IT Business Partner Playbook

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 Busines...

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 h...

🎙️ 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 tran...

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 mov...

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, S...

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.

---

1️⃣ Building a BRM Function from the Ground Up

Alina walked us...

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 l...

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

J...

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 13! Developing the BRM capability and driving strategic impact.

🎙️ In the latest episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I was joined by Mohammed Muslim, a Business Relationship Manager (#BRM) at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar. Muslim shared his journey into BRM, the challenges of establishing the function in a large healthcare organisation, and the importance of community-driven learning.

1️⃣ Transitioning into the BRM Role

With over 28 years in healthcare and IT project management, Muslim’s transition into BRM was natural. He had always been a relationship builder, and while he initially wasn’t familiar with the title, he immediately fel...

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 12! Personal development, aligning with business, and embracing the rise of AI.

In the latest episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I was joined by Mohammed Aarif Shaikh, an IT Business Relationship Manager in the financial services industry in Saudi Arabia. Aarif shared his journey in shaping the BRM function from the ground up, the challenges of aligning IT with business priorities, and the future of business technology.

1️⃣ Defining the BRM Role from Scratch

Aarif was the first BRM hired in his company and took on the challenge of building the function from zero to fully operational. He shared...

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 11! Navigating the transition into Business Relationship Management and the evolving role of BRMs.

🎙️ In this episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Meghana Garg, a former technical specialist who transitioned into Business Relationship Management (BRM). With experience across multiple industries, Meghana shared how BRMs are shaping business strategy, converging IT and business functions, and tackling critical challenges that other roles don't have the bandwidth for.

1️⃣ From Tech to BRM: A Journey of Adaptability

Meghana shared how she moved from a technical role into BRM, discovering her passion for building relationships and...

Welcome to episode 10! Catalysing change, demystifying technology and shaping the future of IT Business Partnering.

🎙️ In this episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I had a great conversation with Rolan Somerville, CBRM, from Tucson Electric Power.

Rolan is a former application developer turned Business Relationship Manager (BRM). With experience in business analysis, product management, and now BRM, Rolan shares his insights and the lessons he's learned during his journey

💡 Key Highlights:

1️⃣ From Application Development to BRM: The Power of Relationship Building

Rolan's career path naturally led...

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 9! Genuine connections, the future of business partnering, and stakeholder diplomacy

🎙️ In this episode of The IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dennis Defteros, an IT Business Partner at Bausch + Lomb in the UK. With a background in finance and later IT, Dennis brings a wealth of experience in helping organisations navigate digital transformation, ensure project success, and drive strategic value.

💡 Key Highlights:

1️⃣ From Finance to IT: An uncommon journey for an IT Business Partner

Dennis shared his career transition from accounting to IT business partnering, reflecting on how strategic thi...

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 8! Remembering your roots, playing to your strengths and catalysing change

🎙️ In the latest episode of the podcast, I was joined by Dalisu Buthelezi, a seasoned Business Relationship Manager at the South African Reserve Bank. This episode delves into the unique challenges and opportunities Business Partners face in bridging the gap between business and IT.

💡 Key Highlights:

1️⃣ The BRM Role: A Journey of Discovery

Dalisu shared his path into business relationship management, transitioning from business analysis and project management. His journey underscores the importance of self-driven learning and adapting to the dynamic needs of diverse teams.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 7! Balancing life, building trust, and embracing the evolving role of technology.

🎙️ In the latest episode of the IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I was joined by Dawn Milward, a dedicated business partner and mother navigating the fast-evolving world of technology and higher education at Birmingham City University

💡 Key Highlights:

1️⃣ Juggling Roles: Personal and Professional

Dawn shared her journey of balancing a demanding career with raising two daughters, shedding light on the challenges working mothers face in the tech industry. She emphasized the importance of encouraging women to explore careers in IT and support them as they start their journeys

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 6! Elevating the BRM role, proving value and remaining authentic.

🎙️ In the latest episode of the IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I sat down with Bhupinder Siran, Associate Director at the University of Southampton, to delve into the evolving responsibilities of Business Relationship Managers (BRMs) and the unique challenges they face in a university setting.

💡 Key Highlights:

1️⃣ From BRM to Strategic Business Partner:

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 5! Exploring common challenges, innovation, and the power of curiosity.

🎙️ In episode 5 of the IT Business Partner Playbook Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Bruna Rezende Rossin Collado, a Business Relationship Manager at Unilever in Brazil. Bruna brought invaluable insights into the evolving role of BRMs, stakeholder management, and the challenges of driving innovation within a global organization. Fortunately, she did this all in my home tongue, not hers...

💡 Key Highlights:

1️⃣ Evolving Role of BRMs at Unilever:

Bruna shared how BRMs are expanding their focus to support Unilever’s entire tech foundation team, ensuring alignment...

Welcome to episode 3! Celebrating Authenticity, Community, and Innovation in hashtag

#BRM

🎙️ Highlights

In my conversation with Jag Sohal BRMP, a seasoned Senior IT Business Relationship Manager with 15 years of experience, we explored the evolving dynamics of BRM and the profound impact of authenticity, community, and innovation on workplace culture and success.

💡 Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Jag shared personal insights on balancing life as a parent and professional, highlighting the value of resilience, adaptability, and authenticity in both roles.

