Project Podcast

Project magazine, brought to you by APM

Project managers share their stories from the front line of the project and programme management profession.

This podcast is brought to you by APM, the chartered membership organisation for the project profession. For more information on how to join APM, visit apm.org.uk.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

148 episodes
Updated July 23

Episodes148

Newest first

May 12, 2023 · 38 min
Introverts in project management speak out
Emma meets three project professionals (Alex Constantine, Clare Hornsby and Natalie Talbot) to discuss what it’s like to be an introvert in a project profession that seems to favour extroverts, at least on the surface. This situation leaves many introverts having to fake it and suffer the consequences. So, isn’t it time things changed? Read more about introverts in the project profession in the spring 2023 edition of APM’s Project journal. Contact us: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Apr 28, 2023 · 28 min
Agile or agility? A valuable addition to the project toolkit
Emma meets Adrian Dooley, who has 45 years’ experience in project management. Adrian started out his career as a construction project manager, later becoming involved in developing software applications for construction. In 1984, he set up the Projects Group as a training and consultancy company. He was one of the founders of Project Manager Today magazine and served as an executive council member of APM. He is the founder and lead author of the Praxis Framework. In this podcast, he shares how, in his experience, many fads rise to prominence and then become integrated into good practice. He believes agile will follow that same path. Get in touch: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Apr 14, 2023 · 32 min
‘The best project job in the UK’: Nick Smallwood on running the Infrastructure and Projects Authority
Professor Adam Boddison (APM Chief Executive) meets Nick Smallwood, CEO of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA). The IPA oversees the UK’s National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which contains hundreds of billions of pounds of public and private infrastructure investment. It also supports the Government Major Projects Portfolio, made up of projects with high levels of complexity, impact or risk. Also part of Nick’s remit is advancing the professionalisation of project delivery within the UK government. Adam speaks to Nick about his route into the project profession, including four decades at Shell. We also hear about Nick’s decision to move into the public sector, the implementation of a Project Academy within government, and why he believes he is in the best project job in the UK. Contact us: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Mar 31, 2023 · 26 min
An Icelandic professor on projects and a can-do mindset
Emma meets Haukur Ingi Jónasson, Professor of Project Management at the University of Reykjavik, where he runs its Master’s in Project Management (MPM) course. The MPM is helping create the project professionals needed to take Iceland through its latest transformation. You can read all about it in the spring 2023 issue of Project journal. Haukur talks to Emma about his unusual entry into project management and how the Icelandic mindset is something we could all benefit learning from. Contact us: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Mar 17, 2023 · 31 min
The hidden side of projects: Why they fail and what you can do about it
Emma meets Vip Vyas, co-author of Gorilla in the Cockpit: Breaking the hidden patterns of project failure and the system for success. Vip is founder of a company that specialises in breakthrough performance on large projects. He's been a visiting consultant at London Business School and an executive consultant at Said Business School at the University of Oxford. His book is the product of 25 years’ experience of tackling and turning around highly complex projects across many sectors, including banking, FMCG, government, digital technology and renewables. In this podcast, he shares what he has learned about why most projects fail, what makes some projects so successful and how you can become a better project leader. Vip can be contacted at connect@vipvyas.com Contact us: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Mar 3, 2023 · 40 min
How big things get done, with Bent Flyvbjerg
Emma welcomes back Bent Flyvbjerg to talk about his new book, How Big Things Get Done: The surprising factors behind every successful project, from home renovations to science exploration. Bent formulated the ‘iron law of megaprojects’, which contends that $1bn-plus megaprojects will almost always blow their budget and schedule and yield fewer benefits than promised. His new book outlines how the data shows this is no mystery; it's usually the result of terrible forecasting and planning. The good news is that he explains how every project from a house renovation to the building of a new nuclear power station could be done far more successfully. Listen to Bent’s first appearance on the APM Podcast here. Contact: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Feb 17, 2023 · 50 min
