The battle for PMO relevance has never been more challenging. In this essential conversation, we explore what it takes to make enterprise portfolio management successful beyond frameworks and templates. Our guest, Ryan Chaffey, Divisional Manager of the Enterprise PMO at Yarra Valley Water, brings a powerful perspective to the discussion, drawing on his extensive background in steering strategic planning, portfolio management, and governance frameworks across various industries, including Telecommunications, Financial Services, Entertainment, Education, and the Public Sector.

Ryan shares his journey from Chartered Accountant to PMO leader, explaining how his financial expertise, reinforced by his CPA and PMP certifications, naturally bridges the gap between strategy, finance, and delivery. We unpack his "Holy Trinity" concept of alignment, explore why organisations often struggle with benefits realisation (hint: 90% a cultural problem), and examine the political realities of project prioritisation and the essential role of psychological safety in governance frameworks.

Beyond his leadership at Yarra Valley Water, Ryan has spent three years leading the AIPM PMO Community of Practice, working to establish it as the premier PMO network in Australia, recognised for delivering high-quality professional development content. His wealth of experience in capital budgeting, strategic planning, and enterprise portfolio management shines through as we delve into practical insights, such as "Minimum Viable Governance," overcoming capability gaps in PPM tool rollouts, and building accountability systems that genuinely work. Whether you’re establishing a PMO, revitalising one, or seeking to connect portfolios to business outcomes better, this episode delivers real-world strategies you can apply immediately. Connect with Ryan Chaffey on LinkedIn to continue learning from his expertise across multiple transformation contexts.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 0:00 Personal Life and Work Updates
• 14:03 Ryan's Journey to PMO Leadership
• 21:15 Communicating PMO Value to Executives
• 27:06 Turning Strategy into Actionable Programs
• 32:10 Benefits Realisation Challenges
• 38:49 Project Prioritisation and Governance
• 44:45 Stopping Proj

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!

We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...

Career disaster strikes in the most unexpected moments—ask Guy Thorpe. Two weeks after receiving Employee of the Year honors at a major life insurance company, he held a pink slip after an organizational restructuring. This shocking pivot catalysed an entrepreneurial journey that would transform his professional path.

Guy's candid conversation reveals how being viewed as "just another cost center" pushed him to launch Value Key Consulting. His transition from corporate employee to successful consultant offers a masterclass in resilience and strategic career planning.

The episode covers critical insights for both project professionals and entrepreneurs. Guy shares his early mistakes and the systems he developed for consistently generating client work. Project professionals will appreciate Guy's concept of treating your career as your most valuable project. Whether you're recovering from a career setback, considering entrepreneurship, or looking to elevate your project management impact, this conversation offers both practical advice and inspirational perspective. What career disaster might become your greatest opportunity?

In this episode, Guy and I discussed:

• 1:15 Guy's Story: From Award Winner to Redundancy
• 5:10 Starting a Consulting Business After Corporate
• 11:37 Balancing Business Operations and Client Delivery
• 18:40 Treating Your Career as a Project
• 29:54 Managing HiPPOs and PMO Strategic Evolution
• 44:49 Power Skills in the Age of AI
• And more...

Guy and I discussed the following books:

• The Trusted Advisor Book
• What colour is your parachute book

This podcast is sponsored by Agile Management Office (www.agilemanagementoffice.com), providing high-impact delivery execution in an agile era for scaling businesses.

Thank you for listening to this podcast. We welcome any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter to receive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. www.agilemanag

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!

We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...

What happens when project management expertise meets sustainability principles? Eman Deabil, Bahraini transformation management leader and award-winning professional, reveals the powerful intersection that sparked her global Green PMO initiative.

Emerging from a desire to create something uniquely Bahraini that would impact the world, Iman's collaborative book project brings together diverse thought leaders to explore how Project Management Offices can drive meaningful sustainability transformation. She explains how combining her PMO experience and sustainability knowledge created the foundation for this innovative approach.

Eman offers practical strategies for organisations struggling to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their operations. She emphasizes creating specific sustainability KPIs, aligning projects with UN Sustainable Development Goals, and establishing clear accountability mechanisms. Most importantly, she addresses the challenge of convincing resistant stakeholders by translating sustainability initiatives into financial terms, and demonstrating long-term value creation.

In this episode we discuss:

• Combining PMO expertise with ESG knowledge

• Using KPIs and strategic alignment to incorporate sustainability into project management

• Overcoming management resistance

• Applying emotional intelligence to understand stakeholder dynamics

• Becoming a "T-shaped" project manager

Check out Iman's best-selling book "Green PMO" to learn how project management offices can lead sustainability transformation in organizations.

Book your discovery assessment here: https://agilemanagementoffice.com/discovery-assessment/

Thank you for listening; PLEASE share or rate this if you enjoyed it. #AgileIdeas

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!

We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...

