1 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,700 Welcome to the IPM podcast. OPM is to Childhood body for the 2 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:15,800 project profession. My name is Emma Devita and I'm 3 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,000 the editor of project apm's quarterly journal and your host. 4 00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:22,400 In this podcast. I speak to hey, coding Unison, 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,300 Professor project management at the University of Reykjavik, he 6 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:29,000 can't invite me over early, in the year to visit Iceland and 7 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,600 find out more about the The projects being undertaken there 8 00:00:31,900 --> 00:00:34,400 and how the university specifically through its Masters 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,200 in project. Management course is helping 10 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,800 create the project professionals needed to take the country 11 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:40,300 through its latest transformation. 12 00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:44,100 You can read all about it in the spring issue of the journal, so 13 00:00:44,100 --> 00:00:46,500 don't miss that. But now he could talks to me 14 00:00:46,500 --> 00:00:49,300 about his unusual entry into project management and how the 15 00:00:49,300 --> 00:00:52,000 Icelandic mindset is something we could all benefit learning 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:59,700 from. Welcome hair, curlier in 17 00:00:59,700 --> 00:01:01,900 Reykjavik. What's it, like, in Reykjavik at 18 00:01:01,900 --> 00:01:04,800 the moment? It's really nice. 19 00:01:05,300 --> 00:01:08,200 It's quiet. It's not raining or not, knowing 20 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,100 at the moment. It's a quiet. 21 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,900 Beautiful morning in Reykjavik. So it was wonderful to visit 22 00:01:13,900 --> 00:01:18,400 earlier in the year and I was so impressed by what you're doing 23 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,500 at the University and helping to shape the next generation of 24 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:25,300 project professionals, which there seems to be a very strong 25 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:30,300 demand for in Iceland at the You have a little bit of an unusual 26 00:01:30,300 --> 00:01:33,000 background coming to project management. 27 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:39,100 Could you talk a bit about how you you found yourself teaching 28 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,300 the Masters in project management at the University of 29 00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:44,800 Reykjavik? Yes, that's true. 30 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,700 I my background is rather unusual in the School of 31 00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:52,000 Technology. So I'm a theologian. 32 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:56,500 I have a strong background in Psychology or so and philosophy 33 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:02,200 but since Early on I was always doing things so I'm very 34 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,100 practical in everything I do. I remember when I was a kid, I 35 00:02:06,100 --> 00:02:09,500 worked in a farm. When I was 9 to 17 years old, in 36 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:13,600 the summertime, that was regarded as a something that was 37 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:18,300 good for children to do. So I built houses, I have I know 38 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:22,300 how to smelt. I can do all kinds of different 39 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:25,200 things. So, throughout my life, I've 40 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,200 always been very keen on. Getting things done. 41 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:36,200 So when I came back from my PhD studies in New York, I went into 42 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,600 theology. I also have some background in 43 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:44,200 economics and but I pursued a career like in theology with a 44 00:02:44,500 --> 00:02:48,200 focus on psychology. So my PhD is in the field called 45 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,300 Psychiatry and religion and I worked as a hospital. 46 00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:58,000 Chaplain at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and I also did 47 00:02:58,100 --> 00:03:02,800 Training as a psychoanalyst. And when I came back to Iceland, 48 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,200 I hooked up with my good friend, health authority in cash own and 49 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:10,400 we had, he had gotten very interested in this new field 50 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,500 project management and we wanted to do something together. 51 00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:18,700 So we sat down and he explained to me, briefly what project 52 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:23,900 management is and and actually with a senior engineer that had 53 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:28,000 kind of been his mentor in project management. 54 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:33,400 And a man with a very long experience in the field and kind 55 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,500 of kind of The Godfather of project management in Iceland. 56 00:03:37,500 --> 00:03:41,200 So after a very interesting encounter where we were three 57 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:46,100 sitting together, I said to them, let me go home and think 58 00:03:46,100 --> 00:03:49,700 deeply what I can bring into the field. 59 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,200 Two days later we met again and I came back with ideas about 60 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:59,000 let's say self-management how to cope with stress Negotiations, 61 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,700 how to engage people in the conversations interpersonal. 