About The Presentation

Successful project delivery begins long before a kickoff meeting. When teams take time to define ideas, evaluate intake requests, and align stakeholders up front, they lay the groundwork for smoother execution and stronger outcomes. Yet in fast-paced environments, these early stages are often rushed or overlooked.

This session explores the full project lifecycle through the lens of early investment. Attendees will learn how dedicating time to ideation, intake, chartering, and pre-planning improves decision-making, minimizes risk, and leads to better delivery performance. Grounded in PMI principles, the session provides practical steps for building workflows that connect strategy to execution and closure.

Learning Objectives:

1. The value of ideation and intake as strategic phases; not just administrative steps

2. Techniques for improving project clarity and stakeholder alignment before kickoff

3. How solid pre-planning supports WBS development, scheduling, and execution

4. Approaches for closing the loop with lessons learned and portfolio visibility

5. Ways to elevate the project manager’s role as a strategic facilitator

About Matthew Sparkes

Mathew Sparkes is Director of Sales and Business Development at Project Insight.

He works closely with growing companies to understand their project management challenges and identify the right solution. With more than two decades of experience spanning Fortune 100s to SaaS startups, Mathew brings deep expertise in consultative sales, CRM integration, and project operations. He’s known for delivering measurable results, building scalable sales systems, and creating environments where teams thrive. Mathew leads with clarity, structure, and a deep commitment to client success, helping businesses streamline work, gain visibility, and scale with confidence.