A risk register doesn’t save a project. Leadership does. Russ Parker joins me to get brutally practical about what “risk management” looks like when it’s more than a checkbox: leaders defining risk appetite, teams building the habit of talking about threats and opportunities, and project managers turning uncertainty into decisions executives can actually approve.

We dig into how to start risk identification with evidence instead of a blank page. Russ shares why people and lessons learned are the best data sources, how the military’s lessons learned culture creates repeatable planning advantages, and how any organization can build a searchable lessons learned repository. We also talk about where AI for project managers fits right now: speeding up risk lists, meeting minutes, and research while still requiring human review to catch hallucinations and context gaps.

If you’re thinking about the PMI-RMP certification, we cover when it’s a logical next step after the PMP, why it feels harder, and the mistakes candidates make when they assume it’s “just projects” or “just a risk register.” You’ll also hear actionable tools like the risk breakdown structure, how to prioritize with proximity, not only probability and impact, and how to handle stakeholders who resist risk planning by showing measurable value in cost, schedule, and waste avoided.

If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a PM who’s tired of fire drills, and leave a quick review so more project managers can find the show.

Episode Links:

Connect with Russell on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/russ-parker
Russell's Website: https://44riskpm.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@44riskpm
Check out the blog post: https://pm-mastery.com/how-to-build-a-risk-system-that-works/

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