Episode 296

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Published on:

23rd Feb 2025

296: The Hidden Reason Projects Fail (And How to Fix It) with Alexandra Chapman

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Business Acumen

Executives don’t manage projects day-to-day, but they live with the results. What if the key to successful strategy execution isn’t just delivery—but how projects are set up from the start? 


Most project failures don’t happen during execution—they happen before projects even start. If executives don’t define outcomes, benefits, and value upfront, even the most well-managed project can miss the mark. 


In this episode, Alexandra Chapman joins us to share how PMOs can shift from order-takers to Strategy Navigators and ensure projects are set up for success from day one. 


Key Takeaways: 

✅ Why most projects fail before they even start 

✅ The critical questions executives must ask before approving a project 

✅ Why “on time, on budget” isn’t enough to define success 


👉 Press play to transform your PMO into a true strategy driver. 


Connect with Alexandra Chapman

Follow Alexandra on LinkedIn

Visit Totally Optimized Projects


P.S. Stop the chaos—start leading with confidence! The IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you expert coaching, hands-on support, and the blueprint to deliver real business value. Ready to accelerate your success? Join us here!


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Warmly,

Laura Barnard

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About the Podcast

PMO Strategies
with Laura Barnard
In this podcast, PMO leaders and those wanting to capitalize on the best of project management to deliver the organization’s strategy will uncover the hidden secrets of the best PMOs, learn the game-changing techniques that transform any PMO into a value-driven IMPACT Engine, and explore the best ways for the PMO to become an integral part of the fabric and future of an organization. After spending two and a half decades helping organizations deliver change, with 15 of those years in the shoes of PMO leader inside organizations, Laura strongly believes that there is more to making an IMPACT than templates, tools, and process. She’ll show you how to make the shifts necessary to become a business-focused PMO that will become an invaluable organizational asset. With her guests and insights, we explore the sticky situations and tough challenges PMO leaders face, from sorting through all of the “noise” about what the PMO “should” do to finding the best ways for your PMO to make an IMPACT. Listen in, and you can discover how to shift your focus from outputs to outcomes, fundamentally changing the game for your PMO and personal success.

About your host

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Laura Barnard