62 00:04:03,700 --> 00:04:06,900 Communications, Conflict Management crisis management 63 00:04:06,900 --> 00:04:13,800 cultural implications of of our works ethics and I could go on 64 00:04:13,808 --> 00:04:16,600 and on. So we kind of brought all of 65 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,800 this together and we created a program called project 66 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,000 leadership and product management and Leadership and 67 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,000 that became a great success. And out of that grew this 68 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:31,300 Master's Mpm program at Reykjavik University, is a place 69 00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:34,700 for professionals who have experience and want to kind of 70 00:04:34,700 --> 00:04:37,200 renew themselves or take it further. 71 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:43,800 I teach four courses, it's a product leadership self growth 72 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,600 and development. I blend in to it. 73 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,900 A lot of insights from the humanities and from philosophy 74 00:04:50,900 --> 00:04:54,200 and from social sciences. There's a course on the group 75 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,000 dynamics and and project teams. There's a course on Project. 76 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:00,100 Negotiations, conflicts and crises. 77 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:03,500 And then there's a course on project management in diverse 78 00:05:03,500 --> 00:05:06,600 cultural settings. And I'm not eating all of this 79 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,500 on my own there at, I bring in Talent from all over the world. 80 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:16,500 Well, impress me was to kind of very deep exploration of you. 81 00:05:16,500 --> 00:05:21,500 As an individual, how that informs your style as a project 82 00:05:21,500 --> 00:05:24,900 leader, and the idea of how responsible you are, as a 83 00:05:24,900 --> 00:05:28,300 professional from your experience, both inside and So 84 00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:33,000 the project profession. What qualities do you make your 85 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,000 students aware of? That makes for a successful 86 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,000 project leader. Well, I've sometimes said, I'm 87 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:44,900 very proud when my students that have been with us for two years. 88 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,000 I meet them few years laters and they say, well, I mean, the 89 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:54,100 course was very interesting, but I'm still kind of digesting all 90 00:05:54,100 --> 00:05:57,900 of the things that you touched upon, and I think it kind of 91 00:05:58,100 --> 00:06:00,300 Boils down to the idea that we are. 92 00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:02,400 Kind of, we are cultivating them. 93 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:07,200 We are not just teaching them method to deliver project 94 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,600 objectives or things like that. We are really cultivating them 95 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:17,200 to take a stand as a true professionals within Society, 96 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,000 within the industries within government. 97 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,800 So they are not only like people who are just asked to do and 98 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:30,200 deliver but there are also people who Who can contribute 99 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:35,500 and influence and transform. Let's say how things are done. 100 00:06:35,900 --> 00:06:41,500 How we think about things and what what it constitutes to be 101 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:47,000 professional and be a profession and what professionalism means 102 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,300 and this has all kinds of implications for, I'm teaching 103 00:06:50,300 --> 00:06:56,200 them critical thinking ethical thinking creative thinking 104 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,400 Earnest. I basically teach them also 105 00:07:01,300 --> 00:07:07,700 things that are usually only taught in in clinical education. 106 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:13,700 Meaning how to deal with complicated people and demanding 107 00:07:13,700 --> 00:07:17,400 human situations? Because that's kind of very much 108 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:22,600 when things get complicated often untie cultural awareness 109 00:07:22,700 --> 00:07:27,300 how to respect people who are different, who think differently 110 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:32,400 and I see when we when we are going through all of that in the 111 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:37,000 program, it's stimulating bit. For some it's also very 112 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,600 challenging sometimes because they want things to be just 113 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,200 simple. But I think was Einstein who 114 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,800 said, let's make things as simple as possible but not 115 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,700 simpler, you know, I think that's what that's a good 116 00:07:49,700 --> 00:07:51,100 reminder, you know. Yeah. 117 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,400 When I came to, thank you, because I noticed how much 118 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,900 construction was going on. I mean, they were just cranes. 119 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,100 Everywhere and there are seems like a very exciting time for 120 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:03,700 projects. Could you give us an overview of 121 00:08:03,700 --> 00:08:07,600 what it's like in Reykjavik at the moment and the number of 122 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,600 projects happening and and the demand for project professionals 123 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:19,200 now I'm born 1966, and the Reykjavik and Iceland was very 124 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:24,400 very different 1966 or when in my childhood from what you see. 125 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:28,600 Now when I was growing up there were very few foreigners here. 126 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,600 The road that we drove to the south coast of Iceland that was 127 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,600 a mutt wrote when I was a kid and if you see pictures from the 128 00:08:38,799 --> 00:08:44,300 70s 80s from Reykjavik City, it's very Very it's a very it's 129 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:47,700 like a small town, very few people on the streets kind of. 130 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:53,000 But now it's this has transformed and it's in a major 131 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,200 transformation, I started Society. 