Discover the key to transforming your Project Management Office (PMO) in this insightful episode featuring Bill Dow, an industry authority with decades of experience. In our engaging conversation, Bill unveils actionable strategies to elevate your PMO from merely functioning to flourishing. We dive deep into the critical elements of defining service offerings, crafting effective roadmaps, and maintaining robust relationships between project management and change management.

Bill shares the invaluable “5% rule” for process improvement, guiding listeners on embedding these practices into their teams' performance. We also touch on the dynamics of managing a remote PMO, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and adaptability in today’s workforce.

In this episode, we cover:

Introduction to Agile Ideas

Finding Help on Bad Days

Meet Bill Dow – The PMO Authority

Overview of Bill's PMO Experience

The Importance of Service Offerings

Building Effective PMO Roadmaps

The 5% Rule for Process Improvement

The Intersection of Project Management & Change Management

Remote Work Dynamics in PMOs

Book your discovery assessment here: https://agilemanagementoffice.com/discovery-assessment/

This podcast is sponsored by Agile Management Office (www.agilemanagementoffice.com) providing high-impact delivery execution in an agile era for scaling businesses.

Thank you for listening to this podcast. We welcome any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter to receive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

Thank you for listening; PLEAS

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!

We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...

In this episode, we delve deep into the evolving landscape of Project Management Offices (PMOs) and the increasingly vital role of change management as we approach 2025. Today’s PMOs face the challenge of delivering projects and ensuring those projects lead to meaningful, sustainable change within organizations. With insights from industry experts, we uncover how the intersection of PMO function and change management is crucial for driving organizational success and securing a strong return on investment.

The discussion highlights the importance of PMOs and change management teams collaborating to enhance project success and delivering sustainable transformations.

In this episode, we cover:

• Understanding the shift towards change management within PMOs

• Importance of tracking benefit realization and ROI

• Elevating PMOs’ roles to incorporate change management competencies

• Collaborative frameworks for PMOs and change management practices

• Future predictions for PMOs and change management integration

• Identifying the skills needed for PMOs to drive change initiatives

• Utilizing technology and analytics for better change management

• Strategies for improving stakeholder engagement and adoption rates

And more...

Contact us if you're interested in workshops focusing on PMO and change management collaboration!

Book your discovery assessment here: https://agilemanagementoffice.com/discovery-assessment/

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!

We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...

Throw back to one of our favorites, in case you missed it!

Jeff Wood has over 20+ years of experience in leading transformational change including the implementation of PMOs within both the public and private sectors. Love making a difference to organisations and the people within priding myself on strong servant-leadership, efficient and effective service design, delivery of complex portfolios, programmes and projects, and development of people. Jeff is now leading a team of professionals in one of the UK's largest water companies.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to transition outdated PMO methods and models and deliver using agile release trains with delivery not against

How the PMO prioritises their work with stakeholders

Change of metrics to progress vs commitment

Managing risks

How we record and apply lessons for future epics

Remote working changes and the impacts

Building great teams

And much more...

To connect with Jordan:

www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-wood-592aa62

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!

We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...

Throw back to one of our favorites, in case you missed it!

Steve is obsessed with making tech human and leveraging it to deliver continuous value. For the past 20 years, his focus has been on using mapping techniques to guide ambitious and struggling teams towards their true north. He's a former startup CTO, agency consultant, systems and release engineer, finance IT manager, tech support phone jockey, and pizza maker. All focused on the flow of value, all the time.

In this episode we cover:

Agile and mindsets

Importance of flow in life and in business

Value stream mapping

DevOps

Entrepreneurship

Capability mapping

and much more...

To connect with Steve:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/devopsto/

twitter.com/steveelsewhere/

https://www.stevepereira.ca

https://visible.is/

Email: Steve@visible.is

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!

We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...

Throw back to one of our favorites, in case you missed it!

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Glaveski—entrepreneur, author, and the dynamic founder of Collective Campus, one of Australia’s fastest-growing companies. Known for his work in corporate innovation and startup acceleration, Steve has helped over 100 startups raise more than $25M and driven innovation programs for companies like Microsoft, NAB, and Village Roadshow.

Steve shares his journey from management consultant to founder, covering the highs and challenges of building multiple successful ventures, including Future Squared, his award-winning podcast, and Lemonade Stand, a platform teaching kids entrepreneurship. We also discuss insights from his books, Employee to Entrepreneur and Time Rich, diving into practical strategies for reclaiming time, focusing on meaningful work, and empowering the next generation of innovators.

Tune in to hear Steve’s inspiring story and actionable tips on navigating the entrepreneurial journey with purpose, agility, and passion.


In this episode we cover:

How he founded NOFilter, a media company during the COVID-19 Pandemic

How to build an innovative organisation and what it means

His best tips on being time rich and his view on the 6-hour workday

How to stay organized as a multi-business owner

And why it is so important to get kids to interact with entrepreneurship at a young age

And much more...

To connect with Steve:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveglaveski/
https://www.collectivecampus.io/

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!

We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact

Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.

You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.

Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!


Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...