The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast

In this episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook, I’m joined by Jay – a seasoned IT professional whose career path has taken him from typewriter repairs to enterprise-level strategy.

Jay brings deep insight into the evolving role of Business Relationship Management and the reality of embedding value practices inside complex organizations.

🔹 From Tech Troubleshooter to Strategic Partner

Jay shared his unconventional start in IT and how it shaped his approach to partnership, empathy, and communication. His transition into a Business Relationship Manager role was both opportunistic and intentional – and filled with practical lessons for anyone making the leap from operations to strategy.

🔹 Standing Up a BRM Function

We explored how Jay helped develop the BRM capability – with early support from the CIO and inspiration from the BRM Institute. Over time, they built their own frameworks, overcame resistance, and positioned themselves to influence innovation initiatives across the business.

🔹 Balancing IT and Business Relationships

Jay stressed the importance of staying close to both camps – business and IT. We discussed how credibility with delivery teams is often overlooked, and why BRMs and Business Partners must act as interpreters and translators, not just connectors.

🔹 Owning Value, Not Projects

Jay reflected on the need to rationalise demand early – starting with business intent and outcomes before bringing in technical teams. While BRMs don't manage projects, they do own the value – and play a critical role in protecting organizational resources.

🔹 Getting Business to Step Up

One key takeaway: technology projects fail when business ownership is missing. Jay and I spoke about how critical it is to involve stakeholders from the start, and how demand shaping and scope control are essential for long-term success.

🔹 From Tactical Wins to Strategic Influence

Jay shared how BRM success starts at the tactical level – solving real problems, building trust – and evolves into strategic collaboration once credibility is earned.

🔹 Mentorship and BRM Confidence

Jay also spoke passionately about mentoring emerging professionals, and how confidence, clarity, and a good elevator pitch can set a new BRM on the right track.

This episode is packed with practical insight – especially for Business Partners working to earn trust, build credibility, and move their organizations from firefighting to forward-thinking.

My thanks to Jay for joining me and sharing so openly in this conversation. You can find his linked in here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-benoit-brm/

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The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast

🎙️ “From Lawless to Strategic: Redefining the BRM Role with Dr. Shellie”

In this compelling episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook, I’m joined by Dr. Shellie Bowman, a thoughtful and experienced Business Relationship Manager whose career has spanned public leadership, program management, and business transformation.

Together, we explore what it means to truly understand the BRM role - and how to navigate the “lawless” spaces many of us find ourselves in when the path isn’t clearly defined.

🔹 Discovering the BRM Role

Shellie shared how he was already doing the work of a BRM long before holding the title - and why the title itself finally felt like “home.”

🔹 Building Credibility in Unfamiliar Territory

From gaining stakeholder trust to navigating IT politics, Shellie reflected on what it takes to sell the BRM value internally - and how certifications, while not perfect, can provide structure and credibility.

🔹 Failing Successfully & Financial Strategy

One of the standout moments: how Shellie worked with a CTO to cut running costs, boosting profits by almost 2% - and how that strategic win raised the profile of the BRM team.

🔹 Resilience, Thick Skin & Culture Change

We talked about the personal side of BRM work - why confidence, clarity, and relationship-building matter as much as frameworks and KPIs.

🔹 Strategy on a Page & Roadshows

Shellie shared practical tools like his “strategy on a page” approach, and how BRM leaders can run roadshows to evangelize their mission, align teams, and build community.

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🎙️ The IT Business Partner Playbook — Episode 19 with Sahil

From Scientist to Strategic BRM: A Journey of Value and Vision

In this energizing episode, I sit down with Sahil, a former diagnostics scientist turned IT Business Partner, who shares how blending science, technology, and business helped him transform from a tactical problem-solver into a strategic advisor.

Sahil’s journey offers a practical and inspiring look at how modern BRMs can earn trust, drive strategy, and connect people across the enterprise.

1️⃣ The Career Shift

Sahil walks us through his unexpected transition from the science lab to enterprise IT. What started as a passion for tech-enabled healthcare evolved into a full-fledged BRM career - proving that curiosity and a business mindset can open powerful doors.

2️⃣ BRM as a Strategic Connector

From working across regions and functions to scouting emerging technologies like AI, Sahil describes how BRMs can break silos and create alignment. His role isn’t just about translating - it’s about initiating, connecting, and driving innovation.

3️⃣ The Role of Trust

Before BRMs can influence strategy, they must first deliver tactical value. Sahil emphasizes how trust is earned incrementally: by showing up, solving real problems, and building credibility - especially in matrixed or decentralized organizations.

