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In this special wrap-up episode, Trina and Mathew look back on the standout moments and superpowers from Season 2 of Wear Your Cape to Work. Together they revisit the insights, stories, and lessons that made this season unforgettable and share what they learned from each inspiring guest. Precision under constraint. The season opened with Jeff Conner, program manager from NASA, who described project management before online tools existed. Paper files, couriers, and in-person signoffs still led to flawless execution. His story showed how precision and accountability were the original super tools. Courage in leadership David Doty’s episode, It Takes Courage, stood out for his transparency and strength. Building a district from scratch under scrutiny, he modeled brave leadership and reminded us to celebrate real wins. Admirable endeavors: global aid when everything changes Lucas King explained how policy shifts or crises can reshape USAID projects overnight, proving adaptability across governments and cultures. Empowering people’s strengths Project Insight customer Linda Goodrich of CureIS showed how aligning people’s passions with their work improves results through forecasting and a balanced pace. Finding calm thru clarity Lisa Haymes of Rimkus showed how organization creates calm and confidence. Curiosity as a catalyst Renee Clayton of Byte Strategies urged PMs to stay curious, experiment, and use AI thoughtfully to stay adaptable. Grit with generosity Charlene Reynolds, Director at John Wayne Airport, advanced by taking tough projects and shared guidance on leadership, motivation, and mentoring. Reliability that builds trust Fisayo Folarin rebuilt her project management career after moving from Nigeria to Canada, showing how reliability and honesty build trust. Comfortable in conflict Agatha Agbanobi’s passion for HR and DEIB work showed how empathy and courage turn conflict into progress and reminded us to see what teams carry beyond work. Decisive steadiness Sanjiv Bhagat from Amazon explained how a bias for action drives innovation, pairing decisiveness with humility in global logistics. Innovation with integrity Steve West reflected on the shift from faxed spreadsheets to real-time dashboards and the vision for one connected command center giving leaders a complete picture of work. Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com #WearYourCapeToWork #ProjectInsight #ProjectManagement #Leadership #PMO #ProgramManagement #ProjectLeaders #ChangeManagement #TeamLeadership #AIPoweredPM #ProjectManagerLife #CourageInLeadership #PrecisionUnderPressure #BiasForAction #WomenInLeadership #InnovationAtWork #ProjectSuccess #WorkSmarter #ProfessionalGrowth #Season2Recap

Steve West has seen project management evolve from the days when building an extranet to share files felt revolutionary to today’s era of AI-driven collaboration. As Product Manager at Project Insight, he’s witnessed every major shift—from desktop tools to browser-based systems to intelligent automation. In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina, Mathew, and Steve talk about the early days of project management software, how teams learned to collaborate online, and why the leap from desktop to browser was such a defining moment for the industry. They explore how the PMP framework and artificial intelligence continue to shape the way Project Insight builds features that empower people—not just projects. Steve’s story is one of innovation, persistence, and belief in connecting people through technology. Episode Highlights •What project management looked like before the cloud—and why extranets were considered cutting-edge • The leap from desktop tools to browser-based platforms and why many resisted at first • How collaboration and visibility ultimately triumphed over siloed software • The evolution of Project Insight and how its product philosophy grew from those early challenges • How the PMP framework continues to guide modern PM practices • The impact of artificial intelligence on portfolio and resource management • Why Steve believes project management has always been about people first, technology second • Reflections on what’s next for project management and AI 🔗 Connect with Steve: / steve-west-cali Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com #ProjectManagement #Innovation #ArtificialIntelligence #WearYourCapeToWork #ProjectInsight #SteveWest #TrinaSchaetz #MathewSparkes #PMP #PortfolioManagement #Leadership #Collaboration #ProductManagement #TeamWork #TechEvolution #PMO #WorkManagement #AIFuture #BusinessStrategy #ProjectTools

