My LinkedIn posts are 100% organic and AI-free. I write because I like to.The career stuff: 14 years in project leadership roles, 10 years in technical program management and 3 years managing people. I solve complex challenges up, down, and across the org by specializing in infrastructure, platforms, and people.

Matt McDannel

PMOpreneur | I provide tailored help to PMO Leaders so they can overcome stress & limited direction to realize PMO success & fulfilling careers | Trained 160,000+ Project/PMO Leaders | Trusted by Fortune 500 firms & SMBs

It’s my goal that every person I have a conversation with walks away knowing more than they knew before about all things project management offices (PMOs) and project management.

As LinkedIn Learning’s first instructor on the topic, I’ve had a very rewarding journey helping over 100k+ current and aspiring project management leaders apply my lessons to further their careers. 

Where Parwaaz Consulting comes in is outside of the online classroom. We help organizations set up & optimize their PMOs, empower PMO Leaders through our coaching programs designed specifically for them, and provide customized workshops that uplift capabilities and guide teams to conquer the art & science of leading projects.

Most often leaders come to me when they need a step-by step approach for developing their PMOs or taking them to the next level. Other times leadership is looking for an ‘outside’ perspective to act as a sounding board and provide accountability support through their PMO journey.
 
And in some cases, they want to not only focus on developing their teams' core project management skills that help deliver projects effectively and consistently, but also the intangibles that come with it, such as change, influencing, negotiating & conflict management.

Suffice to say, I really nerd out about this stuff and have a passion for engaging with organizations to deliver them a clearer vision of the road ahead, a greater sense of calm, and a noticeable increase in productivity across all teams. 

We’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing partners among the likes of Groupon and Replenium. Some of the most rewarding testimonials include; 

"The results of our engagement with Hussain were a nearly 180-degree turnaround from where the PMO operated previously“ - Judi B. (VP, Global Support), US

"We doubled the speed of our PMO setup with Hussain as our PMO Coach... our organization went from no projects getting completed to a 73% success rate on strategic initiatives“ - Nathan R. (PMO Director), US

"... to have Hussain partnering with us for a workshop series with several of our incredible PM and client-facing teams... grateful for his work and passion to help businesses thrive, scale and serve clients with excellence!"- Stephanie S. (HR Partner), US

If you’re curious what a partnership with us could look like or just want to chat about project management in general - then let’s connect!

Hussain Bandukwala

PMOs are sleeping on AI.

Here are 20 ways you can use it today:

1. Flag scope creep live
2. Summarize meeting notes
3. Analyze resource capacity
4. Draft change requests fast
5. Draft project charters fast
6. Build stakeholder templates
7. Suggest resource allocation
8. Prioritize backlogs smartly
9. Predict project delays early
10. Auto-generate status reports
11. Create risk registers easily
12. Generate executive summaries
13. Generate budget explanations
14. Analyze sentiment in feedback
15. Automate portfolio dashboards
16. Extract retrospective insights
17. Create PM onboarding materials
18. Find dependencies automatically
19. Build lessons learned databases
20. Create project timelines quickly

The PMOs winning right now?

They're not waiting for perfect AI tools.

They're testing, learning, and building muscle.

What's one AI use case you'd add to this list?

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PMOpreneur | Helping you build PMOs & groom PM teams that firms need & stakeholders crave | LinkedIn Learning [in]structor | Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, PE-backed firms & SMBs | Trained 160,000+ Project/PMO Leaders

Convincing execs to invest in a PMO?

Here are 5 strategies you can use.

Too often, leadership sees a PMO as a bureaucracy rather than a business driver.

You hear:
❌ “We don’t need a PMO.”
❌ “PMOs slow things down.”
❌ “We already have project managers.”

But what if NOT having a PMO is what’s actually slowing us down?
📉 X% of our projects are missing deadlines.
📉 X% over budget last quarter.
📉 X% of strategic initiatives stalled.

💡 The solution isn’t working harder—it’s working smarter. A PMO provides visibility, consistency, and control.

➡️ So how do you get buy-in?

👉 1. Show the ROI – “X% reduction in delays saves us $X.”

👉 2. Speak to their pain points – “We’re constantly firefighting. A PMO prevents the fires before they start.”