132 00:08:56,200 --> 00:09:01,800 So there's a, this immigration. So we need to really catch up 133 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,200 with regards to infrastructure. I mean, we are 380,000 people, I 134 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:10,100 think, and I think we have now two million tourists a year. 10 135 00:09:10,100 --> 00:09:13,500 years ago, they were maybe like, 200,000 something, Like that. 136 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:21,500 I mean it has really taken off us modern society and so we are 137 00:09:21,500 --> 00:09:24,800 kind of catching up. We are building a new house. 138 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,300 A new Mega project. That's the new University 139 00:09:28,300 --> 00:09:30,600 hospital. They are building bridges, all 140 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:36,100 around the country made when I was a kid, the you couldn't 141 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:39,800 drive around the island because they were not pretty is 142 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:45,300 everywhere and technological infrastructures Say internet, 143 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,800 you have a, you have a fiber Connection in all households in 144 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,700 Iceland. It's a very big island, but we 145 00:09:52,700 --> 00:09:56,100 are very few. So, yeah, and power plants and 146 00:09:56,500 --> 00:10:00,800 road construction, sand apartment houses. 147 00:10:01,700 --> 00:10:04,300 But I remember also, before 2008, they were also a lot of 148 00:10:04,300 --> 00:10:07,500 cranes. And I, then we kind of some 149 00:10:07,500 --> 00:10:10,200 people said, well, hey, you should be careful if there is 150 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,900 like all of those construction cranes, they know something. 151 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:15,400 Is off. You know, you might be heading 152 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,200 for disaster, kind of a thing, but the Reykjavik city is 153 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,300 growing at a lot. So we really need to very strong 154 00:10:23,300 --> 00:10:28,000 demand for housing here. It's a very vibrant place and 155 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:30,900 there is the many things going on. 156 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,700 So the demand for project professionals must be high, who 157 00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:37,300 are the people in your courses? And where do they end up going? 158 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:41,800 They come from all sectors of society. 159 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,600 I mean, we have We have Engineers who have been building 160 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:51,800 power plants in in Iceland, aluminium smelters in Georgia or 161 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,700 Aunt in the Russia and in Iran. And we have people who have been 162 00:10:55,700 --> 00:11:00,300 involved in geothermal Enterprises in Africa. 163 00:11:00,300 --> 00:11:04,900 And in South America, we have people from an aviation, we have 164 00:11:04,900 --> 00:11:10,800 Educators, Teachers, Health Care Professionals it people, 165 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,100 business people, if you have also actor Hours. 166 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:16,000 And now they're actually two ballerinas that are kind of 167 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,800 changing their careers. So on the they are very 168 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,900 dedicated. Make excellent material for good 169 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:27,400 product managers because they are very dedicated and very 170 00:11:27,700 --> 00:11:31,000 disciplined and it's interesting to see how they work. 171 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:36,100 Do you detect a changing attitude towards project 172 00:11:36,100 --> 00:11:39,100 management? It's something that is a big 173 00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:41,500 profession and attractive profession to consider. 174 00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:45,700 Now I kind of came into this field. 175 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:50,800 When it was the notion of something specific called 176 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,700 project management or professional product management 177 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,600 Kind of force gaining momentum. When I, when I entered the 178 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:06,000 field, since then we have been really producing and certifying 179 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,700 people with the knowledge and the skills and the competence to 180 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:17,500 go out and prove themselves and to me until key and and our 181 00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:20,800 programs have been absolutely in the Forefront. 182 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,900 And this now some other up starting to Provide education 183 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:31,500 and project management as well. But but what's happening now is 184 00:12:31,500 --> 00:12:36,800 also that our students are coming back with a loaded with 185 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:42,500 experience. And so I think we are now at the 186 00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:48,000 threshold of Alaska and you've New Era and product management 187 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,600 in Iceland where we have loads of people that know what project 188 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:57,100 management is they It see themselves as Property 189 00:12:57,100 --> 00:13:03,300 Management professionals, and and now it's all its kind of 190 00:13:03,300 --> 00:13:08,800 harvest time when when we are really seeing the, the the 191 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:14,200 flourishing of the profession in the, in the fields, or so to 192 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:21,100 speak, or we need to kind of also be at the Forefront. 