Episode 337

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Published on:

7th Dec 2025

337: Blockbuster Lessons for PMO Leaders with Dawn Mahan

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

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Every great project tells a story, and the best ones play out like blockbuster movies. 

In this episode, I'm joined by Dawn Mahan, co-editor of Projectland Goes to the Movies and author of Meet the Players in Projectland. We're talking about how more than 20 experts used their favorite films to share timeless lessons on vision, leadership, and collaboration. 


If you've ever wished project management felt more like directing a hit film and less like fighting through endless plot twists, this one's for you. 


I'll show you how the same principles that drive movie success—clarity of vision, confident direction, and authentic teamwork—also define the projects that deliver real IMPACT. Plus, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at my own chapter inspired by Moneyball and Dawn's by The Italian Job. 


What You'll Learn: 

  • How movie storytelling mirrors every stage of project success 
  • The leadership lessons hidden in popular films 
  • Why every PMO leader needs to think like a director 
  • How to turn chaos, change, and conflict into collaboration that wins 

👉 Press play to discover how the art of great filmmaking can help you set the vision, direct the action, and create your own story of IMPACT in Projectland. 


Connect with Dawn: 

Follow Dawn on LinkedIn 

Visit PMOtraining.com 

Access Meet the Players in Projectland 

🎧 Companion Episode: Don't miss Episode 250—How to Build a PMO That Drives Results for deeper insights on this topic. 


Receive a confidential sample of Meet the Players in Projectland: Decide the Right Project Roles & Get People on Board 


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