Michael welcomes project and strategy leader Fola Alabi to discuss stereotypes about project managers and PMOs and why many are seen as process-heavy status reporters rather than value creators. Fola shares her 20+ year career across government, finance, energy, and other sectors, emphasizing the persistent gap between strategy and execution and the need for project leaders to build business acumen, domain knowledge, and executive-level language to drive measurable value. They explore why PMOs are often built and cut, how PMOs can reposition as strategic partners in prioritization and value realization, and how AI can automate basic reporting while increasing the need for specialized, context-driven leadership. Fola closes with practical guidance: lead with business impact, align to strategy, offer options—not just problems—and execute for benefits realized.

Timestamps:
00:24 Welcome
01:29 Meet Fola Alabi
03:35 From Strategy to Execution
05:07 PM Stereotypes Explained
07:13 Evolving the PM Skillset
09:44 Domain Knowledge Matters
13:46 Specialize or Stay Broad
16:15 Value Language of Business
18:19 PMO Pendulum and Purpose
21:19 PMO Visibility Crisis
22:45 Strategic Project Intelligence
24:33 From Cost Center to Investment
25:37 When You Need a PMO
25:58 Numbers Tell the Story
28:00 Strategy Execution Value
30:13 AI and the PM Future
33:48 Level Up Your Impact
36:19 Ritualized Avoidance Systems
39:06 Where to Follow Fola
40:09 Final Wrap

Connect with Fola:
https://folaalabi.com
https://strategicprojectleader.com
https://www.thepmoleader.com/fola-alabi
https://www.instagram.com/folaFalabi/
https://x.com/folaFAlabi
https://www.youtube.com/c/FolaAlabi
https://www.facebook.com/FolaFAlabi/
https://www.clubhouse.com/@folafalabi


Michael's National Workforce Study on Change Management:
https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/research