👉 3. Show quick wins – “Let’s start lean. Give me 90 days to show impact.”

👉 4. Use competitive pressure – “Our competitors already have PMOs. Are we falling behind?”

👉 5. Remove the fear of saying yes – “This isn’t bureaucracy. It’s business optimization.”

📌 A PMO isn’t just about managing projects—it’s about accelerating business success.

💬 What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced convincing leadership?

--
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How to convince executives to start a PMO

What do the best PMOs focus on to drive real results?

(Hint: Not get confused about what they stand for.)

Whether you’re a PMO leader, a PMO sponsor, or a key stakeholder, the different types of PMOs can cause confusion.

At the heart of it all, PMOs help you get things done
↳ in the right way
↳ at the right time
↳ in the right order
↳ by the right people

And the variations arise based on their size, scope, timing and/or sphere of influence.

Understanding their nuances is key to unlocking the right PMO for your organization’s success.

In the carousel, I cover:
→ Value Management Office (VMO)
→ Strategy Realization Office (SRO)
→ Project Management Office (PMO)
→ Strategic Management Office (SMO)
→ Integration Management Office (IMO)
→ Transformation Management Office (TMO)
→ Program Management Office (PMO or PgMO)
→ Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO)
→ Departmental Project Management Office (x PMO)

And I also address common confusions between:
↳ TMO vs. IMO
↳ EPMO vs. SRO
↳ VMO vs. SRO vs. SMO

Great PMOs realize, acknowledge and act upon what they stand for.

Helping their companies execute, transform, and thrive.

What would you add to the list?

--
♻️ Repost to help others navigate the world of PMOs.

🔔 Follow me (Hussain Bandukwala) for more content like this.

📩 Sign-up for my free PMO newsletter (link in the carousel & in the comments below).

PMO Unpacked

"We spent $20K on Monday.com. No one's using it."

A COO at a 130-person company just told me this.

30 tabs in a spreadsheet tracking different projects.

This is what scaling looks like without a PMO.

I see this pattern everywhere.

130 employees.

30+ projects running simultaneously.

No visibility. No priorities.

Every PM has their own system.

Slack threads. Google Sheets. Email chains.

Leadership makes million-dollar decisions based on vibes.

But here's the thing:

The CFO won't approve 3 full-time PMO hires.

"We're not big enough yet."

So they patch the chaos.

It doesn't hold.

Projects bleed into each other.

Dependencies aren't tracked.

Resource conflicts go unnoticed until burnout.

Client updates take 3 days to compile.

Exec team spends 6 hours weekly in status meetings that still leave them guessing.

Sound familiar?

This is the gap I see everywhere right now.

You're scaling.

Delivery is broken.

But you can't justify a full PMO.

That's where PMO-as-a-Service changes everything.

You get:
• Project leadership on demand
• Portfolio structure that works
• Tools configured and adopted properly
• Governance that doesn't slow you down

All as a monthly service.

No permanent headcount. No multi-year buildout.

You get PMO capabilities without the PMO baggage.

⚠️ What I'd avoid at all costs:
↳ Waiting until delivery chaos costs you a major client
↳ Hiring a full PMO team before you're operationally ready
↳ Buying tools without adoption support
↳ Running 30 projects with zero portfolio visibility

💡 If you're scaling but can't justify full-time PMO hires yet, does this approach make sense for your situation?

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You just became a PMO Leader. Congrats!
You're about to fall into the "pit" that derails 80% of new PMO leaders in their first year.

I've seen it happen dozens of times.

Smart people. Great credentials.

They cross the "PMO Chasm" and start sprinting.
They confuse motion for action.
Activity for achievement.

Here's what happens:
• Schedule 12 meetings nobody reads
• Yes to every request, no dependencies
• Build 40-slide intake, sits in SharePoint
• Hire analysts, task them with dashboards
• Launch governance before anyone knows you

6 months later:

The vision is undefined. Stakeholders are confused.
The needle hasn't moved. 
The PMO is failing.

You can avoid this.

Here's how:

1. Define success before you build anything

Book a 90-minute working session with your exec sponsor in week 1.

