<![CDATA[What's the Plan? Portfolio, Project & Resource Management]]>What's the Plan? is where project, portfolio, and resource management meet real-world solutions. Join host Samantha Varner for candid conversations with experts tackling PMO challenges from aligning strategy with execution to mastering resources and leading transformations. We skip the jargon and bring practical insights in a friendly, conversational style. Perfect for PMO leaders, portfolio managers, and operations pros. Sponsored by ProSymmetry. Subscribe for new episodes!

]]>https://www.youtube.com/@prosymmetryRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:24:36 GMTFri, 06 Feb 2026 18:38:41 GMT60ProSymmetry<p>What's the Plan? is where project, portfolio, and resource management meet real-world solutions. Join host Samantha Varner for candid conversations with experts tackling PMO challenges from aligning strategy with execution to mastering resources and leading transformations. We skip the jargon and bring practical insights in a friendly, conversational style. Perfect for PMO leaders, portfolio managers, and operations pros. Sponsored by ProSymmetry. Subscribe for new episodes!</p>episodicProSymmetrysvarner@prosymmetry.comno<![CDATA[Adapting Project, Portfolio & Resource Management in Times of Change ]]>How do you plan when everything keeps changing? Hosted by Samantha Varner of ProSymmetry, this panel features Melissa Fry from Choice Hotels and Sarah Vincent from Honda sharing how they manage mid-cycle pivots, balance demand vs. capacity, and communicate trade-offs to leadership. Packed with real-world strategies, this session highlights how PMOs are staying flexible and effective in a fast-moving environment.

00:00 Navigating Change in PMOs

10:04 Responding to Mid-Plan Changes

20:08 Planning Cycles and Capacity Management

23:58 Demand vs. Capacity: The Balancing Act

27:33 Collaborative Hiring Strategies

30:23 Resource Forecasting and Capacity Management

34:37 Balancing Operational and Strategic Work

41:32 Setting Expectations for Resource Allocation

44:32 Leveraging AI for Future Planning

49:49 Establishing a Source of Truth for Data

54:49 Embracing Change in Project Management

Presented By: ProSymmetry https://www.prosymmetry.com/

Learn More About What’s the Plan? https://www.prosymmetry.com/whats-the-plan

Hosted and produced by Samantha Varner https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/

Produced and edited by Kyle Wertz

]]>58aea052-ff78-4c26-9631-3315dc5e45eeMon, 23 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>How do you plan when everything keeps changing? Hosted by Samantha Varner of ProSymmetry, this panel features Melissa Fry from Choice Hotels and Sarah Vincent from Honda sharing how they manage mid-cycle pivots, balance demand vs. capacity, and communicate trade-offs to leadership. Packed with real-world strategies, this session highlights how PMOs are staying flexible and effective in a fast-moving environment.</p><p>00:00 Navigating Change in PMOs</p><p>10:04 Responding to Mid-Plan Changes</p><p>20:08 Planning Cycles and Capacity Management</p><p>23:58 Demand vs. Capacity: The Balancing Act</p><p>27:33 Collaborative Hiring Strategies</p><p>30:23 Resource Forecasting and Capacity Management</p><p>34:37 Balancing Operational and Strategic Work</p><p>41:32 Setting Expectations for Resource Allocation</p><p>44:32 Leveraging AI for Future Planning</p><p>49:49 Establishing a Source of Truth for Data</p><p>54:49 Embracing Change in Project Management</p><p>Presented By: ProSymmetry <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.prosymmetry.com/" target="_blank">https://www.prosymmetry.com/</a></p><p>Learn More About What’s the Plan? <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.prosymmetry.com/whats-the-plan" target="_blank">https://www.prosymmetry.com/whats-the-plan</a></p><p>Hosted and produced by Samantha Varner <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/</a></p><p>Produced and edited by Kyle Wertz</p><p></p>no00:56:332Adapting Project, Portfolio & Resource Management in Times of Change bonus<![CDATA[Stop Waiting for Perfect Data: How to Start Resource Planning Now with Bob Blackburn ]]>Most PMOs stall on resource planning because the data isn't perfect. Bob Blackburn, a PMO leader with 20+ years of experience, says stop waiting and explains exactly how to start.

