5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas

Trailer – 5 Minutes Podcast

Contributed by Lukas

More Tools Don’t Mean Better Decisions

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo warns against a common mistake in organizations: believing that more tools and software mean more maturity. Many companies in...

Inside CES 2026: What I Saw About Projects in a World Where Everything Has AI

12 Jan 2026

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In this episode, Ricardo reflects on his participation at CES 2026 through the lens of project management, highlighting a structural shift rather than...

The biggest mistake that kills projects in January

06 Jan 2026

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In the first episode of 2026, Ricardo warns about the biggest mistake that ruins projects early in the year: saying yes to everything. January brings ...

2026: Five Insights That Will Redefine Projects

29 Dec 2025

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In this final episode of 2025, Ricardo proposes a reflection on changes that will profoundly impact projects in 2026. He presents five central insight...

2025 Retrospective: A Year of Pressure, Learning, and Decisions in Projects

22 Dec 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo looks back at the year in projects with a mature and deeply reflective perspective, focusing on the lessons learned. He descr...

Milestones, Baselines, and the Power of December 31 in Projects

15 Dec 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo highlights the importance of milestones, baselines, and control points in project management, using December 31st as a powerf...

What does the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition say about Artificial Intelligence?

08 Dec 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo wraps up the discussion on the PMBOK Guide 8th Edition by highlighting the role of artificial intelligence in project managem...

Don’t Memorize the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition - Understand It

01 Dec 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo explains that in the PMBOK® 8th Edition, you do not need to memorize all 40 processes. Many of them are very similar, especi...

What Happened with the Communication Domain in the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition?

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses a key change in the PMBOK® Guide 8th edition: the relationship between stakeholders and communication. In previous...

My First Impressions about the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition

17 Nov 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the new edition of PMBOK 8, which brings important changes more aligned with the real work of project managers. Bas...

Luck, Probability, and Risk: What Is Really Under Your Control in Projects

10 Nov 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the role of luck and probability in project management. He explains that while luck can influence outcomes, it favo...

Executives Who Don’t Understand Projects Can’t Deliver Results

03 Nov 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo explains why executives need to understand the logic of project management to make informed strategic decisions. Projects dri...

The Invisible Loop: Why Your Schedule Never Balances Out

27 Oct 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses activity loops, which occur when tasks become predecessors and successors to each other, creating cycles that make ...

The Project Didn’t Fail — It Just Revealed the Truth

19 Oct 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo explains that projects don’t really fail — they reveal the truth about an organization. Projects act as mirrors, exposing...

The Truth Behind Fake AI Projects: Understanding AI Washing

12 Oct 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses AI washing, a growing trend where organizations falsely claim to use artificial intelligence. Similar to greenwashi...

The Future Has Arrived: The Second Global Research on AI in Project Management

05 Oct 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo announces the release of the second global research on AI in project management, co-authored with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez. Co...

The Mega Power of Nano Projects

28 Sep 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo introduces the concept of nano projects: ultra-short, highly focused initiatives lasting just a few days, designed to generat...

Is Agile Still Enough in the Face of AI’s Speed?

21 Sep 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo questions whether Agile is still sufficient in the face of the speed of artificial intelligence. Created in 2001, the Agile M...

AI: Reducing Risks or Creating New Challenges?

14 Sep 2025

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In this week's episode, Ricardo questions whether artificial intelligence (AI) actually reduces project risks or creates new ones. While it helps pred...

How Many Broken Windows Are You Tolerating in Your Project?

07 Sep 2025

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In this week's episode, Ricardo explains the "broken windows" theory, which originated in criminology, and how it applies to project management. The c...

What to Do When Everything in the Project Goes Right and No One Notices

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the concept of "silent success" in projects. Managers often highlight dramatic stories: impossible deadlines met, s...

5 AI Tools for Projects You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

24 Aug 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo introduces five lesser-known AI tools that can transform project management. The first is Study Fetch, which creates personal...

Ignoring the Signs Is Costly: The Art of Seeing Red Flags in Projects

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo Vargas talks about the importance of recognizing and acting on early warning signs — the famous red flags — before small ...

Project Delivered, Relevance Lost: When Reality Outpaces Your Scope

09 Aug 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo explores the paradox of projects that were executed with excellence — on time, on budget, and within the original scope —...

General-Purpose AI in the Spotlight: What the EU AI Act Means for Your Projects

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of the AI Act, the European regulation on artificial intelligence (General-Purpose AI models). The law, ...

