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People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

By: Andy Kaufman PMP PMI-ACP
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 Welcome to the People and Projects Podcast, where we provide interviews and insights to help you lead people and deliver projects. Since 2009, this show is brought to you by speaker, author, and executive coach Andy Kaufman. If you're looking for insights on project management, leadership, and how AI influences both of those, you've come to the right place! And if you hold a project management certification, you can even earn free PDUs for listening!(c) 2001-2025 Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development Inc. Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • PPP 482 | The PM Readiness Iron Triangle and How It Can Transform Your Career, with Kayla Quijas

    PPP 482 | The PM Readiness Iron Triangle and How It Can Transform Your Career, with Kayla Quijas
    Oct 31 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Kayla Quijas, founder of Kayla Q Career Coaching. 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 leg of your triangle feels weak. In this conversation, Kayla shares practical ways to reframe your experience into project management language, advice for overcoming fear and imposter syndrome, and how to network without feeling sleazy or self-promotional. If you're looking for insights on how to grow your project management career—even if you're already PMP-certified—this episode is for you! Sound Bites "With this triangle, you need to be strong in at least two and then figure out where you're weak and shore that one up.""Before that, I was not getting any interviews. And then after that, I landed a project management job pretty quickly.""It is selfish not to share your thoughts because you're afraid people will judge you.""Networking doesn't have to be sleazy. Come at it from a give first perspective.""I got put on a PIP once for a project management job. That was one of the most sinking feelings that I had ever had.""Studying for the PMP, even if you don't take the test, can be a game-changer for your confidence and credibility.""Most of what you're doing in your current role is already project management. You just haven't labeled it that way yet.""You don't need a perfect resume to get hired. You need to tell a better story about your experience." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:32 Start of Interview02:00 Kayla's Journey from Cake Decorator to Senior PM03:20 Pivotal Career Decisions04:20 What Kayla Did After Quitting Her Job06:00 Introducing the PM Readiness Iron Triangle07:40 How Kayla Came Up With the Triangle09:00 A Real-Life Success Story Using the Triangle11:00 Is the PMP Worth It?13:00 Benefits Beyond the Certification17:00 What If You Don't Have Enough Experience?18:25 Examples of Overlooked Project Experience20:00 How to Translate Experience into PM Language24:10 Turning a Project Into a Resume Story26:00 Reframing Networking So It Feels Authentic30:20 Kayla's Mastermind Group Strategy35:10 Giving Value Without Chasing Metrics36:24 About the PM Readiness Assessment37:14 End of Interview37:50 Andy Comments After the Interview42:55 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Kayla and her work at KaylaQCareerCoaching.com. Take the PM Readiness Assessment here: PM Readiness Assessment Connect with Kayla on LinkedIn: Kayla's LinkedIn Profile For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 474 with Stuart Taylor. It's a candid discussion about LinkedIn, our careers, and the role of AI.Episode 465 with Kari Mirabal. You'll get practical strategies for building professional relationships.Episode 258, also with Kari Mirabal. She shares even more insights on networking and career growth.Episode 39 with Devora Zack about her book Networking for People Who Hate Networking. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you, too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Project Management, Career Growth, PMP Certification, Networking, Leadership, Resume Writing, Personal Branding, Professional Development, Coaching, Confidence Building, Interviewing, Career Transitions The following music was used for this episode: Music: Quantum Sparks Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/...
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    46 mins
  • PPP 481 | Why Great Managers Add Zero Value and Why That is Good News, with author Matthew Ley

