The Project Leadership Mentor helping business managers lead technology projects using a simple CLARITY-COLLABORATION-CADENCE framework.
As a business manager, managing
a data and AI tech project,
first you get clarity with leadership,
then you engage the team,
then you run a simple weekly rhythm, and eventually,
you close cleanly.
That’s it.
That’s the promise.
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Many managers are asked to lead data and AI tech projects on top of their operational responsibilities.
Running a tech project is different than operations and so needs to be managed differently.
First you get clarity with leadership. Then you engage the team. Then you run a simple weekly rhythm. And eventually, you close cleanly.
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Managers are accountable for project outcomes, timelines, and decisions — often without formal project management training or additional time.
Understand the simple steps to get CLARITY with the leadership. Then engage the team through COLLABORATION. Then develop a CADENCE with a simple weekly rhythm. And eventually, TRANSITION and CLOSE cleanly.
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This site is for managers who want a simpler, calmer way to get tech projects moving and keep them on track.
The three-frame framework of CLARITY - COLLABORATION - CADENCE is memorable, operational, and repeatable. It mirrors how a busy manager actually thinks.
Most frameworks fail because they’re either academically elegant but unusable, or overly tactical without leadership grounding. This one aligns leadership clarity, team psychology, and weekly behavior.
That's why it feels like it fits and works like it should.
Why tech projects feel harder than they should.
Most tech projects don’t struggle because managers aren’t capable.
They struggle because important fundamentals are skipped in the rush to get started - often without anyone realizing it.
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Describe the purpose like an elevator pitch, including for example, what things look like now and what problems that creates, or what challenges or problems are we currently facing that will this solve, or what opportunities does it provide?
Or, Top-line or bottom-line improvements?
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No shared definition of success
Projects often begin with good intentions but unclear goals. Key supporters quietly have different ideas of “done,” causing rework, delays, and stalled decisions. Worse, those tough talks about what “done” means happen at the end instead of the start.
This isn’t a lack of effort — it happens when the team hasn’t agreed on what “done” looks like.
What does the actual project ‘finish’ line look like?
Does everyone in leadership support have the same idea of what "done” looks like when work stops?
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What outcomes do we expect at what stage?
What are the key major milestones that everyone can gauge how we are doing?
What are the big steps to get to “done”?
Project Examples
Project Clarity Pieces
Purpose
Done
Outcomes
Example 1:
AI-Powered Customer Support Triage
Use AI to auto-classify incoming customer service tickets for faster response and routing.
1. What is the Purpose?
Free up support staff from repetitive triage tasks
Reduce customer wait times
Improve service consistency for common requests
2. What does Done look like?
The AI categorizes 80% of incoming tickets accurately
Simple dashboard shows trends by issue type
Tickets are auto-assigned to the right teams
3. What Outcomes do we expect at each major stage?
Month 1: Model trained on past tickets.
Month 2–3: Pilot in limited regions and/or product lines.
Month 4–5: Expanded to several teams, and some edge cases refined.
Example 2:
AI-Assisted Sales
Forecasting
Use AI to analyze past sales data and improve forecast accuracy for planning.
1. What is the Purpose?
Identify patterns in sales cycles we can’t easily spot manually
Improve confidence in inventory or staffing decisions
Create alignment between finance, sales, and ops
2. What does Done look like?
Teams receive updated forecasts monthly, driven by AI
Leadership sees 20–30% increase in forecast accuracy
Clear visual reports explain why the model predicts what it does
3. What Outcomes do we expect at each major stage?
Month 1: Alignment on data sources and key business inputs.
Month 2–3: Trained/tested forecast model on past data.
Month 4–5: Forecasts used in planning cycles, gathering feedback.
Example 3:
AI for Employee Onboarding Content Creation
Use generative AI to draft onboarding docs and job aids faster, with human oversight.
1. What is the Purpose?
Save time for HR and managers creating repetitive content
Create more consistent onboarding experiences
Make materials easier to update regularly
2. What does Done look like?
10–15 onboarding assets drafted via AI, then finalized by staff
Managers can request job aids with simple prompts
Process includes human review before anything goes live
3. What Outcomes do we expect at each major stage?
Month 1: Defined document types and tone-of-voice templates.
Month 2–3: Asset generation piloted with HR + team leads.
Month 4: System launched for 1–2 departments.
What actually helps
busy managers
run projects.
As a manager, your tech projects don’t need heavy frameworks or complex tools.
They need a small set of high-impact simple habits that create clarity, collaboration, and a weekly cadence — without adding overhead.
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Define success first.
Projects move faster when the leadership support knows the problem and what success looks like in plain terms.
No heavy docs - it can be done in a 1-pager - just a clear reference about the purpose, what “done” looks like, the high-level steps and timeframes.
At that point all the key players know and agree about where things are going.
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Once there is clarity amongst the leadership about the purpose, end-state, high-level steps, then involve the team in a way that engages them and builds collaboration.
Deliverables: With the team, together define the deliverables that are possible for the outcomes at the key steps.
