Interview: Chris Mielke on AI in Project Leadership
Insights on Navigating the Future of Work, Progress, and Teams
Quick Summary
I “met” Chris first on Substack. I was studying for my PMP exam, and he had a newsletter at the time that delivered two pop quizzes each week with answers and explanations. I quickly learned Chris knew his stuff and was someone I wanted to pay attention to.
He eventually shut that newsletter down to pursue his passion for AI. (Thankfully, after I passed my PMP exam!) But I’ve been keeping up with him ever since. And I think he’s got his finger on the pulse of the intersection between AI and project leadership.
I was looking for the right opportunity to showcase Chris’ genius. I found it and asked him if he had the time and interest to answer my questions. He was—as I’ve always found him—accessible, gracious, and willing to help.
This interview is full of great information. I encourage you to read it more than once—and share it with others.
Tell Us About Chris.
Briefly summarize your journey to project leadership and your work today.
I’ve been a project manager for over 30 years. I went to school for graphic design, worked for small firms where you managed your own projects and worked my way up the ladder to being the head of project management at my current company.
Can you share a brief overview of your background and experience in both AI and project leadership?
I wouldn’t say I’m a leader in project management with AI, but I’m an ardent supporter. I’m certified in CPMAI (Cognitive Project Management for AI), and I’ve taken many courses through LinkedIn or other thought leaders on AI. I try to impart some of this knowledge through my newsletter for any project managers working with AI projects.
How did you first become interested in combining AI with project management?
I’m actually behind the curve with AI. ChatGPT came out in November of 2022, and I started exploring it a year later. I became interested in how AI could benefit project management and discovered the course on CPMAI. After that course I started the newsletter and try to be a vocal advocate for using AI to alleviate the mundane tasks project managers face.
Where can people discover more about your work, writing, and thinking?
I’m trying all sorts of different channels this year besides my newsletter and LinkedIn which is pretty exciting! My newsletter “The AI-Powered Project Manager”, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.
Introduction to AI in Project Leadership
Can you explain what AI is in simple terms, and how it connects to project leadership?
AI is a force multiplier that can be harnessed to help project managers get mind-numbing tasks done so they can get out to lead their teams.
How has the role of AI evolved in the field of project leadership over the last few years?
Hmmm… so, elite project leaders are pushing their teams to learn and use AI to help their projects finish faster, be less chaotic, and get more predictable outcomes.
Transformative Impact of AI
How do you think AI is currently transforming project leadership practices?
Well, for one, it helps you make better decisions. AI looks at tons of past project data, spots patterns, and gives you insight into what’s likely to go wrong—and what to do about it. It eliminates the guesswork. As I mentioned earlier, AI takes care of doing the busywork that invades our day. Scheduling meetings, writing reports, tracking tasks, managing documents—stuff that eats up time. AI should handle it, so you can focus on leading your team.
Could you share an example of a key project leadership task or process that AI has significantly improved?
Risk management has definitely become easier. AI can watch your project in real time, catches problems early, and tells you how to fix them before they blow up in your face. It’s like having radar for your projects.
Benefits of AI in Project Leadership
What are some of the most impactful benefits of using AI in project leadership?
Besides what I’ve already mentioned, AI can keep your team aligned, improve how you assign resources, and learn from past projects to make your next project better.
How can teams, whether large or small, leverage AI to enhance their productivity and decision-making?
Teams should use AI models that have databases. You can upload your project data and then everyone can access it, make comments and ask questions of the model to get answers from documents that may take time to access. The AI model can access that data instantly without searching. It can even craft documents in your voice or tone if you give it enough data. For project leaders with sales and marketing teams, it would be a great advantage.
Are there areas of project leadership that benefit more from AI than others?
Several areas can benefit from AI—resource management and allocation, risk management, stakeholder communications and documentation. AI can alleviate the tedious work that most project leaders dread.
Challenges of Using AI in Project Leadership
Despite its potential, AI adoption comes with challenges. What are some of the biggest hurdles project leaders face when using AI tools?
