In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Tanya Boyd, the Director of Creative Collaboration at Project Success Academy. Tanya shares her non-traditional journey into project management, which began with her work on the Road Home Program created after Hurricane Katrina. She discusses how she transitioned from a background in English and journalism to a peer reviewer and eventually recognized her role as a project manager. Tanya also reflects on the importance of communication, adaptability, and learning from failures. The episode delves into her experience with PMI certifications, working in disaster recovery, and the evolving landscape of project management methodologies.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:24 Tanya's Background and Role

01:26 Journey into Project Management

03:31 The Accidental Project Manager

04:57 Project Zero Experience

08:15 Lessons Learned and Overcoming Challenges

22:30 Importance of Communication

26:19 Speed Round and Final Reflections

29:42 Conclusion and Farewell

Connect with Tanya: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-boyd-pmp-project-personality/

Connect with Alex Tuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/

In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Amy Marshall-Carney, co-founder of Sage Echelon Consulting, about her journey from being a youthful 'natural project manager' in her personal life and early career to becoming a prominent figure in the project management world. Amy shares insights on transitioning from engineering to project management, the importance of continuous process improvement, and the role of communication and understanding in successful project management. She also offers valuable advice for aspiring project managers and discusses the significance of stakeholder engagement, problem-solving, and maintaining a calm, solution-focused attitude. The conversation delves into Amy's early experiences at IBM, her progression to portfolio management, and her current role in strategic program management and change management at Sage Echelon Consulting.

00:00 Introduction to Project Zero

00:12 Meet Amy Marshall-Carney

01:30 Amy's Early Experiences with Project Management

03:40 Transitioning from Engineering to Project Management

06:21 Amy's First Major Project at IBM

08:31 Lessons Learned from Early Projects

12:25 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers

16:21 Career Progression to Program Management

24:12 Speed Round and Fun Questions

28:22 Amy's Ultimate Project Dream

29:52 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connect with Amy: amy@sageechelon.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymarshallcarney/

Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/

In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck introduces guest Jacqui Myslinski, founder of Productivity Nerd, a consulting firm. Jacqui shares her journey from sales and marketing to becoming an 'accidental' project manager. The conversation covers her experiences managing a brewery with her father, the challenges she faced, and the skills she developed along the way. Jacqui emphasizes the importance of clear communication, admitting mistakes, and setting clear expectations in project management. She also talks about transitioning from operations to project management and offers advice for aspiring project managers. The episode wraps up with a discussion on balancing perfectionism and speed, favorite project management tools, and incorporating project management into family activities like Minecraft and summer plans.

00:00 Introduction to Project Zero

00:07 Meet Jacqui Myslinski: The Productivity Nerd

00:47 Jacqui's Journey into Project Management

01:45 Starting a Brewery: The Accidental Project Manager

06:28 From Operations to Project Management

13:53 The Importance of Clear Communication

18:45 Defining Success in Project Management

21:03 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers

21:20 Volunteering and Showcasing Skills

22:24 Exploring Personal Interests

23:12 Speed Round: Quick Preferences

26:20 Reflections and Advice for Younger Self

29:31 Project Management for Kids

33:41 Connecting and Wrapping Up

Connect with Jacqui: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquimyslinski/
Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/

In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Expert Project Manager and Fractional CIO, Dr. Sheila Valante. Dr. Sheila shares her journey from a master scheduler at Ronald Reagan Hospital to rescuing organizations from project failures across multiple industries. She emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, trust, and relationship-building in project management. Dr. Sheila also discusses the evolution of her career into change management and strategy, offering advice for aspiring project managers and highlighting the significance of stakeholder satisfaction and adaptability in the success of projects.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:26 Dr. Sheila's Background and Career Beginnings

