Podcast Episode 73: The Animals in Projectland with Dawn Mahan
What do gazelles, dolphins, and lions have to do with project management? A whole lot, according to this week’s insightful guest on Geared for Growth—Dawn Mahan, PMP.
In Episode 73, host Josephine Palermo dives into a lively and eye-opening conversation with Dawn, a globally recognised project management expert and founder of PMOtraining.com. Dawn shares her unconventional yet powerful approach to project success by introducing us to Projectland—the concept from her latest book, Projectland, where animal avatars help decode the dynamics of effective project teams.
🧭 Journey into Projectland
From discovering her love for project management to becoming a trusted advisor to C-level leaders around the world, Dawn takes us through her fascinating career path. Her passion for the profession shines through as she discusses why so many projects fail—not because of poor planning or bad tools, but because of people-related challenges.
🦁 🐬 🦌 Meet the Projectland Avatars
In Projectland, every team member can be represented by an animal avatar:
Gazelles represent agility and urgency.
Dolphins embody social intelligence and collaboration.
Lions illustrate authority, leadership, and direction.
By visualising roles this way, Dawn makes it easier for teams to understand themselves, work better together, and communicate more effectively. It’s a fun yet strategic way to unpack the complexities of team dynamics.
🔑 Key Insights
Why emotional management is critical in project leadership
How kickoff meetings can make or break project momentum
What the “dream team” looks like in fast-paced business environments
The evolving role of the project manager as both leader and facilitator
How to guide teams through the classic stages: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing
📘 Ready to Dive Deeper?
Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or new to the game, Dawn’s book Projectland is a must-read. It’s packed with insights that help bring out the best in your team—one animal at a time.
🎧 Tune in now to Episode 73 and discover how to lead with clarity, build stronger teams, and navigate the wild world of project management with heart and humour.
