Resources › Tools › Recommendations
Everything on this page is something we personally use or have used. If there is an affiliate link, it is disclosed. If there is a referral arrangement, that is disclosed too.
Software we use regularly in our consulting and build work.
Professional design tool that is genuinely intuitive - no graphic design degree required. We use Canva for presentations, social graphics, documents, posters and quick mockups. The template library is enormous, and drag-and-drop means polished results in minutes rather than hours. Pro unlocks brand kits, background remover, and one-click resizing across platforms. Browser-based so it works anywhere without installing software.
Canva WebsitePhysical gear we use day-to-day. Amazon affiliate links - commission at no extra cost to you.
Premium aluminium build with quality hinges designed to last, yet folds completely flat and weighs just 100 grams. Authenticating into programs throughout the day is a constant, and this stand angles the phone perfectly for Face ID - no more tilting or fumbling. Sleek enough that colleagues keep asking where we got it.
View on Amazon
Brilliant 2.5K QHD display that does justice to detailed work in Canva, Adobe and Power BI. This monitor solves the hot-desking problem - no more docking onto unfamiliar screens and fiddling with display settings every time desks change. Just USB-C plug and play. Weighs only 0.81kg and slim enough to carry daily. Works with PC, Mac, phone or tablet, with HDMI included. Flips to portrait mode for coding when vertical real estate is needed.
View on AmazonPlatforms and courses we have used to build skills. Affiliate links where applicable.
It is like YouTube had a love child with a coding terminal. Scrimba's interactive screencasts let you pause any lesson and edit the code directly in the browser - no setup, no switching tabs, just instant practice. Perfect for learning JavaScript, React, HTML, CSS, and AI. Bite-sized lessons mean you can make progress in spare moments rather than blocking out hours. As a Scrimbassador, our link gives you 20% off Pro so you can access the full course library.
20% DiscountBooks we have read and refer back to. Amazon affiliate links - commission at no extra cost to you.
Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford
A novel about IT, DevOps, and helping your business win. Widely read in technology leadership circles. If you work in or adjacent to IT operations and have ever watched a project unravel in slow motion, this book will feel uncomfortably familiar - and then give you the framework to fix it.
Buy on Amazon
James Clear
A practical system for building good habits and breaking bad ones. The premise is simple: small changes compound into remarkable results. Useful for anyone managing change - whether in an organisation or in themselves. We return to the identity-based habits framework regularly.
Buy on Amazon
Cal Newport
The ability to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks is becoming increasingly rare and increasingly valuable. Newport argues this as a competitive advantage, and builds a practical case for structuring your work around deep, uninterrupted focus blocks. Directly applicable to anyone in knowledge work.
Buy on Amazon
Eric Ries
Build - measure - learn. A methodology for developing products and businesses under conditions of extreme uncertainty. Relevant whether you are running a startup or running a project inside a large enterprise. The minimum viable product concept alone is worth the read.
Buy on Amazon
Donella Meadows
A primer on systems thinking - how complex systems behave, why they resist intervention, and how to find the leverage points that actually produce change. Used in program management, policy, organisational design and environmental science. The most intellectually demanding book on this list and the one most PM practitioners have not read but should.
Buy on AmazonServices and suppliers we use in running PM Project Change.
Business insurance comparison that actually makes the process painless. We use BizCover for Public Liability and Professional Indemnity - compare quotes from multiple insurers and buy online in minutes. Mention "PM Project Change" when you purchase a policy and we will both receive a $25 gift voucher, redeemable at Bunnings, Amazon, Woolworths, and more. Hold the policy for one month and the vouchers arrive by email. This is a referral arrangement, not a tracked affiliate link.
Visit BizCover