INSIDE
The Gig Economy and Project Management
Making a Better World
Celebration of 50th Anniversary and Meeting New President and CEO Are LIM Highlights
Join Us at PMI Global Conference; Help Celebrate Our 50th Anniversary
Call for Volunteers
R.E.P. Kickoff Meeting Held in Shenzhen
Events Calendar
Advice to My Younger Self: The Benefits of Learning Project Management Early in Life
Upcoming Certification Changes
Chapter Links
Choose Your Candidates in the 2020–2022 Board Elections
Miss this event?
Consider registering for PMI Global Conference in Philadelphia. Learn more on page 14.
As a project manager at a 90-year-old civil engineering company, Rocio Uribe Menchaca, PMP, understands transformation doesn't happen overnight. But she said this year's PMI® EMEA Congress in Dublin, Ireland was a wakeup call.
“In the beginning it's about changing the rules and making things in a different way, but you get into the comfort zone and you play it safe,” said Ms. Menchaca, project manager at GHD, Doha, Qatar. “I'm recognizing now that I'm the one who needs to drive the change that I want to achieve in my organization and myself.”
Ms. Menchaca was among more than 800 project and program professionals from 70 countries who came together to gain insights and inspiration. Even as they helped PMI celebrate its 50th anniversary, the attendees were clearly focused on the current business landscape—and beyond.
“This is a time of change,” said Christophe Simon, project manager, finance IT, Euroclear, Paris, France.
“Companies are being challenged and trying to come out of it—otherwise they will be forgotten.”
Mr. Simon appreciated the alternative thinking, the healthy and open mindset prevalent at the Congress. “We have to think outside of the box, embrace change—in our minds, processes and technologies—and move forward,” said the first-time attendee. From Indian origin but working in France, he described himself as a harmonious blend of the Eastern and Western worlds. “The new mindsets, capabilities and ways of working that I expect from today's project management are not only based on Western rationalism and predeterminism—discipline of efficiency and accuracy, step-by-step logic,” he said. “It is also about intuition, creativity, compassion and values—making sure that we are moving with speed, agility and a collaborative spirit to survive in a disruptive environment.”
Rogue Monkey Thinking
The call to change started with opening keynoter Jamil Qureshi, a psychologist and performance coach. He encouraged attendees to shift their mindset—the foundation of the decision-making process. “To act differently, we need to think differently,” he said.
Mr. Qureshi introduced attendees to the rogue monkey, a creature that chose to cast aside the evidence before it, question the biases of its environment and adjust its mindset. The value is real: “Every single thing worth having on this earth has come from rogue monkey thinking,” he said.
Project managers don't have to make some grand gesture, either. Commit to making just “one degree of change.” Real leadership, he said, is about realizing what you do well and doing it a bit more, more consistently.
The message resonated with Mark Hobe, PMP. “I believe we can take this idea of the rogue monkey that Jamil spoke about, back into the inner workings of the organization, as opposed to just being disruptive in the marketplace with new services and products,” said Mr. Hobe, a software program manager at General Motors Canada, Courtice, Ontario, Canada.
Hello, TED
Along with sessions covering everything from Design Thinking and change management to agile governance and virtual project leadership, attendees had the chance to explore Dublin's project scene via three excursions. Some traveled to One Microsoft Place to check out what the tech giant calls the physical manifestation of its digital transformation. Another group took a tour of the Teeling Distillery, getting a taste of how the upstart company makes its whiskey. And a trip to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland—a 2018 PMI Award for Project Excellence winner—gave attendees an inside look at how the 235-year-old school revolutionized its training program.
This year's congress closed out with PMI's first-ever TED Session, a specially curated lineup of speakers centered on the power of possibility. Boston Consulting Group's Julia Dhar challenged attendees to embrace healthy debate—and set aside 10 minutes of every meeting for it—by separating the argument from the person who's making it. Mona Chalabi, data editor at The Guardian, reminded project and program managers to be skeptical of numbers and to rethink the possibilities of information. And Anab Jain, co-founder of design and innovation studio Superflux, urged the crowd to no longer “let the future just happen to us.” Simone George and Mark Pollock spoke about the dance between optimism and realism: “The realists have managed to resolve the tension between acceptance and hope by running them in parallel,” Mr. Pollock said. Ingrid Fetell Lee dug into the science behind joy—and how everyone could use more of it in their lives. “What we should be doing is embracing joy and finding ways to put ourselves in the path of it more often.”
There were also plenty of opportunities to network, including a 50th anniversary celebration complete with local staple Guinness, a live band and aerial dancers.
