Presentation: Beyond Projects: How Project Managers Can Succeed in a Product-Centric World
Abstract: As organizations shift toward product-centric operating models and continuous value delivery, project managers must evolve to remain relevant and impactful. In industries such as government contracting, technology, and finance, the shift from temporary project structures to enduring product teams represents a fundamental change in how work is planned, funded, and measured.
This session will help project managers understand this transformation and reposition their skills for success in the Product Operating Model. Participants will learn how to adapt their leadership, risk management, and stakeholder engagement practices to thrive in product-driven organizations. Real-world case studies and facilitated discussions will showcase examples of organizations that have made this transition—revealing their challenges, successes, and lessons learned.
Key takeaways:
- A clear understanding of how the Product Operating Model differs from traditional project-based structures.
- Practical strategies for applying core PM competencies—leadership, risk, and stakeholder management—in a continuous value delivery context.
- Actionable insights for redefining success metrics and positioning oneself as a strategic enabler within evolving enterprises.
By the end of this session, attendees will be equipped to navigate the shift from project execution to product stewardship—leading with confidence in a world driven by outcomes rather than outputs.
PMI Talent Triangle: Business Acumen
Biography: Sanjiv Augustine is the Founder and CEO of LitheSpeed, LLC and the Agile Leadership Academy, and a recognized authority in product management, agile, and lean transformation. An entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker, and management consultant, Sanjiv has spent over 30 years helping organizations shift from project-centric to product-centric operating models that drive measurable value. Sanjiv’s work continues to shape how organizations lead adaptive product portfolios, foster innovation, and deliver outcomes in the AI era.
Sanjiv has guided large-scale transformations that blend Agile practices, Value Management Office (VMO) principles, and modern product management discipline. He has been a trusted advisor to executives and leaders at leading enterprises, including Accuweather, American Chemical Society, Capital One, The Capital Group, CNBC, Comcast, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Federal Home Loan Banks – Office of Finance, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, General Dynamics, HCA Healthcare, Huntington Bank, The Motley Fool, National Geographic, Nationwide Insurance, Royal Bank of Canada, Samsung, the US Navy and Walmart.
A member of the Reimagining Agile Launch Team, Sanjiv hosts The Leadership in Flux podcast and is the author of From PMO to VMO: Managing for Value Delivery, Managing Agile Projects, Scaling Agile: A Lean JumpStart, as well as influential articles such as Transitioning to Agile Project Management, The Lean-Agile PMO: Using Lean Thinking to Accelerate Agile Project Delivery, and Transformational Leadership for Business Agility.
