PMI Rising Leader Award

The PMI Rising Leader Award honors young professionals who have advanced project management within an organization, advanced knowledge and understanding of the practice, and demonstrated an understanding of PMI standards, practices, and ethics.

PMI Rising Leader Award

The PMI Rising Leader Award honors young professionals who have advanced project management within an organization, advanced knowledge and understanding of the practice, and demonstrated an understanding of PMI standards, practices, and ethics.

Key dates

Nominations Open: February 3
Nominations Close: April 18
Winner Notification: August 2025
Award Presentation: November 2025 at PMI Global Summit

Any Project Professional age 35 or younger (at the time of application) is eligible.

  • The nominator for a nominee must be a PMI member in good standing.
  • Self-nomination is permitted for candidates with a PMI membership in good standing.
  • The nominee must be no more than age 35 at the time of application.
  • Current PMI staff, PMI contractors, and/or PMI consultants are not eligible to self-nominate or submit a nomination for this award.
  • Current PMI Board members and members of PMI Board Reporting Committees are not eligible to self-nominate or act as a nominator for this award.
  • 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.
  • Individuals located in the PMI China region may use a PMI ID in place of PMI membership when submitting a nomination, whether for themselves or someone else.

Criteria

  • Must demonstrate that they are 35 years of age or younger at the time of submission.
  • Demonstrated significant contributions to projects that have measurable improved outcomes.
  • Demonstrated ability to inspire and influence others within the organization or project teams.
  • Active engagement in professional communities contributing to the advancement of the project management profession.
  • Commitment to ongoing professional development, including certifications, training, or PMI involvement.

Submission Materials

  • Resume
    • The candidate’s resume must be no longer than four pages with the following formatting:
    • Arial, 11 point
    • Single-spaced
    • Normal margins (1 inch/2.5 cm border)
  • 3 letters of recommendation no more than two pages each using a 12 pt font.
  • These letters should contain the following:
    • Brief overview of nominator’s relationship to nominee or type of personal or professional relationship with person nominated and length of association with person nominated. Any direct personal or professional relationship of the nominator’s with the nominee must be stated.
    • A full description of the contributions deserving the award based on the stated criteria.
    • Each nominator must document their personal knowledge of the nominee’s contributions.
    • Nominators should be chosen to provide various perspectives of the nominee’s contributions.

Nominee video

  • A ten-minute maximum recorded presentation by the nominee answering the following questions:  
  • Describe a project where you took the lead or played a key role in its success.  
  • How have you influenced or inspired your team or peers to achieve project goals?  
  • In what ways have you contributed to the project management community, either within your organization or externally?  
  • What steps have you taken to advance your professional development? 

 

The PMI Professional Awards Staff will send the nomination package to an expert panel for evaluation.

  • The PMI Professional Awards Staff will send the nomination package to a volunteer expert panel for evaluation. 
  • The nominations, evaluation process, and scores are proprietary to PMI and will not be disclosed to nominators or nominees. 
  • Winners will be notified in August 2025.  
  • If a nominee is not selected, they may be re-nominated another year with a new nomination package. 

Any Project Professional age 35 or younger (at the time of application) is eligible.

  • The nominator for a nominee must be a PMI member in good standing.
  • Self-nomination is permitted for candidates with a PMI membership in good standing.
  • The nominee must be no more than age 35 at the time of application.
  • Current PMI staff, PMI contractors, and/or PMI consultants are not eligible to self-nominate or submit a nomination for this award.
  • Current PMI Board members and members of PMI Board Reporting Committees are not eligible to self-nominate or act as a nominator for this award.
  • 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.
  • Individuals located in the PMI China region may use a PMI ID in place of PMI membership when submitting a nomination, whether for themselves or someone else.

Recent Winners

Congratulations to the 2024 Rising Leaders. Learn more about these remarkable individuals below.

 

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Sinead Gallagher

2024

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