More possibility awaits at next year's EMEA Congress, happening 14–16 June in Prague, Czech Republic. See you there.
Inside Congress
For behind-the-scenes congress action, check out PMI's Twitter (@PMIevents), Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook feeds. And visit the Voices on Project Management blog on ProjectManagement.com to read daily congress recaps by Cyndee Miller.
Lessons Learned
Congress attendees weigh in on their big takeaways.
“I work in the healthcare sector within interventional medicine development, and I find it insightful to speak with project managers from other sectors and discover our similarities and also our differences. The learning sessions at Congress have helped me grow professionally and personally.”
—Yaa Adjei, PMP, director, project management, BTG International, London, England
“I've been a project manager for eight years. I use the techniques, and what I'm hearing makes sense because I know it already. But I don't have my PMP® certification. This congress convinced me to pursue it.”
—Nathalie Vanoystaeyen, business project manager, Galapagos, Antwerp, Belgium
“I believe it is essential for me to explore the key trends, to help to view them as opportunities rather than threats, to benefit from worldwide project managers' extensive experience and to share it around me. We have to reshape the way we think, behave and do—for the coming years and beyond.”
—Christophe Simon, project manager, finance IT, Euroclear, Paris, France
Mark Your Calendars
PMI® EMEA Congress Prague, Czech Republic 14–16 June
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PMI GLOBAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
PMI and members of the influential Global Executive Council believe that project, program and portfolio management deliver a strategic advantage that helps organizations do more with less. The elite organizations selected for participation in the Council are well-positioned to have the most direct influence on the direction and future of the project management profession.
To learn more, please visit PMI.org/Business-Solutions/PMI-Global-Executive-Council.aspx.
2019 PMI Board of Directors
Chair
Randall T. (Randy) Black, P.Eng., PMP
Chair, Audit Committee
Teresa A. (Terri) Knudson, MBA, PMP, PgMP, PfMP
Chair, Strategy Oversight Committee
Roberto Toledo, MBA, PMP
Chair, Compensation Committee
J. Davidson Frame, PhD, PMP, PMI Fellow
DIRECTORS
Tony Appleby, MBA, PMP
Margareth Carneiro, MBA, MSc, PMP
Caterina (Cathy) La Tona, BCS, PMP, PfMP, Immediate Past Chair
Beth Partleton, PMP, PMI Fellow
LuAnn Piccard, PMP
Tejas Sura, MS, MBA, PMP, PfMP
Jennifer Tharp, PMP
Galen Townson, PMP
Thomas Walenta, Dipl.Math, PMP, PgMP, PMI Fellow
STAFF EXECUTIVE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sunil Prashara
from the Board
Cathy La Tona, BCS, PMP, PfMP, Immediate Past Chair
THE Gig Economy AND Project Management
The Gig Economy is a growing shift in how people view and perform their work. Rather than working full-time for one organization, more and more workers are becoming independent contractors, recognizing the value and freedom this new paradigm offers. While contracting isn't new, technology has further enabled and expanded the opportunities.
Projects, by definition, have a start and an end. They are gigs. How perfect is that for someone looking for a freelance gig as a project manager or project team member?
Perfect, says a study of 65 gig workers referred to in a recent Harvard Business Review article. These workers said independence was a choice and came with personal development and personal fulfillment. On the other hand, there are worries.
Understandably, the study also found that gig workers have personal, social and economic anxieties.
The study's authors say that the most effective independent workers navigate this tension with common strategies, across generations and occupations. These include developing four types of connections: Connections to place, to routines, to purpose and to people. Place refers to having a good work environment; a space that allows you to feel rooted. Routines are rituals that help you focus and perform. Purpose refers to linking your work to goals that motivate you. People connections help you avoid social isolation and, of course, can assist in advancing your career. These strategies might also be helpful to employees working more autonomously and possibly remotely. After all, you might someday want to, or have to, operate in the gig economy.
Knowledge-intensive industries and creative occupations are the fastest growing segments for the gig economy. For organizations, it's attractive to bring in top talent to solve specific problems or address short-term goals. Organizations achieve their expected outcome while learning from them, and then move on. Interestingly, an increasing portion of freelancers (63 percent in 2017, up from 53 percent in 2016) believe having a diversified portfolio of clients is more secure than just having one employer, as noted in an UpWork study.
Opportunities for project professionals is only going to grow, with PMI's research finding that employers will need almost 88 million individuals working in project management-oriented roles by 2027. Divers include the continued innovation and disruption of long standing industries, requiring organizations to operate in a mode of constant change.
