PMI Fellow Award

Purpose

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Isaac Newton

The PMI Fellow Award recognizes individual members of PMI who have allowed all of us to stand on their shoulders and to be better because of it.

The PMI Fellow Award is the highest and most prestigious individual award presented by Project Management Institute for service to the Institute and the project management profession. This award recognizes PMI members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of both the profession and the PMI community. In providing this value, Fellow Award recipients have also demonstrated passion for the project management profession and PMI, and altruistic motivations for this dedicated work and the outcomes achieved. They are role models for other PMI members in ethics, leadership, inclusiveness, and willingness to generously share their knowledge. Their contributions have had impact well beyond their own local organizations and chapters. The Fellow Award recognizes the leaders in PMI who most embody the spirit and cultural values of the organization.

Process

PMI Fellow Award two-step evaluation process
PMI has updated its Fellow Award evaluation process. PMI Fellow Award candidates are required to complete the online entry form submitting their nomination. Finalists will be notified by 20 May 2024 and must be available 3-14 June 2024 for a virtual conversation with evaluators from which honorees will be selected.

Step 1 (All candidates)
All candidates applying for the PMI Fellow Award must submit a 2,000-word written essay nomination and requested support materials. Evaluators will select finalists who will be notified on or before 20 May 2024.

Step 2 (Finalists)
Finalists will move forward with a virtual conversation with members of the evaluation team. PMI will work with you to schedule a 1-hour time slot between 3-14 June 2024. From these finalists, evaluators will select recipients of the 2024 PMI Fellow Award.

PMI reserves the right not to select any winners for a particular year if the evaluations performed indicate that nominations do not meet the stated criteria.

Eligible

  • The nominee must be a PMI member in good standing.
  • The nominee must be nominated by at least four and not more than six individuals, one of whom must be the Lead Nominator.
  • The Lead Nominator must be a PMI Fellow and PMI member in good standing.

Not Eligible

  • Self-nomination is not permitted.
  • Current PMI staff, PMI contractors, and/or PMI consultants are not eligible to apply for this award.
  • Current PMI Board members and members of PMI Board Reporting Committees are not eligible to apply for or act as a nominator for this award.

Number of Awards

  • There is no limit to the number of PMI Fellow Awards granted annually.
  • PMI reserves the right not to select any winner for a particular year if the evaluations performed indicate that nominations do not meet the stated criteria.

Nomination

Overview

  • A PMI Fellow may serve as a Lead Nominator for up to two nominations per year.
  • The nominee must be nominated by the Lead Nominator as well as three to five additional nominators, of which two must be PMI Members in good standing. (Four to six nominators total.)
  • The Lead Nominator must:
    • Be a PMI Fellow.
    • Be a PMI member in good standing.
    • Assemble and submit the nomination.
    • Ensure that the nomination package is complete and meets all stated requirements at the time of submission. Incomplete nomination packages will not be evaluated.
  • All nominators:
    • Cannot be the nominee’s direct report or direct supervisor.
    • Should be from different employers than that of the nominee and from each other.
    • Should be chosen to provide various perspectives of the nominee’s contributions.
  • Review PMI General Nominations Guidelines.

Content

The nomination package must contain the following:

A. Written essay (2,000-word maximum) describing your nominee’s achievement of the following criteria.

  • 1. Nominee has demonstrated significant and sustained contributions to PMI spanning a minimum of 10 consecutive years.
    Describe and provide examples of how the nominee has contributed demonstrable value to PMI (for example, increased visibility, engaged new audiences, improved operations, or developed new assets.)
  • 2. Nominee has demonstrated significant contributions to the profession which have expanded and advanced the knowledge, use, and application of project management.
    Describe and provide examples of the ways in which the nominee has contributed demonstrable value to the profession (for example, thought leadership, new concepts or applications for project management, or impactful research.)

The following themes should be considered in your essay:

Passion for Project Management
How the nominee has demonstrated visible and sustained passion for the value of project management and a dedication to the Project Management Institute, advocated for the value of the profession, and elicited a sense of pride from other PMI members and volunteers in being associated with PMI and with the profession.

Global Dimensions
How the nominee’s contributions to PMI and the profession have shown demonstrable impact beyond their local area. For example, how the contributions are widely recognized–at least regionally–and are used or emulated beyond their initial introduction, or how the nominee has actively spread beneficial experiences and successful best practices to other PMI chapters, regions, or professions.

Altruism
How the nominee has consistently demonstrated unselfish concern for and devotion to project management and PMI, has been motivated by a desire to advance PMI and the profession, and has given generously of knowledge to help others succeed. How the nominee has consistently demonstrated the PMI Culture Values: Make It Easy, Aim Higher, Be Welcoming, Embrace Curiosity, Together We Can.

Role Model
How the nominee embodies the ethics and values of responsibility, respect, fairness and honesty that are foundations of PMI, including promoting inclusiveness. How the nominee has been recognized as an influential leader who drives impact while exemplifying authenticity, adaptability, and empathy. How the nominee has mentored and supported others.

B. Resume

The candidate’s resume must be no longer than four (4) pages in length and adhere to the specifications below:

  • Arial 11 point
  • Single-spaced
  • Normal margins (1 inch/2.5 cm border)

An awards list may be included as part of the resume, but total page count may not exceed the 4-page maximum length.

Note: Documents that do not adhere to page count and file specifications will not be accepted.

C. Letters of Nomination

Each letter of nomination must be no longer than two (2) pages in length. Letters must be submitted by the Lead Nominator plus three to five additional nominators, of which two must be PMI members in good standing.

Letters must be signed by the author and include:

  • A full description of the contributions deserving the award based on the stated criteria. The description must clearly outline why the contributions meet the states criteria and why the contributions represent an improved or enhanced use of project management or make a lasting contribution to the profession.
  • Contributions must highlight impact, outcomes, and results of the nominee’s efforts.
  • Length and type of association with the nominee. Any direct personal or professional relationship of the nominators with the nominee must be stated.
  • Each nominator must document their personal knowledge of the nominee’s contributions.
  • Contact information of the nominator (name, address, telephone, email, etc.).

Submitted documents that do not adhere to page count limitations will not be accepted.

General Nominations Guidelines

Permissions and Release Form

In the Event of a Successful Nomination

  • The PMI Professional Awards Staff will send the nomination package to a designated panel of evaluators, who are subject matter experts, for evaluation.
  • The nominations, evaluation process, and scores are proprietary to PMI and will not be disclosed to nominators or nominees.
  • The Lead Nominator and Nominee will be notified of the status of the nomination at the conclusion of the evaluation process.
  • Selection and communication of nomination status must take place no later than the third quarter of the year.

In the Event of an Unsuccessful Nomination

  • If a nominee is not selected, he or she may be re-nominated.
  • A new nomination package must be submitted in order for the nominee to be considered in subsequent years.

 

PMI Award FAQs

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the PMI Awards

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