In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Sumathi Arcot, Project Director for Lean Agile Transformation in AstraZeneca’s U.S. Oncology Business Unit, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to manage AI responsibly in one of the world’s most regulated industries.

Sumathi shares how the CPMAI methodology fundamentally shifted her perspective on AI, from something experimental and exploratory to a product discipline with defined outcomes, built-in governance, and clear success criteria from day one. In a pharma environment shaped by strict compliance requirements, she explains how CPMAI doesn’t slow innovation—it enables it—by aligning seamlessly with privacy impact assessments, third‑party risk reviews, and regulatory expectations.

Drawing on a real-world patient value impact analysis project in the rare diseases space, Sumathi highlights how CPMAI’s six phases—especially Phase I: Business Understanding and Phase II: Data Understanding—help teams focus on the right problem before model development begins. She also connects CPMAI to PMI’s M.O.R.E. vision, explaining how structured artifacts, KPIs, and go/no-go checkpoints help project managers move beyond delivery to value especially when navigating AI initiatives with diverse, risk-aware stakeholders.

You’ll hear insights on:

• How CPMAI transforms AI experiments into governed, auditable products
• Why Business Understanding is critical in AI initiatives
• How pharma compliance aligns to CPMAI checkpoints
• How the PMI M.O.R.E. vision helps project managers communicate AI value
• What agentic AI and human‑in‑the‑loop leadership looks like in the years ahead

Whether you’re a project manager, transformation leader, or AI practitioner, this episode offers practical lessons for leading AI initiatives where the stakes and the scrutiny are high.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch talks with Ivonne Mejia, Lead Project Portfolio Manager for the San Francisco Bay Region Network at California State University (CSU), to discuss how PMOs can drive responsible AI transformation in higher education.

As multiple CSU campuses consolidate under one unified PMO, Ivonne shares how she's embedding CPMAI into portfolio intake, prioritization, and oversight, ensuring AI initiatives are strategically aligned and governed. She makes the case for how CPMAI Phase One: Business Understanding shifts the question from “How do we build this with AI?” to “Should we?”

The conversation covers readiness assessment, outcome definition, ethics, and stakeholder alignment. Additionally, Ivonne connects her approach to PMI’s M.O.R.E. vision: managing perceptions, owning success, relentlessly reassessing, and expanding perspectives as data and policy evolve.

Tune in to hear about:

• How CPMAI prevents costly missteps
• Why starting with the right business problem changes everything
• How iterative go/no-go decisions keep AI projects aligned and on track
• What the future of AI-augmented project leadership looks like

This episode delivers practical insight into leading AI initiatives that are aligned, governed, and built for measurable impact.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch is joined by Michael Hyzy, Vice President of AI Strategy and Product Development at CGI, to explore why so many AI initiatives struggle—and why methodology matters more than ever.

Drawing on his experience leading enterprise AI initiatives in regulated industries, Michael explains why treating AI like traditional software often leads to failure, stalled pilots, and unmet expectations. He shares how CPMAI provides the structure needed to manage uncertainty, align stakeholders, and move AI efforts from experimentation to measurable business outcomes.

This conversation dives into the realities of managing non-linear AI work, from data readiness and model risk to governance, ethics, and long-term operationalization. Michael also looks ahead to the rise of AI agents and what project leaders must do now to prepare for a future where humans and AI systems work side by side.

Tune in to hear about:

• Why AI projects fail when traditional delivery methods are applied
• How CPMAI helps teams navigate data uncertainty and iterative learning
• How organizations move AI from pilots to production
• Why governance and risk management must be built into AI projects from the start
• What mindset shifts do project managers need when leading AI initiatives
• What the transition from AI tools to AI agents means for organizations

Whether you’re a project manager, AI practitioner, or organizational leader, this episode offers practical insight into delivering AI responsibly, realistically, and at scale.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Dr. Katrenia Reed Hughes, educator, curriculum designer, and project leader, to explore how AI is transforming education—and what it means to prepare learners for project success in a rapidly changing world.

As part of AI Today's PMI Global Summit Series, this conversation highlights how AI can be used not just as a tool, but as a pathway to equity, empowerment, and confidence—especially for underrepresented learners. Katrenia shares insights on curriculum development, early exposure to AI, and the mindsets needed to ensure no one gets left behind in the age of automation.