Activities: Collaborate with the team to decide on what tasks and actions are to be taken to complete the deliverables.
Review: Get opinions and input from each team members. Listen and ensure there is understanding regarding their perspective. This is powerful.
Revise: Each time the team meets whether weekly or multiple times per week, review and revise the deliverables and activities with the team to make sure the high-level steps can be achieved.
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A simple, weekly, predictably rhythm beats big plans.
A lightweight weekly check-in and review creates more momentum than detailed plans that never get revisited.
Consistency matters more than complexity when projects compete with day-to-day operations.
Each week the manager needs to review the key pieces to the project plan, the status of where things are at, then review and revise with the team, and then communicate to the team and key stakeholders.
How managers are supported.
Support is available at different levels, depending on how much structure or guidance a
manager wants.
No jargon. No overcommitment.
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CLARITY Guide.
$27 visual ebook with examples.
Downloadable materials and steps.Ebook with step by step - quick start tips and shortcuts AI won’t tell you about.
Illustrated. Downloadable materials. Simple step-by-step. Build a one-pager. Quickly get CLARITY with your leadership support.
Coming by end of Feb 2026.
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COLLABORATION AND CADENCE program.
$297 Collaboration & Cadence Course
Structured learning.
Personal follow-up.
Downloadable materials & steps.Engage the team and develop a weekly routine.
Simple approaches to engage the team to build the deliverables and activities, and exact words and phrases to use for how to review and revise with them to build the strongest collaboration so the team delivers what is needed, even without you – the most powerful way to make sure your project delivers on outcomes.
Step-by-step execution rhythm for weekly habits that reduce effort, risk, and stress while improving outcomes with simple downloadable materials to get you up and running quickly in your weekly routine.
Tips and steps you’d never find in an AI search.
Coming by end of May 2026.
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A working lab for managers actively leading real projects.
$497/month - 6 month commitment - Max 6 managers per lab.
A small-group working lab for managers actively leading real projects
We meet bi-weekly to apply the Clarity, Collaboration, and Cadence framework to your live initiatives. You’ll refine decisions, pressure-test assumptions, and strengthen execution alongside a small cohort of serious operators.
Includes structured working sessions and direct email access between calls.
This is for managers who don’t just want theory — they want traction.
Cohorts open twice per year.
Application required.
Limited to 6 participants.No openings until June 2026.
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Strategic thought partnership at the executive level.
$1,497/month - 3 month minimum.
Confidential 1:1 strategic partnership for leaders driving complex initiatives.
We meet bi-weekly to sharpen clarity, navigate high-stakes decisions, and strengthen execution across your portfolio. You gain a trusted sounding board who understands both technology and leadership dynamics.
Includes private sessions and direct access between meetings.
For leaders who want strategic edge — not just project advice.
Limited availability.
By invitation or application.No openings until July 2026.
How I Work.
I work with managers the same way I’ve worked with executive teams and technical teams for decades.
Calmly. Practically.
Focused on what actually moves things forward.
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s progress that feels manageable
There’s no one-size-fits-all framework — just a small set of proven steps applied thoughtfully to your context.
Also, extensive methodology experience allows adapting the organization’s comprehensive methodology into simpler but compliant form for a manager.
Choose a simple
place to start.
You don’t need to do everything at once.
Start where it feels most useful.
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Field notes & short guides.
Practical observations and lightweight resources you can apply immediately - insights you won’t get from AI.
Links coming on or before the end of Feb 2026
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Courses & routines.
A manager project quick start guide on CLARITY with downloadable fast launch materials.
A manager guided learning focused on how to get COLLABORATION, essentially building a high-performing team that operates without you, and a set of weekly habits to follow for a simple repeatable CADENCE.
Coming in April 2026.
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Advisory & coaching.
Ongoing or time-bound support for managers running real projects.
PROJECT LEADERSHIP LAB - 6 month engagement - small cohort - no more than 6 participants.
No open slots at this time until May 2026.
EXECUTIVE PARTNERING PROGRAM - 6 month engagement - 1 on 1 - direct, custom guidance to guarantee success with minimal effort and very efficient learning.
Why
This Approach Works.
I’ve spent decades leading and recovering complex data and AI tech projects across business and technology environments.
But more importantly, I’ve worked closely with managers and directors balancing operational responsibility with project accountability.
I’ve held roles as a senior director in Fortune 500 companies in both the US and Canada, where I also managed tech projects on the side; so I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and so know how to deliver within those constraints.
This work is about making your leadership life simpler — not more complicated.
You don’t need more theory.
You need clarity and a way forward.
If you’re managing a tech project, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to overcomplicate things to succeed.
And you can learn to use the new AI tools in a practical way that saves you time, energy, and resources, and provides creative input that you can manage and tailor to serve what you need to get things done.
Organizations where value has been delivered
Clients value the ability to deliver transformative results while building strong, lasting relationships. From executive leadership to project teams, work is recognized for exceptional project management, strategic thinking, and a commitment to exceeding expectations.