PARTNER’S CONSULTING HOSTS EXCLUSIVE PMO DIRECTOR’S DINNER TO FOSTER INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

July 7, 2025

Partner’s Consulting, a woman-owned business recognized for delivering top-tier contingent resources to Fortune 500 companies managing complex technology initiatives, hosted an exclusive PMO Director’s Dinner at Independence LIVE in Philadelphia. The invite-only event brought together Portfolio and Project Management (PPM) leaders from some of the region’s largest corporations, including Independence Blue Cross, Johnson & Johnson, Penn Medicine, and SJI, for an evening of open dialogue, idea exchange, and peer-driven insight.

Founded by President Peggy Gionta, Partner’s Consulting has built a reputation not just for its consulting excellence but also for creating spaces where industry leaders can connect without the pressure of sales or solicitation.

“I wanted to create a space where delivery leaders could speak freely—no sales pitches, no hidden agendas—just real conversations about real challenges,” said Ms. Gionta. “These meetups are about sharing strategies, lessons learned, and building a stronger network of professionals who are facing similar shifts in technology, methodologies, and business priorities.”

Robin Trauger, PMO Manager from SJI said, “We have such a great mix of people who attend these dinners, and I really enjoy hearing different perspectives on the challenges we’re all working through.”

The evening featured a keynote presentation by Johnson & Johnson Technology Senior Director, Isaac LaMothe, focusing on leading enterprise transformation through evolved PMO strategies. His talk centered around how PMOs are being positioned as transformation engines, not just governance hubs. Key themes included:

• Using design thinking to unify large enterprise teams
• Shifting focus from outputs to outcomes
• Defining and measuring behavioral change as a core part of value delivery

“Focus on value—what does the customer care about? That’s the true north,” Isaac emphasized. “Design thinking keeps the human element at the center of any product or project. If you can’t demonstrate the behavior change you’re driving, the outcome is incomplete.”

Ms. Gionta praised the session, stating, “Isaac is a dynamic speaker with deep expertise in transformation. His insights into how Johnson & Johnson navigates change resonated with everyone in the room. He highlighted challenges we’re all facing—and that made for some truly rich conversation.”

Mr. LaMothe also addressed the evolving role of artificial intelligence in project delivery. His segment on “Leaning into AI in the EPMO” covered leveraging AI for predictive analytics, decision-making, and performance feedback, differentiating Big AI vs. Small AI approaches, and practical discussions around AI governance and risk management.

“Some organizations are cautiously adopting AI,” he noted. “The key is finding ways to harness its potential responsibly while ensuring an enterprise’s information security and trust.”

PMO and EPMO directors and leaders from DLL, NBME and Cooper University Healthcare also contributed to the discussion, offering their insights into innovation, long-range planning, and how Artificial Intelligence will shape certain aspects of project management over the next several years.

For information about attending or sponsoring a Partner’s Consulting PMO Director’s Dinner, please contact Katie Kelly at kkelly@partners-consulting.com.

Partner’s Consulting is the first and only woman-owned project leadership company that helps enterprises meet the changing demands of technology. Based in the Philadelphia area and delivering nationally, the company specializes in providing IT Project and Program Leadership resources, such as Project, Product, Portfolio and Program Managers, Agile Scrum Masters and Business Analysts, to oversee large-scale technology projects for Fortune 500 corporations across the country since 2006. As a nationally certified WBE, Partner’s Consulting supports initiatives and organizations that provide STEM educational opportunities for students, especially including girls, and underserved communities, to develop skills for future IT leadership roles.