Leadership in Flux

This episode of Leadership in Flux features Kathleen Walch. Kathleen is Director of AI Engagement and Community at Project Management Institute (PMI), where she focuses on advancing practical, responsible AI adoption across the project management profession. In this role, Kathleen works at the intersection of education, community, and real‑world practice to help professionals confidently lead AI‑enabled initiatives. Kathleen joins PMI from the Cognilytica acquisition. At Cognilytica, Kathleen co-developed the Cognitive Project Management for AI (CPMAI) methodology that is in use by Fortune 1000 firms and government agencies worldwide to successfully run and manage their AI and advanced data projects. Adopted by dozens of multinational organizations, dozens of government agencies, and NGOs, CPMAI is quickly becoming the standard methodology for AI project management best practices. Kathleen is CPMAI+E Certified. As an experienced data-focused analyst with a background in marketing, Kathleen's expertise and experience in project management issues around organizational adoption of data led to the development of the CPMAI methodology. Kathleen is a dynamic presenter, researcher and thought leader on emerging technology best practices. She is a sought after keynoter and presenter speaking to audiences worldwide. Kathleen is also the host of the AI Today podcast and a frequent contributor to publications including CIO, Fortune, Forbes, and TechTarget SearchAI. Prior to her work at Cognilytica, Kathleen helped to grow TechBreakfast, a national technology-focused innovation demo series. Kathleen founded tech startup-up HourlyBee, an online scheduling system for home services where she quickly became an expert in grassroots marketing, networking, and employee management. Before that, Kathleen was a key part of the direct marketing operation for Harte Hanks managing large scale direct mail campaigns for clients including Bed Bath and Beyond and BuyBuyBaby. Managing big data analytics, she created efficiencies in the process saving thousands of dollars and days of processing time from each campaign. Kathleen graduated from Loyola University with a degree in Marketing. See more episodes here: https://lithespeed.com/leadership_in_flux/

This Leadership in Flux episode features Gene Bounds. Eugene Bounds is a globally recognized Management Consultant with more than three decades of Information Technology and Program Execution experience. He established Bounds Associates in 2012 to provide strategy and execution consulting services to Government agencies and has earned successful prime contractor engagements with the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Treasury, and Commerce. Mr. Bounds was formerly a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton. He is also a retired U.S. Air Force officer and former Sector Director at Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute. Mr. Bounds has extensive board governance experience--elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Project Management Institute from 2007 to 2012 and was Board Chairman in 2010. He was also elected to serve on the Board of Directors for Scrum Alliance and served as Board Chairman in 2017. In 2019, Mr. Bounds was appointed to the Board of Governors for Saint Stephens and Saint Agnes School. Eugene is a recipient of the Federal Computer Week "Federal 100" Award, which recognizes executives having the greatest impact on the US government information systems community. He was also awarded a Project Management Institute Fellowship, presented to fewer than 70 project management professionals from around the world. Mr. Bounds holds a M.S. degree in Information Systems from the University of Southern California and a B.B.A. in Information Systems from Texas Tech University. He is also a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College.

This episode features Hollie Ringer. Hollie is the Vice President, Enterprise Digital Product Management Leader for Nationwide, leading a team of product professionals responsible for advancing the digital experience for members and partners across Nationwide's core businesses, with accountability for key digital channels including mobile, web, preference and profile management, digital messaging, and conversational voice and chat. Hollie and her team provide strategic digital consultation and thought leadership to partners across the organization. Having been with Nationwide for 30 years, Hollie has led a variety of teams and initiatives, including roles as Associate Vice President of Enterprise Digital Strategy and Planning, Associate Vice President of Nationwide Financial Digital Strategy and Planning, Director of Life and Annuity Operations Compliance, and Director of Retirement Plans Participant Solutions Sales. Hollie brings deep experience in financial services, compliance, sales, marketing, and digital strategy and planning, spending more than 20 years supporting the Financial Services businesses and the last several years focused on enterprise-wide digital solutions. Today, Hollie is helping enable the adoption of a product operating model across the Enterprise, providing thought leadership and enablement services such as coaching, educational content, and consultation to leaders and teams looking to evolve their ways of working. Hollie has a passion for delivering extraordinary digital experiences through empowered teams, with a consistent focus on customer outcomes and a modern product mindset. Hollie graduated with an undergraduate degree in business from Miami University, holds an MBA from Franklin University, and earned a her Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School.

