What matters to us
ExtraordinaryPM places mastery in leadership and people skills at the heart of project and programme management.
What matters to us is to leave a legacy that elevates people and leadership skills within the profession of project management.
We run a series of courses based on a robust, proven framework and an expansive set of supporting resources for anybody working in and around projects. We are also acclaimed for our thought leadership work, particularly in challenging conventional views of project and programme management.
Our Purpose
We want to leave a legacy in the world of project management, by elevating people and leadership skills to hold equal importance alongside the technical skill set traditionally held by project and programme managers. As experienced project professionals, we know that while technical skills are essential, it is ultimately people that deliver projects.
- Supporting individuals and organisations through a leadership framework, with a people-focussed approach that enhances, improves and facilitates the successful delivery of a project
- Empowering project managers to become truly fulfilled and recognised as highly skilled professionals and respected leaders
- Establishing a better understanding of project management as a profession and discipline that brings integrity and critical value to businesses today
Our Vision
To inspire fellow project managers to develop essential skills that will not only empower them to grow in their role, but also enhance their professional reputation.
To deliver a project management ethos synonymous with leadership skills and a people-focused approach.
To be the go-to “applied approach” for achieving project management excellence.
Our Values
Always Curious in our ethos and approach
Building a strong Community
Providing Authentic mastery and insights
With a focus on Simplicity and ease of Understanding
Nurturing individuals to realise their full potential
What makes us different?
Built upon decades of hands-on project experience and practical know-how, the simple, structured framework of ExtraordinaryPM enables you to take multiple views of your project – from a strategic bird’s eye view, right down to the real nuts and bolts. We will encourage you to get curious and use a blend of leadership and management tools to achieve success.
Managing the rich mix of people and relationships that you encounter in most projects is not easy, which makes project management in the real world demanding, frustrating, and often stressful – but never dull! We have lived and breathed these challenges for over 30 years, so we’ve specifically designed the ExtraordinaryPM framework to help you to view projects through a different lens.
Enhancing your effectiveness
ExtraordinaryPM works hand-in-glove with more technical project management tools to deliver human mastery. Using tangible, real-world examples, we show you how to harness a tool kit of highly effective techniques, which can be applied to your situations for greater success.
Traditional project management methodologies, including PRINCE2 and Agile, are the essential foundation of any project management skill set. There are plenty of excellent courses out there that focus on these methodologies, so we don’t teach them. Instead, we will coach and mentor you through our framework, which we know enhances your effectiveness by focusing on the human and leadership aspects of project management.
Learn more about our approach and framework >>
Who is ExtraordinaryPM?
Marion Thomas is the driving force behind ExtraordinaryPM. As a Chartered Project Professional and a Fellow of the Association for Project Management, Marion’s main aim is to raise the profile and standing of project management as a qualified profession.
The ExtraordinaryPM Mastery Programme was born from Marion’s boundless energy and enthusiasm for her profession, and expertly developed by combining her extensive cross-sector expertise with leading-edge learnings and techniques in leadership and people skills.
On top of her substantial project management credentials, Marion has also invested heavily in her own personal development, particularly in the areas of leadership and coaching. Drawing on this mastery of multiple disciplines, Marion has integrated experience, insight and deep understanding to create a truly unique project management framework.
Marion is supported by a small team of specialists and doers, affectionately referred to as the “ExtraordinaryHQ “.
Meet Marion
Marion is sought after for her ability to get 20% more from a project team through her leadership and people skills. She is on a mission to help other project managers do the same so that they can feel more fulfilled and their projects are more likely to be successful. Marion has a wide breadth of experience which she now shares through the ExtraordinaryPM courses.
Marion on ExtraordinaryPM:
“My clients tell me I am the Mary Poppins of Project Management and I want to share the magic with you. On our courses we explore how to get things done in organisations, lead teams to deliver above and beyond what might seem impossible, and not get bogged down or distracted when there is a project to deliver. This isn’t just about showing up to a Zoom call – this is experiential learning where we encourage, empower and mentor you to put your insights into use straight away. If you want a course you can leave on the shelf then this is not for you!”