Openreach’s PMO: Smashing perceptions and winning awards
This special episode is guest hosted by Emma-Ruth Arnaz-Pemberton, chair of APM’s PMO Specific Interest Group, and Director of Consulting Services at Wellingtone. She’s in conversation with Catherine Lumb of Openreach. The Fibre and Network Delivery PMO at Openreach was the recipient of APM’s 2022 PMO of the Year award. The judges praised the PMO for “working on relationships and on accessible ways to being benefits” and also for “generating joy through the work itself.” Listen to hear Catherine talk about how and why the PMO was established, the transformation journey it went on, and also why PMOs have something of an image problem – and how to break the bias. Spotify users – please answer our listener poll. Contact: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Feb 6, 2023 · 21 min
3 project trends for 2023 with Eddie Obeng
‘A sense maker in a daft world’ is how today’s guest, Eddie Obeng, describes himself. Eddie is a Visiting Professor at Henley Business School, an esteemed columnist for Project journal and an APM Honorary Fellow. He's also learning director at the virtual business school Pentacle, a TED speaker and co-founder of Qube. A new edition of his book All Change! The project leader's secret handbook is out this year. In this podcast, he shares his thoughts on the most important trends in project management for 2023, and what you should be doing about them. Get in touch: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk Spotify users, please answer our listener poll – scroll down on your device to view the poll.
Jan 11, 2023 · 25 min
How to lead with empathy
Emma meets Belinda Parmar, founder and CEO of The Empathy Business, who was also the keynote speaker at APM’s Women in Project Management Conference in September. Belinda uses the science of empathy to change the way we lead at work, changing cultures to bring more empowerment to people's lives, with a focus on belonging and diversity. Belinda is also the creator of the Global Empathy Index, published in the Harvard Business Review, which is the first index to measure empathy and inclusion at scale. She works alongside CEOs and leaders of large organisations to transform companies using the power of empathy. Contact apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Dec 28, 2022 · 19 min
5 project management lessons we learned in 2022
In 2022, our podcast guests have shared their advice and experiences on everything from putting telescopes into space to discovering sunken ships at the bottom of the Antarctic Sea. As the year draws to a close, we thought it would be worthwhile taking a look back at some of the lessons we learnt in 2022. So in this festive bonus episode, we collate some of our favourite highlights from episodes you may have missed earlier in the year. Contact apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Dec 21, 2022 · 36 min
Senior leader interview: Craig Hatch, Tetra Tech UK
In this episode, APM Chief Executive Professor Adam Boddison meets Craig Hatch, President at Tetra Tech UK. Tetra Tech is a global technology, environmental and management consultancy, with over 20,000 employees worldwide. The pair discuss the need for greater inclusivity in the profession, the state of project expertise at C-Suite level, and the importance of delivering long-term value to communities through projects. Contact apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Dec 7, 2022 · 34 min
Legacy and impact: Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
In this episode, Emma meets Annie Hairsine, the project management brains behind the fabulously successful Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer. The Games were filled with colour and energy and were billed as the most sustainable and diverse Games ever, but what was it like to pull off this huge undertaking and will the city of Birmingham be able to capitalise on its legacy? Read more about Annie and the Games in the winter 2022 edition of Project journal. Contact us: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Nov 23, 2022 · 45 min
Women in Project Management: How to make it to the top
In the second of our follow-up podcasts from the APM Women in Project Management Conference, Emma invites three senior leaders from the world of projects who contributed to WIPM. They share their experience to help those starting out in their career and also give their tips for women on how to rise to the top of the profession. Joining Emma are: Sam Olsen, DWP Estelle Detrembleur, Mace and APM’s Risk SIG Sharon Parker-Brannan, Sellafield Ltd Do you have a suggested topic for the podcast or any feedback to share? Get in touch: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Nov 9, 2022 · 38 min
Women in Project Management: Career tips from three female high-flyers
