Disaster Recovery with David Dodd and Part 2 - Top 10 Challenges in Program Management

Have you ever worked on a project that started off strong, only for things to quickly unravel? Deadlines slip, communication breaks down, and meetings feel like a waste of time. It’s not always about lacking skills—sometimes, project managers just need the right strategy tools and soft skills to take their projects from good to exceptional. In this episode of the iPrograms Podcast, host Dr. Bill Bersing—a leader in engineering, construction, and program management—sits down with Dr. Jim Chambers, an expert in educational leadership, learning & development, and instructional design. Together, they break down why traditional project management training often overlooks critical leadership skills, communication strategies, and emotional intelligence—and how filling these gaps can lead to outstanding project success. 🔍 What You’ll Learn: ✅ The biggest mistakes project managers make—and how to fix them ✅ Why technical skills alone won’t guarantee success ✅ How leadership, soft skills, and AI can transform your workflow ✅ Why the PURE Management approach is redefining project leadership If you’re ready to stop managing chaos and start leading with clarity, this episode will give you real-world insights you can start applying today. 💡 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert insights from top professionals in the industry! 📌 YouTube Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Intro 01:54 Project Zodiac 04:00 The Struggle Between Big Companies and Small Business Partnerships 06:50 PURE Certification 11:11 What’s Missing from Traditional Project Management 11:37 Using AI as a Tool for Project Management 14:59 The Biggest Mistake Project Managers Make 19:36 Key to Preventing Project Failure 23:50 How to Communicate with Emotional Intelligence 28:40 Leadership vs. Micromanagement 31:06 How to Build Trust in Project Teams 35:18 What Makes a Great Project Manager 36:08 PURE Management Alliance Program Details 37:44 A New Kind of Project Certification 38:58 The Qualities of Great Project Managers 44:23 Why Soft Skills Matter 56:49 Final Thoughts 🔗 Resources & Links: 📘 Learn more about PURE Management Alliance 🎓 Access FREE Project Management Resources 🎙 Follow the iPrograms Podcast for More Episodes #ProjectManagement #Leadership #PUREManagement #iProgramsPodcast #AIinProjects #SoftSkills #TeamManagement #BusinessLeadership

In this episode, Dr. Bersing is joined by Dr. Donald B. Wilson—a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, and organizational strategy. With expertise spanning sales, technical innovation and leadership development, Dr. Wilson shares his deep insights into how Artificial Intelligence is transforming not only transforming industries, but also examines how to approach Ai from a leadership standpoint. Together, they explore: Practical applications and ethical considerations of AI. How AI is reshaping leadership in sales, education, and engineering. The evolving role of leaders in driving innovation while managing change. Tools and strategies to integrate AI into project management and team collaboration. Whether you're a project manager, a tech enthusiast, or a leader looking to future-proof your organization, this episode offers actionable takeaways to help you succeed in an AI-enabled world. Chapters 00:00 Intro & AI 00:48 Legal & Policy Frameworks 04:38 Practical AI Applications & Limitations 07:39 AI in Education & Ethics 11:45 AI in Risk & Project Management 18:27 Leadership in the AI Era 35:00 AI for Strategic Innovation 37:03 Tools of Collaboration & Innovation 43:47 Future Prospects & Closing Reflections General Resources:

Nearly two decades ago, Dr. Bill Bersing set out to explore a then-nascent concept: virtual executive leadership. His work culminated in a 2009 dissertation that asked leaders critical questions about building trust, fostering collaboration, and achieving success in virtual environments. At the time, remote leadership was still emerging, and his insights offered a fresh perspective on managing global teams in the multinational engineering service industry. Fast forward almost 20 years, and the world has changed dramatically. With rapid technological advances and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual work has become the norm. In this episode, Dr. Bersing revisits the same questions, exploring how leadership practices have evolved. He also shares his plans to expand the scope of these questions to leaders across industries for future episodes, aiming to uncover fresh insights for a new era of work. Join us as we dive into Dr. Bersing’s reflections, hear his responses to the very questions he created, and learn how he’s using this research to spark a broader conversation about the future of leadership. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the challenges and opportunities of leading virtually across the world. Timestamps: 1:37 Introduction - The Study: Revisiting Virtual Executive Leadership 10:11 How do you and your organization use communication tools to create and preserve trust in the virtual team setting? 18:24 How do you ensure virtual member diversity is accepted and clear? 25:41 How do you properly manage meetings and work-life cycle in the virtual work setting? 31:15 How do you or your organization use technology to observe virtual team performance? 37:25 How do you evaluate virtual team progress? 39:15 How do you allow for virtual team members to gain something from being on the team? 41:18 What makes an outstanding virtual team leader or project manager? 43:34 What differences, if any, do you see in organizing new virtual teams versus organizing teams face-to-face? 47:36 What project success factors are different when working on virtual teams versus face-to-face teams? 55:47 How has technology changed your approach in developing effective virtual managers within the last 10 years? 59:25 Do you see new emerging technologies in the next 5 or 10 years which you feel may change the industry or customer base? 1:03:07 Are you or your organization working on new ways to improve virtual team performance, organization, or knowledge management? 1:07:14 Closing Thoughts: Virtual Teams and Executive Leadership After COVID Resources from this episode: NVivo: NVivo is the most powerful and most cited software for qualitative data analysis. General Resources:

