In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks with Jessica Crow, founder of Apogy, about the keys to making change stick. Too often, organisations invest in change initiatives that fail to take root. Jessica shares her insights on why traditional approaches fall short and what leaders can do to drive real, lasting adoption. Drawing from her extensive experience in change management, Jessica explains the psychology behind resistance, the role of leadership in fostering buy-in...
Feb 28, 2025•25 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks with Stephen Jenner, a globally recognised expert in benefits and portfolio management. Dubbed the “Rottweiler of Benefits Management,” Steve has built a career transforming how organisations approach project portfolios. From his time in the UK government—where his benefits-led approach won the prestigious Civil Service Finance Award—to his work as a consultant, keynote speaker, and author, Steve has seen it all. Steve shares can...
Nov 01, 2024•35 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks with Mike Battistella, President and CTO of Solutions3, an award-winning consulting and training organisation. They discuss the critical misconceptions organisations have about cybersecurity, particularly the belief that passing a compliance audit equates to long-term security. Mike emphasises that compliance is merely the baseline, not the end goal. He highlights the importance of continuous improvement in cybersecurity practice...
Sep 27, 2024•29 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, engages in a comprehensive discussion with Terry Neal, distinguished expert in AI and cybersecurity training. Richard opens the conversation by asking Terry for a simple definition of AI; Terry responds by explaining AI is a machine’s ability to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Richard and Terry delve into the AI Practitioner Program, with Richard inquiring about its structure and objectives. Terry elaborates on h...
Aug 30, 2024•19 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, is joined by Robert den Broeder, managing director of OBM Dynamics B.V. and a seasoned coach and trainer. Robert shares his journey from teaching service management to exploring the critical role of human behaviour in achieving management excellence. Through his extensive research and practical experience, Robert unveils how Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) can address common business challenges such as improving safety, complia...
Jul 26, 2024•32 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks with Karla Micallef, a veteran in leading enterprise-wide transformations. Karla brings over 20 years of experience across various industries, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, organisational model redesigns, and digital transformations. Recently elected as the global president chair of the board for the Change Management Institute, Karla is passionate about elevating the strategic importance of change management and believes...
Jun 28, 2024•18 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, renowned ITSM expert Anthony Orr joins Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, for an insightful discussion on the intricacies of service level agreements (SLAs) and the evolution towards experience level agreements (XLAs). They delve into the impact of SLAs on organisational behaviour, exploring both their benefits and shortcomings. Through thought-provoking questions, Richard prompts Anthony towards the broader implications of service excellence and the importance of unders...
May 31, 2024•31 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Sarah Hills, Change expert and Founder of Carpe Omnia Training. They explore the intricacies of organisational change and the challenges of introducing best practices. Richard prompts Sarah about the behavioural shifts required for successful implementation, to which Sarah stresses the importance of establishing trust and openness with clients. She elaborates on her consulting approach, emphasising the need to understand curre...
Apr 26, 2024•25 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks with Tibisay Vera, neuroscientist, and creator of the PEPE model – Neuroscience for Change. Delving into Tibi's wealth of experience spanning over two decades in change and leadership, this episode uncovers the profound impact of neuroscience on managerial effectiveness and team motivation amidst the backdrop of today's dynamic work environments. Tibi probes into the ways understanding neuroscience can empower leaders t...
Mar 28, 2024•24 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Eileen Roden, Director and Co-Founder of House of PMO. Delving into the heart of modern project management, this episode navigates the intricate terrain of PMOs' vital role in today's dynamic business environment. On the implications of transitioning into a project economy, Eileen explains how PMOs can facilitate successful project delivery while ensuring benefits realisation. Through the lens of optimism bias, we ex...
Mar 01, 2024•32 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, welcomes Liz Herman, elected Vice President of the Society for Technical Communication and a Senior Manager in knowledge content training with Accenture Federal Services. Richard and Liz discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on technical communicators and how the Society is leveraging support to its members throughout shifts in technology. Liz advocates for the importance of human collaboration with AI, referring to technic...
Jan 31, 2024•30 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to thought leaders Melanie Franklin and Andrew Craddock as they delve into the evolution of Agile Project Management, discussing its impact on businesses and the broader context of cultural transformation. Melanie Franklin, a seasoned expert in Change Management, and Andrew Craddock, a prominent figure in Agile methodologies, share their extensive experience, offering valuable advice and guidance for organisations navigating the ...
Dec 08, 2023•35 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Neil Keating, founder of Experience Collab, to delve into the world of Experience Level Agreements (XLAs) and their significance in the IT industry. To begin, Neil distinguishes XLA’s and SLA’s and outlines how they can help improve the overall experience for IT customers, consumers and employees. Neil then emphasises the importance our emotions play in consumer and employee experience. He explains Affective Science; how emoti...
Jul 14, 2023•31 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speak to Christina Sejr Pedersen, Executive Director of The Half Double Institute in Denmark. Christina begins the episode by explaining the business problem Half Double embarks to resolve. Expanding on her 15 year-long career in Project Management, Christina highlights the pattern she observed from feedback given by the Project Management community. Often, colleagues would approach her announcing “I can’t do the project quite l...
May 26, 2023•27 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “You’ve just got to remember: it’s all about people and skills, no matter how clever we are with the technology.” In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Matthew Burrows, the president of SkillsTx and SFIA Accredited Consultant and Assessor about The Skills Framework for The Information Age. Richard begins the episode by asking Matthew why he built an online platform to support its rollout. Matthew explains that what skills we have and what skills we need are cha...
