Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Amireh Amirmazaheri, CEO of PMO Solutions and a leading voice in the global PMO community. From growing up in Iran during a time of war to building a respected consultancy in Australia, Amireh shares how resilience and curiosity shaped her approach to leadership and enabling project success. You'll hear how PMOs have evolved from administrative hubs to strategic influencers, what it means to truly "speak the language of executives," and how to recognize when a PMO is at risk of drifting into irrelevance. We also explore how AI is transforming the work of PMOs and what leaders can do to stay ahead of the curve. Plus, Amireh offers practical advice on leading as a woman in project management and applying PMO principles at home as a parent.

If you're looking for insights on elevating PMO impact, executive communication, and leading through change, this episode is for you!

Sound Bites

"Limitations aren't always bad. They push us into the creativity zone."
"Executives don't want red or amber. They want to know where the ship is heading."
"When PMOs chase BAU firefighting, they lose their strategic brain."
"If PMOs stay educated and ahead of the game, they can influence the AI journey."
"It's okay to cry. Then think, learn, and lead."
"Um, should I tell you that my little one has a kanban board?"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:31 Start of Interview
01:42 Early Life in Iran and Resilience
12:56 Lessons About Enablement
15:02 How PMOs Have Changed
18:55 Speaking the Language of Executives
21:22 Failure Clues and PMO Drift
25:11 Sponsorship as a Risk Factor
26:08 Using AI and Its Near-Term Impact on PMOs
32:25 Leading as a Woman
37:44 Applying PM and PMO Ideas at Home
40:22 PMO Global Alliance Overview
42:15 End of Interview
42:50 Andy Comments After the Interview
46:22 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Amireh and her work at PMOSol.com, or connect with her on LinkedIn.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

Episode 436 with Laura Barnard, about the IMPACT Engine
Episode 429 with Bill Dow, about PMO insights
Episode 187 with Peter Taylor, Bill Dow, and others, about the State of PMOs

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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!

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Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Ways of Working

Topics: PMOs, Executive Communication, Leadership, AI in Projects, Change Management, Strategic Thinking, Women in Leadership, Organizational Influence, Resilience, Stakeholder Engagement, Career Growth, Continuous Improvement

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

PPP 483 | The Future of PMOs, AI's Impact, and Leadership Lessons with Amireh Amirmazaheri

People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

PPP 483 | The Future of PMOs, AI's Impact, and Leadership Lessons with Amireh Amirmazaheri