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, we’re joined by Sanjiv Bhagat, Manager of Program Management at Amazon. Sanjiv shares his journey from technical roles in the public sector to leading global logistics initiatives, how his love of puzzles shapes his prioritization skills, and why every project must start with the problem—not the tool. He also explains Amazon’s leadership principles, including Jeff Bezos’s “two-way vs. one-way door” decision framework, the bias toward action, and the minimum regret lens. Along the way, Sanjiv highlights how leaders can cut through tunnel vision, view their portfolios as a whole, and connect spend to true value delivered. What you’ll take away from this episode: *Why projects must begin with the problem before jumping to solutions or tools *How puzzles and prioritization sharpen decision-making in complex environments *Jeff Bezos’s decision framework: one-way vs. two-way doors *Bias toward action and the minimum regret lens as antidotes to analysis paralysis *Customer obsession as the north star for projects at every level *Building a PMO that partners with the business, measures value, and stays simple *Helping leaders see the full picture: portfolio alignment, spend vs. outcomes, and strategic value *Humility and continuous learning as hallmarks of strong leadership Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com #WearYourCapeToWork #WYCTW #BiasForAction #ProjectManagement #ProgramManagement #AmazonLeadershipPrinciples #PMO #CustomerObsession #DecisionMaking #ContinuousImprovement #LeadershipDevelopment

We’re excited to welcome Agatha Agbanobi, founder and principal consultant of ResonantHR to the WYCTW podcast. With more than 15 years in project and program management and six years in HR leadership, she shares what it’s like to lead initiatives in employee relations, conflict resolution, workforce development, and DEIB. Agatha — unlike most of us — is comfortable being close to the fire. She uses her superpowers of values-based leadership, empathy, and people skills to help resolve conflict, build stronger company cultures, and connect HR initiatives directly to business goals. In this conversation, she talks about the evolving role of HR leaders, why proving ROI matters, and what inspired her upcoming Values-Driven Leadership Podcast. Episode Highlights 🔹 Starting in education and international development, but always leading projects 🔹 Finding her way into HR through DEIB work and expanding into HR leadership 🔹 Why she pursued her PMP and how it strengthens her HR practice 🔹 What makes HR and DEIB project work unique 🔹 Tying HR projects to organization-wide initiatives and eliminating silos 🔹 Why today’s CHRO must evolve into a strategic business partner 🔹 Her commitment to DEIB and standing up for what she believes in 🔹 How empathy, people skills, and hope for resolution guide her leadership 🔹 Her “superpower” of being comfortable in high-conflict situations 🔹 A preview of her upcoming podcast on values-based leadership 🔗 Connect with Agatha: / agathaagbanobi 🔗 ResonantHR Website: / resonanthr Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com #WearYourCapeToWork #HRLeadership #DEIB #AgathaAgbanobi #ProjectManagement #ValuesBasedLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #ConflictResolution #PMP #FutureOfWork

Fisayo Folarin has built a reputation for being someone you can count on. Whether leading digital banking projects in Nigeria or driving SaaS implementations in Canada, her superpower is reliability combined with a deep commitment to transparency, communication, and continuous & curious learning. In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina and Mathew talk with Fisayo about what it takes to restart your career in a new country, why project managers must be both curious and courageous, and how she helps teams achieve “100% efficiency” by asking the right questions and translating priorities between stakeholders. Fisayo’s story is one of transformation from starting out in customer service to becoming a trusted coach and delivery expert in tech, fintech, and SaaS. Episode Highlights • Fisayo’s transition from customer service to project analyst before learning Excel • Restarting her project management career after relocating from Nigeria to Canada • Four key skills every project manager should build:  – Curiosity to understand the “why”  – Transparency about what you know and don’t know  – Communication that is clear and effective  – Willingness to continuously grow your skills • Differences between projects in credit unions vs. commercial banks • What “100% efficiency” looks like in project delivery • How to clearly communicate scope, customization, and timelines to clients • The role of emotional intelligence in successful project management • How to balance what’s working with areas that need change • Coaching others to define their own ways of working • Fisayo’s project superpowers: reliability, transparency, and alignment 🔗 Connect with Fisayo: / fisayofolarin Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com

