The document discusses how program managers can advance their careers to executive roles by developing broad leadership skills in areas like strategy, stakeholder engagement, and portfolio management alongside deep skills in program and project delivery; it outlines the core skills, knowledge areas, and success mantras of program managers and charts one professional's career evolution from engineer to general manager through taking initiative, developing influence, and maintaining lifelong learning.

1. Can Program Managers
make it to
the Executive Suite?

3. Program Management function
Core Skills and Knowledge Areas
My Success Mantras
How it all adds up?

4. my professional journey…
200 Business
180 Strategy
160 Strategic
Programs
140 Operations
120
Business Unit
Portfolio
100
Program
80
Product
60
Project
40
Module
20
0
Computer Scientist Engineer
Software ArchitectProject Leader
Quality Manager Manager
Project Eng Manager, PgM
Eng Manager, PgM ofGeneral Manager of Biz Ops & Strategic Programs
Director Eng. General Manager (matrix)
Head
1991 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2007 2009
Reportees Impact

5. evolution of program management
http://www.maxwideman.com/guests/thegap/roles.htm

8. (PgMBoK)
program management performance domains
Program
Strategy
Alignment
Program Life Program
Program
Cycle Benefits
Governance
Management Management
Program
Stakeholder
Engagement

9. program manager core skills (PgMBOK)
Active Listening Analytical Thinking Capacity Planning Communicating Critical Thinking
Distilling and Synthesizing
Customer Centricity Employee Engagement Executive-level Presentation Facilitation
Requirements
Innovative Thinking Interpersonal Interaction Interviewing Leveraging Opportunities Managing Expectations
Managing
Maximizing resources / Negotiating / persuading /
virtual/intercultural/remote Prioritizing Problem Solving
achieving synergies influencing
teams
Stakeholder analysis and
Time Management Vendor Management
management

10. program manager core knowledge areas (PgMBOK)
Benefits Business
Brainstorming Budget processes Business Change
measurement and Business ethics models, structure
techniques and procedure environment management
analysis techniques and organizations
Coaching and
Collaboration tools Communication Conflict resolution Contingency Contract negotiation
mentoring Contract types
and techniques tools and techniques techniques planning / administration
techniques
Cultural diversity / Data analysis / data Decision-making Emotional Human resource
Cost benefit analysis Cost management
distinctions mining techniques intelligence management
Impact assessment Industry and market Knowledge Leadership theories Management Motivational
Information privacy
techniques knowledge management and techniques techniques techniques
Negotiation Organizational Performance Planning PMI Code of Ethics
Presentation tools Problem-solving
strategies and strategic plan and management theory, techniques and Professional
and techniques tools and techniques
techniques vision techniques and procedures Conduct
Risk mitigation and
Project management Reporting tools and Risk analysis Safety standards and
Risk management opportunities Social responsibility
information systems techniques technique procedures
strategies
Sustainability and
Succession planning environmental
issues

11. My Success Mantras
Taking Lead with Lifelong Managing
Initiative Influence Learning Career

12. Scale of Initiative
Level 5: Act independently and
report routinely
Level 4: Act independently but
report Immediately
Level 3: Recommend
Level 2: Ask
Level 1: Wait

13. Lead with Influence
Enlist Persuade Engage

15. “T-shaped Career”
B R O A D
D
BROAD
ability to apply
knowledge across situations
E
E
P DEEP
Functional / disciplinary skill

16. How it all adds up?
Stakeholders
and
Resources
Strategy Program
and
Execution
Management is
a leadership
role with wide
exposure to
Skills and
Deliverables
Benefits
and Costs

18. Connect
Twitter: @tathagatvarma
Blog: http://managewell.net
Email: tathagat.varma@gmail.com
Presentation: http://slideshare.net/managewell