#160 | Beyond Labels: Reimagining How We Get Things Done with Lenka Pincot & Sandy Mamoli

What if the real power lies not in choosing a side—but in mastering both? We explore how blending agile and traditional project management is redefining success across industries.

In this thought-provoking episode, I’m joined by Lenka Pinka, Chief of Staff to the CEO at Project Management Institute, and Sandy Mamoli, Agile Coach, former Olympian, and Agile Alliance board member, to unpack one of the most persistent tensions in the world of work: agile vs. traditional project management.

But what if this debate is outdated—and even unhelpful?

Together, Lenka and Sandy challenge the false binary and advocate for a more nuanced, collaborative approach. Drawing from their global experience across industries and methodologies, they explain how today’s most successful organizations don’t choose sides—they blend practices fluidly based on context, outcomes, and evolving needs.

This conversation is full of compelling insights for both project professionals and agile practitioners. From fears of “agile dilution” to misconceptions about governance, we explore how shared values and a focus on delivery can bridge methodological divides. As Sandy puts it, the new PMI–Agile Alliance partnership is like "two fully whole, independent people who together create something magical."

Whether you see yourself as a traditional project manager, a scrum master, or somewhere in between, this episode will reshape how you think about frameworks, governance, and the future of work. If you're ready to move past methodology wars and start focusing on what really drives success, this is your episode. Listen now, and join the conversation on how we can build better ways of working—together.

 

In this episode, we discuss:

0:00 Introduction and Guest Backgrounds
10:41 PMI and Agile Alliance Partnerships
18:11 Community Reactions and Concerns

27:19 Product Management and Project Convergence
39:38 Governance in Agile Environments

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