The Collaborative Leader with Evan Unger

Your first 90 days in a new PM role? They're kind of a big deal. Whether this is your first project management gig or you're starting fresh at a new company, how you show up in those first three months basically sets the tone for everything that comes after. So I sat down with Mukhtar Kadiri—ranked the #1 PM in Canada, PM career coach with over 67,000 people in his LinkedIn network, and someone who helps companies find PMs who actually get stuff done (not just talk about it). Here's what we dig into: The 2-3 things you absolutely need to nail in your first 30 days (and the biggest mistake new PMs make right out of the gate) How to figure out who actually matters in the organization and build real trust without looking like you're playing politics What "winning" looks like by day 90—and how to talk about it without sounding like you're bragging How to pick your first battle when everything feels chaotic and there's no obvious quick win Balancing "learning mode" with "proving you can deliver" If you're about to start a new PM role, currently in your first 90 days, or you're hiring PMs and want them to hit the ground running—this one's for you. Connect with Mukhtar on LinkedIn Download the PM Playbook for your first 90 days About The Everyday PM: We connect project management principles to everyday life. Hosted by Ann Campea. Visit anncampea.com

What if the traditional PM career ladder isn't the only way—or even the best way—to make an impact? In this eye-opening conversation with Brian Summons, Enterprise Strategy & Transformation Leader and Senior Internal Consultant - Strategy Activation at CHOC, we explore what happens when you choose to forge your own path. Brian made the bold decision to leave traditional PM roles behind for consulting—and he's here to share the unfiltered truth about what that transition really looks like. In this episode, we dive into: ✨ The "aha moment" that sparked Brian's decision to leave the conventional PM path 🔍 The biggest myths about PM consulting (and the unexpected challenges nobody warns you about) 🎯 How the "outsider-insider" perspective unlocks solutions traditional PMs might miss 💡 The secret weapons from PM backgrounds that become superpowers in consulting 🤝 Balancing expert authority with the humility to understand each client's unique context

What if the key to building resilient plans isn't optimism—but deliberately imagining failure? In this game-changing conversation, we sit down with Leslie Grandy, a global product executive with 25+ years leading innovation at T-Mobile, Apple, Best Buy, and Amazon. Leslie is the founder of The Product Guild, Lead Executive in Residence at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, and author of the just-released book Creative Velocity: Propelling Breakthrough Ideas in the Age of Generative AI (Wiley, May 2025). This isn't another "AI will automate your tasks" conversation. Leslie introduces a radically different approach: using generative AI as a strategic partner to challenge assumptions, stress-test plans, and imagine failure scenarios your team is psychologically unwilling to consider. Drawing on the ancient Stoic practice of "Premeditation of Evils," Leslie shows how deliberately imagining what could go wrong builds genuine organizational resilience and accelerates innovation. In this episode, we explore:✨ Why humans are psychologically unwilling to plan for failure—and how this blindspot derails billion-dollar projects 🤖 How to reposition Gen AI from efficiency tool to creative collaborator in strategic planning 🏛️ The ancient Stoic practice that modern leaders need to future-proof their organizations 🎯 Practical frameworks for stress-testing plans using AI's "psychological distance" 🏢 How to embed resilience thinking as organizational culture, not just individual practice Whether you're launching a product, managing a complex project, or leading organizational strategy, this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about risk, resilience, and the strategic role of AI. Challenge for this week: Pick one project. Open your AI tool. Ask: "What am I not seeing? What could go wrong that I'm unwilling to imagine?" 🎧 Listen now and discover how to build plans that don't just survive the future—but thrive in it.

What does it take to break barriers in one of the most male-dominated industries in the world? And how can one leader use their platform to create systemic change for the next generation? In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Dr. Vijayeta Malla, PMI Global Construction Ambassador and Co-Vice President of AACE New Jersey Chapter. With 17+ years managing $47B+ infrastructure programs including the Ontario Line Subway and Port of Oakland's E-PMO, Dr. Malla has not only built billion-dollar projects—she's building pathways for women in construction. In this episode, we explore: 🌍 The Ambassador Role — What it means to be PMI's Global Construction Ambassador, and how Dr. Malla uses this platform to advance project management excellence while advocating for women in the industry 🏗️ Breaking Barriers & Building Belonging — Specific, actionable strategies for creating a sense of belonging for women in construction, and how to leverage leadership positions to drive systemic change (not just surface-level initiatives) 👥 Leadership & Mentorship in Action — How to balance advancing your own career while actively championing others, and critical advice for emerging female project managers who feel isolated in their organizations 💡 Dual Leadership Insights — What it's like to serve in two major industry leadership roles simultaneously (PMI Global Construction Ambassador + AACE Co-VP), and how to maximize impact across multiple platforms 🚀 From Isolation to Impact — Practical guidance for women navigating male-dominated project environments, building professional networks, and finding mentorship when you're the only woman in the room Dr. Malla holds a Ph.D. in Construction Management from IIT Bombay and is a certified PMP and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Her research on women in construction and creating inclusive workplaces has been presented at major conferences including AACE International, WTS, and ASC. She's actively working to transform not just individual careers, but the entire industry culture. This conversation goes beyond inspiration—it provides concrete strategies for creating belonging, leveraging leadership platforms for advocacy, and mentoring the next generation while advancing your own career. Whether you're a woman in construction seeking guidance, a leader wanting to create more inclusive teams, or anyone interested in breaking barriers in male-dominated industries, this episode offers both hope and actionable wisdom.

Artificial intelligence is transforming construction planning and scheduling—but are we ready for the ethical challenges that come with it? When AI makes billion-dollar decisions, who's accountable? How do we prevent bias? And what does responsible digital transformation actually look like? In this critical conversation, I sit down with Dr. Vijayeta Malla, a Program/Project Controls Professional with 17+ years managing $47B+ infrastructure programs including the Ontario Line Subway and Port of Oakland's E-PMO. As both a practitioner implementing AI on mega-projects and a researcher publishing groundbreaking work on AI applications in the AEC industry, Dr. Malla brings a rare dual perspective on this transformative technology. In this episode, we explore: ✅ The Reality Check — Where AI is actually working in construction planning vs. where it's still just hype, with real examples from billion-dollar transit projects ⚖️ The Ethics Minefield — Who's responsible when AI makes scheduling decisions that affect billions in costs and thousands of jobs? Accountability frameworks every PM needs to understand 🤖 The Human Element — What the next generation of project controls professionals should be learning, and how to maintain transparency when AI influences decisions about people's livelihoods 🔍 Practical Frameworks — How to implement AI responsibly: audit for bias, establish human oversight, choose explainable tools, and focus on augmentation rather than replacement 🌐 The Future Vision — What responsible AI integration looks like 5-10 years from now, and the one thing every PM must understand about this transformation Dr. Malla serves as PMI's Global Construction Ambassador and Co-Vice President of AACE New Jersey Chapter. Her research on AI applications in AEC has been presented at AACE International 2025 and multiple industry conferences. She holds a Ph.D. in Construction Management from IIT Bombay and is a certified PMP and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. This isn't just about technology—it's about making intentional ethical choices as we integrate AI into construction workflows. Whether you're exploring AI tools, concerned about automation, or leading digital transformation initiatives, this conversation provides the frameworks you need to navigate these complex decisions responsibly. Remember: Technology is a tool, but ethics is a choice. Make it intentionally.