Episode 331

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Published on:

26th Oct 2025

331: Leadership in an Era of Disruption with Ken Banta

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

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Every organization talks about leadership and agility, but few know how to make them real when disruption hits. 

When the pace of change never slows, how do you lead with clarity instead of reacting in chaos? 

In this episode, I’m joined by Ken Banta, founder and CEO of The Vanguard Network and author of Seeing Around Corners: Leadership in an Era of Disruption. Together, we explore what it really takes to lead with clarity and confidence when the pace of change never slows down. 


Ken and I discuss how self-awareness, adaptability, and influence are redefining leadership for the next decade— and how PMO and transformation leaders can move from simply managing change to anticipating it. 


You’ll learn how to shift from task-focused management to outcome-driven leadership that builds executive trust and drives measurable business value. 


The best leaders aren’t just delivering projects. They’re strategy navigators who connect the C-suite vision with on-the-ground execution. When PMO and transformation leaders build that bridge, they become the early-warning system executives rely on to see around corners and deliver lasting IMPACT. 

 

What You'll Learn:  

✅ What “seeing around corners” really means in practice 

✅ How to use self-awareness to lead with credibility and purpose 

✅ The difference between management and adaptive leadership 

✅ Why PMO leaders are the translation link between the C-suite and delivery teams 

✅ How adaptability and agility turn disruption into measurable IMPACT  

It’s time to get clear on what true leadership looks like in an era of disruption and how to evolve fast enough to stay ahead of it. 


👉 Press play to discover how leadership built on awareness, agility, and trust helps PMO and transformation leaders turn uncertainty into IMPACT. 


Connect with Ken: 

Follow him on LinkedIn 

Visit www.thevanguardnetwork.com 


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