5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
Detajet e Kanalit
5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
Since 2007, Ricardo Vargas publishes the 5 Minutes Podcast where he addresses in a quick and practical way the main topics on project, portfolio and risk management.
Episode të Fundit
746 episode
The Truth Behind Fake AI Projects: Understanding AI Washing
In this episode, Ricardo discusses AI washing, a growing trend where organizations falsely claim to use artificial intelligence. Similar to greenwashi...
The Future Has Arrived: The Second Global Research on AI in Project Management
In this episode, Ricardo announces the release of the second global research on AI in project management, co-authored with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez. Co...
The Mega Power of Nano Projects
In this episode, Ricardo introduces the concept of nano projects: ultra-short, highly focused initiatives lasting just a few days, designed to generat...
Is Agile Still Enough in the Face of AI’s Speed?
In this episode, Ricardo questions whether Agile is still sufficient in the face of the speed of artificial intelligence. Created in 2001, the Agile M...
AI: Reducing Risks or Creating New Challenges?
In this week's episode, Ricardo questions whether artificial intelligence (AI) actually reduces project risks or creates new ones. While it helps pred...
How Many Broken Windows Are You Tolerating in Your Project?
In this week's episode, Ricardo explains the "broken windows" theory, which originated in criminology, and how it applies to project management. The c...
What to Do When Everything in the Project Goes Right and No One Notices
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the concept of "silent success" in projects. Managers often highlight dramatic stories: impossible deadlines met, s...
5 AI Tools for Projects You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
In this episode, Ricardo introduces five lesser-known AI tools that can transform project management. The first is Study Fetch, which creates personal...
Ignoring the Signs Is Costly: The Art of Seeing Red Flags in Projects
In this episode, Ricardo Vargas talks about the importance of recognizing and acting on early warning signs — the famous red flags — before small issu...
Project Delivered, Relevance Lost: When Reality Outpaces Your Scope
In this episode, Ricardo explores the paradox of projects that were executed with excellence — on time, on budget, and within the original scope — but...
General-Purpose AI in the Spotlight: What the EU AI Act Means for Your Projects
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of the AI Act, the European regulation on artificial intelligence (General-Purpose AI models). The law,...
Cut the Talk, Keep the Impact: 5 Tips for Better Meetings in the times of AI
In this episode, Ricardo shares five tips to optimize meetings. First, keep them short and focused—long calls often waste time. Second, ask if a meeti...
Leadership in Crisis: 3 Lessons for Projects from the Astronomer Case
In this episode, Ricardo discusses a case involving the CEO of Astronomer, who was caught with a subordinate during a concert, leading to both of thei...
In the Eye of the Storm: How to Stay Calm Amid Uncertainty
In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of staying calm when everything seems out of control. He shares eight practical tips for dealing w...
Not Every Project Has to Be Straight: The Magic of Frank Gehry
In this episode, Ricardo visits the Marqués de Riscal winery, highlighting the hotel designed by Frank Gehry as an example of creativity outside the b...
The Fear That Sabotages Your Projects — And How to Overcome It
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of fear on project management and the role of psychological safety in transforming fear into positive an...
When the Brazilian Way Becomes a Trap: The Risk of Normalizing Improvisation
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the “Jeitinho Brasileiro” — the Brazilian way of solving problems creatively, often with limited resources. While t...
According to PwC, AI Has Already Changed the Game — And You Can’t Keep Playing in the Past
In this episode, Ricardo discusses insights from PwC’s 2024 AI Jobs Barometer, analyzing 500 million job postings across 15 countries. He shows that A...
The Cost of Hurry: How Speed Undermines Project Quality
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the dangers of prioritizing speed over strategy in project management. He says that being agile means adapting and...
Why Earned Value Still Matters — Even with AI
In this episode, Ricardo talks about the ongoing importance of earned value analysis in project management. Despite advancements in AI, real-time dash...
The Rise of AI Agents in Project Work
In this episode, Ricardo discusses how AI Agents are transforming project management. Unlike traditional tools, these agents are autonomous, understan...
How to Protect Your Project by Saying “No”
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the challenge of saying “no” in project management, a struggle for many who aim to help. He warns that each impulsi...
The End of Skype and the Life Cycles of Projects
In this episode, Ricardo reflects on the end of Skype's cycle. Created in 2003 in Estonia, the application revolutionized online communication, allowi...
Stanford’s AI Index Report: 11 Key Takeaways for Project Leaders
The AI Index Report 2025, published annually by Stanford University, is a key global reference that tracks the progress, trends, and impact of artific...
Same risk. Three opinions. Who’s right?
In this episode, Ricardo explores the concept of “Risk Lensing”, the idea that risk is shaped by individual perceptions rather than objective data. He...
Simplicity at Work: John Maeda’s 10 Laws for Project Clarity in 5 Minutes
In this episode of the 5 Minutes Podcast, Ricardo explores John Maeda’s Ten Laws of Simplicity as a guide for project managers seeking focus, flow, an...
Moving Forward When a Negotiation is Stuck
In this episode, Ricardo discusses how to handle stalled negotiations, using the U.S.–China trade tensions as a case study. He highlights that project...
Five Project Tips to Navigate Trade Tariffs and Uncertainty
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of tariffs and global trade tensions on project management. He shares five practical tips: (1) Review in...
My #1 Tip to Spot a Troubled Project Before It's Too Late
In this episode, Ricardo emphasizes the importance of monitoring corporate support in projects. Projects often start with enthusiasm, but as challenge...
How Vibe Coding Will Completely Transform Project Management in Software Development
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the impact of Vibe Coding, an approach where generative AI writes code based on natural language commands. He highl...
Quantum Computer, Privacy, Biotech Projects, LLM and AGI: The Future Ahead of Us at SXSW 2025 in Austin Part 2/2
In this second episode of the SXSW series, Ricardo shares insights from South by Southwest, highlighting three major trends: (1) the evolution of arti...
Biological Computers, AGI, Living Intelligence: The Future Ahead of Us at SXSW 2025 in Austin
Ricardo recorded this special 5 Minutes Podcast from SXSW in Austin, Texas, where he explores AI and technology trends in project management. Key insi...
Stop Complaining About Your Project: Less Whining, More Winning
In this episode, Ricardo discusses excessive complaining in project management, explaining that it hinders progress. He highlights the need to shift f...
Why Can Feedback Make or Break Projects?
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the importance of effective feedback in project management, emphasizing that poor feedback can be harmful. He highl...
Managing Projects in Chaos: 5 Practical Tips for Project Leaders
In this episode, Ricardo discusses how to manage projects in chaos, inspired by a conversation with Oleg Konovalov. He highlights how noise distorts r...
Why Project Sponsorship is One of The TOP Reasons for Project Failure
In this podcast, Ricardo discusses how many project failures are due not to technical issues, budgets, or deadlines but to weak project sponsorship. A...
Using What-if Analysis to Manage Projects in Extremely Volatile Scenarios
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the importance of what-if analysis in navigating volatile scenarios, such as geopolitical changes or unexpected p...
DeepSeek: How a small Chinese start-up Shocked Silicon Valley and May Reshape Entirely AI Projects
In this episode, Ricardo talks about DeepSeek, a groundbreaking AI application from a small Chinese startup. Unlike other AI models, DeepSeek was trai...
How the WEF Global Risk Report 2025 Shapes the Future of Our Projects
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025. Released annually, this report highlights the most pressing gl...
How to Make and Live with Imperfect Decisions in Projects
In this episode of the #5minpodcast, Ricardo discusses a challenge every project manager faces: making and living with imperfect decisions. He explain...