In this special wrap-up episode, Trina and Mathew look back on the standout moments and superpowers from Season 2 of Wear Your Cape to Work. Together they revisit the insights, stories, and lessons that made this season unforgettable and share what they learned from each inspiring guest. Precision under constraint. The season opened with Jeff Conner, program manager from NASA, who described project management before online tools existed. Paper files, couriers, and in-person signoffs st...

Steve West has seen project management evolve from the days when building an extranet to share files felt revolutionary to today’s era of AI-driven collaboration. As Product Manager at Project Insight, he’s witnessed every major shift—from desktop tools to browser-based systems to intelligent automation. In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina, Mathew, and Steve talk about the early days of project management software, how teams learned to collaborate online, and why the leap from de...

Today on Wear Your Cape to Work, we’re joined by Sanjiv Bhagat, Manager of Program Management at Amazon. Sanjiv shares his journey from technical roles in the public sector to leading global logistics initiatives, how his love of puzzles shapes his prioritization skills, and why every project must start with the problem—not the tool. He also explains Amazon’s leadership principles, including Jeff Bezos’s “two-way vs. one-way door” decision framework, the bias toward action, and the minimum re...

We’re excited to welcome Agatha Agbanobi, founder and principal consultant of ResonantHR to the WYCTW podcast. With more than 15 years in project and program management and six years in HR leadership, she shares what it’s like to lead initiatives in employee relations, conflict resolution, workforce development, and DEIB. Agatha — unlike most of us — is comfortable being close to the fire. She uses her superpowers of values-based leadership, empathy, and people skills to help resolve conflict...

Fisayo Folarin has built a reputation for being someone you can count on. Whether leading digital banking projects in Nigeria or driving SaaS implementations in Canada, her superpower is reliability combined with a deep commitment to transparency, communication, and continuous & curious learning. In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina and Mathew talk with Fisayo about what it takes to restart your career in a new country, why project managers must be both curious and courageous,...

Today we’re joined by René Clayton, an AI strategist, PMP, author, & transformation leader with 20+ years in financial services, IT, & emerging tech. As founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Byte Strategy, René helps small businesses & fintechs bridge the gap between project management and AI. With MIT training and deep experience in automation and AI strategy, she shares how project managers can embrace technology with confidence & lead in an AI-driven world. In this episod...

In this episode, we talk with David Doty, an education leader who’s taken on some of the toughest assignments in the field. From launching a brand-new school district in a divided Utah community to transforming educational access for incarcerated adults, David has led complex, high-stakes projects under intense public scrutiny. We explore what it takes to lead systems change, build trust in fractured environments, and stay grounded in purpose when the pressure is on. This one’s about courage,...

Episode Summary: Charlene Reynolds began her career answering phones as a receptionist, a role many women were steered into. But she knew she was capable of more. Each time someone said she needed a degree or certification to move up, she earned it. Charlene built her path by raising her hand for difficult projects, leading through uncertainty, and elevating voices others overlooked. Now one of only 25 women in the U.S. running a commercial airport, she shares how she leads with transparency...

Lisa was making daily to-do lists by age seven—not to be productive, but because it brought her peace. That instinct stayed with her and evolved into a leadership superpower. In this episode, Lisa shares how her natural drive to plan and prioritize led her into project management, how she grew into a PMO leadership role, and how Project Insight gave her team visibility across IT, marketing, and business portfolios. ⏱ Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – 03:00 Lisa’s earliest memory of planning: ...

Episode Summary: In this episode, we talk with Linda Goodrich, the VP of Delivery at CureIs Healthcare. CureIs a customer of Project Insight, and so we have been fortunate to get to see Linda's superpowers over the years. Operationally, she might be known for bringing a structure to project management org-wide, but her real PM personal superpower is having a keen awareness of her team, their capacities, passions, and helping them find their most fulfilling roles in the workplace. Show Notes 0...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, we dive into the world of international development project management with Lucas King of DAI, a leading USAID contractor. Lucas shares what it’s like managing global development projects where the stakes are high, but the rewards are even higher. And then throw in giant pivots of uncertainty from the recent DOGE cuts to USAID project budgets...you need a real superhero to keep the plates spinning. We explore how project ...

