AM + PM in Atlanta: lessons, laughs, and leveling up

Last week, I had the privilege of joining David C. Baker, Jenny Plant, and Jonathan Baker for Punctuation’s Leading Your Firm’s Growth With Account and Project Management in Atlanta. This wasn’t just a one-off gathering—David and Jonathan have been hosting this event for years. To be invited in as the project management expert was an honor, and honestly, it was one of the most energizing events I’ve been part of in a long time.

The magic mix

David set the stage in a way only he can—bringing decades of experience and insights from over 30,000 DISC assessments. He showed attendees who account managers and project managers really are, what traits they tend to share, and how the dynamics between those roles play out. It was the perfect foundation for the conversations that followed.

From there, Jenny and I got to build on that base. Jenny’s advice was so sharp and actionable that one attendee used it the very same night in a client dinner and came back to share the story. That’s impact. Together, we helped people not only see themselves in their roles but also feel equipped to grow and lead in new ways.

On day two, Jenny and I teamed up for a joint session that dug into the healthy tension between account and project management. We discussed what each role truly contributes and how, when they work together, both the client experience and project outcomes improve. The room was buzzing with ideas, questions, and the kind of candid stories that make events like this worth it.

My talks

I had the chance to deliver two presentations:

1. The Essentials of Project Management – an updated take on the principles from my book Project Management for Humans, revisited as I dive into writing the second edition. It’s a fresh look at what every PM needs to ground themselves in the work.
2. Leveling Up Your PM Career – a talk designed to inspire attendees to take the next step, become leaders, and focus on what really matters as a project manager.

I’ve pulled together slides, resources, and links from both talks here: Leading Your Firm’s Growth with Account and Project Management.

What’s next

I’m excited to continue collaborating with Jenny and David on this important topic. The intersection of account and project management is one of the most important—and often overlooked—topics in agencies today. Helping people in both roles level up and work better together is work I want to keep doing.

Alongside this, I’m hard at work on the second edition of Project Management for Humans, and I’ll continue speaking at events and teaching PMs who want to grow as leaders. On that note, check out these events and join me in-person or online:

TL;DR - The AM-PM Seminar was a blast: David brought the research, Jenny brought the actionable advice, and I brought the PM perspective. Together, we helped attendees see themselves in their roles and gave them tools to level up. I’m grateful for the collaboration, excited to keep it going, and already looking forward to more opportunities to help PMs and AMs thrive—on stage, in workshops, and in the next edition of my book.