2️⃣ Empowering Workplace Cultures

From organizing impactful Diwali celebrati...

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑻 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

Welcome to episode 4! Managing expectations, human connection and learning from great leaders #BRM

This week on the podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Martin Crangle, a 30-year IT veteran who recently transitioned from an IT Business Relationship Manager (BRM) to an Operations Business Partner role. The conversation was rich with lessons on adaptability, relationship-building, and professional growth.

💡 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Adapting to Change

Martin shared how his technical expertise in IT—including roles in programming, project management, and business analysis—provided a strong foundation for his transition to BRM and, eventually, Operations.

He emphasised the importance of in...

I'm joined today by James Rowbotham MBA, BRMP® , a BRM of almost 8 years who has worked for large corporates, as well as in higher education.

🎓 From MBA to Building BRM Functions

James detailed his journey from an MBA student to creating a BRM function at Sheffield Hallam University. His focus on relationships and collaboration emphasised how critical it is to align IT with business goals and keep asking “why” to tackle problems strategically.

💡 Strategic Alignment & Oversight

We discussed how BRMs bridge IT and business, ensuring programs deliver real value...

The IT Business Partner Playbook. Unrehearsed. Unprepared. Unrestricted.

🌟 Introducing Our New IT Business Partner Podcast Series! 🌟

🎙️ Unfiltered Conversations, Real Insights

We’re thrilled to launch a podcast series designed to explore the evolving world of Business Relationship Management (BRM) and IT Business Partnering. This initiative, inspired by the vibrant UK BRM community, aims to share stories, challenges, and successes directly from professionals in the field.

🚀 Our First Guest: Jeremy Byrne

In our debut episode, we sat down with Jeremy Byrne, a lead BRM trainer and experienced IT Business Part...

Today I was joined by James Rowbotham MBA, BRMP® , a BRM of almost 8 years who has worked for large corporates, as well as in higher education.

🎓 From MBA to Building BRM Functions

James detailed his journey from an MBA student to creating a BRM function at Sheffield Hallam University. His focus on relationships and collaboration emphasised how critical it is to align IT with business goals and keep asking “why” to tackle problems strategically.

💡 Strategic Alignment & Oversight

We discussed how BRMs bridge IT and business, ensuring programs deliver real value. Jame...

Today I was joined by James Rowbotham MBA, BRMP® , a BRM of almost 8 years who has worked for large corporates, as well as in higher education.

🎓 From MBA to Building BRM Functions

James detailed his journey from an MBA student to creating a BRM function at Sheffield Hallam University. His focus on relationships and collaboration emphasised how critical it is to align IT with business goals and keep asking “why” to tackle problems strategically.

💡 Strategic Alignment & Oversight

We discussed how BRMs bridge IT and business, ensuring programs deliver real value. Jame...

The IT Business Partner Playbook. Unrehearsed. Unprepared. Unrestricted.

🌟 Introducing Our New IT Business Partner Podcast Series! 🌟

🎙️ Unfiltered Conversations, Real Insights

We’re thrilled to launch a podcast series designed to explore the evolving world of Business Relationship Management (BRM) and IT Business Partnering. This initiative, inspired by the vibrant UK BRM community, aims to share stories, challenges, and successes directly from professionals in the field.

🚀 Our First Guest: Jeremy Byrne

In our debut episode, we sat down with Jeremy Byrne, a lead BRM trainer and experienced IT Business Part...

Jeremy Byrne

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts discuss the new Executive Education Online Digital Transformation course, which is designed to provide executives with the strategic insights needed to navigate digital transformation as an organizational imperative.

With a focus on aligning technology initiatives with business outcomes, the course covers critical components for executing change, building cross-functional capabilities, and ensuring that technology investments deliver measurable value across the enterprise.

The course is structured around a four-stage life cycle: "Doing the right things," "Doing them the right way," "Getting them done well," and "Getting the benefits," with each st...

In this episode, our hosts discuss the new Executive Education Online Business Relationships course, which is designed to provide essential strategies for executives to build, manage, and optimize both internal and external business relationships. Recognizing that effective relationship management is crucial—not optional—for organizational success, listeners will gain actionable insights to create shared value, foster collaboration, and ensure sustainable partnerships that drive results.

The course is structured around a four-stage life cycle: "Doing the right things," "Doing them the right way," "Getting them done well," and "Getting the benefits," with each stage focusing on practical strate...

In this episode our hosts discuss the new Executive Education Online Good Governance course, which is designed to help leaders and non-technical personnel understand and implement effective Good Governance practices.

The course is structured around a four-stage life cycle: "Doing the right things," "Doing them the right way," "Getting them done well," and "Getting the benefits," with each stage focusing on practical strategies and potential pitfalls.

Our hosts break down each stage of the life cycle, providing a "cookbook style" approach that outlines how to implement the strategies, the necessary components, and what can...

In this episode our hosts discuss the new Executive Education Online Digital Security course, which is designed to help leaders and non-technical personnel understand and implement effective digital security practices.

The course is structured around a four-stage life cycle: "Doing the right things," "Doing them the right way," "Getting them done well," and "Getting the benefits," with each stage focusing on practical strategies and potential pitfalls.

Our hosts break down each stage of the life cycle, providing a "cookbook style" approach that outlines how to implement the strategies, the necessary components, and what...