    PPP 481 | Why Great Managers Add Zero Value and Why That is Good News, with author Matthew Ley
    Oct 22 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Matt Ley about his new book Manage Your Gaps: Reclaiming the Awesomeness of Management. 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 optimize their teams. He also shares practical ideas for improving one-on-ones, measuring success, and even applying these same principles at home through the Four Cs: Care, Clarity, Consistency, and Communication. If you're looking for actionable insights to sharpen your management skills and strengthen your team's performance, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The thing is, managers are zero value add.""Contribution is all about working in the business. Management's all about working on the business and leadership's all about working on the future.""A manager is someone who's titled with making sure that they're multiplying the value of that organization.""A leader's job is to look up and out. So their job is to define the new, whereas a manager's accountability is to look down and in. So their job is to refine the now.""If you're not doing one-on-ones on a regular, consistent basis? That to me is the beating drum and the heartbeat of management.""It's really hard to feel successful in something if you don't have two things. One, you need a definition of what you're doing. And you need a measurement of how you're doing against it.""We reflect on the different roles that we play, that we call four hats: our professional hat, our personal hat, our partner hat, and our professional parent." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:38 Start of Interview02:00 Family Influence on Leadership04:00 Career Journey to EP!C Model07:20 Rethinking Roles as Spokes09:40 Managers vs. Leaders12:40 Over-Led or Over-Managed15:20 Zero Value Add Concept17:20 Introducing the EP!C Model20:20 Identity in Management22:20 One Practical Management Tip24:00 Applying EP!C at Home26:14 End of Interview26:37 Andy Comments After the Interview Learn More You can learn more about Matt and his work at ManageYourGaps.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 363 with Roger Martin. Roger typically shows up in the Thinkers50 Top 10 and shares key management lessons that complement this discussion.Episode 47 with Henry Mintzberg. It's a candid, entertaining conversation with one of the most influential management thinkers of our time.Episode 11 with Susan Scott. Based on her book Fierce Leadership, this episode explores powerful communication and management lessons that still hold up today. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you, too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Leadership, Management, Role Clarity, Team Performance, Organizational Design, Communication, One-On-Ones, Change Management, Coaching, Strategic Thinking, Team Culture, Manager Development The following music was used for this episode: Music: The Fantastical Ferrett by Tim Kulig License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tropical Vibe by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    34 mins
  • PPP 480 | What If You Managed Your Life Like a Project? Insights from Coach Tony Weaver

    PPP 480 | What If You Managed Your Life Like a Project? Insights from Coach Tony Weaver
    Oct 7 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Coach Tony Weaver, author of Project Manage Your Life: Your Blueprint for Achieving Any Goal — One Step at a Time. 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 milestones, track your progress without becoming a slave to the data, and stay consistent with joy instead of burnout. He unpacks what SMART goals actually look like in the real world and explains why the project mindset can transform not just what you achieve, but how you feel while doing it. If you’re looking for practical ideas to move forward on goals that matter to you, at work or at home, this episode is for you! Sound Bites “Project management absolutely changed my life.”“Life is agile.”“Every goal is a project. Project management is just applying structure to that goal.”“Your brain doesn’t care about your happiness. It cares about keeping you safe. That’s why it resists change.”“Once you build confidence in yourself, the goal you set becomes just a jumping-off point.”“Setting a goal is an act of hope. It says that tomorrow can be better than today.”“Track what you can control. Influence is important, but control drives change.”“Focus on the things you control. Keep an eye on the results, but don't obsess about them.”“The safest place to be is in your comfort zone, not trying.”“Some numbers matter. Some are interesting. Some aren't even interesting.”“Letting a goal die of loneliness? That's a recipe for regret.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:36 Start of Interview02:00 How Project Management Led to a New Mission06:14 Mentorship, Coaching, and Project Management in Life07:40 What Project Management Looks Like in Everyday Terms11:20 Why Good Intentions Don’t Lead to Change13:10 Why Most People Don’t Set Goals15:24 Setting a Goal as an Act of Hope18:00 Common Goal-Setting Mistakes and How to Fix Them21:30 Building a Plan that Actually Works for You23:50 Why You Should Plan Celebration, Not Just Completion24:38 How to Track Progress Without Obsessing Over Data29:20 The Danger of Focusing Too Much on Lagging Indicators30:45 Two Client Success Stories34:34 Where to Learn More About Coach Tony35:28 End of Interview36:03 Andy Comments After the Interview39:05 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Tony and his work at OperationMelt.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 376 with Nick Sonnenberg. It’s an episode about how to stop drowning in work, and though the focus is more about life on the job, there are so many ideas from Nick that can help you in your personal life.Episode 81 with Ben Snyder, where we talk about how everything is a project. We’re always working on projects, and there are so many ways to apply our project knowledge to other areas of life.Episode 17 with John Wittry. It’s perhaps more of a time management episode, but it’s about taking back your life, and there’s a theme for how project management ideas can apply. Level Up Your AI Skills During these interviews, I often mention our AI Made Simple course. Join other listeners from around the world who are taking this course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we’ve put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We’ve helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we’d love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I’d love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that’s why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It’s 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it’s all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Ways of Working Topics: Goal Setting, Project Management, Productivity, SMART Goals, Personal Growth, Behavior Change, Tracking Progress, Milestones, Motivation, Self-Leadership, Coaching, Resilience The following music was used for this episode: Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig License (CC BY 4.0): https://...
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    46 mins
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