PMI Culture

At PMI, it’s not just WHAT we do that matters. Our culture and HOW we achieve our goals is just as important.

Our culture is a community-wide agreement of how we collaborate and the mindsets and behaviors we choose.

Culture doesn't happen to you—it happens because of you. It belongs to all of us. Every individual, team or group—including employees, members, volunteers, and certification holders—has a stake in creating and maintaining a culture that recognizes everyone’s contributions and interests.

Our Culture Values

Our five PMI Culture Values were created by our community for our community. These are not just words on a page. They are principles to guide how we work and volunteer together. If every member of our community embodies these values and behaviors, we will create a sense of unity and purpose.

Diversity & Belonging

As our Be Welcoming cultural value reiterates, we create genuine belonging for all because our differences make us stronger.

In late 2019, our Board of Directors saw the need to reaffirm our commitment to diversity and belonging. We know and believe that diversity brings value to our community and the profession, and it is embedded in our Culture Values, but our work shouldn’t stop there. That’s why we show the value of our differences by building on our diverse backgrounds and perspectives to:

• Support a positive environment
• Promote personal and professional development
• Empower all people to reach their full potential
• Advance and advocate for the project management profession globally.

Statement on Diversity

PMI is committed to cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging and is working to make that a reality within our community and beyond. As our work advances, we recognize that this is a journey, and part of that journey is providing spaces for our community to learn and grow.

How you can help

As we continue this journey towards a culture of inclusion, our people are the reason we do this work. It starts with our people; it is driven by our people, and we only see success in this space with the support of our people.

PMI has created spaces such as the online community, chapters and other virtual groups dedicated to fostering open and constructive conversations, as well as providing access to updates and resources that empower us to create change throughout our community. We invite you to actively participate in conversations, volunteer work and activism that will help contribute to lasting societal change. This is not an easy issue to tackle; it may lead to some challenging conversations. However, this work starts with and is driven by YOU.

The PMI® Practitioner Culture and Diversity Playbook

The PMI® Practitioner Culture and Diversity Playbook aims to support any professional in the Project Management field, regardless of title, background, or industry. Given the diversity of thought and lived experiences our profession represents, this document is underscored by the belief that we all belong in the field. This playbook provides an introductory framework for Project Professionals seeking to understand and improve their adoption of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Leadership & Networks

Culture & Diversity at PMI is driven by our people, including volunteers, members, certification holders and employees.

Culture & Diversity Advisory & Strategy Groups

The Culture Collaborative is an internal cross-functional team that provides advisory, strategy and subject matter expertise to advance PMI’s Culture and Diversity initiatives, ensuring alignment with our purpose and strategy.

The Culture & Diversity Insight Team is a global volunteer team that offers guidance and feedback on best practices, shaping PMI’s efforts to build greater diversity and belonging on global and local levels.

Culture & Diversity Champions & Ambassadors

Culture & Diversity Champions are PMI team members serving as go-to resources in their respective departments, actively promoting and embodying our culture and values.

Culture & Diversity Ambassadors are volunteers who serve as key resources for Regional Heads of Community, Chapter Partners and Regional Mentors. They promote PMI Culture to chapters and community segments and share and communicate Culture & Diversity resources and tools.

Community-Led Groups for Connection & Collaboration

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are employee-led groups where employees connect, educate and advocate. They are driven by shared interests, and contribute to a more inclusive workplace aligned to PMI culture. We have four ERGs — African Heritage, True Colors, Neurodivergent and Disability and Women.

Affinity Groups are community-driven networks created based on community interest. They serve to connect individuals with shared identities or interest through content and discussion in the online community, e.g. Women in Project Management.

Chapters: Driving Culture Locally

Many of our over 300 chapters worldwide have been active in culture and diversity efforts for decades. We are grateful for their steadfast leadership and collaborate with them to amplify their work and provide strategic insight and support. Each year, chapter leaders receive training to deepen their understanding and help them integrate diversity practices into their chapters. This training supports our goal of creating a more inclusive culture where everyone feels they welcome.

Culture & Diversity Scholarships

In line with our commitment to growing the project profession, we offer merit-based scholarships aligned with our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to help increase the pipeline of diverse project professionals and close the equity gap for marginalized and underrepresented communities. Our goal is to support these individuals in achieving higher education degrees and advancing their careers.

We will award four US$5,000 scholarships to individuals attending accredited schools within the Global Accreditation Center. These scholarships align with our four ERGs: African Heritage, True Colors, Neurodivergent & Disability and Women.

Eligible Criteria

Applicants must be enrolled in a GAC-accredited institution and meet the following requirements:

• Must be currently enrolled or planning to enroll by Fall 2025 in a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD program in project management or a project management-related field of study with a graduation date on or after December of the application year.
  • Undergraduate students must be classified by the university as full-time students.
  • Graduate students must be classified by the university as at least half-time students.
• Scholarship funds must be disbursed directly to the academic institution, not to individuals.
• Must be in good standing according to the enrolled academic institution’s policies and procedures.

• Must be in compliance with PMI policies and procedures, including but not limited to PMI Culture Values and Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Application process

Interested applicants must complete the PMI General Application and indicate they would like to be considered for a Culture & Diversity Scholarship.

In addition to the application, candidates must include an essay. The essay should address:

• How members of the ERG community they identify with can thrive in project management
• Challenges faced in the profession and solutions to overcome them
• Steps they are taking—or plan to take—to support and uplift the community
• Examples of actions you have already taken to drive positive change

Applications open annually in March with the 2025 cycle opening on 16 March 2025.