01:21 Discovering Project Management

02:13 Early Career Challenges and Lessons

03:54 Project Zero: The Aha Moment

06:24 Building Relationships and Overcoming Obstacles

07:07 Transition to Change Management

10:36 Critical Skills for Project Managers

14:05 Defining Success in Projects

15:35 Career Progression and Advice

16:07 A New Beginning: Embracing Change Management

17:08 The Evolution of Industry 4.0

18:14 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers

19:49 The Value of Certifications and Frameworks

22:52 Speed Round: Quickfire Questions

24:57 Reflecting on Career and Personal Growth

26:23 Dream Projects and Future Aspirations

27:48 Connecting and Wrapping Up

Connect with Dr. Sheila: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilavolante/

Connect with Alex Tuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/

In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews AJ Castucci, the Senior Manager of Services at Clickup. AJ discusses his career trajectory, starting as a business analyst and consulting in healthcare IT to his roles at Smartsheet and Clickup. They delve into AJ's project management experiences, his views on the evolution of project management tools from Excel to sophisticated platforms like Smartsheet and Clickup, and the differences between these tools. The conversation also covers essential project management skills, the impact of data-driven insights, the value of MBA education, and AJ's perspective on industry certifications.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:27 AJ's Role at Clickup

01:40 Early Career and First Job Experience

04:37 Project Management Challenges

07:29 Transition to Smartsheet

11:54 Smartsheet vs Clickup

15:33 Key Skills for Project Managers

17:46 Defining Success Criteria

18:26 Career Journey and MBA Experience

21:26 Transition to Clickup

23:17 Speed Round: Preferences and Tools

26:45 Certifications in Project Management

28:45 Advice for Young Professionals

30:29 Dream Project with Unlimited Resources

31:55 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connected with Alex Tuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/

Connect with AJ Castellucci: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajcastellucci/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/

In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Jessica Caresse White, founder of J Caresse Consulting. Jessica shares her unexpected journey into project management, moving from studying pre-med to a career in consulting and project management. She discusses her experiences at McKinsey and Hitachi Solutions, highlighting key projects, challenges, and her eventual decision to start her own consulting firm. Jessica emphasizes the importance of curiosity, empathy, and maintaining authority in the field. The episode concludes with advice for new project managers and a discussion on the ideal project management tools and methodologies.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:25 Journey into Project Management

01:39 Early Career and Education

04:12 Jessica's Project Zero

13:13 Key Skill for Project Managers

13:43 Defining Project Success

14:40 Empathy and Vulnerability in Leadership

16:08 Career Journey from McKinsey to Consulting Firm

19:00 Speed Round: Project Management Preferences

21:08 Advice for Early Career PMs

21:51 Dream Project with Unlimited Funding

24:05 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connected with Alex Tuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/

Connect with Jessica Caresse White: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-c-white/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/

In this episode of Project Zero, host Alex Tuck interviews Brutus Segun, the founder of Innovation SGP and a seasoned project manager. Brutus shares his journey from working with technical ecosystems to formally entering the project management field as a titleholder in 2018 with the state of Kansas. He discusses how his background in engineering, software development, and political science has informed his project management approach, particularly in handling complex state government projects like HCBS compliance in Kansas. Brutus emphasizes the importance of humility, technical skills, and delivering sustainable value in project management. He also provides advice for new project managers and highlights the significance of understanding domain-specific knowledge. The episode concludes with a speed round and Brutus sharing his vision of fixing world hunger if given unlimited resources.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:23 Journey into Project Management

01:54 Transition from Engineering to Project Management

05:43 Brutus' Project Zero

13:18 Lessons Learned and Career Growth

19:24 Advice for Aspiring Project Managers

22:08 Speed Round and Final Reflections

26:55 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connected with Alex Tuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/

Connect with Brutus Segun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brutus-segun/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/

Project Zero, hosted by Alex Tuck, Founder and Principal of Tuck Consulting Group, delves into the real-life experiences of project managers as they navigate their first significant projects. In this episode, Alex shares insights from his own initial endeavor working on Obamacare in Vermont, emphasizing the challenges and hard-earned lessons that shaped his career. The podcast will focus on real talk from seasoned project leaders, offering practical advice and honest insights for both novice and experienced project managers. With new episodes each week, listeners can expect to gain confidence and knowledge to enhance their project management skills.

Connected with Alex Tuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck/

www.tuckconsultinggroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckconsultinggroup/