Professional credentials can help project managers climb to the executive suite.

by Libby Ellis

Even project managers with stellar project skills, reputable track records and resumes that demonstrate a rise through the ranks are not always in line for executive-level positions.

The missing piece could be professional credentials. More and more, project managers around the world find that earning the Project Management Professional (PMP^®) or the Program Management Professional (PgMP)^SM credential could help them move into the executive suite.

Frederic Casagrande, PMP, director of the program management office at Interoute, a telecommunications company in Prague, Czech Republic, has more than 11 years of project and program management experience in diverse, fast-paced industries in France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. But even with that impressive background and a curriculum vitae boasting numerous senior-level titles, it was earning a PMP credential that landed him an executive position.

While preparing for the PMP examination, Mr. Casagrande had the opportunity to present his case for implementing project management practices to the CEO of Interoute.

"It was a complete coincidence. A few months later, the very day I passed the PMP exam, Interoute decided to create a program management office," Mr. Casagrande says. "It was a terribly quick ramp up and the PMP provided me with tools and knowledge and validated my leadership. But more than that, it's internal—I just feel more senior."

While few will benefit from the fortunate timing Mr. Casagrande enjoyed, his overall experience is not unique.

Mark Jahn, PMP, vice president of Charter Solutions Inc., based in Plymouth, Minnesota, USA, has more than 25 years of experience managing projects in both the information technology and healthcare industries.

When he got his PMP credential seven years ago, he was working in the project management office (PMO) at the El Segundo, California, USA-based Computer Sciences Corp. His goal was to outpace the competition in a down-turned market and expand his knowledge base.

Today, Mr. Jahn uses the skills he learned as a PMP credential holder to lead Charter Solutions' healthcare consulting group.

"The PMP credential is more than the certification itself. It means something in how I do my work and the value I can bring. Executives have to have a good foundation of project management skills and capabilities; getting the PMP definitely helped me get to the executive level," Mr. Jahn says.

Get With the Program
"It's no longer good enough to just do a technology project well," says Jonathan Shinn, PgMP. "Businesses are looking for people who can deliver larger pieces of change leading to strategic business outcomes along with that technology project—and that's where program managers' skills are very important."

Mr. Shinn serves as head of wireless operations for Ericsson Telecom, based in Surrey, England. Already armed with an executive position and a master's degree in project management, Mr. Shinn earned his PgMP credential to gain formal recognition, improve his skills and stay ahead of the curve.

The PgMP credential premiered in October 2007 and has a broader scope than the PMP credential. It is designed to recognize professionals like Mr. Shinn who manage multiple related projects that are aligned with an organization's strategic objective.

"When dealing with a program, you're often asked to do something undefined in terms of tangible deliverables to work toward an outcome rather than purely something definable by scope, cost, or time," Mr. Shinn says.

On a basic level, if a project comes in on time and on budget, it's a success. On the other hand, to measure the results of a program designed to change corporate culture can be harder to quantify.

While the work is challenging, programs aligned with corporate initiatives often involve executive-level work, which can lead to executive-level recognition.

"The PgMP helps you move from the project level to the business management level," he says, "The credential is a benchmark that people recognize."

Consistent among both the PMP and PgMP credentials is the benchmark quality that Mr. Shinn mentions. And it is increasingly important for those who aspire to the executive level to earn the validation that comes with such credentials.

Libby Ellis is a Chicago, Illinois, USA-based freelance writer who contributes to a variety of magazines and e-publications.