 0003: Rakesh Arun
Our guest for this episode is Rakesh Arun.
Rakesh is an energetic, motivating and engaging leader with a proven record driving strategy, operations and directing large organizations. With over 20 years of experience, he has led Project Management Offices (PMOs) within technology organizations large and small. From setting up operating rhythms, to driving new process and deploying tools surrounding the program and project management discipline. His background spans verticals like aerospace, manufacturing, HR, banking, finance, securities, retail and media at Fortune 50 companies. Rakesh is recognized for a thorough understanding of global cultures, storytelling, and commitment to developing people to reach their full potential.
And here’s what we talked about:
- Before we talk about more PMO stuff, I’m curious, tell us about your time as the part owner for Masala Wok.
- How did your first few months look like as a PMO Leader?
- What was the one (1) thing that you wished you knew when you started out?
- What’re generally are the major challenges you’ve faced when running the PMO and what have you done to solve for it?
- Do you think you have a side-kick for your role? So you’re Batman – who’s your Robin?
- [Signature Question]
Episode 0004: Matt Whalen
Our guest for this episode is Matt Whalen.
Matt Whalen, PMP, PMI-ACP, MBA is the Director of Project Management for CAP COM Federal Credit Union and the Adjunct Instructor for the University at Albany’s Project Management MBA class. He has over a decade of combined experience in Project Management, Business Analysis, Product Management, and Operation, focused primarily in the financial services domain. Matt is passionate about applying the Project Management discipline in an intuitive manner which enables organizations to better realize outcomes and value of work performed in a practical way. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with Wife Devin, son Liam, and watching Baseball and playing Golf (poorly).
And here’s what we talked about:
- How would you compare months 1-6 vs. months 18-24 of being a PMO Leader?
- What do you think is different about PMOs at financial institutions?
- What have been your most valuable resources through your PMO journeys?
- When being a PMO Leader, you usually come across many who have opposite views from you. How do you respond to them?
- What’s a common PMO myth that you’d like to debunk?
- If you had an extra budget of $50,000, how would you spend it and why?
- What advice would you give to your peers and aspiring PMO leaders?
- [Signature Question]
Episode 0005: Molly Beran
Our guest for this episode is Molly Beran.
Molly is the Director of Project Management at Strata Decision Technology, which creates and implements financial planning software for hospitals. Molly started her career in project management at Epic Systems, a healthcare software firm in Madison, Wisconsin, where she also worked as a corporate trainer. Through her 16 years in software, consulting and working in hospital settings, Molly has managed teams ranging in size from four to 17, in departments spanning IT support, training and project management.
And here’s what we talked about:
- During these crucial times of COVID-19, how has it been working with clients that have been on the front-line?
- You recently wrote the article “Leadership is Being, Not Doing” (www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership…ing-molly-beran/) – what prompted you to do so?
- What was your transition like from managing analysts and trainers to becoming a PMO Leader?
- If I gave you a magic wand and asked you to make a wish about one challenge to go away, what would it be?
- What do you think are some traits successful PMO Leaders exhibit?
- [Signature Question]
Episode 0006: Bill Garcia
Our guest for this episode is Bill Garcia.
Bill is a Technology, Business Operations, and Project Management executive specialized in setting up Shared Services operations, from IT Service Support organizations to Startup Back office operations to Project Mgt organizations. With a proven record leading Global IT Organizations and Business Transformation programs, skills include Business Process Improvement, Strategy & Operations Alignment, IT Service Management, and IT Security. Strong program and project management background, Systems and Computing Engineer, MBA, and Certified CIO in Federal IT Executive Competencies from Carnegie Mellon University.
And here’s what we talked about:
- Describe how you’re juggling so many moving parts and responsibilities (IT Strategy, Architecture, PMO, and Global Systems)
- How would you define the success of your PMO?
- And why do you think many people give up on PMOs?
- What challenges are you facing that you wished would go away?
- How do your values show up in your work?
- Tell me something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on
- What advice would you give to your peers and aspiring PMO leaders?
- [Signature Question]