PM Career Growth's Podcast

PM Career Growth

Helping Project Managers grow their influence, visibility, and leadership impact, regardless of methodology.Welcome to PM Career Growth, where Project & Program Managers learn how to go from executors of tasks to strategic, visible leaders.Whether you work in Agile, Waterfall, hybrid, or portfolio environments, this channel will help you master the mindset & systems that accelerate your PM career.Learn to:- Build Strategic Visibility & become recognized as a business partner- Connect Strategy to Execution using systems thinking- Master core PM skills: time management, budgeting, risk & stakeholder management, communication, & prioritization- Lead teams & translate delivery into measurable business impact- Grow your career through leadership presence, storytelling, & visibilityThrough interviews, expert breakdowns, live sessions, & actionable coaching, we teach PMs at every level how to elevate their influence & impact inside any organization.Download now!

Episodes

  1. 12/26/2025

    Strategy Expert Speaks to the 4 layers of strategy and how PMs can earn a seat at the table

    Most PMs never get invited into strategy conversations, not because they lack talent, but because they don’t know how to think and speak in strategy language. In this live conversation, Dr. Marc Sniukas (strategic advisor to global CEOs, author of The Art of Opportunity, and creator of Better Strategy OS) joins Elizabeth Dworkin and Justin MacBale to break down the 4 layers of strategy,  and how project and program managers can finally earn a seat at the table. You’ll learn: -What strategy really is (hint: it’s not just a plan or a PowerPoint) -The 4 layers of strategy: network, corporate, business, and functional -How portfolio, program, and project management connect to those layers -How to prioritize strategic challenges using “business survival” as your filter -The difference between a project that’s off-track and a strategy that’s broken -How PMs can move from task reporting to decision-enabling -How to tie risks, trade-offs, and decisions back to business impact & survival -Ways to cut through noise, eliminate non-strategic work, and focus on what matters -Practical ways PMs can become strategic partners and build career visibility If you’re a PM, program manager, or PMO leader who’s tired of being “just execution,” this session will show you exactly how to think, speak, and operate like a strategist,without needing a VP title. 🔗 Connect with Marc Sniukas: Better Strategy OS & Make Better Strategy School: makebetterstrategy.com LinkedIn:   / sniukas   Join the membership! Pmcareergrowth.com Follow us! LinkedIn YouTube Instagram TikTok Follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn Get Coaching or Fractional Support from Elizabeth Follow Justin on LinkedIn Purchase Coaching and Fractional PM services from Justin

  2. 12/22/2025

    Communication Expert Speaks on How Professionals Build Executive Presence & Read a Room

    Executive presence isn’t a title, it’s how you communicate, influence, and lead under pressure. In this PM Career Growth episode, Professor and executive educator Dr. Josh Hammonds (Rollins College; consultant to Uber, Paylocity & more) breaks down the science of credibility, influence, and “reading the room” so Project & Program Managers can drive decisions, de-escalate tense meetings, and show leadership on Zoom and in the boardroom. You’ll learn: What “Executive Presence” really means (credibility, trust, competence, likability) and why it’s the modern rebrand of ethosThe 4 listening styles on every team (People, Action/Achiever, Explorer/Strategist, Fixer/Detail) and how to tailor your message to eachHow to encode ideas clearly (brain → words) so you sound decisive, not scatteredPractical ways to de-escalate a hot room (be the thermostat, not the thermometer)Micro-expressions & body language 101 to truly “read the room”—even through a screenBuilding presence at every career level: aspiring PMs, new PMs, and seasoned leadersWhen to say “no” without losing trust; how reliable follow-through builds authorityVideo & Zoom presence: hooks, agenda control, transitions, posture, eye contact, audio If you want to move from task driver to trusted strategic leader, this conversation gives you the language, the frameworks, and the reps. 👥 Guests & Hosts • Guest: Dr. Josh Hammonds — Professor of Communication & Leadership, Executive Educator & Consultant • Hosts: Elizabeth Dworkin & Justin J. MacBale, PM Career Growth 🔔 Subscribe for weekly deep dives on project leadership, stakeholder management, influence, and career growth. Join our community of project managers and take your skills to the next level! 💬 Drop your questions in the comments, we’ll answer the best in a follow-up! Join the membership! Pmcareergrowth.com Follow us! LinkedIn YouTube Instagram TikTok Follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn Get Coaching or Fractional Support from Elizabeth Follow Justin on LinkedIn Purchase Coaching and Fractional PM services from Justin

  3. 11/17/2025

    PMO Expert Discusses How to Prove Your PMO's Value Fast & Why Project Managers Fail at Business Impact