Walk out with 3-5 measurable outcomes for year one. Example: "Reduce project overruns by 30%" or "Kill 20% of active initiatives to fund strategic bets."

Document it. Share it. Reference it monthly.

2. Map your stakeholders early

Create a simple spreadsheet: Name, Role, What they need from the PMO, Influence level.

Schedule six 30-minute coffee chats in your first 30 days.

Ask: "What's broken today?" and "What would make your life easier?"

3. Start small and prove value fast

Pick one problem that's costing real money or blocking a visible initiative.

Example: If project status is unclear, create a single-page status format and pilot it with one VP's portfolio for 60 days.

Show before/after. Let them sell it for you.

4. Build governance that people actually use

Start with one decision: "How do we choose which projects get funded?"

Run a live prioritization session with 5-7 leaders using a simple scoring model (strategic fit, ROI, risk).

Make one real decision in the room. Document the criteria. Repeat monthly.

5. Create feedback loops from day one

Set up a recurring 30-minute monthly check-in with 4-5 key stakeholders.

Use a simple format: "What's working? What's not? What should we try next?"

Track themes in a doc. Adjust your roadmap based on what you hear.

The "pit" is real. But it's avoidable.

What's the first thing you'd do in a new PMO role?

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We missed the deadline by four months.

Burned through the budget. Exec sponsor was furious.

I thought my credibility was done.

Instead, it became the turning point for how our PMO operated.

Here's what that failure unlocked:

1. We stopped tracking everything and started tracking what mattered.

Before: 15 metrics in our dashboard that no one looked at.

After: 5 decision triggers that executives actually used to course-correct.

2. We killed the illusion that more governance equals better outcomes.

Before: Weekly steering committees where everyone nodded and nothing changed.

After: Bi-weekly decision forums with pre-reads and mandatory go/no-go calls.

3. We learned to surface problems early instead of polishing status reports.

Before: Green until it's red, then scramble.

After: Yellow is the new green. Risks get airtime before they become issues.

That project failure cost us credibility in the short term.

But it gave us permission to rebuild the PMO around what actually works.

Less drama. More truth. Better decisions.

The projects that succeed teach you to repeat.

The ones that fail teach you to rethink.

What's one failure that changed how you work today?

--
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Your first 100 days as a PMO leader isn't a delivery exercise.

It's a trust-building exercise.

Executives expect transformation.
Teams expect bureaucracy.

You're walking in with a verdict already made.

The leaders who flip that narrative:
- Ask more than they tell
- Build foundations quietly
- Fix small, annoying things fast
- Protect teams from unnecessary processes

By day 100, the goal isn't a perfect PMO.

It's a reputation as someone who makes things better, not harder.

💡 What's the one thing you wish you'd done differently in your first 100 days?

♻️ Repost to help PMO leaders start strong!

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If I had to search for a PMO leader role today,

Here's what I'd do:

1. Map the Landscape First

I'd spend 2 weeks just watching.

↳ Follow 20+ executives at target companies
↳ Read their last 3 quarterly earnings calls
↳ Track who's getting funded or acquired

Companies telegraph PMO needs months before posting roles.

2. Build My Target List

I wouldn't search job boards yet.

Instead, I'd identify:

↳ Companies scaling fast (50-200% growth)
↳ Organizations post-merger or acquisition
↳ Firms with new CEOs or COOs (first 100 days)

Resource: Crunchbase for funding, LinkedIn for leadership changes.

3. Go Beyond "PMO Manager"

I'd search these terms instead:

↳ Chief of Staff
↳ Head of Strategy Execution
↳ VP of Portfolio Management

The best PMO roles hide behind different titles.

4. Research Like My Job Depends On It

For each company, I'd find:

↳ Their top 3 strategic priorities (annual report, page 2-3)
↳ Pain points from earnings calls

Hidden gem: Search "[Company] investor presentation" for their real strategy.

5. Customize Everything

I'd create a unique resume for each application.

↳ Mirror their language from job description
↳ Lead with outcomes that match their priorities
↳ Quantify impact in their context

Generic applications die in the ATS. Tailored ones get calls.

6. Find the Hiring Manager

I wouldn't just apply online.