Today we’re joined by René Clayton, an AI strategist, PMP, author, and transformation leader with over 20 years in financial services, IT, and emerging tech. As founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Byte Strategy, René helps small businesses and fintechs bridge the gap between project management and AI. With training from MIT and years of experience in automation and AI strategy, she shares how project managers can embrace new technology with confidence and lead in an AI-driven world. In this episode, René takes us from her early career in project management to her current role shaping AI strategy, and she offers practical advice on how PMs can stay relevant, resilient, and future ready. 🚀 Episode Highlights 1:42 – How René got started in project management 2:40 – Earning her PMP and starting out in a senior PM role at a credit union 3:20 – Early natural planner: bridal event coordinator at 18 4:30 – Taking on roles she did not yet know how to do: “Commit and figure it out” 5:30 – Why you should glue yourself to subject matter experts 5:50 – Converting 800 credit unions to a new platform and the camaraderie of success 6:45 – Project health colors: do not be afraid of “red” projects 8:12 – Ethically bound to tell the truth of the project at all times 10:18 – Leading an online credit card banking platform change with multiple stakeholders 11:44 – Awakening to AI a decade ago, calling it “Augmented Intelligence” 13:23 – Diving into RPA, NLP, ML, chatbots, IoT, and AI strategy 16:04 – Generative AI and staying in touch with the niche 17:00 – René’s vision: how AI can assist PMs and why you must get comfortable with the tools 18:42 – AI changes daily, so yesterday’s knowledge is not enough 22:00 – Talking about HeyGen for Agentic Clones 24:00 – Future proofing your PM career by playing with AI today 25:00 – René’s favorite AI models and how she uses them 27:00 – Using AI to consolidate artifacts and interact with documents 29:00 – Security around GPTs 32:00 – Hallucinations, GPT drift, and when you might not need AI at all 33:00 – Consulting with Byte Strategy to help companies discern the right path 35:00 – Why EI (emotional intelligence) and AI go hand in hand 36:00 – Relational prompting and strategies to talk with AI 37:00 – Ethics, compliance, and the importance of a PM in the loop 38:00 – Core competency: being able to converse with AI technology 39:00 – René’s closing advice: be curious, play, have fun, and keep learning Books by René Clayton How to Talk to Anyone with Ease: 21 Actionable Skills for Young Adults Women’s Success in Corporate Leadership Cómo Hablar Con Cualquier Persona Con Facilidad (Spanish Edition) Generative AI: For Women Who Mean Business, A Workbook Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com

In this episode, we talk with David Doty, an education leader who has taken on some of the toughest assignments in the field. David shares what it was like to launch a brand-new school district in a deeply divided Utah community and how he later revitalized educational programs for incarcerated adults across the country. We get into what it takes to lead under scrutiny, build trust in fractured environments, and stay grounded in purpose when the pressure is on. This is an episode about the real work of systems change, and the kind of steady leadership that gets it done. Timestamps 1:40 – First guest leading large-scale education projects 2:00 – From Spanish teacher to school attorney to education executive 3:40 – Superintendent of Utah’s first new school district in 100 years 6:00 – Building a $300M district from scratch in 12 months 7:45 – Legal battles and resolving high-stakes conflict 9:00 – Winning support for a massive public project 11:00 – Balancing incompatible demands and calming the chaos 13:05 – “I can’t do this by myself” — rallying the team 14:08 – Turning vision into reality for your people 15:19 – Giving students your best, every time 16:16 – Brown v. Board, equity, and the power of literacy 17:31 – Leading with passion for disadvantaged students 19:00 – Launching coding programs for women in prison 20:00 – Defining scope and success at Western Governors University 23:00 – Who is the real customer: student or employer? 25:00 – The fight against the status quo in education 27:00 – Competing agendas and the challenge of innovation 28:00 – Social media, stakeholders, and leading through noise 29:00 – Pivoting through politics, budgets, and shifting priorities 31:00 – “Try to go it alone, it just doesn’t work” — collaboration in action 33:00 – Facing the mountain, building the team, leading with courage 36:00 – “We’re not just building individuals. We’re building communities.” Helpful Links: David Doty on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsdoty/ Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com #Leadership #EducationLeadership #ProjectManagement #SystemsChange #SchoolDistrictLeadership #BuildingTrust #LeadingUnderPressure #ChangeManagement #PublicEducation #IncarceratedEducation #CorrectionalEducation #EquityInEducation #VisionaryLeadership #CommunityLeadership #WearYourCapeToWork