4️⃣ Structures That Work

Sahil shares how he balances stakeholder engagement, tech exploration, and relationship building - using his own time management framework. He also explains how organizations with strong PMOs and portfolio governance can amplify BRM impact without redundancy.

5️⃣ People Before Process

Throughout the episode, Sahil returns to a central theme: relationships come first. The best strategies fail without human connection. BRMs, he argues, must master the emotional and cultural dynamics that drive adoption, collaboration, and long-term value.

✨ Whether you’re new to the BRM role or charting your path toward CIO-level influence, Sahil’s perspective is grounded, practical, and motivating.

Which part hit home for you? Drop your thoughts below or message me if you’d like to share your own BRM journey on the podcast.

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Meet Our New Latin American Host: Miguel Cockburn

We're thrilled to introduce Miguel Cockburn as the new host of our upcoming Spanish-language edition of The IT Business Partner Playbook - a platform designed to bring authentic, regional stories to life across Latin America.

In this special episode, I speak with Miguel about his 30+ year career journey, from engineer to regional IT director and BRM capability champion. His story is one of evolution, trust-building, and quiet leadership across multiple countries, cultures, and business functions.

Covered in this episode;

🔹 Miguel shares how he moved from being perceived as “just IT” to becoming a valued strategic partner.

🔹 He reflects on earning trust in a matrixed organisation – where he compensated authority, with deep business knowledge.

🔹 He explains why focusing on people, outcomes, and value matters more than job titles or budget lines.

🔹 And he tells us what inspired him to put so much effort into supporting the Spanish community – including hosting this podcast.

Miguel’s calm, relational, and humble leadership style is exactly what this role, and this region, needs more of. I’m really excited to see where takes this platform!

📣 If you're a BRM or IT business partner working in Latin America, we want to hear your story!

In your language, on your terms.

Let’s build a space where Business Partners across the region can learn from each other and feel truly seen.

Find Miguel Here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-cockburn/

If interested in sharing your story in Spanish on the podcast, please reach out. Miguel and I would love to connect!

#BRM #LatinAmerica #SpanishPodcast

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Great BRMs aren't just strategic — they're trusted, human, and always present, even when the value is hard to measure.

Welcome to episode 17! In this heartfelt and insightful episode, I chat with Scott Hudson, an IT Business Partner in the US healthcare sector, about the real-world dynamics of partnership in a local hospital setting.

1️⃣ Evolving the Role - We discussed how Scott’s work is shifting from ticket-taker to trusted advisor, supported by a CIO who understands the value of BRM.

2️⃣ Building Trust at Every Level - From field engineers to directors, Scott shares how approachability and emotional maturity are the true indicators of impact.

3️⃣ Validation and Recognition - Why presence matters more than perfection, and how quiet success often speaks loudest.

4️⃣ Formalizing the Informal - Scott’s move toward structured value discussions and relationship-building rituals.

5️⃣ The Power of Personal Stories - A moving reflection on how authentic human connection, especially in hard times, can shape the way we show up at work.

Scott also opened up about the sometimes-isolating nature of the BRM role and the need for stronger peer connections, both inside and outside the organisation.

Listen or watch here (and don't forge to Follow/Subscribe, to avoid missing future episodes!);

Find our Guest, Scott Hudson, Here:

www.linkedin.com/in/scott-hudson-it

If you're navigating the evolving expectations of business partnering, or just looking for a fresh, honest voice in the BRM community, this episode should resonate with you.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments, and feel free to reach out to me or Scott. And if you'd like to take part, get in touch! Not only are we helping the community, we're helping each other! I'm personally learning so much. But more importantly, by sharing and reflecting, our guests come away with fresh ideas they can take away and develop. Win Win Win!

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𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

How Alina Chin built a BRM function from scratch, led 12 business units, and is navigating a BRM career transition

In this insightful and light-hearted episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook, I’m joined by Alina Chin, a seasoned Business Relationship Manager based in Canada, with a background in supply chain, customer relations, and building Virtual Relationship Management from the ground up.

Alina shares her BRM journey, the lessons she learned supporting a whopping 12 business units, and the challenges of navigating change after a sudden leadership shakeup.

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1️⃣ Building a BRM Function from the Ground Up

Alina walked us through how she established a VRM function from scratch—starting with informal conversations, building trust with senior leaders, and aligning IT with business units through structured engagement and cadence meetings.

2️⃣ Bridging the Business-IT Divide

From managing legacy issues to translating between business expectations and IT capabilities, Alina offered an honest look at the “marriage counseling” nature of the BRM role. She emphasized the need for empathy, communication, and a shared language.