In this episode of iPrograms Podcast: The Art of Program Management, global resilience expert David Dodd returns to discuss the complex challenges of disaster recovery and economic resilience in the face of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Hosts Dr. Bill Bersing and Virginia Scheuer explore cutting-edge strategies and international insights impacting our response to natural disasters, climate adaptation, and long-term community stability with David. Key Topics: 0:00 - Introduction to Hurricanes Helene and Milton 0:45 - Guest Introduction: David Dodd, Global Leader in Economic Development and Resilience 1:58 - Rapid Intensification of Hurricanes 3:20 - Comparing Hurricane Impacts: Helene and Superstorm Sandy 5:04 - Extreme Weather Patterns and Climate Change 6:31 - Public and Private Sector Debt in Resilience Funding 7:43 - Resilience as Investment and the Role of Private Investment 8:33 - Financial Impact of Recent Hurricanes 10:05 - The Ready Movement and Community Preparedness 11:07 - Community Preparedness and Cultural Shifts 13:34 - Challenges of Disaster Recovery in Tornado-Prone Areas 14:45 - Project Management in Disaster Recovery 15:19 - Certification and Coordination in Disaster Recovery 17:24 - Federal Agency Alignment in Recovery Efforts 19:00 - Funding and Climate Adaptation Explained 20:57 - Global Debt and Its Implications for Resilience 22:01 - Adaptation and Relocation of Infrastructure 24:50 - Toolkit for Measuring Economic and Social Resilience Impact 26:58 - AI’s Potential in Disaster Recovery and Modeling 28:15 - Civil Engineering Challenges in Africa 29:17 - AI and Accountability in Resilience Efforts 30:06 - Comparing US Resilience to Global Standards 31:33 - Case Study: Japan’s Resilience Post-Fukushima 32:32 - Importance of Economic Opportunity in Recovery 34:04 - Integrated City and Economic Recovery Planning 35:48 - Resilience vs. Recovery 37:12 - Private Sector’s Role in Funding Climate Adaptation 39:09 - Investment in Resilience as a Cost-Effective Strategy 40:51 - Shifting Perspectives on Resilience in Public-Private Partnerships 42:07 - Learning from Global Standards in Resilience 43:27 - International Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing 44:46 - David’s Upcoming Talk on Economic Development and Resilience 46:01 - Outro and The Arkansas Hogs Resources:

Revolutionizing Leadership: The Future of Program Management In this transformative episode of the iPrograms podcast, "The Art of Program Management," hosted by Dr. Bill Bersing, we explore the evolving landscape of program management and its intersection with innovative leadership. With over 30 years of experience leading major programs, Dr. Bersing delves into key concepts that are revolutionizing program management. Our guest, Charles "Greg" Bess, shares invaluable insights from his 40 years in the tech and telecommunications industries. Together, we discuss: The significance of emphasizing observation and human connection in problem-solving Building reliable teams through experience and overcoming failure Recognizing self-taught talent to create dynamic and versatile teams The importance of balancing the adoption of emerging technologies like AI with proper risk management strategies How maintaining a healthy work-life balance and fostering effective communication can pave the way for more resilient and engaged leaders in program management Join us as we redefine success in program management and empower the next generation of leaders with actionable strategies and invaluable insights from industry experts. Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your approach to program management from the inside out. 🕐 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Introduction to Greg Bess 02:26 From Electrical Engineering to Project Mastery 05:22 Challenges in Program Management 06:30 Leadership Skills and Team Dynamics 10:23 International Experience and Cultural Challenges 13:23 Cultural Communication and International Projects 21:23 Being OK with a Team that Fails | Fail Quickly and Get to Better Solutions 22:22 Good Leadership Skills in Large Programs 34:25 Leverage AI but Don't Keep Your Eyes Off the Task 35:27 Unpredictability and Risk Management 36:21 Safety and Preparedness 37:19 Leadership in Crisis 39:02 Managing Conflicts Between Experience and Ambition in Teams 41:28 Creating High-Performance Teams 47:23 Encouraging Team Communication 51:38 Unlikely Leadership Lessons: Build Team Trust with Creativity 54:38 How to Break the Ice with Teams | Get Your Team Communicating! 57:27 The Importance of Hobbies and Stress Relief 1:00:31 Final Thoughts 🔔 #ProgramManagement #Leadership #Innovation #GregBess #iProgramsPodcast #RiskManagement #FutureOfWork #SelfTaughtTalent Resources: