Author: Gerald J. Leonard

Portfolio Strategies

PSGS 025: Expert Interview with Mike Hannan

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Mike_Hannan

Mike Hannan brings nearly 25 years’ experience as a Consulting Executive, IT Project Portfolio and Program Manager, Process Engineer, and Software Architect. His background in Project Portfolio Management started at NASA in the early 1990's supporting large, complex initiatives such as the International Space Station and High-Performance Computing & Communications (HPCC) programs. He has managed and consulted on $500M+ project portfolios, and trained CIOs and other senior executives in Federal Civilian, Military, and Commercial environments.

Mike is an active speaker at industry events, including local PMI chapter and community meetings, webinars, PM symposia, and in the Agile community. He is a leading innovator of disciplined ways to integrate Agile, Lean, Critical Chain, and other techniques to drive dramatic breakthroughs in the performance of IT Project Portfolios. He is also the lead author of the recent book, The CIO’s Guide to Breakthrough Project Portfolio Performance.

Communication

PofE 079: Les Brown’s Inspirational Quotes for Motivating Your Team

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Inspirational-Quote

Background

Leslie Calvin Brown, who was given the nickname “Les” as a child, was born on February 17, 1946. He and his twin brother, Wesley, were adopted by Mamie Brown, a 38-year old single woman who was a cafeteria attendant and domestic assistant. Les’ mother had very little education, but encouraged learning in her sons. When talking about his background, one of the inspirational quotes used by Les is that “we are all born with a certain degree of power. The key to success is discovering this innate power and using it daily to deal with whatever challenges come your way.” Les also says that “just because Fate doesn’t deal you the right cards, it doesn’t mean you should give up. It means you have to play the cards you get to their maximum potential.”

Challenges

He and his brother, Wesley, were born in an abandoned building in a low-income section of Miami, Florida.

Portfolio Strategies

PSGS 024: Why I Started the PPM Academy Podcast

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Welcome to the PPM Academy podcast for Project, Program & Portfolio Managers where we will Interview Industry Experts and discuss current and future trends in the world of Project, Program and Portfolio Management and how what we do impacts our company’s execution culture.

I’m Gerald Leonard.

Today, I plan to share with you why I started the PPM Academy Podcast.

  • If you are the kind of person that loves to learn new insights and real world examples and hate boring management presentations or podcasts that are purely academic and void of real life examples, then this podcast is for you.
  • So, why start another Project Portfolio Management Podcast? PPM is simply the ability for an organization or individual to make the best data-driven decision in the selection of activities and tasks that are aligned to their goals while making the most of their limited resources.
    • I love making the right decision.
    • I love prioritizing chaos and helping my family, friends and clients become more, do more, have more and live more as they achieve their goals and objectives.
    • I want to make the concepts of PPM plain and practical.

Leadership

PofE 078: Malcolm Gladwell – The Tipping Point of Thought Leadership

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Business-Advantage-Concept

Background

Malcolm Gladwell was born in Fareham, Hampshire, England on September 3, 1963. When he was six, his parents moved the family to Elmira, Ontario, Canada. His interest in reading and libraries began when his father, Graham, a mathematics professor, took him to his office at the University of Waterloo where he taught, allowing Malcolm to wander the university. Malcolm was a middle-distance runner in high school, winning the 1,500 meter title at the Ontario High School Championships in Kingston, Ontario. He interned at the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C. in 1982.

Theory of Constraints

PSGS 022: Expert Interview with Gerry Kendall

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Gerald Kendall

Today we have with us Gerry Kendall. Gerry is a recognized world expert at strategic planning, Theory of Constraints (TOC) and project portfolio management, with extensive implementation experience. His clients span the globe, including engagements in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Australia, Europe, the United States and Canada. Gerry is married to his lovely wife, Jackie. They share 5 children and 7 grandchildren.

Gerry's latest book, "Advanced Multi-Project Management," provides the detailed proven road map for getting major improvement in delivering a project portfolio on time, on budget and within scope. His "Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO" is the top-selling book in the PMO and Project Portfolio Management space.

Gerry also authored a chapter on "Project Portfolio Management for the American Management Association Handbook of Project Management, 2nd Edition," and a chapter on Critical Chain in Dr. Harold Kerzner's book, "Project Management, A System's Approach, 8th edition." The new TOC Handbook highlights Gerry's chapter on TOC Strategy and Tactics application.

    

Innovation

PofE 077: Thomas Edison’s Innovation and Invention Process

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Solar-panels-and-wind-turbines

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." -Thomas Edison

Background:

Thomas Edison became an inventor and innovator who presented several breakthroughs that made a profound impact on the lives of those during his time and shaped the development of the standard of living for those today. As a boy, he would often travel back and forth between Detroit and Port Huron. He would bring fresh produce to Detroit consumers while returning to Port Huron with the most recent Detroit newspapers. He eventually hired others his age to expand his business. He understood from an early age the importance of recognizing the needs of consumers and setting out to create products to satisfy those needs.

Risks Management

PSGS 021: Expert Interview with Carl Pritchard

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Carl_pritchardCarl Pritchard is the author of seven books in project management, a co-producer of a nine CD audio set, pioneer and visionary in risk management and e-learning. Clients from virtually every sector of the economy have recognized his dynamic and entertaining and fun keynote presentations as a speaker and trainer. Carl is also well known as one of the lead contributors to the project body of knowledge PMBOK version four, fourth edition as a leader in the development of the risk management knowledge area. 

          

To Read the Full Transcription Click Continue Reading.

Innovation

PofE 076: Wally, Famous Amos Innovator of the Chocolate Chip Cookie

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Chocolate-Chip-Cookies

"Most of us understand that innovation is enormously important. It's the only insurance against irrelevance. It's the only guarantee of long-term customer loyalty. It's the only strategy for out-performing a dismal economy." -Gary Hamel

Background

  • The Founder of Famous Amos Cookies, Wally Amos was born Wallace Amos Jr. on July 1, 1936, in Tallahassee, Florida.
  • He began on the path to becoming an American entrepreneur when his Aunt Delia, who baked homemade, taught him how to bake her recipe for chocolate chip and pecan cookies.
  • His love of cooking led him to enroll in the Food Trades Vocational High School and he studied culinary arts for two years.