About Brett Harned

Project management made human.

I’m Brett Harned—project management coach, operations consultant, 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 heart of Project Management for Humans—not just a book, but a way of working. It’s practical, not precious. Personal, not prescriptive. Real talk, not rigid frameworks. Whether I’m helping a team fix its process or coaching a burned-out PM, the goal is always the same: create systems that support the humans behind the work.

Let's chat

What I do now:

1:1 coaching for leaders and PMs who want to lead with confidence
Consulting for teams who need better systems and communication
Fractional leadership for organizations in transition
Speaking and workshops on project management, team culture, and leadership

Everything I offer is grounded in experience—not theory—and tailored to your context, not someone else’s template. It’s all part of what I call Project Management for Humans.

Other things you might want to know:

I’m the author of Project Management for Humans (Rosenfeld Media), which has helped thousands of people manage the work and the humans behind it.
I’ve spoken at more than 100 conferences and events (and I still get nervous every time).
I co-founded Same Team Partners, a content platform focused on honest leadership and the emotional reality of work.
I host a podcast called The High Five where we talk about the weird, wonderful ways teams operate.
I believe in trust over templates, clarity over chaos, and leading with empathy—even when it’s hard.

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.

Let's meet

On the side

I like to find fun in everything I do, whether that's digging into complex workflow and finding issues, exploring a National Park with my family, running a conference, or sweating my bodyweight on the Peloton bike. My life and work are balanced by experiences that bring me joy, both at home and at work...which also happens to be at home.

Before the iPhone, I considered myself an amateur photographer. I rarely get the DSLR out anymore, but I still love to take and share photos. Especially when exploring. Some of my favorites are below.