Mar 17, 2023•25 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “Gains vs losses, it’s a rational framework. Very, very good. Thing is though, if you only present it with options that are a bit silly, then you get the least silly result at the end... But it’s still fundamentally silly” In this episode Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, revisits the Better Business Cases scheme with Joseph Lowe, Co-Editor of the Green Book and Head of the Economics Branch at HM Treasury in his second appearance as a guest. Richard begins the episode by asking wheth...
Mar 03, 2023•38 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “There is a see-saw effect between quality and speed. We need a framework that improves both at the same time” In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Dominic Harborne, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Coach, Trainer, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Chief Examiner of APMG’s Lean Six Sigma certifications. Listen in as Dominic talks us through the origins of Six Sigma, how its function has evolved over time, and how both Lean and...
Feb 24, 2023•38 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “Change is only what people make of it.” In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speak to CEO of Notion, Dominic Ashley-Timms. Dominic begins by explaining where the concept of STAR® came from. We learn that the initial inspiration came from Dominic's work with organisations struggling to cope with change. Dominic gained a better understanding of the various change approaches that can be implemented in an organisation as a result of this work. He explains that...
Feb 17, 2023•33 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “As a non-expert you are the ideal person to communicate with other non-experts.” In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to veteran technical communicator and STC President Aiessa Moyna. Aiessa and Richard begin by discussing STC reaching the impressive milestone of 70 years in operation, and discuss whether the STC membership is valued by members just as much now as it was then. Aiessa explains that seventy years ago, the usual practice would be to remain a member...
Feb 03, 2023•27 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we speak to Eileen Roden, Director and Co-Founder of House of PMO and all-around PMO enthusiast - with a tattoo to prove it. Eileen begins by discussing the history of House of PMO. She then shares how she defines the PMO role itself, and we learn that PMO’s can now be considered a career in its own right - or at minimum, a development opportunity. Eileen suggests that PMOs provide “incremental delivery of value into organizations.” She discusses how the role of PMO has moved fro...
Sep 16, 2022•27 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “Compatibility is the cornerstone of FitSM” In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International speak to IT Governance Manager Michael Brenner. Michael begins by discussing the origins of FitSM and the difficulties he initially faced when introducting it to organisations. He explains that the development of FitSM stemmed from frustration with the lack of a simple, lightweight framework amongst industry standards, particularly to benefit smaller organizations who do not need the...
Sep 02, 2022•31 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “Surround yourself with smarter people than you. As a project or programme manager, you are the conductor, not the orchestrator.” In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Ross Bowyer, a highly experienced project manager who has overseen strategic development activities, capability development, and the overarching development of people. Ross currently manages projects within the Department of Conservation in New Zealand. In this episode, we not only learn about Ro...
Jul 15, 2022•25 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “You cannot know where the world is going to be in five years’ time. The storm of change has grown, and organizations need a way to react to maintain a competitive advantage.” In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Andrew Craddock, a highly experienced practitioner, consultant, trainer, and mentor specialising in Agile approaches to manage business change. Listen to today’s podcast to gain insight into Business Agility: what it is, what it means in practice, and...
Jul 08, 2022•31 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we speak to Rob Lockwood, Cyber Security Expert, about hacking, cybercrime, cryptocurrency, and everything you need to know to secure your systems. We find out the challenges that arise as code and technology continue to grow into more complex networks and ecosystems, as Rob reveals the difficulty in building secure code and technology; secure systems are fruitless if we don’t have strong user protocols and accountability. Defining some of the more technical challenges and softwa...
Jul 01, 2022•30 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we speak to Rob Stinton, Charted Project Professional and Senior Program Manager, about the complexity of projects, stakeholder plans, maintaining momentum, and executing project delivery over a long timeline. We begin by defining complexity in projects; Rob speaks from over 20 years of experience on how to recognize and handle a complex environment. For Rob, size isn’t what equals complexity; it’s the solution that does. He further explains until you get to this solution, the sc...
Jun 17, 2022•26 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “With untrodden territory, there’s no plan to show you how to get from A to B … every step is new” In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Ket Patel, UK Collaborations Lead for the Change Management Institute, about how we can better navigate the untrodden territory of Change. Listen in as we discuss barriers, drivers, leadership, and how to build the right environment. We cover the major factors in creating successful change before Ket breaks down his surp...
Jun 10, 2022•34 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “How are we going to make things better in the future for the environment? And how do we have more diversity, equity and inclusion?” In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Mark Thomas about ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance); what ESG brings to organizations, the future it will create, and how it differs from other governance frameworks. Mark is the President of Escoute Consulting and a Governance, Risk, Compliance and IT Service Management consult...
Jun 03, 2022•24 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “A resilient business is one which is capable, not just of withstanding shocks but is also capable of harnessing them; taking that energy and using it in creative ways to propel itself”. In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speak to Serhiy Kovela and David Roberts about building resilience in business. Serhiy and David explain why sustainability sets a resilient business apart. “What makes resilience different is that we are looking to the sustainability of the ...
May 27, 2022•30 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “Tailor your approach to the problem at hand” In this episode Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talks to Adrian Dooley, Founder and Lead author of the Praxis Framework Ltd, about closing the Project and Programme divide, what the Praxis Framework offers, and why he created a Global Management Framework. Hear Adrian explain the issues that lead him to take on this herculean project, and the motivation he took from seeing people constantly learning good practice, but never implementing...
May 20, 2022•28 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast 📢 “To decide NOT to invest is just as important as deciding TO invest” In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Robert Gregory, ex-Deputy Director of Capital Investment in the NHS, and Management Consultant to discuss the A-Z of business cases. For Robert, the biggest risk in business cases is “inefficient investment in people early on”, andhis principal message is that you do not ever just sit down and write a business case - the business case is the result o...
May 13, 2022•25 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast 
