Presentation and Paper: Break The Bottle™: Shattering Project Bottlenecks with Resilient Leadership and Solutions Thinking
Abstract: Every project manager knows that bottlenecks can derail progress, drain resources, and frustrate teams. Yet, the biggest barriers to success are not always structural—they are often internal. Fear of failure, unclear decision-making, and reactive mindsets can quietly sabotage performance and outcomes.
In this engaging and practical session, Michael W. Allison—Purple Heart Marine Veteran, IT Project Manager for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and award-winning keynote speaker—delivers his Break The Bottle™ framework for overcoming the hidden obstacles in project leadership. Drawing on his 3-D Framework™ (Decision, Direction, Destination), Michael equips project professionals with tools to shift from survival mode to solutions mode, regain clarity, and lead with resilience under pressure.
Participants will walk away with:
- A clear process to identify and dismantle internal and team-based limitations that slow project progress.
- Practical strategies to align project leadership identity with resilience, clarity, and accountability.
- Actionable tools to reframe failure, sustain team focus, and build confidence even in high-stakes projects.
Michael brings 20+ years of leadership experience—from leading cross-functional teams at the Department of Veterans Affairs and managing $100M+ projects, to corporate operations at Norfolk Southern and higher education leadership at Florida Atlantic University. His insights are battle-tested and proven across industries, making this session a transformational reset for project professionals seeking performance and purpose.
PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working
Biography: Michael W. Allison, MBA, is a Purple Heart Marine Veteran, award-winning keynote speaker, and Founder & CEO of The Adversity Academy Leadership Development Group. With 20+ years of leadership experience, Michael has managed multimillion-dollar IT projects at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, directed operations at Norfolk Southern Railroad, and served as Director of Military & Veterans Affairs at Florida Atlantic University.
Michael is the creator of Break The Bottle™ (3-D Framework) and Protect The House™ (4-Walls Method), frameworks used by Fortune 500s, universities, and federal agencies to overcome bottlenecks, build resilience, and drive sustainable performance. His clients include Microsoft, Salesforce, NBCUniversal, TEDx, Amazon, and more.
Michael blends military-tested resilience with modern project leadership strategies, equipping professionals to shatter limitations, align identity with performance, and lead with clarity under pressure.