Charlene Reynolds began her career answering phones as a receptionist, a role many women were steered into. But she knew she was capable of more. Each time someone said she needed a degree or certification to move up, she earned it. Charlene built her path by raising her hand for difficult projects, leading through uncertainty, and elevating voices others overlooked. Now one of only 25 women in the U.S. running a commercial airport, she shares how she leads with transparency, adapts quickly, and keeps doors open for others to grow. ⏱ Topics Covered 3:12 – Early career development: Starting as a receptionist and recognizing her potential 4:37 – Growth mindset: Told she didn’t qualify, so she made sure she did 7:04 – Project ownership: Volunteering for tough, abandoned projects 8:27, 9:17 – Public-private strategy: Launching a $1M sponsorship and city bike share 10:29 – Talent recognition: Spotlighting quiet contributors to build success 13:24 – Mentorship and succession: Helping others rise through coaching and access 15:09 – Organizational transparency: Joining the C-suite and opening her door to all 17:34 – Crisis leadership: Leading through the first COVID fatality in Arizona 19:03 – Visible leadership: Walking the terminal to stay present and accessible 21:09 – Process adaptation: Redesigning rent relief to support retailers 23:23 – Stakeholder engagement: Meeting every new employee one-on-one 23:39 – Human-centered leadership: Letting people see her as a person, not just a boss 25:00 – Continuous learning: Solving for the 20 percent that’s new or different 27:06 – Professional resilience: Holding your head high through internal challenges 28:33 – Opportunity evaluation: Choosing the right fit after being a finalist elsewhere 29:07 – Cross-functional management: Using business acumen and curiosity to lead diverse teams 32:27 – Relationship building: Building trust before you need it 35:17 – Change leadership: Modeling the behavior first and leading by example 37:56 – Collaborative visioning: Asking others for their vision, not just sharing hers 38:39 – Inclusive transformation: Bringing people into the process instead of pushing change 39:40 – Executive communication: Coming to leadership with solutions, not just problems 40:47 – Leadership maturity: Using your voice, staying clear, and never delegating up Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com 🎧 Listen https://lnkd.in/gG6f7Fq5 #ProjectManagement #AirportOperations #InfrastructureProjects #AviationLeadership #PublicSectorPM #ChangeManagement #OperationsLeadership #WorkplaceVisibility #FacilityManagement #StrategicExecution #PMOLeadership #WomenInLeadership

Lisa was making daily to-do lists by age seven—not to be productive, but because it brought her peace. That instinct stayed with her and evolved into a leadership superpower. In this episode, Lisa shares how her natural drive to plan and prioritize led her into project management, how she grew into a PMO leadership role, and how Project Insight gave her team visibility across IT, marketing, and business portfolios. ⏱ Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – 03:00 Lisa’s earliest memory of planning: daily checklists at age 7 03:00 – 06:00 Why planning brought her peace—and how that ritual stuck 06:00 – 08:00 Her method for avoiding overwhelm with fast-win sub-lists 08:00 – 10:00 Project management felt like a natural extension of who she was 10:00 – 13:00 Her nonlinear journey: from project coordinator to PMO manager 13:00 – 16:00 On underselling herself and learning to step into leadership 16:00 – 18:00 Launching the PMO at Rimkus and supporting company-wide transformation 18:00 – 21:00 Implementing Project Insight to bring visibility and structure 21:00 – 23:00 Expanding the PMO to include marketing and business projects 23:00 – 25:00 Tailoring project approaches to fit different teams 25:00 – End Advice to future PMO leaders: trust your instincts, and stay organized Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Follow Lisa Haymes: / lisahaymes A link to Project Management Offices: A Practice Guide on the PMO website. PMI Members can download it for free now: https://www.pmi.org/standards/pmo A link to Project Management Offices: A Practice Guide on Amazon - available August 9: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Manage... Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com

