From Operations To Strategy: HR’s Pivot To Project-Led Transformation with Karla Eidem

Episode notes

Strategy beats panic when work changes this fast. We sit down with Karla Eidem, North American Regional Managing Director at the Project Management Institute , to explore how HR can turn AI disruption into a springboard for skills, execution, and meaningful outcomes. From facts over fear to practical, lightweight tools, we walk through the moves that help teams adapt with less noise and more impact. Karla breaks down the PMI Talent Triangle—power skills, ways of working, and business acumen—and shows why these capabilities now matter across every HR function. We dig into skills-based hiring, internal mobility, and creating early-career on-ramps when routine tasks are automated. If you’ve ever run a “meeting for everyone with no one accountable,” you’ll get immediate value from simple project tools like a team register, a sharp charter, and a clear cadence that turns ambition into action. We also tackle the tough questions about AI: where it helps, where it can’t, and how HR should evaluate tools to truly capture value. Karla shares field stories, including leading a COVID-19 vaccine rollout, to illustrate how project management provides structure in ambiguity.