Right now, very few people know what AI is, and they are unsure how to use the tools. It takes a lot of coaxing and a lot of training to get some people comfortable with AI. Currently, a lot of people diving into AI are first movers, and they are facing a chasm of doubt until the mainstream starts to adopt AI and it becomes common in the workplace.
Do you think there is a fear of AI replacing human roles in project leadership? How should this be addressed?
There is always a fear of change and I think that’s what we’re facing right now. For project leaders, I don’t think they will be replaced by AI. They will find AI will help them in their careers and augment their skills. I think education on the opportunities AI offers is the best way to avoid the trepidation that people have when thinking that AI will replace them in their jobs.
What advice would you give to project leaders who are hesitant to adopt AI?
It’s a cliche, but if you don’t adopt AI, you’ll be replaced by someone who will.
Best Practices for Implementing AI
What steps should an organization take before fully integrating AI into their project leadership processes?
The company needs to look at ROI and the problem they hope to solve by implementing AI. Companies should look at security risks, training programs, and set a roadmap in place for the implementation. Buy-in by upper management is a must.
How important is training for team members to effectively use AI tools, and what strategies would you recommend?
For employees to be able to get great results you need to train them to use the tools. Some consultants are available and offer learning programs on AI similar to taking a course on MS Project or something similar. Also, some employees may learn AI very quickly, and they can help mentor the staff and bring everyone up to speed.
Are there any industry-specific factors to consider when adopting AI for project leadership?
It depends on what industry you are in. Healthcare may have different requirements with HIPAA, financial services may have regulatory requirements, and even manufacturing may have union ramifications when adopting AI. A real leader needs to dig into all the scenarios and look at the big picture.
Future Trends in AI and Project leadership
What emerging AI technologies or applications do you believe will shape the future of project leadership?
AI agents are going to be a big influence in the next few years. Project managers and leaders will have one or more AI agents on their project team working for them to provide data, make predictions and harness risks.
How do you see the balance between human insight and AI-driven automation evolving in the next five to ten years?
Most people forget that AI doesn’t have the creativity and flexibility that is needed for many of these tasks. AI needs to be directed and channeled. Over the next few years, we’ll transition from coders and developers implementing AI functions to the ordinary Joe (or Jane) directing AI with simple commands. But it’s the user that gives the parameters and the goals for the task, not AI.
Are there any upcoming challenges that project managers should prepare for as AI continues to grow in this space?
Project managers fear what they don’t know. I would start learning basic tools for regular recurring tasks. After that, work your way up to no-code or low-code tools that allow you to build simple AI agents or use project management tools with agentic functionality built in. The challenge will be to be knowledgeable about the AI space and understand how to utilize it in your projects.
Personal Perspective and Advice
Based on your experience, what excites you the most about AI's potential in project leadership?
I believe project leaders will have an AI agent that they will be able to bounce ideas off of and get solid input. The agent will be like a co-founder and we’re already seeing apps doing that in the AI space. People even say AI is better than their own human therapists!
If you had to give one piece of advice to project managers looking to adopt AI, what would it be?
I would encourage them to just try one small task with AI this week. Something low-risk but time-consuming. After that success, build on it!
Are there any misconceptions about AI in project leadership that you wish more people were aware of?
AI won’t solve every problem your organization faces. If you are tasked with completing an AI project, you should definitely look at programs like CPMAI to teach you how to manage that project.
AI Is NOT Optional
Chris’s insights reveal a clear and compelling message: embracing AI in project management is no longer just an option; it’s a necessity. AI is transforming how projects are managed by streamlining workflows, improving decision-making, and providing valuable insights from data that would otherwise go unnoticed.
By viewing AI as a tool to augment human skills rather than replace them, project leaders can not only automate repetitive, mundane tasks but also free up their teams to focus on more creative and strategic work. This approach enables leaders to unlock entirely new levels of efficiency and effectiveness, ultimately shaping a more innovative, dynamic, and successful future for their projects and teams.
The integration of AI isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about staying ahead.