Episode Summary: In this episode, we talk with Linda Goodrich, the VP of Delivery at CureIs Healthcare. CureIs a customer of Project Insight, and so we have been fortunate to get to know Linda's superpowers over the years. Operationally, she is known for bringing a structure to project management org-wide, but her real PM personal superpower is having a keen awareness of her team, their capacities, passions, and helping them find their most fulfilling roles in the workplace. Show Notes 00:00 – 02:00 Introduction and Linda’s early tech background 02:00 – 04:00 Starting in help desk, managing projects without knowing it 04:00 – 06:00 Gaining project experience prior to pursuing PMP certification 06:00 – 08:00 PM as the liaison between leadership and operations 08:00 – 10:00 Exposure to agile, forecasting, and real project complexity 10:00 – 13:00 Tracking capacity and allocation across teams 13:00 – 15:00 Using Project Insight to get real-time visibility into team bandwidth 15:00 – 17:00 How project data informs delivery timelines and sales commitments 17:00 – 19:00 Putting a dollar value on meetings and resource decisions 19:00 – 21:00 Making data actionable is the most important visibility 21:00 – 23:00 Helping team members blossom: right person, right role 23:00 – 25:00 Creating a framework for mentorship, motivation, and fun 25:00 – 27:00 PMBOK as a guideline, not a rigid rulebook 27:00 – 29:00 Balancing structure with energy and team spirit 29:00 – 31:00 The CureIS experience team and how they view their customers 31:00 – 33:00 What project work looks like in healthcare 33:00 – 35:00 Using Project Insight to unify sales and delivery processes Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com #projectmanagementinhealthcare #crossdepartmentvisibility #healthcareleadership #teamownership #rolealignment #healthcarePMtools #CureIS #purposedrivenleadership #projectmanagement #capacityplanning #PPM #ProjectInsight

🎙 Episode Title: The Peace of Organization Guest: Lisa Haymes, Director of PMO at Rimkus Podcast: Wear Your Cape to Work by Project Insight Episode Summary: Lisa was making daily to-do lists by age seven—not to be productive, but because it brought her peace. That instinct stayed with her and evolved into a leadership superpower. In this episode, Lisa shares how her natural drive to plan and prioritize led her into project management, how she grew into a PMO leadership role, and how Project Insight gave her team visibility across IT, marketing, and business portfolios. ⏱ Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – 03:00 Lisa’s earliest memory of planning: daily checklists at age 7 03:00 – 06:00 Why planning brought her peace—and how that ritual stuck 06:00 – 08:00 Her method for avoiding overwhelm with fast-win sub-lists 08:00 – 10:00 Project management felt like a natural extension of who she was 10:00 – 13:00 Her nonlinear journey: from project coordinator to PMO manager 13:00 – 16:00 On underselling herself and learning to step into leadership 16:00 – 18:00 Launching the PMO at Rimkus and supporting company-wide transformation 18:00 – 21:00 Implementing Project Insight to bring visibility and structure 21:00 – 23:00 Expanding the PMO to include marketing and business projects 23:00 – 25:00 Tailoring project approaches to fit different teams 25:00 – End Advice to future PMO leaders: trust your instincts, and stay organized Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Follow Lisa Haymes: / lisahaymes A link to Project Management Offices: A Practice Guide on the PMO website. PMI Members can download it for free now: https://www.pmi.org/standards/pmo A link to Project Management Offices: A Practice Guide on Amazon - available August 9: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Manage... Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com #wyctw #projectmanagement #PMOleadership #womeninprojectmanagement #forensicengineering #organizationaldevelopment #careergrowth #productivitytips #planningmindset #PMP

Episode Summary: In this episode, we talk with Linda Goodrich, the VP of Delivery at CureIs Healthcare. CureIs a customer of Project Insight, and so we have been fortunate to get to see Linda's superpowers over the years. Operationally, she might be known for bringing a structure to project management org-wide, but her real PM personal superpower is having a keen awareness of her team, their capacities, passions, and helping them find their most fulfilling roles in the workplace. Show Notes 00:00 – 02:00 Introduction and Linda’s early tech background 02:00 – 04:00 Starting in help desk, managing projects without knowing it 04:00 – 06:00 Gaining project experience prior to pursuing PMP certification 06:00 – 08:00 PM as the liaison between leadership and operations 08:00 – 10:00 Exposure to agile, forecasting, and real project complexity 10:00 – 13:00 Tracking capacity and allocation across teams 13:00 – 15:00 Using Project Insight to get real-time visibility into team bandwidth 15:00 – 17:00 How project data informs delivery timelines and sales commitments 17:00 – 19:00 Putting a dollar value on meetings and resource decisions 19:00 – 21:00 Making data actionable is the most important visibility 21:00 – 23:00 Helping team members blossom: right person, right role 23:00 – 25:00 Creating a framework for mentorship, motivation, and fun 25:00 – 27:00 PMBOK as a guideline, not a rigid rulebook 27:00 – 29:00 Balancing structure with energy and team spirit 29:00 – 31:00 The CureIS experience team and how they view their customers 31:00 – 33:00 What project work looks like in healthcare 33:00 – 35:00 Using Project Insight to unify sales and delivery processes Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com

