Giving Back, Driving Progress: The Impact of Volunteering with PMI
At PMI, volunteers play a pivotal role in advancing the project management profession. From mentoring youth to driving sustainability initiatives and shaping global strategies, learn how our volunteers make a lasting impact.
Written by Autumn Granza • 4 December 2024
Volunteering isn’t just about giving back—it’s about creating the change you want to see in the world. For project managers, it’s an opportunity to embrace collaboration, purpose, and growth. And volunteering with PMI amplifies these values, connecting the global PMI community, fostering personal and professional development, and shaping the future of the project management profession.
Here are just some of the ways you can make a difference.
The PMI Educational Foundation
The PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF) empowers young people to realize their potential and transform lives through project management. By partnering with youth-serving nonprofits, PMIEF integrates project management into their curricula, reaching over two million young people each year. Volunteers are essential, offering their time as coaches, mentors, and competition judges.
Volunteering with PMIEF was more than just contributing my time; it was a profound learning experience. These insights will guide my future projects and volunteer efforts, enhancing both personal and professional growth. I look forward to applying these lessons in future endeavors and continuing to grow through such meaningful projects.
Mitali Badkul, PMP, Content Reviewer, PMIEF Resource Review Committee
PMI Chapters
PMI Chapters are the hub of local project management communities. Led by volunteers, chapters provide members with networking opportunities, resources for career development, access to events, and support for PMI certifications. Each chapter fosters an environment to share insights, best practices, and innovations in project management, helping members stay engaged and up to date with industry trends.
My favorite part of volunteering is the opportunity to make change happen, and there are many benefits of volunteering for PMI Chapters. For me, the most important ones are expanding my network among fellow professionals, getting opportunities to extend my knowledge and sharpen my skills, and learning from others. It is a great feeling to be able to give back to the profession and, from the perspective of a chapter leader, to see people grow around you with your help. Additionally, the network I have grown through volunteering has landed me my dream job.
Andreas Madjari, PMP, International Relations Officer
The NextGen Outreach Committee
The NextGen Outreach Committee (NGOC) is a dynamic group of project professionals under the age of 35 who represent the future of the profession. They bring fresh perspectives, diverse experiences, and the enthusiasm to inspire career-long learning.
Being part of the NextGen Outreach Committee has been an inspiring journey and a unique opportunity to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of passionate project management professionals. It’s helped me better understand the real challenges and opportunities that early-career professionals face when stepping into the project management world. Beyond that, the experience has enriched my skills, broadened my thinking, and provided a platform to grow both personally and professionally.
Cristhian Ortiz, PMP, NextGen Outreach Committee Team Member
PMI Infinity™ — Prompt Engineering Research and Development
As a PMI Infinity™ testers, volunteers guide the development of an important AI tool for project professionals. By providing valuable feedback on the tool’s responses across various prompts and content, their insights directly contribute to the enhancement and refinement of PMI Infinity.
Imagine having the opportunity to work with cutting edge technologies, exceptional thought leaders, and work in an environment that encourages the examination of which pathways are the best to move forward with. It’s energizing. The generative artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem is moving at an exceptional rate. Having my assumptions tested by other industry experts and refined by colleagues not only helps the delivery of my projects but also how we educate others in the larger global community. I am an educator at heart, and PMI’s passion for delivering world class education to a diverse, global audience aligns with my beliefs. We are here to solve current challenges and empower the next generation to solve new ones. I believe we do that through robust instruction, powerful tools, and concise communication.
Tyson Rydl, PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, Infinity Advisory Council Member
Project Managers Without Borders
Through Project Managers Without Borders, volunteers can get connected with not-for-profit or non-government organizations in need of project management guidance. Volunteers empower and equip these deserving organizations with sustainable project management processes, tools, and solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Within three months I learned more than in my current job. By participating in the PMWB project, I had an opportunity to fully utilize my skills...and further develop my strengths as well as learn new tools and practices... It was a great business experience, and it helped me make a decision toward further developing my skills and setting future career goals.
Natalia Bartoszek, PMWB Volunteer
Sustainability Outreach Committee
The Sustainability Outreach Committee supports the expansion of PMI’s involvement, knowledge, presence, and resources in the sustainability space, helping project managers create a greener future.
The benefits of volunteering, for me, are that I'm able to work together with other like-minded volunteers on sustainability advocacy. Through volunteering, I have been able to make more friends around the world, and by sharing ideas and experiences, I have been able to improve my own thinking and practice continuous lifelong learning. I would highly recommend volunteering within PMI. The unique value it gives me is the sense of altruism—members contributing to the greater good of the community. I'm able to learn global perspectives on the various issues and solution options.
Prawindra Mukhia, PgMP, Sustainability Outreach Committee Member
Standards
PMI global standards are the foundation of the project management profession, ensuring organizations’ knowledge and frameworks are up to date. Volunteers can serve in the roles of development, review, or public review, working together in a way that emphasizes consensus, openness, due process, and balance.
Through volunteering I’ve had career growth... I am giving back to the profession that helped me achieve executive level. The mentors I have had made all the difference along my career path. And through this volunteer opportunity I’ve expanded my network and made new contacts around the world.
Tim MacFadyen, PMP, PMI-ACP, Chair, Standards Appeal Committee
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors, composed of 12 dedicated volunteers elected by PMI members, collaborates closely with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to guide our purpose and strategy, while embodying our cultural values and helping to advance the project management profession.
"Serving as this year’s Chair of the PMI Board of Directors has been an extraordinary opportunity to guide the organization’s strategic direction while fostering the growth of our global community of project professionals. Together with PMI’s Executive Team, we worked on implementing our new strategy PMI:Next. We collaborated closely with PMI senior leaders, and our diverse community to advance the strategy that empowers project professionals to maximize project success to elevate our world.
Our volunteers—now more than 13,000 strong, from the five who started PMI in 1969—are at the heart of PMI’s value creation and delivery engine. They are the source of the content, insights, and initiatives that drive our profession forward and make it possible for PMI to amplify and deliver value to project professionals worldwide.
LuAnn Piccard, PMP, Chair
One of the most rewarding aspects of this role has been visiting chapters around the world, where we engage with members and project management professionals to share our new strategy and listen to their perspectives. These events, brought to life by our incredible chapter volunteers, reflect PMI’s 55-year legacy of ‘by us, for us.’
As Board members, we represent our community. Having these interactions with members and practitioners reaffirms the alignment of our strategy with the aspirations of our community, while also highlighting opportunities to help members and professionals learn, grow, and thrive in an ever-changing world. PMI is truly special because of the dedication, expertise, and passion of our volunteers and community."
LuAnn Piccard, PMP, Chair
Ready to get involved? PMI offers a wide array of volunteer roles designed to fit diverse locations, interests, time commitments, and work styles. Whether you're looking to share your expertise, connect with like-minded professionals, or develop new skills, there's an opportunity for you. Explore the full range of volunteer opportunities.
Project Management Institute
Author | PMI
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