A Grandfather of the PMP: Lee Lambert's Project Management Journey
Tue Sep 30 2025
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In this episode:
Lee Lambert, the self-described "grandfather of the PMP" and last living founder of the certification from 1984, brings his wealth of experience and trademark humor to this enlightening conversation about project management's past, present, and future.
From humble beginnings with just 39 certified professionals in its first year to today's 1.7 million PMPs worldwide, Lee traces the remarkable evolution of project management certification. His own journey proves there's no single path to success in this field - starting in drafting and engineering before volunteering to train 300 engineers on earned value management, which launched his career in project management.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Lee recounts leading a $300-400 million annual project to determine nuclear waste storage locations in the 1980s. This massive undertaking required navigating complex technical, environmental, and political landscapes - providing him with invaluable real-world experience that shaped his understanding of effective project management.
Today, Lee channels his passion into promoting the Pure Project Manager credential, which he sees as the perfect practical complement to the theory-based PMP. With 29 diverse courses covering everything from communication to creativity to risk management, the credential helps project managers translate book knowledge into actionable skills. As Lee puts it, "How does all that stuff I learned, the jargon, translate into better project management?"
Throughout our conversation, Lee emphasizes the critical importance of risk management - especially with today's AI tools that can dramatically improve risk identification and mitigation. His insights on networking, professional growth, and finding your path in project management are invaluable for practitioners at any stage of their career. When asked how someone can know if project management is right for them, Lee offers straightforward wisdom: "Until you do it, you won't know."
Episode Links:
Connect with Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lelambert/Take your next step with the PURE Project Management Credential: https://www.puremanagementalliance.com/#675860292cf36
PM-Mastery Links:
For a full podcast episode list, visit here: PM-Mastery Podcast Episodes. For a full list of blog posts, go here: PM-Mastery Blog Posts Become a PURE PM: https://pm-mastery.com/pure Check out Instructing.com for all your PM course needs: https://www.instructing.com/?ref=bd5e5c Get your free PDU Tracker here: https://pm-mastery.com/resource_links/
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Send us a text In this episode: Lee Lambert, the self-described "grandfather of the PMP" and last living founder of the certification from 1984, brings his wealth of experience and trademark humor to this enlightening conversation about project management's past, present, and future. From humble beginnings with just 39 certified professionals in its first year to today's 1.7 million PMPs worldwide, Lee traces the remarkable evolution of project management certification. His own journey proves there's no single path to success in this field - starting in drafting and engineering before volunteering to train 300 engineers on earned value management, which launched his career in project management. The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Lee recounts leading a $300-400 million annual project to determine nuclear waste storage locations in the 1980s. This massive undertaking required navigating complex technical, environmental, and political landscapes - providing him with invaluable real-world experience that shaped his understanding of effective project management. Today, Lee channels his passion into promoting the Pure Project Manager credential, which he sees as the perfect practical complement to the theory-based PMP. With 29 diverse courses covering everything from communication to creativity to risk management, the credential helps project managers translate book knowledge into actionable skills. As Lee puts it, "How does all that stuff I learned, the jargon, translate into better project management?" Throughout our conversation, Lee emphasizes the critical importance of risk management - especially with today's AI tools that can dramatically improve risk identification and mitigation. His insights on networking, professional growth, and finding your path in project management are invaluable for practitioners at any stage of their career. When asked how someone can know if project management is right for them, Lee offers straightforward wisdom: "Until you do it, you won't know." Episode Links: Connect with Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lelambert/Take your next step with the PURE Project Management Credential: https://www.puremanagementalliance.com/#675860292cf36 PM-Mastery Links: For a full podcast episode list, visit here: PM-Mastery Podcast Episodes. For a full list of blog posts, go here: PM-Mastery Blog Posts Become a PURE PM: https://pm-mastery.com/pure Check out Instructing.com for all your PM course needs: https://www.instructing.com/?ref=bd5e5c Get your free PDU Tracker here: https://pm-mastery.com/resource_links/