193 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:24,700 And that's why we have been constantly being making a deal. 194 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,000 Judgments to the program and we are always looking for new or 195 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:33,000 exploring new opportunities. I am almost to talk to you about 196 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,600 something. I found fascinating when I was 197 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,600 in Reykjavik, which is the exposure to the Icelandic 198 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:44,700 mindset, which is very just do. It, can you can you tell us a 199 00:13:44,708 --> 00:13:46,600 bit about that? It was something we talked about 200 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,800 a lot when I was there, but what's the phrase you have you 201 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,000 know, about getting stuff done? Because it is very much. 202 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,500 Let's just get on with it. And how does that? 203 00:13:55,700 --> 00:13:58,400 How is that an advantaged when it comes to project management 204 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,800 and then also what are the Advantages that need to be 205 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,800 counted. Yeah, well I think when when you 206 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:09,200 were here, I try to inject you with some ideas about how 207 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,400 brilliant and bright. And we are, I mean in many case 208 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:18,400 we are just like other people and there are certain things 209 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,800 that are not so maybe mature, so to speak. 210 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:23,600 I mean, we are, we are still learning. 211 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,000 We are sometimes not overly organized. 212 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,900 We are sometimes a little bit ignorant. 213 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:35,400 We are Lil Bit, sometimes too sure about ourselves that kind 214 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,900 of the Islanders mentality. I mean, there is some kind of 215 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,200 people are, you know, greedy and, you know, people are trying 216 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,200 to get away with things like anywhere else I guess. 217 00:14:46,300 --> 00:14:49,600 But if we, if you look at the of the positive sides, I mean there 218 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:53,700 are few things that I think really are good when it comes to 219 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,800 project management. I mean, you don't need to teach 220 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,800 us to be Archie. I'll, I think we are very Iati. 221 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:05,100 I'll we are also very very cell tile. 222 00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:09,600 We can if we we think it's not working, it's easy for us to 223 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,800 turn around and explore new options. 224 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,000 But that might also be because we have very small and there's a 225 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:22,000 relatively much trust in like Social Capital trust in society. 226 00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:25,700 It must also be informed by the environment in which you live, 227 00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:28,700 even you live on volcanoes. That must inform the way you 228 00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:30,500 think as well. Yeah. 229 00:15:30,500 --> 00:15:35,400 I mean that's why I plan to much when we you have to be like you 230 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,400 have made plans, then there's an eruption and then there's a 231 00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:40,300 blizzard then there is this a lot. 232 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,200 I mean, I was in London, London bonjour. 233 00:15:44,100 --> 00:15:47,000 I think I know obviously New York and all the train system in 234 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,300 the UK is shut down. And I was surprised. 235 00:15:49,300 --> 00:15:52,800 It didn't feel like, you know, nothing to watch. 236 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,300 We send our kids to school in blizzards, you know. 237 00:15:56,100 --> 00:16:01,100 So we are very adjustable. We are Very flexible. 238 00:16:01,100 --> 00:16:08,800 We are, we are we can we have a lot of stamina for change? 239 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,100 I would say we are curious. We are witty. 240 00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:17,700 I think in our own way, we are relatively. 241 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:20,300 We are pretty respectful and very accommodating. 242 00:16:20,300 --> 00:16:23,400 I mean we will we will always try to help everyone. 243 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,400 That all of those qualities can be really good in project 244 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,800 management and the ability to just get on with. 245 00:16:30,100 --> 00:16:32,000 I think that was what impressed me as well. 246 00:16:32,500 --> 00:16:35,000 That's right there phrase that you're asking about this this 247 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:39,300 that that red dust separatist because you know people might 248 00:16:39,300 --> 00:16:43,000 say oh my God this is now this is going to be a this is a 249 00:16:43,008 --> 00:16:46,400 disaster you know, it would be awful in this doesn't work, you 250 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:51,500 know you and we will say oh no the that path that this will be 251 00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:53,400 okay, come on, that kind of thing. 252 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:59,700 We will figure it out somehow. And I think that's I mean, like, 253 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:05,400 Positive cited, its kind of optimism, but the downside is 254 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:10,200 that it's like, you know, lack of planning sometimes and, and 255 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:16,599 lack of willingness to comply to objectives or, you know, we just 256 00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:19,400 want to do it our way. I mean, we are independent 257 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,500 people. We are like an independence. 258 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:26,599 Here means to be that that you might, it basically means that 259 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:28,200 you don't have to deal with anybody. 