↳ Identify who'd be my boss (LinkedIn org chart)
↳ Find mutual connections for warm intros
↳ Engage with their content for 2 weeks first

Resource: LinkedIn Sales Navigator free trial to map org structures.

7. Build Proof Before Interviews

I'd create:

↳ A 30-60-90 day plan template
↳ A one-pager on "How I'd approach your PMO"

Show up with artifacts. Not just answers.

8. Prepare for the Real Questions

They'll ask: "How would you set up our PMO?"

I'd respond:

↳ Ask about their current state first
↳ Identify 2-3 quick wins (30 days)
↳ Show how I'd drive adoption, not just build frameworks

Talk outcomes, not org charts.

9. Network in Unexpected Places

I wouldn't just attend PMO conferences.

I'd go where executives hang out:

↳ Strategy execution workshops
↳ CFO/COO networking events
↳ Chief of Staff communities

PMO roles get filled through executive referrals.

10. Create Inbound Interest

I'd position myself as the expert:

↳ Post weekly on PMO execution challenges
↳ Share frameworks I've built
↳ Comment on executive posts about strategy

Let opportunities come to me while I'm searching.

⚠️ What I'd avoid:

↳ Mass applying with the same resume
↳ Waiting for "perfect fit" roles (apply at 60% match)
↳ Leading with frameworks instead of outcomes

The difference between landing offers and getting ignored?

I'd act like a strategist selling a solution.

Not a candidate hoping someone picks me.

💡 What's worked for you when searching for PMO roles?

♻️ Repost to help PMOs succeed!

🔔 Follow me (Hussain Bandukwala) for more content like this.

I'm excited to have a session on the PMO Insights Virtual Stage on Mar 19 at 11am PST: "Building PMO Talent That Delivers Real Business Impact". 

Join it to learn practical approaches to strengthen delivery performance beyond certifications, and align talent growth with real organizational needs.

The free registration link is in the comments below.

p.s. Hope to see you in San Diego next week at the in-person Project Management Institute PMOGA - PMO Global Alliance unCON event as well!

View company: PMOGA - PMO Global Alliance

🔥𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗠𝗢 𝘂𝗻𝗖𝗢𝗡 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗠𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 — 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘!🔥 For the first time, we're opening the PMO unCON Virtual Stages to the entire global PMO community, with no registration fee and no barriers.

🆓 Free registration for the virtual stages: https://lnkd.in/dWFNvM5z. 
Seats are limited!

Here's what's included:

🔹 Pre-Event Virtual Stage | March 17–19: Three days of expert-led sessions before the main event in San Diego: Virtual Masterclasses, PMO Solutions showcases, PMO Awards sessions, and PMO Insights conversations with authors and practitioners.

🔹 Post-Event Virtual Stage | March 31 – April 2: The conversation continues after San Diego with community-driven sessions, deep dives, and Virtual Mentoring Circles with senior PMO leaders.

⚠️ The in-person experience in San Diego on March 24-25 will not be streamed or recorded.

📖 Learn more about the Pre- and Post-event program on https://lnkd.in/du7fuBdx

Tyler Pollesch, PMI-PMOCP™, PgMP®, PMP®, PMI-ACP®,LSSBB¹

Most PMOs are built like no one will use them...
... And then no one does!
What changed when I treated my PMO like a product👇

1. Stakeholders became users

I stopped asking "What should we build?" and started asking "What problem are you actually trying to solve?"

- Ran discovery sessions with execs and delivery leads
- Mapped their pain points before designing solutions
- Built what they needed, not what looked impressive

2. Processes became features

Every framework got the MVP treatment:

- Start small with one team or portfolio
- Test adoption before scaling
- Kill what doesn't get used

If a process isn't being adopted, it's a failed feature. Ship something better or scrap it.

3. Adoption became product-market fit

I stopped measuring "processes deployed" and started tracking:
- How many leaders actually use our prioritization framework
- How often teams reference our delivery standards
- Whether decisions move faster because of our work

The shift is simple:

Your PMO isn't a compliance function. It's a product your organization chooses to use.

If they're not using it, you don't have an adoption problem. You have a product problem.

What's one PMO "feature" you'd kill today if you were honest about adoption?

--
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