In this episode of What's the Plan?, Samantha sits down with Stuart Easton[SV1] , CEO and co-founder of Transparent Choice[SV2] , to explore one of the biggest challenges facing PMOs today: why executives and project leaders often seem disconnected, even when they're working toward the same business goals. Through practical examples, research-backed insights, and his memorable "duck and egg" analogy, Stuart explains why organizations must shift their focus from project delivery to business value.

Drawing on decades of experience helping organizations improve project prioritization, portfolio management, and benefits realization, Stuart shares why executives don't care about project methodologies, governance processes, or status reports nearly as much as project professionals think they do. Instead, they care about outcomes, business impact, and whether projects are delivering measurable value.

Together, they explore:

• Why executives don't care about projects, they care about the value projects create
• The "duck and egg" framework for understanding business value versus project delivery
• Why PMOs often struggle to communicate effectively with executive leadership
• How project managers can transition from project delivery to business leadership
• The difference between reporting data and delivering actionable insights
• How better project prioritization leads to stronger strategic alignment
• Why resource capacity planning is critical to portfolio success
• How overloaded teams actually slow delivery and reduce business value
• The relationship between prioritization, resource management, and benefits realization
• Why doing fewer projects can help organizations deliver more value
• The balance between too little governance and too much bureaucracy
• How PMOs can maximize portfolio ROI by focusing on business outcomes instead of process compliance

Stuart also shares practical advice for PMO leaders looking to gain executive support, improve decision-making, and demonstrate business value. From prioritization frameworks and portfolio governance to resource optimization and benefits realization, he offers a roadmap for moving beyond project management and becoming a strategic business partner.

Whether you're a project manager, PMO leader, portfolio manager, or executive responsible for driving organizational change, this episode offers actionable insights on how to align projects with strategy, communicate in the language of business, and focus on what matters most: delivering value.

00:00 Understanding the PMO-Executive Relationship
06:50 The Duck and the Egg: Delivering Value
12:48 Communication: Bridging the Gap
20:06 The Language of Value
27:07 Transforming Project Managers into Business Leaders
36:25 Insights Over Data: Prioritization Conversations
44:15 Governance and Methodology: Finding the Balance
52:39 Cultural Shift: Benefits Management as a System
01:01:34 The Executive Mindset: Embracing Change

Connect with Stuart Easton on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/eastonstuart/

Presented By: ProSymmetry https://www.prosymmetry.com/

Learn More About What’s the Plan? https://www.prosymmetry.com/whats-the-plan

Hosted and produced by Samantha Varner https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/

Produced and edited by Kyle Wertz

In this episode of What's the Plan?, Samantha sits down with transformation leader and project management expert Noel Ransom to explore why today's project managers need to think beyond schedules, status reports, and task tracking. Together, they discuss the evolution of project management from an execution-focused discipline to one centered on influence, business value, and better decision-making.

Drawing from more than two decades of experience leading enterprise transformation initiatives, Noel shares practical insights on how project managers can connect project work to business outcomes, build stronger business acumen, communicate with executives, and become trusted advisors within their organizations.

Together, they explore:

· Why project managers are being asked to do more than manage projects

· The shift from status reporting to strategic decision support

· How to connect project execution to business value and outcomes

· The skills modern project managers need to stay relevant and influential

· Business acumen, financial literacy, and organizational change management

· Communication, emotional intelligence, and influencing without authority

· How PMOs can evolve from governance functions into decision intelligence organizations

· Why AI won't replace project managers who can interpret information and guide decisions

Noel also introduces her "Monday Morning Test," a simple framework for turning ideas into action and helping project managers shift their mindset from tracking work to driving meaningful outcomes.

Whether you're an experienced project manager, a PMO professional, or someone looking to grow your influence within your organization, this episode offers actionable insights on how to move beyond execution, think more strategically, and help leaders make better decisions.

04:35 Introduction to Noelle Ransom

06:05 The Evolving Role of Project Managers

09:19 Leadership Skills in Project Management

15:06 Bridging the Gap: Leadership and Project Management

15:27 Managing vs. Leading Projects

19:47 The Evolving Role of Project Management

23:24 Transforming the PMO into a Decision Engine

30:25 Essential Skills for Modern Project Managers

40:59 AI and the Future of Project Management

44:44 The Monday Morning Test: Turning Ideas into Action

45:59 The Monday Morning Test: Taking Action

48:18 Shifting Mindsets: Value Beyond Project Management

49:46 Empowering Project Managers: Reporting Value

50:34 Transformational Leadership: Redefining Change

51:36 Future of Project Management: Influencing Decisions

Connect with Noel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelransom2324/ Presented By ProSymmetry: https://www.prosymmetry.com/ Learn More About What’s the Plan?: https://www.prosymmetry.com/whats-the-plan

Hosted and produced by Samantha Varner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/

Produced and edited by Kyle Wertz

Most conversations about AI in project management focus on meeting notes, summaries, and chatbots. But what happens when you use AI to solve a real project management problem?

In this episode, Molly Beran shares how she used Microsoft Copilot to build a custom reporting solution that transformed project visibility and executive reporting. Rather than chasing the latest AI trend, Molly started with a specific challenge: understanding project progress over time and providing leaders with the context needed to make better decisions.

We discuss:

· Why the best AI initiatives start with a real business problem

· How curiosity helps project managers build solutions without being developers

· The difference between point-in-time reporting and over-time reporting

· Why context is more valuable than raw project data

· Using Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT and Claude, to improve project reporting

· The role of AI in project management beyond note taking and meeting summaries

· Where human judgment is still essential when working with AI

If you're exploring AI for project management, Microsoft Copilot, project reporting, project visibility, or executive reporting, this episode offers a practical look at how AI can help teams solve meaningful problems and deliver insights that actually matter.

00:00 Introduction to Projects by Molly

06:04 Molly's Journey in Project Management

09:59 The Importance of Data in Project Management

16:01 Point-in-Time vs. Overtime Reporting

20:59 Leveraging AI in Project Management

28:10 Understanding Snapshots in Reporting

32:26 Tailoring Reports to Executive Needs

35:11 Impact of Effective Reporting on Organizations

36:46 Leveraging Existing Software for Reporting

39:34 Enhancing Transparency in Conversations

40:19 The Role of AI in Project Management

43:54 Building AI Agents for Efficiency

47:34 Navigating AI Limitations and Human Intervention

48:31 Curiosity and Frustration in AI Implementation

53:13 Practical Applications of AI in Daily Tasks

54:15 Future Plans and Personal Insights

Connect with Molly Beran on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyberan/ Presented By: ProSymmetry https://www.prosymmetry.com/

Learn More About What’s the Plan? https://www.prosymmetry.com/whats-the-plan

Hosted and produced by Samantha Varner https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/

Produced and edited by Kyle Wertz