🎙️ 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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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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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

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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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 felt at home in the role.

2️⃣ Building Awareness & Overcoming Challenges

Muslim and his team faced early struggles in defining the BRM function within a 40,000-employee organisation. The pandemic slowed adoption, and many stakeholders initially misunderstood the role. Through internal campaigns and executive sponsorship, they worked to increase awareness and reposition BRMs as strategic advisors, not coordinators.

3️⃣ The Role of BRMs in Strategy & IT Alignment

Muslim discussed the delicate balance of managing business expectations, IT capabilities, and governance. He shared how BRMs educate business leaders on IT constraints, and IT leaders on business needs, to ensure all initiatives deliver value and are aligned to strategy

4️⃣ The Power of Community & Collaboration

Muslim played a key role in the BRM World Tour in Qatar, helping BRMs across the region connect and share best practices. He emphasised the importance of networking with BRMs globally to drive maturity in the profession.

5️⃣ AI, Automation, and the Future of BRM

AI is transforming Muslim’s work, allowing him to automate parts of routine tasks like business case preparation—freeing up time to focus on relationships and strategy. He highlighted how AI is not a threat, but a tool to enhance BRM efficiency.

6️⃣ Looking to the Future

Muslim envisions the BRM function becoming as recognised as project management within a few years. He emphasised the need for certifications and structured training to gain credibility, and ensure organisations fully understand the value BRMs bring not only to the business, but their IT colleagues

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 - >

📹

"𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

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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 how he followed BRM Institute strategies, working over six months to implement a structured approach that now delivers tangible value.

2️⃣ Balancing Business Demands and IT Capabilities

Managing multiple business units, Aarif ensures that IT requests are assessed, prioritised, and aligned with strategic goals. He discussed the demand process, working with vendors, and the importance of executive sponsorship in driving success.

3️⃣ Challenges and Professional Growth

Recognised as a top performer, Aarif highlighted how certifications in BRM, project and change management have helped him grow as a leader, and given him tools that can be utilised in his current role

4️⃣ The Future of AI and Robotics in Business

With his company investing in AI and automation, Aarif discussed how these technologies are reshaping operations, streamlining costs, and driving efficiency. He shared insights into proof-of-concept projects and the company’s approach to upskilling employees.

5️⃣ The Power of Relationships and Communication

Aarif emphasised that effective BRMs need strong interpersonal skills, preferring face-to-face discussions over email to prevent miscommunication. He also discussed networking with BRMs from other industries to exchange knowledge and best practices.

6️⃣ Looking to the Future

The BRM role continues to grow, with Aarif predicting an expanding team and increased focus on change management and business alignment. He shared strategies for stakeholder engagement and the importance of demonstrating the ROI of the BRM function.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 - >

📹 https://youtu.be/a4Ili2MvUIg?si=6oUdzSmZMBGDGytV

New episodes weekly

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