10 Things I Wish I Knew Sooner About Leading a High-IMPACT PMO

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills Milestone birthdays tend to stir up reflection. This year, I found myself thinking back to the moments that shaped my PMO journey. The mistakes I made, the patterns I fell into, and the friction I didn’t yet have the tools to remove. So I pulled together 10 things I wish […]

Confidence Comes After the Work, Not Before It

  PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills   You’ve probably heard it in your own head: “I’ll go for that next role once I feel more confident.” “I’ll speak up in the next meeting.” “I’m just not ready yet.” But here’s the truth. Confidence doesn’t show up first. It’s what arrives after you’ve taken the risk, […]

Stop Searching for Talent. Start Growing It! with Dawn Mahan

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills Have you ever sat in a meeting where executives talk about closing the talent gap as if it’s someone else’s job? Meanwhile, your PMO is already doing it. You’re stretching team members into new responsibilities, creating moments of influence, and giving people the opportunity to lead. But no one’s calling […]

Why Project vs. Product Isn’t the Real Problem

PMI Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Have you ever been told your company is “shifting to a product-based model” — and immediately felt the tension rise? You’re not resisting change. You’re just tired of watching the labels shift while the same execution issues play out: unclear roles, siloed teams, and a strategy that never seems to […]

5 Questions That Unlock Real Accountability in Your Projects

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills You’ve assigned the task. Everyone nodded. Deadlines were mentioned. And yet… nothing moves. Sound familiar? In the latest episode of the PMO Strategies podcast, we outline five simple but powerful questions that will help you hold your team and stakeholders accountable for doing their part…without you having to beg or […]

When and How to Say No: A Leadership Strategy for Driving Real Results

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills We often celebrate leaders for setting bold visions and aggressive goals. Yet, one of the most powerful, underused leadership skills isn’t about what you say “yes” to — it’s about what you decisively choose to say no to. In this week’s episode of the PMO Strategies Podcast, we explore how […]

Stop Proposing on the First Date: How PMO Leaders Build Real Stakeholder Buy-In

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills Have you ever walked into a room, unveiled your perfectly planned PMO strategy, and felt the air go flat? You’ve done the research. You’ve got the tools. You know this will help the business. And yet… crickets. Blank stares. Maybe a few polite nods, but no real engagement. If that […]

How to Stop Wasting Time on Training That Doesn’t Stick

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills If you spent $100,000 on training last year, I’ve got news for you: only about $12,000 of that investment actually moved the needle. That’s not a guess. In 2023 alone, U.S. companies dropped over $101 billion on training initiatives—and yet only 12% of learners applied what they learned on the […]

288: Reflect, Recalibrate, and Set Intentions for 2025

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills Hi, IMPACT Driver!   Happy New Year!   Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all that you do – the hard work you put in, the effort you make to drive change inside organizations, and the way you show up every day. Thank you for […]

283: The Ambidextrous Project Manager with Mark Burnett

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills The Ambidextrous Project Manager: Mastering Complexity with Creative and Analytical Skills Project managers face ever-increasing complexities, requiring a unique blend of skills to navigate successfully. Enter The Ambidextrous Project Manager—a concept coined by Mark Burnett, highlighting the importance of balancing both creative and analytical thinking to manage modern projects effectively. […]