Cut the Talk, Keep the Impact: 5 Tips for Better Meetings in the times of AI

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo shares five tips to optimize meetings. First, keep them short and focused—long calls often waste time. Second, ask if a mee...

Leadership in Crisis: 3 Lessons for Projects from the Astronomer Case

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses a case involving the CEO of Astronomer, who was caught with a subordinate during a concert, leading to both of thei...

In the Eye of the Storm: How to Stay Calm Amid Uncertainty

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of staying calm when everything seems out of control. He shares eight practical tips for dealing w...

Not Every Project Has to Be Straight: The Magic of Frank Gehry

06 Jul 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo visits the Marqués de Riscal winery, highlighting the hotel designed by Frank Gehry as an example of creativity outside the ...

The Fear That Sabotages Your Projects — And How to Overcome It

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of fear on project management and the role of psychological safety in transforming fear into positive an...

When the Brazilian Way Becomes a Trap: The Risk of Normalizing Improvisation

22 Jun 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the “Jeitinho Brasileiro” — the Brazilian way of solving problems creatively, often with limited resources. W...

According to PwC, AI Has Already Changed the Game — And You Can’t Keep Playing in the Past

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses insights from PwC’s 2024 AI Jobs Barometer, analyzing 500 million job postings across 15 countries. He shows that...

The Cost of Hurry: How Speed Undermines Project Quality

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the dangers of prioritizing speed over strategy in project management. He says that being agile means adapting and ...

Why Earned Value Still Matters — Even with AI

01 Jun 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the ongoing importance of earned value analysis in project management. Despite advancements in AI, real-time dash...

The Rise of AI Agents in Project Work

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses how AI Agents are transforming project management. Unlike traditional tools, these agents are autonomous, understan...

How to Protect Your Project by Saying “No”

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the challenge of saying “no” in project management, a struggle for many who aim to help. He warns that each imp...

The End of Skype and the Life Cycles of Projects

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo reflects on the end of Skype's cycle. Created in 2003 in Estonia, the application revolutionized online communication, allowi...

Stanford’s AI Index Report: 11 Key Takeaways for Project Leaders

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The AI Index Report 2025, published annually by Stanford University, is a key global reference that tracks the progress, trends, and impact of artific...

Same risk. Three opinions. Who’s right?

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo explores the concept of “Risk Lensing”, the idea that risk is shaped by individual perceptions rather than objective data...

Simplicity at Work: John Maeda’s 10 Laws for Project Clarity in 5 Minutes

20 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the 5 Minutes Podcast, Ricardo explores John Maeda’s Ten Laws of Simplicity as a guide for project managers seeking focus, flow, ...

Moving Forward When a Negotiation is Stuck

13 Apr 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses how to handle stalled negotiations, using the U.S.–China trade tensions as a case study. He highlights that proje...

Five Project Tips to Navigate Trade Tariffs and Uncertainty

06 Apr 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of tariffs and global trade tensions on project management. He shares five practical tips: (1) Review in...

My #1 Tip to Spot a Troubled Project Before It's Too Late

30 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo emphasizes the importance of monitoring corporate support in projects. Projects often start with enthusiasm, but as challenge...

How Vibe Coding Will Completely Transform Project Management in Software Development

24 Mar 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of Vibe Coding, an approach where generative AI writes code based on natural language commands. He highl...

Quantum Computer, Privacy, Biotech Projects, LLM and AGI: The Future Ahead of Us at SXSW 2025 in Austin Part 2/2

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this second episode of the SXSW series, Ricardo shares insights from South by Southwest, highlighting three major trends: (1) the evolution of arti...

Biological Computers, AGI, Living Intelligence: The Future Ahead of Us at SXSW 2025 in Austin

10 Mar 2025

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Ricardo recorded this special 5 Minutes Podcast from SXSW in Austin, Texas, where he explores AI and technology trends in project management. Key insi...

Stop Complaining About Your Project: Less Whining, More Winning

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses excessive complaining in project management, explaining that it hinders progress. He highlights the need to shift f...

Why Can Feedback Make or Break Projects?

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the importance of effective feedback in project management, emphasizing that poor feedback can be harmful. He highl...

Managing Projects in Chaos: 5 Practical Tips for Project Leaders

17 Feb 2025

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In this episode, Ricardo discusses how to manage projects in chaos, inspired by a conversation with Oleg Konovalov. He highlights how noise distorts r...

