What has the PMO ever done for us?
Speakers
Lindsay Scott is the Co-founder of the House of PMO, the professional body for PMO practitioners, and Director at PMO Learning, a specialist training company dedicated to PMO professionals. With a career spanning community-building, training, and career development, she has been instrumental in creating platforms like PMO Flashmob and The PMO Conference to support and advance the PMO profession.
Laura Barnard, PMP, CAL, Prosci, IES is the Founder and CEO of PMO Strategies and author of The IMPACT Engine: Accelerating Strategy Delivery for PMO and Transformation Leaders. Recognized as the 2021 World PMO Influencer of the Year, she has nearly three decades of experience helping organizations close the strategy-to-execution gap. Laura is also host of the PMO Strategies Podcast and Co-Founder of Project Management for Change, where she champions raising the profile of project management worldwide.
Fola F. Alabi is a global authority in strategic leadership and project management, serving as VP of Strategy & Projects. With over 20 years of experience across energy, finance, and IT, she has led billion-dollar portfolios and delivered keynotes worldwide, helping organizations close the strategy-to-execution gap.
Eileen J Roden is Co-founder and Director of the House of PMO and PMO Learning, where she focuses on building, connecting, and upskilling the PMO community worldwide. With extensive experience in consulting, training, and standards development, she is passionate about applying project, programme, and portfolio management in practical ways that deliver measurable business value.
Stuart Taylor has over 20 years of experience helping organizations strengthen governance, improve project delivery, and build high-performing project teams. A judge for the PMO Global Awards and a regular content creator, he is passionate about supporting project professionals to succeed and ensuring PMOs deliver real business value.
Stuart helps PMO and portfolio leaders build strategy-aligned portfolios and prove ROI. A guest lecturer on project prioritization at the University of Oxford, he speaks widely on killing pet projects, focusing investment on value, and using decision science (AHP) to make clear, defensible choices.
About this webinar
This year-end panel brought together leading voices in the PMO community to reflect on the past year and explore the future of PMOs. With energy, humor, and candid insight, the group tackled the big questions: What is the point of a PMO today? Does it have a future? And if so, what must it become to stay relevant?
Key themes
- The Strategic Role of PMOs: PMOs must move beyond reporting and administration to deliver measurable business value. Understanding and aligning with organizational strategy positions the PMO as a strategic enabler, not overhead.
- Leveraging Technology: AI and automation can streamline routine work, but the priority is value creation and stakeholder outcomes. Many organizations still struggle with fundamentals—resource management, business cases, benefits realization—which remain critical foundations.
- Developing PMO Talent: The PMO Competency Framework offers a clear career path and development journey for professionals at every level—supporting consistency, confidence, and maturity across the function.
- Building Relationships & Influence: Beyond frameworks and tools, influence and trust make PMOs indispensable. Strong relationships with executives, teams, and stakeholders help secure a seat at the strategic table and make impact visible.
Practical advice for PMO professionals
- Learn the strategy: Understand your organization’s goals and connect PMO services directly to them.
- Invest in yourself: Pursue continuous learning, training, and certifications that advance your role.
- Be curious: Ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and look for opportunities to add value.
- Build relationships: Network proactively and communicate outcomes so the PMO’s impact is clear.
Packed with reflection, debate, and actionable takeaways, this session shows how PMOs can thrive in a changing environment. The future isn’t about tools or templates—it’s about delivering strategic outcomes, building capability, and driving lasting business value.