Marion is Director of ExtraordinaryPM, a Chartered Project Professional and a Fellow of the Association for Project Management and a Certified Co-Active Coach.
Outside of ExtraordinaryPM:
Outside of her ExtraordinaryPM commitments, Marion is busy writing her first book “Withdrawn”, which is the story of the toughest project she ever managed – supporting and caring for her husband who had MND. She is a volunteer for the Association for Project Management, particularly in the area of events management. She can be found speaking on various platforms on the many leadership aspects of project management. Marion is a Certified Co-Active Coach and undertook her coach and leadership training with the Coaches Training Institute (California).
In Marion’s spare time, she plays bassoon in three amateur orchestras, enjoys the theatre and musicals, grows vegetables in her garden and likes to play Carcassonne online.
Project Management Experience
- Approach: Leading business transformation projects from the front, side and back and naming the elephant in the room
- Sectors: Manufacturing, Engineering, IT, Telecomms and Digital TV, Financial Services, Public Sector (MoJ, MoD, Home Office, SFO), Air Traffic, Pharmaceutical and AgChem
- Companies: ICI/AstraZeneca, Roche Pharma, Hitachi, TetraPak, Cable & Wireless, NTL, MoD (UK), Barclays Bank, Institute of Chartered Accountants, National Air Traffic Services, Serious Fraud Office, Balfour Beatty, James Fisher Marine (EDS HV), De La Rue International, Serco, City and County Healthcare and many more
ExtraordinaryHQ
Working alongside Marion and helping to deliver the ExtraordinaryPM experience is a team of independent experts and associates, all equally passionate about delivering project management excellence. Meet some of them here:
Claire Barnes focuses on business strategy and planning, compliance and anything related to business management. With a career covering roles as an accountant, commercial manager, management consultant and project/programme manager. Claire is known for being able to see the big picture and for dealing with detail when needed. In her spare time Claire enjoys dinghy sailing and yoga.
Claire Burrows’ role in the ExtraordinaryHQ team is all things brand, website, marketing and communications. A “grad” of our Mastery Programme, Claire has 25 years of global blue-chip experience behind her and now runs her own successful consultancy Pure Brand Marketing. Claire is known best for her ability to deliver compelling and engaging communications as well as having heaps of positive energy!
David’s role on the ExtraordinaryHQ team is as one of our Project Management Experts playing a hands-on role in our ChPP Mentoring Programme. He is a highly experienced project management consultant, coach and mentor. With a broad range of experience gained over 40 years from roles in the military, defence industry and financial services, David’s background and mentoring skills means he is quick to build relationships and develop others.
Antony is another of the team’s Project Management Experts and Mastery Programme Facilitator. With an impressive career to date, Antony is an exceptionally experienced delivery orientated Project and Programme Manager. A graduate himself of the Mastery Programme, Antony is an expert on how to use visual techniques to engage, align and inspire project teams, sponsors and stakeholders alike.
Nicola has been part of the Extraordinary journey since its very conception, in a café at the National Theatre, and attended both the first ever Mastery Programme and inaugural ChPP mentoring course. Nicola has spent her career successfully implementing change, initially focusing on large software implementations before moving on to manage business wide transformations across a variety of different organisations and industries. Nicola is one of our Extraordinary project management experts and Mastery programme facilitators.
David’s role is helping to develop the content and logistics for the courses we run and also ensuring the right IT infrastructure is in place to enrich the learning experience for our students. David has 18 years’ experience as a project manager in the UKs Public Sector and recently graduated with a Master’s with Distinction in Strategic Project Management from Leeds Beckett University. David is best known for his pragmatic and analytical approach to ‘getting things done’!
Rich is the social media guy for our team and is constantly on our feeds creating extraordinary content! After more than 8 years working in social media, he has earned a reputation that brings word-of-mouth referrals from a range of clients, from political lobby groups to sleep specialists, and he relishes the creativity of his role.