Why Project Sponsorship is One of The TOP Reasons for Project Failure

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Ricardo discusses how many project failures are due not to technical issues, budgets, or deadlines but to weak project sponsorship. A...

Using What-if Analysis to Manage Projects in Extremely Volatile Scenarios

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the importance of what-if analysis in navigating volatile scenarios, such as geopolitical changes or unexpected p...

DeepSeek: How a small Chinese start-up Shocked Silicon Valley and May Reshape Entirely AI Projects

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about DeepSeek, a groundbreaking AI application from a small Chinese startup. Unlike other AI models, DeepSeek was trai...

How the WEF Global Risk Report 2025 Shapes the Future of Our Projects

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025. Released annually, this report highlights the most pressing ...

How to Make and Live with Imperfect Decisions in Projects

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the #5minpodcast, Ricardo discusses a challenge every project manager faces: making and living with imperfect decisions. He explain...

5 Strategies to Boost Your Project Management Career in 2025

06 Jan 2025

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Ricardo kicks off the first 5 Minutes Podcast of 2025 with five priorities for project managers to focus on for personal and professional growth. He e...

Three Tips to Plan Holidays and Vacation Without Compromising your Project

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ricardo wraps up the year on the 5 Minutes Podcast, discussing recurring project delays during the holiday season, a predictable yet often overlooked ...

Inviting Google’s Notebook LM AI Hosts to Reflect on the 10 Big Ideas For 2025

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ricardo Vargas recently published 10 short videos about the 10 big ideas on his mind regarding what could happen in 2025, essentially exploring trends...

How to Get Insights from Macro Trends and Events and Bring them to Your Projects in 2025

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of evaluating scenarios and macro trends when planning projects. He explains that the end of the y...

Notre Dame: 5 PM Lessons from History's Most Watched Restoration

09 Dec 2024

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In this episode, Ricardo reflects on the remarkable five-year restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral after its devastating 2019 fire. He highlights five ...

Values at Stake: Lessons from the Artwork 'Comedian' on Product Values, Miscommunications, and Responsibility

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo reflects on the sale of Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork The Comedian, a banana taped together with duct tape that cost US$6.2 m...

25 Years of PMI Minas Gerais: Lessons Learned, Personal Reflections, and a Vision for the Next 25 Years

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Ricardo celebrates the 25th anniversary of PMI Minas Gerais in this special episode of the 5 Minutes Podcast. Recording from his mother's h...

When 'Done' Delivers More Than 'Perfect' in Projects

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the concept of "Done is Better Than Perfect" in project management. He highlights that perfectionism often leads to...

In Search of the Holy Grail: There’s No Such Thing as a Perfect Project Methodology

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the myth of the "Holy Grail" of project management methodologies. He challenges the idea that a single methodology—...

Will We Learn from Lessons That Never Existed? How Synthetic Data May Change Project Management

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses Meta's recent development of a "self-thought evaluator," which uses synthetic data to train AI models instead of re...

This is NOT Your Boss's Problem! Reflections on Value, Success, and Project Results

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo reflects on a conversation with a project manager who claimed it wasn’t his responsibility to consider the long-term impact...

Beyond Profit: Reflections on Shaping Project Value Through Sustainability

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the concept of value in projects, explaining that true value goes beyond profit. He questions whether delivering pr...

Why I Love Using Daily Scrums for Non-Agile Projects

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the benefits of implementing Daily Scrums, even in non-Agile projects. These brief, 15-minute stand-up meetings f...

5% or 40%? Why Job Disruption by AI Doesn’t Matter if You’re Not Ready

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo Vargas explores the growing debate around AI's impact on jobs. Last year, Morgan Stanley predicted that AI would disrupt 40% ...

How to Manage the Insane Volatility of AI Projects

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the volatility of AI projects. He explains that AI projects face volatility due to rapid technological advancements...

Mastering Delivery Cadence: Choosing the Right Rhythm for Your Project

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Ricardo explains the concept of delivery cadence, which defines how and when a project delivers products or services. He describes fo...

Making Sense of Why We Developed the AI-Driven Project Manager Credential

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo introduces the AI-Driven Project Manager Certification, explaining the rationale behind this certification. He highlights the...

3 Strategies to Tackle Your Endless Project Backlog

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the common problem of project backlogs that grow instead of shrinking. He offers three practical tips for managin...

Quick Tips on Crafting Effective Prompts for Generative AI Tools

01 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ricardo talks about PMI’s AI Prompt Engineering for Project Managers course in this episode. He highlights the importance of crafting effective prom...