Tune in to hear about:

• Why exposure to AI early builds not just skills, but belief
• How educators are integrating AI across curriculum design
• The role of psychological safety and representation in project learning
• What “future readiness” means for tomorrow’s project leaders
• How AI can both challenge and enhance traditional education models
• The importance of mentorship, agency, and human connection in AI-powered learning

Whether you're in education, project management, or talent development, this episode offers a hopeful and practical vision for building more inclusive, AI-literate teams—starting in the classroom.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Lee Lambert, PMI Fellow, a founder of the PMP certification, and long-time project management thought leader. Recorded live at PMI Global Summit 2025, this conversation bridges the past, present, and future of the project management profession.

Lee shares his candid thoughts on how AI is reshaping what it means to lead projects—and why the future belongs to those who pair smart tools with power skills like communication, leadership, and empathy.

Tune in to hear about:

• Why mindset matters more than memorization in an AI-augmented world
• How project managers can embrace AI without losing their human edge
• Why power skills are more valuable than ever
• What changes—and what doesn’t—as tools evolve
• Lee’s advice for staying relevant in a fast-changing profession
• Reflections on the PMP’s legacy and the future of PM education

Whether you're new to the field or decades into your career, this episode offers practical, energizing advice on how to grow with the profession as AI transforms the landscape.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Ashima Sharma, Founding Partner of Ayuka Consulting, to explore what it really takes to deliver AI that works—in practice, at scale, and with purpose.

This conversation was recorded live at PMI Global Summit 2025 and highlights the often-overlooked foundations of successful AI adoption: clean, contextual data; empowered, cross-functional teams; and a human-centered mindset that sees AI as a partner, not a product.

Tune in to hear about:

• Why most AI efforts fail without operationally ready data
• How project teams can bridge the gap between experimentation and delivery
• What true upskilling looks like for today’s AI-augmented workforce
• How to navigate value misalignment, scope creep, and early AI friction
• What makes for “good” AI adoption—and what questions we should be asking
• The importance of empathy, ethics, and inclusion in AI delivery work

Whether you're a project leader, product owner, or transformation coach, this episode delivers grounded insight into building AI that supports both systems and the people who run them.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Chris Caldwell, CEO of Concentrix, to explore how AI is being operationalized across customer experience (CX) ecosystems—from listening and learning to acting and delivering at scale.

This conversation dives into how trust, transparency, and intentional use of AI are helping Concentrix deliver highly personalized experiences for some of the world’s largest brands. Chris shares how their teams are moving beyond dashboards and metrics toward outcomes powered by real-time, AI-driven insight.

Tune in to hear about:

• Why trust is foundational for AI adoption in customer interactions
• How natural language AI is transforming both listening and action
• What it takes to deliver true hyper-personalization at scale
• Why transparency, control, and choice matter in every AI use case
• Real-world examples of AI streamlining service, support, and retention
• How Concentrix balances experimentation with client outcomes

Whether you're in customer experience, enterprise transformation, or scaling AI in a service environment, this episode delivers clear, grounded insight into what it really means to build AI that listens, learns, and acts—with the customer at the center.

Concentrix Corporation (NASDAQ: CNXC), a sponsor of today’s podcast episode, is a Fortune 500® company, is the global technology and services leader that powers the world’s best brands, today and into the future. The company is solution-focused, tech-powered, intelligence-fueled to design, build, and run fully integrated, end-to-end solutions at speed and scale across the entire enterprise. Concentrix helps over 2,000 clients solve their toughest business challenges. With unique data and insights, deep industry expertise, and advanced technology solutions, it’s the intelligent transformation partner that powers a world that works, helping companies become refreshingly simple to work, interact, and transact with. Delivering outcomes unimagined across every major vertical in 70+ markets. Virtually everywhere. Visit concentrix.com to learn more.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Fred Laluyaux, CEO of Aera Technology, to discuss how enterprises are evolving their operating models through AI-powered decision intelligence.

Tune in to hear about:

• What “decision intelligence” really means—and why it matters
• How AI can move from experiments to operational transformation
• The rise of decision architects and control rooms inside the enterprise
• Why “learning by doing” beats “learning by reading” when adopting AI
• How change fatigue, value misalignment, and risk aversion affect AI initiatives
• What the future of knowledge work could look like with embedded intelligence

Whether you’re leading digital transformation, deploying enterprise AI, or exploring new operating models, this conversation offers sharp insights into building organizations that can sense, decide, and act at scale.

Aera Technology, a sponsor of today’s podcast episode, is the leader in decision intelligence and creator of Aera, the first decision intelligence agent. Aera understands how your business works, makes real-time recommendations, takes actions, and learns from every decision. By empowering enterprises to optimize and automate decisions, Aera enables greater sustainability, intelligence, and efficiency. See this in action at AeraHUB NYC as market leaders share how they are scaling decision intelligence for a competitive edge in the age of AI.