For this podcast, Emma invited three high-flyers from the world of projects who also contributed to APM’s Women in Project Management Conference this year, which was a terrific success and a really buzzy event. This follow-up podcast gathers together their career tips for project professionals so that you can benefit from their wonderful advice. On the panel are: Jacqueline Okuyemi-Daniel, Tetra Tech Europe Daisy Milton, Bass Rock Engineering Bel French, Gleeds Contact us: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Oct 27, 2022 · 42 min
Bright young things: three future leaders on what they want from the profession
In this episode, Emma meets three of the profession’s bright young things – Stacey Bishop (SSE Renewables), Ashlyn O’Riordan (Turner & Townsend) and James Patraiko (Corre Energy). They share the younger generation’s biggest concerns, expectations and hopes for their career. What do they want older generations to understand about them? What is it about the project profession that motivates them so deeply? And what can we learn from them about new ways of working?
Oct 10, 2022 · 25 min
How to put sustainability at the heart of your work
In this episode, Emma meets Kristina Bull, a Partner at QSA Partners, a B Corp consultancy with a mission to help organisations to implement circular economy business models. A project professional with a focus on sustainability, Kristina currently advises clothing brands and retailers and how to become more truly sustainable. She also works on the Cotton Lives On initiative, a recycling programme turning your old cottons into new products. Listen to find out about her work on sustainability and her advice for every project professional on what more you can do. Contact us: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Sep 26, 2022 · 31 min
Social mobility and projects with the Rt Hon Justine Greening
This episode sees Professor Adam Boddison, APM Chief Executive, in conversation with the Right Honourable Justine Greening. Justine served as an MP from 2005 to 2019. During her time in politics, she held positions including Secretary of State for Education, Minister for Women and Equalities and Secretary of State for International Development. In this podcast, Adam and Justine discuss the definition of social mobility, the status of apprenticeships and where project management fits into the levelling up agenda. Justine also shares her experiences as co-founder of the Social Mobility Pledge campaign, which encourages organisations to be a force for good by putting social mobility at the heart of their purpose. Visit https://www.socialmobilitypledge.org/ Contact us at apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Sep 14, 2022 · 47 min
Assurance management: what it is and how to do it well
In this episode, Emma meets Sarah Coleman and Andrew Schuster to talk assurance management. Sarah is a Chartered Project Professional and Fellow of APM and PhD researcher, and Andrew is the National Director of Transformation Risk and Advisory at PwC Canada. Sarah and Andrew co-authored the recent APM Research report Value of Assurance Management Practices, which you can download here. What distinctive practices are being used to develop and deliver an assurance management service in project-based organisations? And how do organisations determine the level and type of investment they will make in assurance management practices? Listen to find out. Contact us at apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Aug 31, 2022 · 37 min
The evolution of the project profession within government, with HMRC’s Joanna Rowland
This episode sees Adam Boddison, APM chief executive, in conversation with Joanna Rowland, Director General for Transformation at HMRC. The pair discuss the evolution of the project profession within government, the skills and experience required to thrive in a project role and misconceptions surrounding the profession. Jo also shares her career origins, including her time with the police, and her experience of working under pressure and amid intense public scrutiny during the pandemic. If you want to learn more about HMRC’s project to deliver the furlough scheme during the pandemic, check out episode 7 of the APM Podcast, published in 2020. If you have any comments, feedback or suggestions, contact us at apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Aug 10, 2022 · 43 min
Lessons learned from Crossrail with ex-CEO Mark Wild
In this episode, Andrew Saunders, business journalist and regular contributor to Project journal, sits down with Mark Wild, ex-CEO of Crossrail. Mark took over as CEO of Crossrail in 2018 at a time of highly publicised budget and deadline overruns. Fast-forward to May this year, and Mark stepped down as CEO following the long-delayed but much-celebrated opening of the Elizabeth Line. Having successfully turned around such a complex and fraught programme, in this podcast Mark shares his insights into what went wrong in the early years of Crossrail, the changes he made upon becoming CEO and lessons for future complex programmes. Contact: apmpodcast@thinkpublishing.co.uk