Neil’s role on the team is as one of ExtraordinaryPM’s Project Management Experts. With over 40 years as a Finance Director/Programme Director and supporting clients to successfully deliver transformation change, Neil is a veteran of PM, bringing with him his own unique PM insights, and a wealth of expertise from across a variety of different sectors, industries and backgrounds.
Sarah co-founded ExtraordinaryPM’s Mastery Programme with Marion and played a key role in the development of materials and course content. Sarah now splits her time between facilitating Mastery sessions and having a successful career as a freelance project and change manager working across a range of different industry sectors. When she is not being a Project Management Expert, Sarah loves a bit of Scuba diving, surfing (traditional Cornish belly boarding!) dancing and going to the theatre.
Our Clients
We have worked with many organisations, a few of which are shown below:
The story of the heron
Ever wondered how ExtraordinaryPM all began? And what about the significance of the Gold Heron logo and name?
Read the full story >>
The Framework
The idea behind ExtraordinaryPM was first conceived in 2016 by Marion Thomas while completing a set task on a Speaker Training Course. She had long considered the notion of focussing on leadership skills within the realms of Project Management but had not yet created the framework that would ultimately hold the whole concept together.
The task in question was to outline the content of her programme in simple, easy to remember bite size pieces. The 5T’s Framework was born and after several iterations and refinements, having been continuously honed and carefully shaped over the last five years, it is the model now recognised as being at the heart of all things extraordinary!
It became clear not long after this initial conception, that Marion needed a partner to join her in this venture and was delighted when her friend and fellow project manager, Sarah Walton joined for this part of the exciting journey.
Their first Mastery Programme ran in 2017 and was awarded CPD accreditation in 2019.
Bringing innovation and their own unique approach to the profession, Gold Heron and their ExtraordinaryPM Mastery Programme were selected as finalists in the Association for Project Management 2020 Awards in the “Mike Nicholls Award for Inspiration” category.
Most recently, the team has grown and undertaken a brand refresh, launched a new website and are currently working on some new developments to their offer: including ChPP mentoring & a new Membership platform.
The heron
The heron, curiously, first made an appearance in 2013 during Marion’s very first coaching session. A heron landed on the roof of her coach’s garden shed and seen as a strong sign herself, the coach introduced Marion to the symbology of the heron.
Grey herons have consistently been showing up ever since, in curious and unexpected places for Marion, noticeably when she has been focusing her attention on ExtraordinaryPM.
The name
When choosing the right name for the company it was clear that the heron had become a really important symbol to Marion, so was pre-destined to be part of it. Gold Heron Limited was incorporated in 2017. The gold element of the name representing the value that Marion and her team bring to the business, and the heron also representing many of the attributes of ExtraordinaryPM’s.
So, what are these attributes?
The heron is flexible and adaptable in all situations. A heron is comfortable on land, water and air and transitions easily between the three and is uniquely adaptable. They are shrewd, focused, patient, resourceful, determined, and take action. They can be independent but they also nest together. All qualities shared with exceptional project managers.
The heron logo is a symbol for how supportive and nurturing the ExtraordinaryPM Tribe is. The five feathers are reflective of the five elements of the 5T’s Framework, the core of ExtraordinaryPM’s offering.
Read less >>
Don’t just take our word for it!
The ExtraordinaryPM Mastery Programme is fantastic - I love that the course forces you to challenge yourself and ‘dig deep’. The course title speaks for itself!
Jess Walters
Project Manager
The team at <strong>Extraordinary</strong>PM don’t give you the answer, they give you the tools to think differently.
Alison Whitehead
FAPM
Trying to choose your favourite tools from the Mastery programme is like trying to pick a favourite child.
Vicki Griffiths
ChPP and Chair of APM’s WiPM
I was constantly hitting barriers on a recent programme. My <strong>Extraordinary</strong>PM “Tribe” supported me throughout this time, helping me work through the problems. I learned resilience and also the huge importance of getting people together in the same room.
Bobbi Davis
Project Manager
Thank you for another great session last week – I am loving this programme and all the people involved – really informative and lots of good stuff to implement but in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Nick Harwood
Project Manager
I have not encountered a training course like this before!
Andy McCormack
Programme Manager