    PMOs get a bad rap.  “Red tape.”  “Process police.”  “Report factories.” In this episode, we sit down with Noah McCloud, founder of Optigold PMO, to break that stereotype and talk about how to turn your PMO into a strategic engine that leaders actually fight to keep. We dig into: What modern PMOs really are (beyond “project management office”)Why so many PMOs struggle to show valueHow to build intake, governance, and metrics that actually tie to business outcomesWhy only 18% of organizations feel their PMs have strong business acumen—and what to do about itHow PMs can step up from “task managers” to business partners and eventually PMO leadersIf you’ve ever wondered, “How do I prove my PMO isn’t just overhead?” or “How do I become more strategic as a PM?” — this one’s for you. Guest: Noah McCloud, Founder of Optigold PMO Noah McCloud is the founder of Optigold PMO, where he helps organizations build, elevate, and optimize PMOs so they function as true strategic partners, not overhead. With 20+ years of experience guiding portfolios, programs, and PMOs across multiple industries, Noah specializes in: Connecting strategy to deliveryTurning PMOs from administrative functions into strategic value enginesDesigning PMO services that focus on outcomes, not just processYou can find Noah at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-mccloud-55219446/Website & blog: optigoldpmo.com00:00 – Intro & why PMOs get a bad reputation02:00 – What is a PMO today? Mission control for change.06:00 – Process police vs. strategic partner: why PMOs lose trust08:30 – Why intake is the first lever for value (and chaos control)13:30 – Prioritization, governance, and tying to strategic themes18:00 – Getting real feedback: surveys, 1:1s, and culture challenges24:00 – Metrics that matter: from “on time/on budget” to business impact30:00 – Safe-to-fail experiments, innovation, and not smothering ideas32:30 – AI, PMOs, and the risk of junk data37:00 – Demonstrating tangible value to teams & executives41:00 – The business acumen gap: why PMs struggle with impact47:00 – Changing methodologies & making hybrid actually work52:00 – Growing into PMO leadership & final advice for PMsJoin the membership! Pmcareergrowth.com Follow us! LinkedIn YouTube Instagram TikTok Follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn Get Coaching or Fractional Support from Elizabeth Follow Justin on LinkedIn Purchase Coaching and Fractional PM services from Justin

  4. 11/04/2025

    Insights from a Recruitment Expert: Unlocking the Secrets to Landing Project Management Roles

    In this insightful episode, hosts Elizabeth and Justin kick off their PM Career Growth series with an engaging session featuring Elias Cobb, Director of Recruiting at QuantX. Elias shares his extensive expertise in the recruitment process for project managers, revealing crucial tips on resume optimization, the importance of job titles, the role of certifications like PMP, and navigating the recruitment cycle. Key highlights include actionable advice on writing impactful resumes, understanding how AI and recruiters screen candidates, and effectively networking to stand out in the job market. This episode is an invaluable resource for both seasoned and aspiring project managers seeking to advance their careers.    Follow: Elias Cobb at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliascobb/ Follow Elizabeth Dworkin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ElizabethDworkin https://www.peaktransformationservices.com  Follow Justin J. MacBale at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinjmacbale/ https://www.pragintionpm.com Follow PM Career Growth on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmcareergrowth  00:00 Introduction and Welcome  01:19 Introducing the Guest Speaker: Elias Cobb  02:02 Elias Cobb's Background and Experience  03:50 Understanding the Recruitment Process  07:16 Job Requisitions and Qualifications  09:10 Industry Experience and Transferable Skills  12:22 Recruitment Challenges and Filtering Techniques  16:53 The Role of AI in Recruitment  20:25 Optimizing Your Resume for ATS  26:59 Project Management Resume Tips  31:00 Top Qualifications for Project Managers  32:54 Importance of Budget Responsibility  33:38 Challenges in Switching Industries  35:17 Hot Topics in Project Management  36:35 The Value of PMP Certification  43:04 Resume Writing Tips  50:24 Networking and Job Applications  53:38 Final Q&A and Conclusion    #jobtips #jobsearchstrategy #resumewriting #projectmanagementtips Join the membership! Pmcareergrowth.com Follow us! LinkedIn YouTube Instagram TikTok Follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn Get Coaching or Fractional Support from Elizabeth Follow Justin on LinkedIn Purchase Coaching and Fractional PM services from Justin

About

Helping Project Managers grow their influence, visibility, and leadership impact, regardless of methodology.Welcome to PM Career Growth, where Project & Program Managers learn how to go from executors of tasks to strategic, visible leaders.Whether you work in Agile, Waterfall, hybrid, or portfolio environments, this channel will help you master the mindset & systems that accelerate your PM career.Learn to:- Build Strategic Visibility & become recognized as a business partner- Connect Strategy to Execution using systems thinking- Master core PM skills: time management, budgeting, risk & stakeholder management, communication, & prioritization- Lead teams & translate delivery into measurable business impact- Grow your career through leadership presence, storytelling, & visibilityThrough interviews, expert breakdowns, live sessions, & actionable coaching, we teach PMs at every level how to elevate their influence & impact inside any organization.Download now!