What Project Managers Can Learn from EMTs

What Project Managers Can Learn from EMTs

Author: Kevin Pannell May 27, 2025 Duration: 16:07

Welcome to the second full episode in our All-Hazards Project Management series, What Project Managers Can Learn from EMTs. In this episode, we apply a trauma checklist used in emergency medicine—DCAP-BTLS—to assess and stabilize failing projects.

Strategies shared include:

  • Weekly workload balancing
  • Stakeholder alignment checkpoints
  • RACI ownership clarifications
  • Real-world triage questions for team check-ins

People first. Combined process. Progress together.


Kevin Pannell has operated in environments where a single decision carries immense weight. As a former Navy Hospital Corpsman in critical care, a Firefighter/EMT, and now an Enterprise IT PMO leader, he’s learned that meticulous plans are only as good as the moment they fall apart. His People, Process, Progress podcast explores what happens next. This isn't theoretical management advice; it's a deep dive into the frameworks that actually function under pressure. Each episode draws direct lines between the sterile intensity of an ICU, the unpredictable chaos of a 911 call, and the complex political landscapes of modern corporate projects. You'll hear concrete stories and dissected strategies about guiding teams through uncertainty, adapting processes in real time, and finding a path forward when the expected one vanishes. The conversations are built on a simple, powerful premise: true progress isn't about avoiding failure, but about mastering your response to it. For anyone leading teams, managing careers, or simply interested in the mechanics of decisive action, this podcast offers a rare, grounded perspective. Tune in for honest discussions on resilience, leadership, and the practical tools that turn breakdowns into breakthroughs.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Own. Move. Anchor. with Kevin Pannell
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