260 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:29,700 You know, you're just doing things. 261 00:17:29,900 --> 00:17:34,100 On your own in your own way and and highly highly self-reliant. 262 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:36,700 That's right. Yeah, I'm resilient. 263 00:17:36,700 --> 00:17:38,600 And I mean, I mean you're involved with to actually talk 264 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,900 to us a bit about the work, you do is DM the rescue service 265 00:17:41,900 --> 00:17:45,400 because that must reflect an awful lot on the kind of 266 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:49,100 challenges of working in a night of living in Iceland as well. 267 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:53,800 The athletic search and rescue services are volunteer. 268 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:59,200 It's a big Association that is there like it's like clubs all 269 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:03,700 around the island. Island and we can be called out 270 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:10,100 anytime and we go out and we just do our best to accommodate 271 00:18:10,100 --> 00:18:13,700 on be of help and it can be the farmers. 272 00:18:13,700 --> 00:18:16,800 It can be people running working in the facing Factory. 273 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,900 So it can be any, Orchestra people, the carpenter the 274 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:25,300 professor whomever. So we just try our best to help 275 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:31,000 and the help is for free. That's also quite Thing, it has 276 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,300 been for free because we want people rather to call us rather 277 00:18:34,300 --> 00:18:40,000 than to be afraid of being being persecuted or having to deal 278 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:42,300 with their insurances and things like that. 279 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:48,700 We just want to let answer that kind of equality, that social 280 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,000 what you say. It's a very, it's a very 281 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,500 beautiful thing that, you know, we are not gonna leave you 282 00:18:55,700 --> 00:18:58,400 alone, we will try our best to help. 283 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,400 And I think that It compiles down into the project 284 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:05,800 management, you know, we we try to accommodate, we try to figure 285 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:09,100 it out, we try to all that attached to it, we will figure 286 00:19:09,100 --> 00:19:12,600 it out somehow, no matter how Bleak, it becomes it really, it 287 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:13,700 will be okay. You know. 288 00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:17,600 I think that's the, I would, if I was in a crisis situation at 289 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,300 work or in a mountain, then I definitely think I'd want. 290 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,500 And I slander there to tell me that everything is going to be, 291 00:19:23,500 --> 00:19:25,900 all right? I mean, I'm just thinking about 292 00:19:25,900 --> 00:19:29,700 the crisis that the crises that people might face a while. 293 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,900 Work or just that situation when everything starts to go wrong, 294 00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:34,700 have you got any words of advice? 295 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:39,900 If you suddenly find yourself in a crisis situation that that you 296 00:19:39,900 --> 00:19:44,000 can pass on from your work working, you know, not only 297 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,400 teaching on the Masters but also from dealing with rescue 298 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:53,900 situations, any advice you would pass on to people We'll have a 299 00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:59,200 plan, that's very important. You should have a plan and and 300 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:03,700 you should stick to the plan. As long as you decide. 301 00:20:03,700 --> 00:20:08,900 So, let's stick to plan a all the way until you decide to go 302 00:20:08,900 --> 00:20:12,800 to plan B. And then, if that doesn't work, 303 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:19,300 you go to plan C. So be organized, have a plan but 304 00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:25,300 also be flexible, if it doesn't work, so that is one thing I 305 00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:31,700 would also say try to do what is interesting and gives. 306 00:20:31,700 --> 00:20:35,700 Give you Joy, you know, rather than to you know, don't waste 307 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:40,000 your life or your talent or whatever, in something that is 308 00:20:40,700 --> 00:20:44,400 miserable. So this is more general advice. 309 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:48,100 I mean, the advice you give to your students to make a 310 00:20:48,108 --> 00:20:50,300 successful career in project management. 311 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:53,300 So I mean do do do what you enjoy? 312 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:58,900 So any other advice you would give for those setting out on a 313 00:20:58,908 --> 00:21:03,300 project management path. Be critical in. 314 00:21:03,700 --> 00:21:11,300 In what you are asked to do try to understand well what you want 315 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:15,100 to do, and when you are defining, what you want to do 316 00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:21,300 and then think of it from different angles and and really 317 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:28,600 try to accumulate as many insights into it beforehand 318 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,700 before you start them too. Plan and then, execute your 319 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:37,600 plans. And this sometimes demands that 320 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:42,600 you look out of your convention out of your box. 321 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,300 So, to speak. And I do. 322 00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:51,700 It also means that you try to be aware of biases, and noise, and, 323 00:21:52,300 --> 00:22:00,300 and politics and all the aspects that might be influencing. 