From Chaos to Clarity: Why Project Management Is the Secret Weapon for Strategy Execution

🎙️ The Executive Edge – Episode 210 Guest: Professor Adam Boddison, CEO of the Association for Project Management Host: Sue Firth Released: May 15, 2025 Episode Summary: In this episode, Sue Firth is joined by Professor Adam Boddison to unpack the underestimated power of project management in modern business. As the CEO of the Association for Project Management, Adam shares his unconventional career journey — from teaching secondary school math to leading a major charity through a financial turnaround, and now championing strategic delivery at the helm of a major professional body. Together, they explore the real role of project management: not just Gantt charts and spreadsheets, but as a critical tool for strategy execution, culture change, and business transformation. What You'll Learn: Why project management is often misunderstood — and how it's really about executing strategy, not just ticking boxes. The shift in C-suite roles from traditional operations to Chief Transformation Officers. How digital transformation and AI adoption demand cultural, not just technical, change. The concept of "projectification" of the workforce and why it's the future. The difference between everyone doing project management vs. being a project professional. How to future-proof your business with better planning, people capability, and data. Why data needs to be forward-looking ("windscreen") instead of backward-looking ("rearview"). How post-COVID workplace changes and generational shifts are reshaping business expectations. Key Quotes: 🗣️ “Everybody can dance, but not everybody is a dancer. Same goes for project management.” – Adam Boddison 🗣️ “Project management isn’t just a function. It’s the mechanism for strategy execution.” 🗣️ “Never before has the pace of change been so fast—and never again will it be this slow.” Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Association for Project Management 📘 APM’s Chartered Standard – Competencies framework to benchmark project management capability 🔗 Connect with Adam Boddison on LinkedIn Connect with Us: 📣 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform. 🌐 Learn more at Sue Firth’s Website 💬 Follow Sue on LinkedIn Final Thoughts: Whether you’re a business leader, manager, or entrepreneur, this episode is a must-listen if you’re serious about navigating rapid change with clarity. It's time to stop improvising and start executing with intent — project management is the edge you've been looking for.