In this episode, Bob and host Samantha Varner break down:

→ Staffing vs. forecasting - and why most teams confuse the two

→ How to build capacity models for projects that don't exist yet

→ Why directionally accurate beats waiting for perfect

→ The real risk of the blank sheet of paper

Perfect for PMO leaders, portfolio managers, and resource managers ready to move from paralysis to progress.

00:00 The Importance of Data Quality in Resource Planning

06:10 Understanding Resource Planning: Staffing vs. Forecasting

12:16 The Role of PMO in Project Intake and Planning

18:54 Agile Capacity Planning: A New Approach

25:53 Defining Roles: Project Managers, Resource Managers, and Functional Managers

31:28 Aligning Project and Functional Managers for Success

36:24 Directionally Right: Metrics and Signals for Resource Planning

38:54 Starting Resource Planning: Practical Steps for Implementation

41:39 Future Focus: Strategic Portfolio Management and Value

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobblackburn22/

Presented By: ProSymmetry https://www.prosymmetry.com/

Hosted and produced by Samantha Varner https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/

Produced and edited by Kyle Wertz

]]>fafdffc5-3664-4f7f-bfd1-20a38b8d20d0Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT<p>Most PMOs stall on resource planning because the data isn't perfect. Bob Blackburn, a PMO leader with 20+ years of experience, says stop waiting and explains exactly how to start.</p><p>In this episode, Bob and host Samantha Varner break down:</p><p>→ Staffing vs. forecasting - and why most teams confuse the two</p><p>→ How to build capacity models for projects that don't exist yet</p><p>→ Why directionally accurate beats waiting for perfect</p><p>→ The real risk of the blank sheet of paper</p><p>Perfect for PMO leaders, portfolio managers, and resource managers ready to move from paralysis to progress.<br /></p><p>00:00 The Importance of Data Quality in Resource Planning</p><p>06:10 Understanding Resource Planning: Staffing vs. Forecasting</p><p>12:16 The Role of PMO in Project Intake and Planning</p><p>18:54 Agile Capacity Planning: A New Approach</p><p>25:53 Defining Roles: Project Managers, Resource Managers, and Functional Managers</p><p>31:28 Aligning Project and Functional Managers for Success</p><p>36:24 Directionally Right: Metrics and Signals for Resource Planning</p><p>38:54 Starting Resource Planning: Practical Steps for Implementation</p><p>41:39 Future Focus: Strategic Portfolio Management and Value</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Connect with Bob on LinkedIn <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobblackburn22/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobblackburn22/</a> <br /><br />Presented By: ProSymmetry <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.prosymmetry.com/" target="_blank">https://www.prosymmetry.com/</a></p><p></p><p>Hosted and produced by Samantha Varner <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthavarner21/</a></p><p></p><p>Produced and edited by Kyle Wertz<br /><br /></p>no00:45:4911Stop Waiting for Perfect Data: How to Start Resource Planning Now with Bob Blackburn full<![CDATA[Welcome to What’s the Plan? | A Podcast for PMO, Portfolio & Resource Leaders]]>A podcast for PMO leaders, portfolio managers, and resource management professionals focused on strategic portfolio management, capacity planning, and connecting strategy to execution. In this trailer, host Samantha Varner shares what to expect from candid conversations about prioritization, demand vs. capacity, and the human side of planning. Follow to hear real-world insights on aligning strategy, portfolios, and the people doing the work.

]]>ddecd892-6a66-4527-9c52-54dd37df4408Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:12:01 GMT<p>A podcast for PMO leaders, portfolio managers, and resource management professionals focused on strategic portfolio management, capacity planning, and connecting strategy to execution. In this trailer, host Samantha Varner shares what to expect from candid conversations about prioritization, demand vs. capacity, and the human side of planning. Follow to hear real-world insights on aligning strategy, portfolios, and the people doing the work.</p>no00:02:13Welcome to What’s the Plan? | A Podcast for PMO, Portfolio & Resource Leaderstrailer