324 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:07,000 You without you realizing it. So I think that's something that 325 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,800 I'm trying to make people be aware of because I think a 326 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:16,900 professional has a very dire responsibility, not only to 327 00:22:16,900 --> 00:22:19,600 themselves but also to the team and the organization and to 328 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:24,800 Society at large and even to Future Generations. 329 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:29,100 So, so put things into like an ethical perspective or into a 330 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,300 think the Beep, when you're doing things, you know, and then 331 00:22:33,300 --> 00:22:36,900 all of the use, all the methods that are at your disposal 332 00:22:37,900 --> 00:22:42,700 disposal in from the discipline you, their property management 333 00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:47,300 is a is loaded with tools and techniques, but it's also a 334 00:22:47,308 --> 00:22:50,500 philosophy of life. I would say, I mean, when you 335 00:22:50,500 --> 00:22:53,200 look around and you can actually see, oh, I can look at this as a 336 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:58,700 project and there's a prototype are the supported here and And 337 00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:03,600 that has some implications you you want to Define and plan and 338 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:08,500 execute and see things happen. And then you want to be able to 339 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:11,900 finish it and move on and do something new. 340 00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:16,100 I think that's a very good way to look at live. 341 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:20,600 Also, in general, speak to people rather than speak about 342 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:25,200 people. You know, try to always be 343 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,100 encouraging rather than undermining be. 344 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:39,600 Be kind and accommodating. Be open and listen, deeply, let 345 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:43,200 others, teach you also, think of it this way. 346 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:47,600 I mean, what you give out is what you get back if you if you 347 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:54,000 are happy and and kind and you. That's what you get back and 348 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,800 also be assertive in the in a constructive way, something like 349 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,500 that. I mean it's not it's just wanted 350 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:03,000 to advise not only did Only for project management for living 351 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,100 life in general. So thank you. 352 00:24:05,100 --> 00:24:09,300 I feel as though I've got a nice insight into the Icelandic 353 00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:12,900 mindset there and into the exciting times that are 354 00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:15,300 happening in Reykjavik at the moment. 355 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,000 Was there anything else you wanted to add? 356 00:24:18,900 --> 00:24:23,000 I think the future for project management is very bright. 357 00:24:23,100 --> 00:24:26,900 I think it's actually the method or the philosophy that will 358 00:24:26,900 --> 00:24:31,200 prevail in the new era. That is a very living, very 359 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:35,100 Citing times. I mean, artificial intelligence 360 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:42,800 technological, autonomy Sation the international cooperation 361 00:24:43,700 --> 00:24:47,400 between universities and in research something Industries 362 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:52,500 and it's very living. Very, very exciting times but we 363 00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:54,400 don't know what it will mean to all of us. 364 00:24:54,400 --> 00:25:00,000 And I think the profession that will be very capable of 365 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:05,400 navigating this If people do things, right is the profession 366 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:09,400 of product management because they will always be projects and 367 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:13,900 there will always be problems that need to be solved with 368 00:25:13,900 --> 00:25:18,200 projects. They will always be innovations 369 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:22,100 that need to be designed and implemented. 370 00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:27,100 I think I say I will do many of the cognitive skills better than 371 00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:29,100 most and many of the behavioural skills. 372 00:25:29,100 --> 00:25:33,800 But in essence, what does it constitute to be a human being? 373 00:25:34,300 --> 00:25:39,200 And what does it constitute to be a mean to be a professional? 374 00:25:39,900 --> 00:25:44,000 I think that's. That's something that we should 375 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:48,600 really are questions that we should really take to our hearts 376 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:53,200 and try to answer in a creative way. 377 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:57,300 That's a wonderful way to end our conversation today. 378 00:25:57,300 --> 00:25:59,600 Thank you. How could that was? 379 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,100 So interesting, thank you for your time. 380 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:10,200 Thank you, too. Thanks again, take her for 381 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:13,200 joining us and don't forget to look out for more episodes of 382 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,900 the APM podcasts in to rate and review as wherever you get them 383 00:26:15,900 --> 00:26:18,000 from. We'd welcome you to get in touch 384 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:21,800 with your comments feedback and suggestions by e-mailing us at a 385 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:25,600 p.m. podcast at think publishing .co.uk. 386 00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:29,100 This podcast has been brought to you by APM to Charter body for 387 00:26:29,100 --> 00:26:32,100 the project profession. For more information on a p.m. 388 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:34,300 visit, a p.m. Dot org.uk.