Episode Summary: In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, we dive into the world of international development project management with Lucas King of DAI, a leading USAID contractor. Lucas shares what it’s like managing global development projects where the stakes are high, but the rewards are even higher. And then throw in giant pivots of uncertainty from the recent DOGE cuts to USAID project budgets...you need a real superhero to keep the plates spinning. We explore how project management in the international development sector differs from corporate environments — from navigating donor requirements and political shifts to empowering local communities and building sustainable impact. Lucas’s project management "superpowers" shine through: his ability to stay calm under pressure, bridge gaps between diverse stakeholders, and build trust across cultures. If you’re curious about careers in global project management, managing USAID-funded initiatives, or what it takes to thrive in the dynamic world of development work, this episode offers a real-world look inside. 00:00 – Introduction and kickoff 00:35 – Meet Lucas King: Journey to international project management at DAI 01:30 – How Lucas launched his career managing development projects around the world 03:10 – How project management for international development differs from corporate PM work 05:05 – Core skills for success: adaptability, relationship-building, navigating uncertainty 07:00 – Lucas’s project management "superpowers": Remaining calm in high-stakes environments Translating between field teams, technical experts, and donors Building collaboration across countries and cultures 09:15 – Inside USAID project management: Managing funding, compliance, and mission-driven goals 12:00 – How politics, local dynamics, and sustainability impact project delivery 14:20 – Advice for project managers considering careers in global development 16:00 – Final reflections: Why working in international development is both challenging and deeply rewarding Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina sits down with her cousin Jeff Conner, who spent 43 years as a project manager at NASA. From the early days of the shuttle program to coordinating recovery efforts after the Columbia accident, Jeff’s career spans some of the most mission-critical projects in NASA’s history. This conversation explores Jeff’s career path, his family legacy in aerospace, and the mindset it takes to lead when failure is not an option. Topics covered: ➤ The family connection: Trina and Jeff as cousins ➤ Jeff’s father’s role at NASA in the Air Force physical standards lab ➤ Starting his NASA career as a mechanical engineer ➤ Payload integration projects and contributing to the construction of the International Space Station ➤ Installing payloads aboard space shuttle missions ➤ Planning for shuttle emergency landings and alternate recovery locations ➤ Project management in the 1980s: printed schedules, phone calls, and couriered memos ➤ Reflecting on a bygone work era—before nonstop email and instant messaging ➤ The Columbia accident and Jeff’s role in the Air Boss helicopter recovery operations ➤ Risk as a defining factor in space projects—and how to lead within it ➤ Jeff’s superpower: identifying risks early and turning them into opportunities for precision and excellence ➤ How teams can minimize compounding issues when working on large, hazardous systems ➤ Leading diverse teams through complexity, pressure, and change If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to manage projects where the margin for error is zero, this episode is for you. Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on: YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com

In today's episode we talk with Emma Kelly, a program manager from The Water Project. She shares about managing projects in the humanitarian sector where projects can span across continents...where part of your resource force is the community you are working in... and when you don't always have access to the internet. Hear about how program managers align projects with strategic initiatives and empower people to do their best work for a very important cause. Episode Highlights: 1. Emma's Passion for Water 2. Community management in Humanitarian Projects 3. Project Implementation in the Humanitarian Sector 4. From Research to Projects in Action 5. Community as Stakeholders and resources 6. 3 Main program locations: Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone. 7. Mission to provide full saturation/coverage of the area. A framework of coverage 8. Program Management: Managing Projects: Aligning projects with strategic initiatives. 9. Program Management: People Management: Empowering people to do their best work. 10. Cultural nuances of Intercultural teams 11. Diversity of Understanding = Diversity of Ideas 12. Coming into a new community 13. Strengths of Intercultural teams. 14. Managing teams in different countries 15. Project Types in the Water Sector 16. Ground Nut Soup 17. The goal of full saturation 18. Shared vision with teams 19. Transparency with public and donors 20. How can you support the Water Project 21. The Water Promise 22. Commitment to Monitoring and Reporting and Evaluating Projects 23. Emma’s superpower of empowering people to do their best work. 24. Relationships, Trust, Reliability: The Water Project's pillars 25. How do you manage projects without the internet 26. Working to understand risks and issues to reduce future downtime. 27. Sticking to the plan when there are obstacles. wyctw.com