Episode 328

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Published on:

5th Oct 2025

328: The 3 Stages of PMO Leadership Growth

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

PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working

Growth in a PMO career often gets measured by titles or the size of the portfolio you manage. But in reality, leadership growth is about making the right shifts at the right time. 

If you’ve been delivering results but still feel stuck, it’s not because you lack talent. It’s because every stage of your career calls for a different focus. Without making those shifts, you can stall out before you reach your full potential. The constant activity, the heavy processes, the endless reporting—that’s the friction. And friction keeps you from leading at the level you’re capable of. 

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the three stages of PMO leadership growth, what to focus on in each one, and how to make each transition without burning out. You’ll see where you are now, what to stop doing, and what to lean into so you can lead with clarity and create lasting IMPACT.  

 

You'll Learn:  

  • The three key stages most PMO leaders move through. 
  • How to shift from order taker to IMPACT Driver. 
  • Why centering your PMO on business value changes your visibility. 
  • The leadership moves that turn ownership into true influence. 
  • How to focus on what matters most right now so you can transition smoothly. 

👉 Press play to find out where you are in your leadership journey and what to focus on next to move from projects to power. 

P.S. Ready to lead where strategy happens? The IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you the coaching, tools, and community you need to stop operating like a support function and start driving the business outcomes your executives are counting on. Click here to learn more! 🚀

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I welcome your feedback and insights! 

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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