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Great ideas don’t fail because they lack potential—they fail because they lack structure.

In this episode of Project Management Masterclass, host Brittany Wilkins breaks down the project charter—the critical first step in turning ideas into reality. Whether you’ve been handed a bold new initiative or simply want to lead with more clarity, this episode is your blueprint.

You’ll learn:

• What a project charter is and why it matters
• The 9 essential components every charter should include
• How to lead during the Initiation Phase of a project
• A narrated walkthrough of a real-world charter scenario: the launch of a solar-powered baby stroller
• Key takeaways to help you build charters with confidence

Don’t let uncertainty stall your next big move. Learn how to write a project charter that aligns teams, empowers leaders, and drives execution from day one.

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Have you ever stopped to consider the true cost of a product—not just the dollars spent, but the environmental footprint left behind?

In this powerful episode of Project Management Masterclass, host Brittany pulls back the curtain on what sustainability really means in the world of project management. From the design phase to end-of-life disposal, 80% of a product’s impact is locked in before it hits the factory floor—and that means you, the project manager, play a bigger role than you think.

📌 You’ll learn:

• Why sustainability is no longer a buzzword—it’s a business imperative
• The three major environmental challenges your projects must help solve
• How companies are moving from compliance checklists to competitive advantage
• What every PM needs to ask to future-proof their projects
• How Brittany’s real-world experience as a Sustainability PMO reshaped her entire view of project success

Whether you're new to sustainability or leading ESG initiatives, this episode will challenge how you plan, build, and deliver value.

🛠️ Sustainability isn’t optional—it’s operational.

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This is Project Management Masterclass, hosted by Brittany Wilkins. In today’s episode, we unpack the 2025 PMI Global Talent Report—a sobering look at the critical project management talent shortage threatening global progress.

You’ll learn:

• Why project management is not a niche—it’s the backbone of global innovation, infrastructure, and economic transformation.
• Where the demand for project professionals is rising fastest, including China, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• What’s causing the gap—from aging workforces to rapid AI and tech disruption.
• What project leaders can do about it using PMI’s M.O.R.E. mindset: Move outcomes, Own value, Realize change, Elevate impact.

Whether you're just entering the field or leading complex portfolios, this episode helps you understand where the profession is headed—and how to rise with it.

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In this powerful episode of Project Management Masterclass, host Brittany Wilkins unpacks the rise and fall of the Chill-Can Project in Youngstown, Ohio—a $20 million initiative that promised over 200 jobs, economic revival, and innovation but delivered none of it.

This isn’t just a case study—it’s personal. Born and raised in Youngstown, Brittany shares her firsthand experience of watching hope turn into heartbreak as communities were uprooted, homes were bulldozed, and nothing materialized.

Through the lens of project management, she breaks down what went wrong: missing milestones, ignored red flags, poor risk planning, and blind optimism without validation. The episode also examines the chillingly similar case of Zoetic Global—another failed promise in the same city.

🎧 Whether you’re a project leader, policymaker, or community advocate, this episode will challenge you to rethink what responsible project management really looks like—and why the lessons we learn must be applied.

🔑 Key Topics:

• The emotional and economic cost of failed projects
• Lessons in risk, governance, and stakeholder accountability
• Why "lessons learned" aren't enough without action
• A call to project managers to lead with integrity, not just ambition

Subscribe to exclusive bonus episodes and elevate your project management career with insider insights, advanced strategies, and expert guidance!

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Is the customer always right? Only if you measure success through their eyes.

In this episode of Project Management Masterclass, Brittany Wilkins shares the lightbulb moment from a company town hall that redefined how she leads projects—and why the secret to lasting impact isn’t just hitting deadlines or budgets, but embracing a customer-centric mindset.

Whether you’re serving internal teams or external clients, Brittany breaks down how true project excellence starts by putting the customer at the center of every decision. Discover why customer centricity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a leadership mindset that transforms priorities, builds empathy, and drives real value.

From stakeholder engagement to iterative feedback loops, she offers practical ways to reframe your project approach and lead with intentionality.

🎯 You’ll learn:

• How to apply value-driven delivery
• Why user experience is your secret weapon
• The six ways customer centricity shows up in real-world project work

Ready to stop managing tasks and start delivering transformation?
Tune in—and take on Brittany’s challenge to lead your next project through the customer’s lens.

Subscribe to exclusive bonus episodes and elevate your project management career with insider insights, advanced strategies, and expert guidance!

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Being stranded at Universal Studios taught podcast host Brittany Wilkins a valuable lesson—traditional methods still work. In this episode, she shares how that unexpected moment sparked a deeper realization about project management: the importance of knowing when to choose Agile, Waterfall, or a hybrid of both.

🚖 Agile is the Uber. Waterfall is the taxi.
Both have value. Both have a place. The smartest project leaders know which ride to take based on the road ahead.

💡 What You'll Learn:

• Why Waterfall still works for projects requiring structure, compliance, and predictability
• When Agile thrives in fast-paced, feedback-driven environments
• How to build a hybrid approach that combines the best of both worlds
• Real-world analogies and case studies to help you make smarter project decisions

Plus, Brittany gives a special shoutout to new listener Megan, who’s transitioning into project management and already finding value in the Masterclass community.

🔹 Subscribe to exclusive bonus episodes and elevate your project management career with insider insights, advanced strategies, and expert guidance!

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🔹 Subscribe to exclusive bonus episodes and elevate your project management career with insider insights, advanced strategies, and expert guidance!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2308468/subscribe

Ever felt the pressure to accelerate your project?
You’re not alone. In today’s episode of Project Management Masterclass, we’re diving into one of the biggest traps in project leadership: mistaking speed for success. You've probably heard it—“Just go faster!” But is moving quickly always the right move?

Join us as we unpack the real cost of rushing projects without strategy—from burnout and poor quality to missed goals and chaos. Discover why strategy always trumps speed, and learn how to lead your team with clarity, sustainability, and purpose.

We’ll cover:
✅ The misconception of speed in project management
✅ Real-world examples where “fast” led to failure
✅ 5 reasons why speed ≠ strategy
✅ How to balance deadlines with intentional execution
✅ Actionable tips for leading with purpose, not pressure

Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes deadline or coaching your team through chaos, this episode will help you reframe your approach and lead smarter.

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Project Management Masterclass is celebrating its one-year anniversary! In this special episode, host Brittany Wilkins reflects on the journey—nearly canceling the podcast before a powerful review and LinkedIn messages reignited her passion for teaching project management. She also breaks down the top five trends from the show’s most popular episodes, covering key fundamentals, strategies for success, nine proven methods for project excellence, insights from the PMI Global Summit, and what it takes to go beyond project constraints. Tune in for a year’s worth of growth, milestones, and invaluable lessons learned!

🔹 Subscribe to exclusive bonus episodes and elevate your project management career with insider insights, advanced strategies, and expert guidance!

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