How To Build In-Demand Skills At The Speed Of AI Disruption

How To Build In-Demand Skills At The Speed Of AI Disruption

The pace of change in today’s workforce isn’t just fast—it’s compounding. In this episode, Galen sits down with higher education leaders Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich and Charlotte Bencaz to unpack what it actually takes to stay relevant when roles, tools, and expectations are shifting in real time. From the decline of entry-level roles to the rise of AI-augmented “power workers,” this conversation challenges the idea that learning is a one-time investment—and reframes it as a continuous, strategic habit. They also dig into what’s broken (and fixable) in traditional education, how to build skills without taking on massive debt, and why the real risk isn’t AI itself—but uneven access to it. If you’re trying to pivot, level up, or just keep up, this episode offers a grounded look at what’s actually working right now. Resources from this episode: * Join the Digital Project Manager Community [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/free-account/] * Subscribe to the newsletter [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/subscribe/] to get our latest articles and podcasts * Connect with Sasha [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashatberr/] and Charlotte [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottebencaz/] on LinkedIn * Visit Newstate University [https://newstateu.com/]

Should You Care If Your Project Manager Is Certified?

Project management certifications have become the industry’s favorite shorthand for competence—but what are they actually signaling? In this candid panel, Galen Low sits down with Crystal Richards, Dave Prior, and Karthick Nivas Ramdoss to unpack what certifications do (and just as importantly, what they don’t). From PMP to CSM to emerging AI-focused credentials like CPMAI, the conversation cuts through the alphabet soup and gets to the real question: are we hiring for capability, or just filtering for compliance? What emerges is a more uncomfortable truth. Certifications can open doors, create shared language, and signal commitment—but they’re also being misused as blunt instruments in hiring systems that are already overwhelmed. The result? Talented people get filtered out, hiring managers get false confidence, and organizations end up chasing “unicorn” candidates that don’t exist. This episode is a reality check—and a practical guide—for anyone trying to make smarter decisions about project talent. Resources from this episode: * Join the Digital Project Manager Community [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/free-account/] * Subscribe to the newsletter [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/subscribe/] to get our latest articles and podcasts * Connect with Crystal [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themindsparq/], Dave [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsungo/], and Karthick [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthicknivas/] on LinkedIn * Visit MindsparQ [https://www.themindsparq.com/], The Agile Network [https://theagilenetwork.com/], and PMI [http://www.pmi.org/] * Check out these books: * PMP Exam Prep For Dummies [https://www.amazon.com/Exam-Prep-Dummies-Crystal-Richards/dp/1394300492] (2nd Edition) By Crystal Richards * No One Is Coming to Save You: The Power-Ups to Help Surf the Chaos [https://www.amazon.com/ONE-COMING-SAVE-YOU-Power-Ups/dp/1919229507] By Dave Prior

AI For Kids: How Project Teams Can Build It Responsibly

Most AI tools weren’t designed with kids in mind—but kids are using them anyway. That tension sits at the heart of this conversation with Aderonke Akinbola, where the question isn’t if we should build AI for children, but how we do it responsibly. From digital playgrounds that shape behavior to the long-term implications of data exposure, this episode explores why the stakes are fundamentally different for younger users—and why product teams can’t afford to treat child safety as an afterthought. Galen and Ade dig into what it really means to design AI experiences that protect, educate, and develop young users. They unpack practical ways teams can introduce ethical friction, rethink data handling, and advocate for safer systems—while also looking ahead to a future where AI itself may act as a guardian for children navigating an increasingly intelligent digital world. Resources from this episode: * Join the Digital Project Manager Community [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/free-account/] * Subscribe to the newsletter [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/subscribe/] to get our latest articles and podcasts * Connect with Aderonke on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aderonke-a-765361123/]

Why Technical Teams Still Fail Without These Skills

Soft skills are having a moment—but they’re still widely misunderstood, undervalued, or dismissed as “nice to have.” In this episode, Galen sits down with Yadi Caro to unpack why that perception persists—and why it’s costing teams more than they realize. Drawing from her experience working with elite technical teams in the defense sector, Yadi reframes soft skills as something far more rigorous: essential capabilities that enable collaboration, decision-making, and ultimately, results. Together, they explore what it actually looks like to apply these skills in high-pressure, highly technical environments—and why, in the age of AI, they’re becoming even more critical. From onboarding new team members mid-project to navigating conflict and driving alignment, this conversation makes a strong case: soft skills aren’t soft—they’re the work. Resources from this episode: * Join the Digital Project Manager Community [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/free-account/] * Subscribe to the newsletter [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/subscribe/] to get our latest articles and podcasts * Connect with Yadi on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yadiraycaro/] * Check out SAIC [https://www.saic.com/] * Yadi’s book: Hardcore Soft Skills [https://www.amazon.com/Hardcore-Soft-Skills-Guide-Humans/dp/1961265176] and podcast [https://www.hardcoresoftskillspodcast.com/]

Inside Logitech's AI Transformation: From AI Curiosity to Competency

AI transformation isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a human one. In this episode, Eric Porres (Chief AI Officer at Logitech) pulls back the curtain on what year two of an enterprise-wide AI transformation actually looks like. From shifting mindsets to scaling real adoption, this conversation gets into the messy middle: where curiosity turns into capability, and experimentation starts becoming systems. What stands out is how much of this journey has nothing to do with picking the “right” model—and everything to do with behavior change. Eric shares how Logitech moved from AI curiosity to AI competency, what it takes to build a culture of creators (not just users), and why thinking of AI as a teammate—not a tool—changes everything. Resources from this episode: * Join the Digital Project Manager Community [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/free-account/] * Subscribe to the newsletter [https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/subscribe/] to get our latest articles and podcasts * Connect with Eric on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eporres/] and Substack [https://eric.substack.com/] * Check out Logitech [https://www.logitech.com/]