PPP 449 | Beyond Scope, Time, and Cost: Rethinking Project Success, with Dave Garrett
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Release Date: 03/03/2025
PPP 488 | How to Be a Less Terrible Boss, with Joel Hilchey
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Joel Hilchey, speaker, facilitator, and author of . Joel brings humor, honesty, and a refreshing amount of grace to a topic many leaders quietly struggle with: becoming a boss without training, preparation, or a clear roadmap. Andy and Joel explore what it really means to be an “accidental boss” and why most bad bosses are not bad people. They unpack the four quadrants every leader must balance: tasks vs. people and short-term vs. long-term, and why focusing only on tasks can quietly erode trust and engagement. You’ll hear practical ideas for...
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PPP 487 | Why Humor Is a Serious Leadership Skill, with comedian Adam Christing
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with comedian and corporate emcee Adam Christing, author of . If you have ever hesitated to use humor at work because you were unsure it would land, or worried it might backfire, this conversation offers both encouragement and a practical path forward. Adam shares how his early influences shaped his approach to humor and why he believes every human is also a “humor being.” You will hear why humor is more than chasing chuckles, including how it can build trust, improve learning, and strengthen relationships on teams. Adam introduces the concept of "laugh...
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PPP 486 | How to Solve Some of the Toughest Leadership Problems, with business coach Dr. Katie Best
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Katie Best, leadership coach and author of . Drawing on years of coaching leaders across industries, Katie shares practical insights that help you tackle high-stakes leadership moments—especially when a coach isn't available. They explore Katie’s SOLVE framework for problem-solving under pressure, the danger of performative busyness, and how to make better decisions when trade-offs and uncertainty rule the day. You’ll also hear how to unlock authentic influence without manipulation, foster healthy debate on overly “nice” teams, and support...
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PPP 485 | What Project Teams Can Learn From Sketch Comedy, with author John Krewson
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with John Krewson, co-author of . John’s journey spans software development, acting, and even a stint with Saturday Night Live. He now leads Sketch Development, where he helps teams build products people actually want, faster and with more joy. In this conversation, John explains why project teams should behave more like creative troupes than traditional org charts. You’ll hear how laughter can be a feedback loop, why messy first drafts matter, and how simple tools like sticky notes, Elmo cards, and Lean Coffee can radically improve your team’s...
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PPP 484 | Coping with Digital Overwhelm Without Logging Off, with author Craig Mattson
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Craig Mattson, professor of communication and author of . Rather than encouraging digital detoxing or escaping technology, Craig offers a refreshing way to understand and navigate the pressures of modern work. He introduces the idea of digiwhelm, explains why so much of our stress comes from the communication modes we inhabit, and shows how leaders can respond with intention rather than overload. You will hear Craig describe why email can be more than information transfer, how mode switching differs from context switching, and why one-way...
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PPP 483 | The Future of PMOs, AI’s Impact, and Leadership Lessons with Amireh Amirmazaheri
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with , CEO of and a leading voice in the global PMO community. From growing up in Iran during a time of war to building a respected consultancy in Australia, Amireh shares how resilience and curiosity shaped her approach to leadership and enabling project success. You’ll hear how PMOs have evolved from administrative hubs to strategic influencers, what it means to truly “speak the language of executives,” and how to recognize when a PMO is at risk of drifting into irrelevance. We also explore how AI is transforming the work of PMOs and what leaders...
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PPP 482 | The PM Readiness Iron Triangle and How It Can Transform Your Career, with Kayla Quijas
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Kayla Quijas, founder of . Kayla’s journey from cake decorator to Senior Project Manager at a global law firm is anything but conventional, and it’s that transformation that fuels her work helping others break into and thrive in project management. At the heart of the discussion is Kayla’s signature framework, the PM Readiness Iron Triangle, which focuses on three key pillars: credentials, experience, and network. You’ll hear how to assess your readiness for a PM role, even if you don’t come from a traditional background, and what to do if one...
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PPP 481 | Why Great Managers Add Zero Value and Why That is Good News, with author Matthew Ley
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Matt Ley about his new book . Matt challenges the myths and misunderstandings around management, explaining why clarity between contributors, managers, and leaders is key to organizational performance. You’ll hear why he says managers are “multipliers” of value, how to recognize when you’re being overled or overmanaged, and why he believes managers are not “junior leaders.” Matt introduces his EP!C Management model: Environment, Performance, Identity, and Communication. It's a tactical framework designed to help managers activate and...
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PPP 480 | What If You Managed Your Life Like a Project? Insights from Coach Tony Weaver
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Coach Tony Weaver, author of . After decades of leading complex IT, marketing, and transformation projects, Tony turned his project management skills inward and used them to lose over 100 pounds. That journey sparked a new mission: helping others apply the same proven methods to their own goals, whether it’s health, finances, career, or just finally following through on something important. In this conversation, you’ll hear how to turn vague intentions into measurable, motivating goals. Tony shares how to break down big ambitions into doable...
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PPP 479 | The AI Skills You Need to Stay Relevant, with Matt Mong
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Matt Mong, a leader at , a company focused on bringing intelligent automation to the world of project management. With AI dominating headlines, Matt joins the podcast to explore what's real, what's hype, and what project managers and frontline leaders should actually be doing to stay ahead. They discuss common misconceptions about AI in projects, why structured data is critical, and how AI can evolve from productivity booster to strategic game-changer. Matt shares practical advice on balancing innovation with data privacy, how project roles may shift...
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In this conversation, Andy interviews Dave Garrett, a senior advisor to the CEO at Project Management Institute (PMI). They discuss the evolving definitions of project success, emphasizing the need to go beyond traditional metrics of scope, time, and cost to include value and customer-centric outcomes. Dave shares insights from his extensive experience and PMI's research, introducing the Net Project Success Score (NPSS) and strategies to enhance project success. Topics include the importance of managing perceptions, owning project success beyond metrics, relentlessly reassessing project parameters, and expanding perspectives. The conversation also explores the impact of AI on project management, practical applications of generative AI, and how project managers can leverage these tools to improve effectiveness.
Wondering what the future of project management looks like? Join us for this discussion!
Sound Bites
- "Value is a tricky thing to pin down."
- “The Sydney Opera House is a classic example of a project that was considered a failure for a very long time because of cost overruns. It overran from a time perspective, even to a point where the public was very upset about it… over time became known as one of the more successful projects ever."
- "Project success is not binary."
- Our research found that your project success score will double if you do three things: if you set goals up front, if you put in place a system of measurement that aligns and guides decision making, and if you track progress along the way."
- "Success can't be, 'I guess we didn't suck!'"
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:18 Start of Interview
- 01:30 Dave's Backstory
- 03:22 What Dave Does at PMI
- 03:59 Defining Project Success Beyond Traditional Metrics
- 08:03 Perception and Success
- 14:50 Introducing the Net Project Success Score
- 19:11 MORE Framework for Project Success
- 23:13 The Value of Being Customer-Centric
- 24:28 AI's Role in Project Management
- 31:31 PMI Resources
- 34:21 End Of Interview
- 34:39 Andy Comments After The Interview
- 38:58 Outtakes
Learn More
You can learn more about Project Management Institute at pmi.org.
For more learning on this topic, check out:
- Episode 424 with Karla Eidem, who joined us to talk about project management trends.
- Episode 319 with Sierra Hampton-Simmons from PMI about the PMP exam.
- Episode 253 with one of the most passionate advocates of PMI: Lee Lambert
Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
Talent Triangle: Ways of Working
Topics: Project Management, Value, Success Metrics, Stakeholder Engagement, AI, PMI, Research, Project Success