This episode features Amber Field. Amber Field is the Chief Operating Officer at Strudel AI, a Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and author of the book, Agile Discovery & Delivery: A Survival Guide for New Software Engineers & Tech Entrepreneurs. She has been an executive leader in tech, agile proponent, and engineer for her entire career at a number of organizations including IBM, National Geographic, Oracle Utilities (formerly Opower), Capital One, and Singlewire Software. Amber frequently speaks at conferences and blogs at amberrfield.com. She lives in Madison, WI.

Leadership in Flux is your compass in a disordered world, where complexity is the norm, disruption is constant, and yesterday's playbook no longer applies. Hosted by Sanjiv Augustine, a pioneering voice in Agile leadership and organizational transformation, this podcast dives deep into what it really takes to lead with impact in a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) world. Each episode features unfiltered conversations with seasoned executives, bold innovators, and change agents who are redefining leadership in real time. From navigating enterprise-wide Agile transformations to reshaping operating models and embedding AI into core strategies, we explore the mindsets, methods, and moments that define modern leadership. You'll hear stories of failure and reinvention, practical frameworks for thriving amidst ambiguity, and the human side of leading through volatility. Whether you're a C-suite leader, transformation architect, or rising changemaker, Leadership in Flux equips you with the clarity, courage, and adaptability to stay ahead of the curve, and help others do the same. This is more than a podcast. It's a leadership lab for the future. This episode features Lenka Pincot. Lenka is PMI's Chief of Staff to the CEO, an executive leader, and PMI's representative on the Agile Alliance Board of Directors. She oversees PMI's Transformation Management Office, Enterprise Program Management Office, CEO & Board communications, and Thought Leadership teams. Her role is to drive the execution of strategic change initiatives and foster a culture of innovation and excellence across all levels. In her capacity, she collaborates closely with the CEO, other executive leaders, and the Board of Directors to align strategic goals with operational execution. By leading cross-functional teams and spearheading critical projects, Lenka ensures that transformation efforts are on track and deliver impactful results. Her focus on effective communication and thought leadership helps position PMI at the forefront of project management trends and innovations, reinforcing PMI's commitment to the new purpose: to maximize project success to elevate our world. Lenka has extensive international experience driving digital and agile transformations, innovation, and business growth across multiple industries. Most recently, Lenka served as the Head of Agile Transformation at a key European bank, where she defined the organization's transformation vision and strategy, built a high-performing transformation team, and executed the roadmap while onboarding business and IT talent. Lenka promoted customer centricity and contributed to their digital leadership in the market. Lenka holds a Master's degree in Computer Sciences, Software Engineering from Charles University. She has earned a Digital Excellence Diploma from the IMD Business School of Switzerland and completed the European Women in Boards C-Level Program. She holds international certifications in project management, agile practices, and business analysis, including the following PMI Credentials: PMP, PfMP, PMI-PBA, CAPM, and PMI-ACP.  

This episode of Leadership in Flux features Jim Highsmith. Jim Highsmith is an industry advisor, having retired as Executive Consultant at ThoughtWorks, Inc. in 2021. Prior to Thoughtworks, he was Director of Cutter Consortium's Agile Project Management practice. He has nearly 60 years' experience as an IT manager, product manager, project manager, consultant, software developer, and storyteller. Jim has been a leader in the agile software development community for the past three decades. Jim is the author of Wild West to Agile, Addison Wesley (2023), EDGE: Value-driven digital transformation, Addison-Wesley 2020; Adaptive Leadership: Accelerating Enterprise Agility (2014), Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products (2009), Adaptive Software Development: A Collaborative Approach to Managing Complex Systems (2000) and winner of the prestigious Jolt Award, and Agile Software Development Ecosystems, (2002). Jim is the recipient of the 2005 international Stevens Award for outstanding contributions to systems development. Jim is a coauthor of the Agile Manifesto, a founding member of The Agile Alliance, coauthor of the Declaration of Interdependence for project leaders, and co-founder and first president of the Agile Leadership Network. Jim consulted with Information Technology organizations and software companies worldwide.