Forward Conversation with Friends

Project Clarity with Charter

In this episode, host Mignon Edorh sits down with Ashmita Sarkar, a project management professional and nonprofit co-founder, to explore what it takes to succeed in today’s evolving project landscape. Ashmita shares her journey from scaling a grassroots nonprofit to leading strategic initiatives within PMI, highlighting the importance of operational efficiency, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making. The conversation dives into three core themes: * Establishing a single source of truth for effective decision-making. * Creating project clarity through strong charters and structured execution. * Developing power skills like active listening, communication, and problem-solving. They also explore the role of AI in project management,emphasizing the importance of AI fluency and positioning AI as a partner rather than a replacement. This episode is a must-listen for professionals looking togrow their impact, sharpen their leadership skills, and navigate the future of work with confidence.

Find the Lesson In Everything

In this episode of Forward Conversation with Friends, host Mignon Edorh sits down with project management expert and entrepreneur Nikouri Brown to explore what it truly means to live and work with intention. Nikouri shares her journey from corporate project management to founding her own consulting firm, revealing how structure, discipline, and clarity have shaped both her professional success and personal life. She emphasizes that project management isn’t just a career, it’s a mindset that can be applied to everything from career growth to parenting and even everyday decisions. Together, they unpack powerful concepts like: * The importance of intentionality and structure in a world full of distractions. * Why rest and play are also strategic decisions, not wasted time. * How to prepare the next generation to succeed through discipline and awareness. * And how to embrace AI as a partner, not a threat, by leaning into learning and adaptability. Whether you’re navigating change, building a career, or simply seeking more clarity in your life, this episode offers practical wisdom to help you move forward, one intentional step at a time.

Perfectly Human With Angie Callen

Why do so many of us feel anxiety before the workweek even begins? In this powerful episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with coach, author, and podcast host Angie Callen to unpack the phenomenon she calls the Sunday Scaries, the creeping anxiety many professionals feel as Monday approaches. Angie, host of the No More Mondays podcast and authorof Scary Good: Discovering Life Beyond the Sunday Scaries, shares insights on why so many people dread the start of the workweek and what it really says about how we’re living and working. From shifting your perspective to taking smallbut intentional steps toward alignment, Angie explains how reclaiming your Sundays can lead to a more fulfilling career and life. The conversation also dives into the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence in today’s workplace. Rather thanfearing replacement, Angie encourages professionals to embrace adaptability, strengthen human skills like communication and leadership, and remember that AIshould sit in the passenger seat, not the driver’s seat of our careers. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: * What the Sunday Scaries really mean, and why they affect so many professionals * How small shifts in mindset and habits can transform your relationship with work * Why human skills are becoming more valuable in the age of AI * How to stay adaptable and intentional in your career journey If you’ve ever spent Sunday evening worrying about Mondaymorning, this conversation will challenge you to rethink your relationship with work, and remind you that being human is still your greatest advantage.

Beyond the Firewall: Identity, Impact & Cyber Leadership

In this powerful March episode of Forward, I sit down with Dr. Safi Mojidi, a cybersecurity leader, educator, and unapologetic change agent to unpack a journey that spans federal agencies, including NASA, and now academia. From delivering secure enterprise solutions under pressureto earning a doctorate to challenge systemic gaps in cybersecurity, Dr. Mojidi shares: * Why security is a business strategy, not a blocker. * The reality of navigating tech as a Black professional, and as a trans man. * Why diversity is not optional in cybersecurity. * The truth about AI hype and what you actually need tosucceed. * How documentation, clarity, and “professionally pushing back” can protect your career. * What executive leaders really need to understand about cyber risk. This episode is about more than cyber. It’s about courage,identity, impact, and building secure systems that protect everyone. If you’re in cybersecurity, tech, leadership, or aspiringto be, this conversation will challenge and equip you.

AI Era Security Incident Response

Incident Response in the AI Era: Inside the Modern SOC, Cyber Leadership, and the Human Factor In this episode, we dive deep into the real world of cybersecurity incident response with a seasoned cyber leader who has spent over 15 years protecting mission-critical environments, from the DoD to enterprise-scaleSecurity Operations Centers (SOC). This conversation goes beyond buzzwords and tools.We unpack what cybersecurity looks like behind the scenes and why human collaboration, leadership, and governance are now the most critical defenses in the age of AI-drivenattacks. What you will learn in this episode: ·       The many interconnected domains of cybersecurity and why SOC is only one piece of the puzzle ·       Inside a modern Security Operations Center (SOC): analysts, threat intel, forensics, red/blue teams, and fusion operations ·       Why siloed security teams fail, and how cyber fusiontransforms response and resilience ·       How leaders manage pressure when defenders must be right 100% of the time ·       The overlooked power of post-incident debriefs and psychological safety ·       How AI is reshaping both attacks and defense, and why governance matters more than tools ·       What aspiring and early-career professionals should focuson to succeed in cybersecurity today ·       Why Zero Trust is a journey, not a product Whether you’re a cybersecurity professional, technology leader, student, or simply curious about how organizations defend themselves in a rapidly evolving threat landscape, this episode delivers practical wisdom, leadership insight, and a grounded perspective on AI and security. Because in the end, true cyber resilience isn’t built by machines alone, it’s built by people.