How Project Leaders Can Run Projects Like Founders

The Digital Project Manager

Project delivery leads at agencies and consultancies are being called to do more than just manage timelines and budgets—they’re being tapped to think like business leaders. But how do you actually make that leap from tactical execution to strategic influence? Galen sits down with Mark Orttung (CEO of Projectworks) and Pam Butkowski (SVP of Delivery at Horizontal Digital) to unpack the real shifts in mindset, behaviors, and expectations that define this evolution.

They explore what “thinking like a founder” really means in a delivery context, why hybrid roles are becoming the norm, and how to identify who’s ready to step up. Whether you’re trying to grow your own career or help your team level up, this conversation brings clarity to a path that’s often vague and unspoken.

Resources from this episode:

• Join DPM Membership
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
• Connect with Pam and Mark on LinkedIn
• Check out Horizontal Digital and Projectworks
• Mark’s podcast: The Z Suite

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1. Why Level Up PMs Now (00:00:00)

2. Trusted Partner Drives New Work (00:01:13)

3. Panel And Purpose Set (00:03:13)

4. Stories Of Rapid Promotions (00:05:26)

5. Mindset Shifts Beyond The Iron Triangle (00:08:18)

6. The Case For Strategic PMs (00:12:16)

7. Delivery Plus Sales Hybrid Roles (00:15:18)

8. Client Retention As A Growth Lever (00:19:27)

9. Growth Eases Everything (00:22:47)

10. Signals Leaders Watch For (00:25:45)

11. EQ, Empathy, And Reading The Room (00:29:05)

12. From Project To Enterprise Puzzle (00:31:55)

13. Role Elevation And Backfilling (00:35:25)

14. Hybrid Expectations Are Here To Stay (00:38:25)

15. Broader Perspective Earlier In Careers (00:42:05)