Problem? No problem! How Our Experienced Consultants Kept a Client’s New Investment Build on Track
Challenge
Background: A major financial services company received initial approval for a risky set of investments that customers had been requesting. With market need and high-level operational questions answered, it was time to start implementation.
Key Challenges:
Coordinating 10 different internal departments
Managing the company’s risk-and-control environment
Mitigating risks and communicating honestly with senior managers
The company needed experienced program and project managers who could oversee the process. They found exactly who they needed in Blu Pagoda/Collabry’s Michelle Caldwell and Jeanne Bratlien, who had nearly 55 combined years in the financial industry.
Action
Plan: Michelle and Jeanne mapped out a plan and identified early challenges: The project required input from 40 departments, would take five years to complete, and needed more funds than estimated.
Implementation: They delivered the news with a list of cost-management strategies, including:
Ongoing communication with teams about monitoring spend
Enhanced tracking and frequent check-ins with work owners
Negotiations with vendors and stakeholders to reduce costs by $200,000
Eight months into the project, the company faced a round of layoffs. Michelle and Jeanne adapted by:
Coaching staff to request only critical work
Holding kickoff meetings to update groups on revised deadlines
Creating a project handbook and structured onboarding for a new leader
Team Involved:
Michelle Caldwell, Project Manager
Jeanne Bratlien, Project Manager
Client’s internal departments
Results
Outcomes: Despite several roadblocks, Michelle and Jeanne successfully managed the project with exceptional management, clear communication and a collaborative spirit. They maintained progress and prepared the completed product for final approval. As they wrapped up their work, the staff contacts vowed to bring them back for their next big project. Two weeks later, the project leader reached out with a new initiative and the question: “Could Michelle and Jeanne come back and take it on?”
The answer? See you tomorrow.
“I love working with both of them. They’re attentive listeners and keen on seeing through the fog of this project. They both are so professional and are helping us to move the ball forward. They are helping to keep track of 10,000 deliverables! I’d welcome any chance to work with them!”
“I love tackling ambitious projects that include strategy, processes and people. As a team, Jeanne and I were not only able to navigate the complexities of this project but to bring others along. We all shared a sense of ‘we’re in this together.’”
“Taking on a multifaceted project involving strategy, people, processes, and technology can be challenging, and collaboration is essential for success. Together, Michelle and I fostered a collaborative environment that enabled teams to work together effectively and swiftly resolve issues. Ultimately, this kept the project on track and provided better outcomes for our client. ”