PMI Culture & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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 & Behaviors 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, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I)

We define Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) as:

• Diversity: How an individual or group differs from another. An extensive range of variations in identity, viewpoints, skills and approaches.
• Equity: Treating an individual or group fairly according to their respective needs. Implementing fair, transparent and consistent practices and policies.
• Inclusion: The practice or policy of providing an environment with equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.

In late 2019, our Board of Directors saw the need to reaffirm our commitment to DE&I. 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 DE&I

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 DE&I 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.

This space is a dedicated place for our community to have open and constructive Culture & DE&I conversations, as well as get access programmatic updates and resources to continue driving change and social good work throughout our communities. We encourage 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.

State of DE&I at PMI Reports

The PMI® Practitioner Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Playbook

The PMI® Practitioner Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 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.

Community Engagement

Culture and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) at PMI is driven by our people, including volunteers, members, certification holders and employees.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

ERGs are employee-led groups that play a vital role in transforming our cultural landscape and promoting our DE&I initiatives. We launched our four ERGs — African Heritage, LGBTQIA+, Neurodivergent and Disability and Women’s — in 2020. Each offers essential connections, educational opportunities and unique perspectives to guide our goals and commitments.

Global Volunteers

Global Volunteers have played a crucial role in advancing DE&I at PMI. Our Board of Directors encouraged us to build a DE&I program in 2019, which led to us creating the first DE&I Working Group. The efforts of Global Volunteers continue to drive change within our organization and community, evolving to meet our community’s needs.

DE&I Focused Volunteer Teams

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Insight Team supports our commitment to an inclusive culture that values our community’s diversity. They offer guidance and feedback on DE&I best practices, shaping PMI’s DE&I strategy on global and local levels.

Women in Project Management Affinity Group

The Women in Project Management Affinity Group is a project team that unites women project professionals to create inclusive workplaces, develop women leaders and retain top talent. They aim to build pathways for women to enter the profession and inspire girls to join and succeed and offer feedback and insights to the PMI internal team. Ultimately, the affinity group helps mobilize women in our community to position PMI as a leader in creating an equitable profession for women project professionals.

Chapters

Many of our over 300 chapters worldwide have been active in DE&I 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 DE&I training to deepen their understanding and help them integrate DE&I into their chapters. This training supports our goal of creating a more inclusive culture where everyone feels they welcome.

DE&I Academic Scholarships

As we continue our journey in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I), we offer merit-based scholarships aligned with our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These scholarships 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 have four ERGs — African Heritage, LGBTQIA+, Neurodivergent and Disability, and Women’s — and will award four US$5,000 scholarships to individuals attending accredited schools within the Global Accreditation Center. Apply using the scholarship application below.

Who is eligible?

Scholarships are available to individuals who are attending schools accredited by the Global Accreditation Center. The student is not required to be a PMI member, but applicants are required to be:

• Currently enrolled or will be enrolled by Fall 2024 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 the year of application. Undergraduate students must be enrolled and classified by the university as full-time students. Graduate students must be enrolled and classified by the university as at least half-time students.
• Eligible to receive scholarship funds exclusively through the enrolled academic institution and not as a direct disbursement from PMI to the individual.
• In good standing according to the enrolled academic institution’s policies and procedures.

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

Application process

Individuals must apply through the PMI General Application, indicating they would like to be considered for a DE&I ERG Scholarship. In addition to the application, candidates must include an essay focused on how members of the represented ERG Community can thrive in the project profession, barriers they face and steps they will take to support the community in reducing those barriers. A successful essay includes what you have already done to make a difference in this area, as well as what you will do moving forward and the steps you have taken to work towards that.

Applications for DE&I Sponsored Scholarships open annually in March. The 2025 cycle will open in March 2025.