3️⃣ Restructuring Realities and Career Transitions

Alina reflected on her experience when a reorg led to the departure of her biggest champion (the CIO). She shared how that impacted the BRM function and her decision to transition, offering relatable advice for others navigating uncertain moments in their careers.

4️⃣ Demonstrating Value with Tangible Outcomes

We talked about strategies to protect and promote the BRM role—through early stakeholder engagement, quarterly impact reports, and sharing success stories that tie directly to business outcomes.

5️⃣ Advice for Aspiring BRMs

Alina shared tips for those entering the BRM profession, including:

· Investing in frameworks from the BRM Institute

· Honing project management and soft skills

· Understanding the evolving expectations of the role

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Looking Ahead: Alina’s story reminds us that resilience, relationships, and relevance are the BRM’s best tools. If you’re building—or rebuilding—a BRM career, this episode is packed with wisdom, empathy, and practical takeaways.

Listen in, and if this resonates, reach out. Let’s build the BRM community together.

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𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 15! Building Influence, Managing Transitions, and Connecting the Dots with Michelle Momberg

🎙️ In this week’s episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Michelle, a seasoned Business Relationship Manager with nearly three decades in IT—and a remarkable journey spanning retail and global law.

Michelle has been working as a BRM since 2017, and her story reflects the depth, complexity, and resilience required to succeed in this evolving profession.

1️⃣ Navigating Transitions in a Shifting Landscape

Michelle spoke candidly about her transition from a high-paced retail environment to the global legal sector, where she now serves as the sole BRM at Dentons—supporting 160 offices across 82 countries. From adapting to remote work and different time zones to aligning global needs, her journey reflects the adaptability and empathy that define high-maturity BRM roles.

2️⃣ Creating Business Value Through Connection and Clarity

Michelle shared her approach to mapping business processes, identifying improvement opportunities, and tracking progress through clear documentation and dashboards. We explored how BRMs act as connectors—linking needs to solutions—and how visibility and strategic alignment are key to demonstrating long-term value.

3️⃣ Lessons in Leadership, Sponsorship, and Staying Relevant

We dove into the importance of executive sponsorship and what it takes to embed BRM as a strategic function. Michelle reflected on the emotional and professional challenges of redundancy and finding new roles, offering advice on networking, stakeholder empathy, and keeping your skills sharp.

4️⃣ Community, Culture, and the Power of Perspective

From managing external vendors to navigating complex cultures, Michelle emphasized the need to understand what drives people—and how to bridge gaps with kindness, clarity, and confidence. We closed with a shared commitment to building a stronger BRM community, where connection and shared insight pave the way forward.

📹 Watch here →

📹 https://youtu.be/1msLLUZ_Qyk

Michelle reminds us that BRMs don’t just manage relationships—they illuminate paths forward. If you're navigating a transition or working to strengthen your role, let this episode be your reminder: dream big, connect deeply, and never stop learning.

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𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to our special episode! Navigating career transitions, resilience in the BRM profession, and lessons from the job market.

🎙️ In this special episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I sat down again with James Rowbotham a BRM veteran with over eight years of experience across multiple organisations.

James previously joined us in episode two, and today, he shares his journey through unexpected job loss, navigating the job market, and the realities of restructuring in the BRM profession. His story is one of resilience, adaptability, and the lessons learned along the way.

1️⃣ The Reality of Restructuring and Job Loss

James recounted his experience of joining a new organisation, only for the BRM function to be dismantled after just eight weeks. He highlighted the shock of redundancy and the importance of recognising that job loss has little bearing on personal performance.

2️⃣ Strategies for Demonstrating BRM Value

We explored how different companies view BRMs. James emphasised the importance of executive sponsorship in ensuring BRM longevity. A key takeaway was the importance of BRMs showcasing their impact. We discussed how solidifying BRM as a core function within a company, makes it less susceptible to cuts.

3️⃣ Lessons from the Job Search Process

James shared insights from his job hunt, including the challenges of interviewing in a competitive market. He stressed the importance of asking the right questions in interviews, to not only understand the role, but assess whether a company truly understands and values the BRM role.

4️⃣ Navigating the Emotional Side of Career Transitions

James spoke candidly about the emotional toll of job loss and the resilience needed to push forward. He emphasised the power of networking, continuous development, and staying confident in one’s skills and value as a BRM. He also reminded us to be open to different roles, and to always look for learning opportunities throughout the process.

Watch here →

📹 https://youtu.be/c4lPpt90620

🌟 Looking Ahead:

This episode is a reminder that career setbacks are not reflections of ability but rather opportunities to reassess, adapt, and grow. If you’re navigating a similar transition, please feel free to each out. You're not alone, and the best route to your next opportunity is via your network.

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