Does your organization currently leverage or have a need for program managers? Have you wondered what sets them apart from project managers? These strategic operators are increasingly becoming the lynchpin for transformation across industries—from retail and tech to financial services. Why? Because they bring the structure, strategic lens, and executional muscle needed to lead complex, high-impact initiatives.

So, what do program managers really do, and how is their role different from a project manager?

While project managers typically focus on delivering specific outputs or deliverables, program managers operate at a higher strategic level. They guide interconnected efforts, drive broader business outcomes, and ensure all the moving parts align to the bigger picture.

Effective program managers help organizations navigate transformation by aligning stakeholders, bridging the gap between vision and execution, and laying the groundwork for continuous improvement. Their efforts center around:

• • Strategic Alignment: Translating a vision into action through plans, playbooks, and roadmaps.
  • Hands-on Execution: Managing progress, streamlining communication, and keeping teams informed and moving forward.
  • Driving Results: Connecting workstreams, tracking metrics, and refining strategies in real time.

Whether it’s launching a global learning campaign in multiple countries or orchestrating a post-merger integration, program managers keep the big picture in focus—while making sure the details don’t slip.

What sets them apart is how they activate three critical levers:

• • Stakeholder Alignment: Building trust, engaging leadership, and anticipating emerging needs.
  • Project Management: Overseeing timelines, dependencies, and data-driven decisions across workstreams and initiatives.
  • Change & Communications: Helping people understand, engage with, and adopt change.

Ready to learn how great program managers make a difference?

Watch our webinar recording featuring expert program managers who discuss the transformative potential of program management. Discover how integrating program management into your organization can help you drive strategic alignment, enhance risk management, and master change management.