326: Strategy Isn’t a Scary Word

September 21, 2025·22 min·2 clips

A CEO told Laura Bernard he doesn't want middle managers distracted by strategy—and she realized that's the real problem.

This episode focuses on demystifying the concept of strategy for project, program, and PMO leaders. Host Laura Bernard, drawing on 30 years of experience, challenges the notion that strategy is exclusively for executives. She argues that delivery professionals are uniquely equipped to contribute to and accelerate organizational strategy. Bernard begins by defining strategy, citing multiple dictionary and AI-generated definitions that all incorporate the word "plan." She recounts a conversation with a CEO who expressed frustration with his middle management while simultaneously instructing them to avoid strategic focus and just "get the work done." Bernard identifies PMOs and transformation teams as secret strategic weapons for accelerating strategy delivery. She lists their unique contributions: structuring ambiguity, seeing horizontally across silos, prioritizing within constraints, and communicating impact. Bernard shares an anecdote about a PMO leader who shifted an executive conversation by asking what work would be delayed to accommodate a new top priority. A core insight is that strategic alignment should not be a backward-matching exercise of existing projects to goals. Instead, projects should be derived directly from the strategy. Bernard outlines a practical framework for showing up strategically, starting with always asking "why this and why now?" for any new request. She emphasizes facilitating planning workshops to break down strategic goals into work streams, using tools like work breakdown structures. Bernard encourages listeners to name their strategic contributions openly, building an identity as a strategy enabler rather than just an executor. The episode is conversational and instructional, blending personal stories with direct coaching advice. Bernard's tone is encouraging and motivational, aimed at building the listener's confidence. Project managers and PMO leaders feeling excluded from strategic conversations would find this episode validating and actionable. Listeners seeking highly technical project management methodologies or debate-oriented content might find it less applicable.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from PMO Strategies