About Brett Harned
Project management made human.
I’m Brett Harned—project management coach, operations and delivery leader, speaker, and author of Project Management for Humans. With more than 20 years of experience helping teams work better, I’ve learned one thing over and over:
You can’t lead projects if you ignore the people doing the work.
That belief is at the core of everything I do. My approach is practical, not precious. Personal, not prescriptive. Real talk, not rigid frameworks. Whether I’m helping a team fix delivery issues, coaching a burned-out PM, or stepping into a leadership role, the goal is always the same: build systems that support the humans behind the work.
What I do
- Operations & delivery leadership for agencies and growing teams
- Consulting to improve project delivery, team alignment, and communication
- 1:1 coaching for project managers and leaders
- Workshops & speaking on project management, leadership, and team culture
Everything I offer is grounded in real-world experience—not theory—and tailored to your organization, not someone else’s template.
What I’m known for
- Author of Project Management for Humans (Rosenfeld Media), used by thousands of project managers worldwide
- 20+ years leading projects, teams, and operations in digital, agency, and tech environments
- Former VP of Project Management at Happy Cog and Senior PM at Razorfish
- Founder of the Digital PM Summit and early builder of the global DPM community
- Speaker at more than 100 events worldwide
How I can help
If your team is struggling with:
- unclear roles and responsibilities
- inconsistent delivery or missed expectations
- communication breakdowns
- growing pains as you scale
- burnout, frustration, or lack of alignment
I can help you stabilize, improve, and move forward—with systems that actually work for your team.
Let’s work together
If you’re looking for someone who can help your team move forward—with strategy, sanity, and just the right amount of snark—get in touch. I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brett Harned?
I’m a project management consultant, coach, and operations leader with more than 20 years of experience working with agencies, startups, and in-house teams. I help organizations improve how they plan, deliver, and collaborate—without overcomplicating the work.
Why do people call you the “Godfather of Digital Project Management”?
The nickname came from peers in the industry. I co-founded the first Digital PM Summit and helped build the Bureau of Digital’s DPM community. Over time, through writing, speaking, and coaching, I became known as one of the early voices shaping modern digital project management.
What is the Digital Project Management (DPM) community?
The DPM community is a global network of project managers working in creative, tech, and digital organizations. It started as a conference I helped create and grew into a worldwide community with meetups, events, and online groups. The community has become a go-to space for PMs who want practical advice, support, and career development.
What kind of work do you do now?
I focus on operations leadership, consulting, and coaching. I work with organizations that need to improve delivery, align teams, and build stronger systems. That can include stepping in as a fractional Head of Operations or Delivery, advising leadership, or coaching individuals.
Do you work with individuals or only with companies?
Both. I coach individual leaders and project managers, and I also partner with organizations to improve team performance, delivery, and operations.
Do you speak at events?
Yes. I speak on human-centered project management, leadership, team alignment, and navigating change. My talks are practical, honest, and grounded in real experience. Get in touch if you'd like to hire me to speak at your event.
How can I work with you?
The easiest way is to reach out through this site to schedule a conversation. We’ll talk about what you need and figure out if I’m the right fit. If you’re not ready yet, you can follow my writing, subscribe to my newsletter, or listen to my podcast The High Five to get a feel for my approach.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Outside of work, I love exploring the outdoors, traveling, music, and photography. I’m based near Philadelphia and spend a lot of time staying active, going to concerts, and finding great vegetarian food. These things don’t show up in my résumé, but they shape how I connect with people and how I lead.