Acknowledging change and acting: The case for project professionals

In this Agile in Action Podcast episode, Professor Adam Boddison, CEO of the Association for Project Management (APM), discusses the evolving role of project professionals in a rapidly changing world. He emphasizes the critical importance of project professionals in delivering societal and organizational change, advocating for their broader recognition beyond technical roles to strategic leadership positions. The conversation touches on the need to redefine success in project management, the challenges posed by global talent shortages, the inclusion of agile methodologies under the project professional umbrella, and the value of stakeholder engagement, continuous learning, and benefit realization. Boddison also makes a case for integrating project management as a core component of leadership training and suggests that roles like Chief Operating Officer may need to evolve into Chief Project or Transformation Officers to better align with today’s change-driven business landscape. What You Will Learn: The strategic role of project professionals: Why project professionals are more than just process experts—they are essential to executing organizational strategy and managing change effectively across sectors. The need to redefine project success: How modern project management requires focus on benefits realization and adaptability, rather than strict adherence to initial plans. Bridging the project profession and the C-suite: Why project management deserves a seat at the executive table and how roles like COO may need to evolve to reflect a greater emphasis on transformation. Building project capability and maturity: The importance of upskilling both intentional and “accidental” project professionals and using lessons learned to inform future projects. Relevant URLs: Association for Project Management (APM): https://www.apm.org.uk Agile in Action Podcast: https://agileinaction.com Adam Boddison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamboddison