Building High-Performing Delivery Teams with Musonda Veronica

How do you build a career in programme management when your path is anything but linear, and what separates a successful transformation from an expensive recovery job?

In this episode of The Catch Up Podcast, host Phillip Blackmore speaks with Musonda Veronica about moving from studying law into leading complex Microsoft Dynamics 365 programmes. They explore why communication is the core of delivery leadership, how to adapt your style to different stakeholders, and why integrity is what builds the trust programmes depend on.

Musonda also breaks down a practical distinction many organisations miss: Dynamics 365 CE delivery often demands an iterative, agile approach because of heavier customisation, while finance and operations programmes tend to suit more structured delivery patterns.

The conversation lands on the unglamorous foundations that keep budgets intact: clear decision ownership, dedicated SMEs, and change management that treats resistance as human rather than a problem to crush. This aligns with common ERP failure patterns such as under-committing internal resources, highlighted in Guidehouse analysis.

Click Here to Watch the Video Episode.

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Catch Up Podcast
• (01:17) - From Law to Programme Management
• (03:11) - Early Roles and Finding Direction
• (06:36) - First Exposure to Dynamics 365 and CRM
• (09:19) - Why CE and FinOps Are Delivered Differently
• (17:08) - What Makes a Strong Programme Manager
• (23:34) - Gen Z in the Workforce
• (25:38) - Why Programmes Run Over Time and Budget
• (34:40) - The One Thing to Fix Before You Start
• (42:07) - Mentoring, Speaking, and Purpose Beyond Delivery

Musonda Veronica Malama: Musonda Veronica Malama is a UK-based transformation programme manager and programme recovery leader specialising in Microsoft Dynamics 365 delivery. She is also a career coach and professional speaker, covering topics including leading successful teams, delivering high-stakes programmes, and inclusion in the workplace. Alongside hands-on delivery work, she mentors professionals moving into project and programme roles and speaks at industry events.

Episode Insights:

• Programme management is mostly communication: translate between technical teams and business stakeholders without needing to be the technical expert.
• Dynamics 365 CE programmes often require more iterative delivery because customisation tends to be higher than in finance and operations work.
• Readiness is not a slogan: programmes slip when decision ownership, resourcing, and governance are unclear at the start.
• The pace of decision-making predicts delivery outcomes: stalled decisions create delays that burn budget.
• Trust is an execution tool: integrity and early communication reduce churn, resistance, and rework.

Action Points:

1. Define decision ownership: Name a single accountable sponsor for the programme, backed by a small decision forum. Set a cadence where priority decisions get made quickly. Escalate unresolved items to that forum immediately, not after timelines slip.
2. Backfill your SMEs: Ringfence the people who know the real processes and give them time to contribute. Remove BAU load or provide cover so workshops and testing do not become optional. Treat SME availability as a critical path item, not a nice-to-have.
3. Choose a delivery model that matches the product area: Use a more iterative approach where customisation is high, particularly in CE work. Keep stakeholders close to demos and feedback loops so you reduce rework. Avoid forcing one template delivery model across all workstreams.
4. Build trust through visible integrity: Commit to a small set of deliverables and hit them consistently. Communicate bad news early, with reasons and next steps. Make reliability part of the programme culture.
5. Treat resistance as data: Assume uncertainty will surface as pushback. Involve impacted people early and show tangible benefits before go-live. Run simple, frequent communications that reduce speculation and corridor narratives.

The Catch Up Podcast brings you candid conversations with industry leaders, consultants, and change-makers from the Microsoft Dynamics and tech ecosystem. Hosted by Phillip Blackmore, Sales Director at Catch Resource Management, each episode dives into the real stories behind business transformation, career pivots, and scaling success. Expect thoughtful interviews, practical insights, and honest reflections.

Brought to you by Catch Resource Management, a leading UK recruitment specialist for Microsoft Dynamics and ERP talent, this podcast is your inside track to the people shaping the future of enterprise technology. Tune in for new episodes and stay ahead of the curve.

The Catch Up Podcast is produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford, UK.