
James Lea
Project and Programme Manager
James Lea is a consulting project and programme manager with an unusual background: he has a severe hearing impairment bordering on a profound loss.
Throughout life James has overcome the challenges of disability, preferring instead to think of himself as 'differently able'. Adopting an anti-fragile approach (thriving on adversity), he draws strength from a diverse perspective on working life.
James' thinking is based upon the intersection of culture, teams, projects, science and lean engineering. He has published articles on a range of topics, including data-driven project management, applied AI, project physics, and language in projects. He has presented widely to APM chapters and professional groups. In James' view "there is always a better way".
This talk is a part of that conversation: to help us all think differently so we can access the benefits a diverse team brings.
Speaker synopsis
How a diverse project team can bring extra benefits (and how to get them)
Are you getting the best out of your team? Are you recognising and benefiting from diversity?
Starting with a personal story and a thought-provoking demonstration, James will show how, with insight and empathy you can benefit enormously from diversity in your teams. We all have a story to share, and diverse stories need us to give them a stage.
In this highly interactive session we will explore how to recognise and maximise the benefits of diversity in our teams. By equipping ourselves with a diversity-aware mindset, we can make our projects more successful.