The PMO Playbook

Beauty Bakerie closed in 2024 with a public letter about faith and personal growth. The trade press told a different story — VC pressure, a funding pullback, and a category that caught up to the brand's differentiation. Tiffany breaks down why a mismatched public narrative and real narrative means nobody — not the market, not the next founder, not even the founder herself — gets the benefit of an honest retrospective. Plus: succession planning, single-founder brand risk, and what happened when the company was quietly acquired months later.

Ami Colé launched at 270 Sephora doors and grew to 600 in sixteen months — then shut its doors in 2025 anyway. In the series premiere of The Retro, Tiffany breaks down founder Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye's closure through a project management lens: stakeholder misalignment, unmanaged scope expansion, and a funding environment with a single point of failure. Then, a comparison that changes the whole conversation — Phia, the AI shopping app from Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, raised $43.5M in under a year on a cap table full of celebrities. And Emma Grede's own on-record comments about passing on investing in Ami Colé — before hiring its founder at SKIMS four years later. Capital access is a resource-planning input. This episode asks who actually gets to plan on it.

What if the most powerful tool in your project management toolkit isn't a software, a template, or a certification — it's a question?In this 15-minute sprint episode, host Tiffany introduces the Socratic Method and breaks down exactly how to use it on your projects, in your stakeholder meetings, and with your team — starting today. If you've ever walked out of a meeting feeling like nobody listened, or watched a project spiral because stakeholders couldn't align, this episode is going to shift how you operate.In this episode, you'll learn:What the Socratic Method actually is and why it works in high-stakes project environmentsHow to use strategic questioning to shut down scope creep without creating conflictThe exact question to ask a resistant stakeholder that gets them to buy in — on their own termsHow to separate fact from assumption when your team is stuck in problem-solving modeThis isn't theory. Tiffany walks through a real client scenario where asking the right question changed the outcome of an entire project.If this episode resonated, share it with a PM in your network who needs to hear it — and follow @project43consulting on Instagram for more tools, frameworks, and real talk about what project management actually looks like in the field.

Thinking about transitioning into project management? Before you enroll in another course or sign up for a certification exam, listen to this first.In this 15-minute sprint episode, host Tiffany breaks down the real truth about breaking into project management — the stuff that doesn't show up in study guides or job descriptions. Whether you're leaving corporate, pivoting from marketing, operations, education, or creative work, the experience you already have is more valuable than you think. You just need to know how to position it.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the shift from "doer" to "orchestrator" is the hardest — and most important — mindset change in your PM journeyHow to translate your existing experience into language that hiring managers actually respond toThe one tool you should know before you start applyingWhy jumping straight to the PMP exam could slow you down instead of speed you upThis episode is for the career pivoter who is tired of being told they're not qualified. You've been managing projects. It's time to get paid for it.Follow Tiffany on Instagram @project43consulting for PM tips, behind-the-scenes consulting content, and resources to help you make the pivot with confidence.

In this episode, Tiffany from Project 43 Consulting reflects on her journey through 2025 and sets her intentions for 2026. She shares her transition from contract work to becoming a full-time employee, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she faced along the way. Tiffany expresses her excitement about building a team and creating a staffing agency aimed at helping Black women find job opportunities across various industries. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and her desire to support others in their career journeys.As the conversation progresses, Tiffany discusses the evolving landscape of project management, particularly the increasing interest from individuals in different fields wanting to transition into this area. She warns against rushing into certifications like the PMP without adequate experience, stressing the importance of real-life project management skills. Tiffany also touches on the role of technology, particularly AI, in enhancing project management efficiency and her plans to further integrate these tools into her work. Overall, the episode serves as a motivational call to action for listeners to embrace new opportunities and prepare for the future.00:00 Welcome Back and Setting Intentions01:43 Transitioning to Full-Time Employment03:21 Building a Staffing Agency04:39 Managing Life and Projects06:24 The Growing Interest in Project Management08:31 Understanding the PMP Exam11:05 Integrating AI in Project Management12:52 Encouragement for the Laid Off and Creative Income Ideas14:27 Hobbies and Future Plans for 2026

In this reflective year-end episode, Tiffany shares behind the scenes of her 2025 — from navigating her first full year as a full-time contractor to exploring the realities of being capped at 40 hours versus charging for overtime. She dives into the lessons of working W2 versus C2C, holiday burnout, and her biggest challenge right now. Tiffany also shares what she’s currently reading (F**k Being Humble), how Start with Why shaped her mindset, and her recent discovery of “the Socratic method.” Plus, she highlights her favorite launches of the year, thoughts on Gunna, the WNBA’s glow-up, the Emma Grede x Tracee Ellis Ross podcast, and the brilliance of Ami Colé. To wrap it up, Tiffany gives a peek into her vision for the future of her podcast and what’s next in 2026.

In today's episode, we discuss a well needed summer break and upcoming episodes. In Season 2 you can expect, expert guest appearances to exploring new topics like sports marketing and evergreen content creation, this podcast is your go-to resource for thriving in the PMO landscape. Whether you're a seasoned project manager or just starting out, tune in for authentic conversations, valuable takeaways, and a community that supports your growth. Stay tuned for more episodes that inspire and empower!

In this episode, we explore how the rise of powerhouse artists like Coco Jones, Doechii, and Victoria Monét reflects more than just talent — it’s a masterclass in strategic execution. From album rollouts and tour logistics to brand partnerships and label timelines, the music industry runs on project management. We break down the behind-the-scenes processes that bring an artist’s vision to life, uncover the phases of the project lifecycle in music, and highlight how teams manage risk, stakeholder expectations, and shifting deadlines — all while staying creative. Whether you’re a PM in tech or a music lover with a systems mindset, this episode connects the dots between chart-topping hits and intentional planning.Follow Instagram at www.instagram.com/project43consulting

In this episode of The PMO Playbook, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked—but critical—phases of the project lifecycle: project closure. Whether you’re a PMO leader, project manager, or marketing strategist, wrapping a project with intention sets the tone for sustainable success.We’ll walk through the Topicals Faded campaign—a real-world case study of how a bold beauty brand built community and advocacy through strategic closure, post-launch hypercare, and data-driven reflections. You’ll learn how to: • Capture lessons learned in a way that actually improves the next project • Build a project “hypercare” plan to maintain momentum after launch • Celebrate wins and honor teams without losing steam • Set the stage for long-term growth and brand loyaltyIf you’ve ever hit “complete” on a project and felt unsure what comes next, this episode will give you the strategy, structure, and inspiration to close strong.

In this episode of The PMO Playbook, we’re diving into the Project Execution phase through the lens of one of the most disruptive beauty brands in the world — Fenty Beauty. Learn how Rihanna’s team mastered flawless execution with global product launches, inclusive marketing, and seamless coordination across channels. We’ll break down key execution tactics from the Fenty Beauty Soft’lit Foundation launch, explore team dynamics, and offer practical tools for managing stakeholders, communication, and quality assurance during project delivery. If you’re a PM or PMO leader ready to turn strategy into results, this one’s for you. @project43consulting @thepmoplaybook