OKRs and KPIs: Two Essential, Yet Distinct Metrics

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo explains the differences between OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). While both are meas...

My Personal Reply to a Thoughtful Critique About Advocating for AI in Project Management

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Ricardo addresses a skeptical comment about AI's impact on project management, specifically questioning whether AI will diminish the ...

Emotions in Motion: Unveiling Plutchik’s Wheel in Project Management

11 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of understanding emotions in project management, emphasizing that human challenges often outweigh ...

Fasten Your Seatbelts: The Project Manager Is Missing

04 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when a project loses the project manager or an absolutely critical member? In this episode, Ricardo discusses the challenges of changing...

Why I Should Care About The Virtuous Cycle When Developing an AI Project?

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the virtuous cycle in AI development, based on Andrew Ng's Coursera course, "AI for Everyone," and highlights the i...

Global Tech Meltdown: How Secure is Your Project?

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses a recent global computer meltdown that affected 1% of Microsoft Windows computers, causing chaos across multiple in...

OpenAI: Mastering Stakeholder Communication with the New 5-Level AI Scale

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the OpenAI ranking to classify AI systems, highlighting the importance of clearly communicating these advances to t...

Like it or Not: You Must Master the Political Landscape of Projects

07 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of understanding the political aspects of project management. Effective project delivery isn't jus...

Managing Change Fatigue: Shaping the Path to Project Resilience

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the fatigue of change, and the constant need for adaptability. Frequent changes can lead to frustration, apathy a...

Why Is It So Hard to Accept That Our Project Is in Trouble?

23 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the difficulty of recognizing a project in crisis and offers three reasons why this is challenging. First, cultur...

Shaping Social Behaviors in Projects with the SCARF Model

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo explores the SCARF model, a powerful framework developed by neuroscientist David Rock to understand and manage social behavio...

Generative AI in Projects: When Proper Use Turns into Cheating

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the misconception that using AI tools like ChatGPT is cheating. He distinguishes between ethical and unethical uses...

Mastering the Balance: Exploration and Exploitation in Artificial Intelligence Projects

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the 5 Minutes Podcast, Ricardo discusses the crucial balance between exploration and exploitation in the context of AI and business...

Bracelets, Beats, and Big Stages: Project Management Lessons from a Taylor Swift Concert

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Ricardo shares his experience attending the Taylor Swift concert with his daughter, highlighting what he learned. Initially skeptical...

Artificial Emotional Intelligence (AEI) Will Have Wide-Ranging Impacts on Society

19 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses his recent article on artificial emotional intelligence (AEI), published with André Barcauí at the London School ...

Three Things to Keep in Mind While Managing the Crisis With the Rain in the South of Brazil

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Ricardo discusses the severe flooding crisis in Southern Brazil, emphasizing three key points. First, focus on immediate rescue and s...

Where everyone thinks alike, no one thinks very much

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses how the film "The Social Network" prompted him to think creatively. By encouraging people to focus on novel concept...

Navigating the Fog: Is This a Project Crisis or Just a Challenge?

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the challenges and crises in project management. He emphasizes that projects naturally encounter difficulties, su...

Making Sense of the Stanford University AI Index Report 2024

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about findings from the "Stanford University AI Index Report," which emphasizes the advantages that industry has over a...

Myth or Reality: Were Human Skills Only Highlighted in PMBOK Guide 7th Edition?

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of soft skills in project management, noting their relevance since the inception of the PMBOK guid...

The Power of Managing By Exception to Control Project Variations

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about "management by exception" in PRINCE2 methodology, which encourages communication and action only in exceptional c...

Why Even Tiny and Simple Projects Fail

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo discusses how even small projects like assembling IKEA furniture can become overwhelming if not planned and executed efficien...

The Hype Cycle of Projects

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the hype cycle, which was first used in relation to technology but is also applicable to project management. He d...

FOMO Should Not Be a Metric of Your AI Project

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Ricardo discusses the importance of implementing AI projects with metrics, cautioning against the fear of missing out (FOMO) as a dri...

5 Quick Tips for Effective Remote Project Management

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about remote project management, drawing from years of experience. He stresses using online tools like Asana and Slack ...

Balancing Executive Demands for Transparency, Resources, and Deadlines with the Need for Agility

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ricardo talks about the dilemma of balancing executive demands for transparency, resources, and deadlines with the need for agility. ...