Agile Ideas

Capability Unboxed Mini Series (powered by CIAB+) #3

Ever heard someone say, “We don’t have the capability,” when what they really meant was, “We don’t have the person”?

In this episode of Capability Unboxed, Fatimah Abbouchi tackles one of the most persistent structural mistakes in organisations: equating capability with headcount. It sounds harmless — but it quietly fractures delivery, inflates estimates, and creates governance blo...

Capability Unboxed Mini Series (powered by CIAB+) #2

Most organisations plan for capacity and assume capability. And that’s exactly where things start to break.

In this punchy second episode of our Capability Unboxed mini-series, Fatimah Abbouchi unpacks one of the most common – and costly – misconceptions in planning: the belief that headcount equals capability.

She draws a sharp line between the two:

• Capacity tells you how much e...

Capability Unboxed Mini Series – Powered by CIAB+ | Part 1

We use the word capability constantly, in pitch decks, strategy docs, PMO reviews, but rarely pause to define what it actually means. And when organisations assume it just means skills or headcount, that’s when delivery starts to stall and decisions get stuck.

In the first episode of our Capability Unboxed mini series, we slow things right down to unpack what capability reall...

Jump back in with Matt Draugun!

Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Matt Dragun, a seasoned change leader with over 18 years of experience in overseeing transformational projects across the globe. Matt, a self-proclaimed change geek, shares his unique perspective on change leadership and the key ingredients for delivering successful transformation programs and genuine business outcomes. 

Having worked with major co...

Dive back in with Martin Cooperwaite!

Martin Cooperwaite, co-founder of Kiandra, takes us from his early days of coding adventure games as a kid to leading one of Australia’s top software companies. Inspired by his dad’s source code books, Martin’s passion for tech evolved from childhood tinkering to co-founding Kiandra with a friend in 1995, starting with local projects and growing into a global digital transformation leader with o...

Dive back in with this insightful episode!

Ever wondered how to transform your PMO into a strategic powerhouse? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Laura Barnard, a trailblazer in integrating PMOs and project management with organisational strategy. Laura shares her extensive experience working with industry giants like JP Morgan, LinkedIn, IBM, and Amazon. 

Reflecting on the evolution of PMOs from the chaotic early dot-com...

What does it take to run a global virtual conference with 1,000+ attendees, 75+ volunteers, live translation, and zero paywalls?

In this behind-the-scenes episode, Fatimah Abbouchi (Founder & CEO of AMO) is joined by her co-founder of The PMO Leader community, Joe Pusz—better known as PMO Joe—to unpack how a grassroots movement became a global platform for PMO leadership, learning, and real delivery outcomes.

Together, they explo...

The pace of change has outgrown old PMO playbooks—so it’s time for a new one. In this future-focused episode, we unpack five key trends reshaping the PMO by 2026 and share practical ways to shift from performative reporting to real value delivery.

We explore what it means to reframe the PMO as a capability architect—moving the conversation from headcount to a heat-mapped view of people, process, tools, and decision flow. That simple...

When decisions stall, frameworks bloat, and teams start spinning—it’s not always a process problem. It’s often a capability gap.

In this practical and insight-rich episode, I reframe how real delivery capability gets built—not through endless training or new tooling, but by aligning people, processes, and tools in a way that actually works across hybrid teams and operational realities.

I unpack a three-part capability playbook that’s...

What if governance didn’t feel like bureaucracy, but like momentum?

In this episode, we sit down with Amireh Amirmazaheri to explore how modern PMOs grow from “project admin” to strategic partner by blending trust, clarity, and creativity. We trace Amireh’s path from teaching and early IT architecture to leading major PMO transformations, showing how turning complexity into simplicity builds credibility and lasting value.

Together, w...

Why does high-impact work so often go unnoticed?

In this solo episode, we explore the visibility gap—that frustrating space between the value you deliver and the recognition, resources, or trust you receive in return. Especially in PMOs, governance, and behind-the-scenes roles, quiet success can look like “nothing happened”... even when everything went right.

We unpack the real reasons why great work gets missed: prevention is hard t...

What happens when the person behind some of the world’s most recognisable personal brands realises she’s neglected her own?

In this deeply honest and inspiring episode, we’re joined by Carlii Lyon—former international publicist turned personal branding expert and author of Courage to Be. After building the profiles of global names like Miranda Kerr and other thought leaders, Carlii found herself feeling invisible during her maternit...

Throwback Episode featuring with Dominic Price, Atlassian

In this high-impact throwback episode, we revisit our conversation with Dominic Price—Work Futurist at Atlassian and one of the leading voices on the future of work, team culture, and tech-human collaboration.

With over a decade at Atlassian, Dom brings a bold, people-first lens to modern leadership—unpacking what it takes to build thriving teams in a world shaped by disruptio...

What if the biggest thing holding your business back isn’t lack of time—but your reluctance to let go?

In this empowering new episode, Fatimah is joined by Carmen Williams, Director of Global Teams, who shares how delegation became the most transformational move in her business journey. From her early days as a scientist to running a thriving remote team of over 100 virtual assistants across South Africa and the Philippines, Carmen’...

Ever sat in a steering committee meeting drowning in data but starving for decisions? You’re not alone—and it’s a sign your pack might be working against you.

In this solo episode, Fatimah shares what she’s learned from years of working with steering committees across some of the largest and most complex organisations internationally. She unpacks the critical elements that make a steering committee pack effective, cutting through th...

From Strategy to Execution: Making Change Stick – with Renee Giacalone

Why do some organizations thrive through change while others get stuck in the gap between strategy and execution? In this practical and inspiring episode, I’m joined by Renee Giacalone—seasoned transformation leader turned entrepreneur—who shares what it really takes to make change stick.

With three decades of experience leading strategic change at companies like ...

What if saying “yes” to an unpaid role could open doors your day job never could?

In this insightful episode, Yasmina Khelifi—telecom engineer, project manager, and author—shares how volunteering became a game-changer in her career. From public speaking at global conferences to co-authoring a book with someone she hadn’t met in person, Yasmina discovered that volunteering offered unexpected professional growth, leadership opportunit...

Ever struggled to talk about your expertise without feeling like you're bragging? You’re not alone. In this empowering episode, we sit down with Amanda Blesing—former CEO turned executive coach and self-described “Fempreneur”—to unpack the art of authentic self-promotion that actually feels good.

Drawing from her time in the association sector, Amanda shares how a pattern of women holding back from opportunities sparked her mis...

What’s the secret to building a successful PMO from scratch? Start with vanilla.

In this solo episode, I share a career’s worth of lessons on setting up a Project Management Office that delivers real value—right from day one. Just like vanilla is the foundation for the most creative ice cream flavors, a “vanilla PMO” provides the essential ingredients before layering on complexity.

With over 20 years of experience across industries, ...