In this episode of Wear Your Cape to Work, Trina sits down with Jeff Conner, who spent 43 years as a project manager at NASA. From the early days of the shuttle program to coordinating recovery efforts after the Columbia accident, Jeff’s career spans some of the most mission-critical projects in NASA’s history. This conversation explores Jeff’s career path, his family legacy in aerospace, and the mindset it takes to lead when failure is not an option. Topics covered: The family connection: Tr...

Wear Your Cape to Work is a podcast hosted by Project Insight. We believe that project and program managers truly are the superheroes of every organization. Our guests have poured their lives and talents into driving successful project outcomes for industries across the world. They wear their capes to work every day, and we want to celebrate them. We want you to hear their stories and be inspired to wear your own cape to work. Don't miss these exciting conversations with PMPs from companies...

Hosts Trina and Mathew recap the first season of "Wear Your Cape to Work." Tune in to reminisce about a great first season. Season One Superheroes: Stephen Hall, Project Manager, fairlife Milk.Jen & Sukanya, Cybersecurity Program Managers, Activision Blizzard KingLindiwe Stenberg, Project Manager, PayPalMichelle Dickstein, Project Manager & DEI Co-Chair, Non-profit HealthcareMehul Shah, Senior Director PMO, Universal DestinationsJames Phillips, PMP & Informatics Analyst, Hea...

Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with Kristina Curtiss to discuss the unique role of project managers as translators—bridging the gap between technical teams, stakeholders, and business objectives. Kristina shares her journey from office management to leading large-scale healthcare and IT projects. 2:12 Kristina’s early career at Home Depot3:00 Transitioning from office management to construction projects – similarities in organizational skills3:35 The role of time management, op...

In today's episode we talk with Emma Kelly, a program manager from The Water Project. She shares about managing projects in the humanitarian sector where projects can span across continents...where part of your resource force is the community you are working in... and when you don't always have access to the internet. Hear about how program managers align projects with strategic initiatives and empower people to do their best work for a very important cause. Episode Highlights: Emma's Passion...

Today's guest is Jeremiah Hammon, PMP. His passion for PMBOK guidelines is contagious, and his company, Project Revolution stands, by and supports project managers who are headed to certifications or who want to gain leadership roles in their organization. 02:00 – Jeremiah’s history: Becoming an accidental project manager in manufacturing. 02:15 – Why he believes people drive business success. 02:40 – The key to success: Learn the sector, understand processes, and build relations...

Today’s superhero guest is Kevin Perkins, a long-time technical product manager with years of experience shaping and considering SaaS product development. He joins Steve West, CEO of Project Insight, for an engaging conversation on their early entrepreneurial friendship and the evolution of project management—where it was 20 years ago, where it stands today, and where it’s headed in the future. Can we trust Kevin’s insights on what’s next? Absolutely. His superpower lies in his ability ...

Our superhero PMP guest today is Sree Karanakarun! Born and raised in India, Sree earned a degree in engineering and began her career as a mainframe IT developer. She quickly advanced through roles as a Business Analyst, Project Coordinator, and Project Manager, spending over 20 years in healthcare project and program management. Then, she made a bold career pivot—leaving healthcare to become a Senior IT Project Manager for Douglas County, Colorado, managing projects in the community governme...

Our guest today is James Phillips, an Informatics Analyst at Altamed and a dynamic leader with a rich and diverse background spanning communications, public relations, marketing, project management, medical coding, and healthcare informatics. James has been intentional about his professional development throughout his career. At every step, his sharp self-assessment has inspired him to acquire new skills, pursue additional degrees, and earn valuable certifications. Over time, he has built an ...