Breaking Down the Gig Economy
A significant portion of the workforce in Europe and the United States is taking advantage of this new way of working. A report by McKinsey found that 25 percent of the working-age population of Europe and the United States, or 162 million people, engage in some form of independent work. These people are either casual earners (40 percent), free agents (30 percent), financially strapped (16 percent) or reluctant (14 percent). Freelance project managers and specialty project team members tend to fall into the free agent or reluctant categories, which combined represent 72 million people.
Mike Griffiths, PMI-ACP, PMP, writes in ProjectManagement.com that organizations have to adapt to the gig world. Organizations need to attract the best people, and emphasize knowledge capture and transition planning while operating with independents on staff. They need to know that attitudes about work are changing as new generations take their places in the business world. Freedom of choice in order to prioritize what is important to them is a key motivator for younger workers, and organizations have to adapt.
Three out of four organizations around the world now use freelance project managers, according to a 2017 Arras People survey. A January 2018 PM Network® article notes that organizations not having technology as a core competency are turning to freelancers as an attractive option for leading digital transformation projects.
The gig economy can work both for the contractor who retains independence, and for the organization, which gets talent for a single project without commitment for future projects. A Brandeis University blog post written by Leanne Bateman, PMP, notes “gigging” took off after the economic downturn of 2008 and 2009, as unemployment forced former employees into the independent market. Ms. Bateman states that demand for freelancers in all fields, not just project management, will overtake traditional employment by 2027.
Organizations should be aware of legislation, such as that recently approved by the European Parliament, that sets minimum rights for workers in the gig economy. The law aims to combat any abuse of independent contractors by organizations.
So You Want to Go On Your Own
Independent project managers can be found in every industry, and the nature of project management work allows project managers to move from one industry to another. The most successful independents have strong reputations among their former clients and peers. They are often sought for advice and guidance.
It's important to realize that gigs shift the risk from organizations to the individual. If you want to take advantage of the gig economy, experts say you should market yourself and have a solid financial plan. Also, having at least six months worth of funds in savings to pay your expenses while you search for freelance work is critical. As you look at the rate you should charge, be sure to address things like health insurance, tax withholding, time off and retirement savings.
The gig economy is appealing to all generations. While millennials make up a great majority of the gig economy, as Gen-Z's will, a recent PwC survey indicates 65 percent of workers over the age of 50 have expressed a strong interest in becoming independent, and a significant number of people over 40 are using gig work hubs.
Ironically, as fast as we believe the pace of change is today, it will never be slower than it is right now. Our ability to continuously learn, shift and adapt will support our ability to succeed in the changing economies of the future.
Global Celebration of Service
Making a Better World
PMI's 50th Anniversary is a time to reflect on the achievements of project managers and recognize the progress that the profession has made. We also see it as a time to pull together in service, contribute our collective skills and passion, and make a difference in the world together. To accomplish this, PMI is supporting the United Nations' mission to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment and corruption, and taking actions that advance societal goals.
Pledging Your Commitment
The UN identified 17 sustainable development goals that serve as a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. PMI committed to contributing 50,000 hours toward attaining these goals by 31 December 2019. We reached this goal and are now working on doubling it! The call is still open for members, chapters, certification holders, volunteers and any individuals or organizations who want to get involved to pledge their commitment.
Think about what causes motivate you...where your passion lies...or how your expertise could help most. You can sign up on behalf of yourself, your PMI chapter, your employer or other organization, and spread the word to others who may want to participate.
Thank you to the following chapters for making a commitment and uniting with PMI on the Global Celebration of Service project:
PMI Amazonia Chapter
PMI Bangalore India Chapter
PMI Budapest, Hungarian Chapter
PMI Colombo, Sri Lanka Chapter
PMI Delaware Valley Chapter
PMI Ecuador Chapter
PMI Fort Worth Chapter
PMI Japan Chapter
PMI Keystone, PA Chapter
PMI Khaleeji FZ LLC (UAE Chapter)
PMI Mumbai Chapter
PMI Northeast Ohio Chapter
PMI Northern Italy Chapter, Veneto Branch
PMI Nuevo Cuyo Argentina Chapter
PMI Paraná Chapter
PMI Pune-Deccan India Chapter
PMI Quad City Area Chapter
PMI Rochester Chapter
PMI San Diego Chapter
PMI San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
PMI Santa Cruz, Bolivia Chapter
PMI Silicon Valley, CA Chapter
PMI Switzerland Chapter
PMI Toronto Chapter
We exceeded our goal of 50,000 hours and couldn't do it without YOU! Help us celebrate PMI turning 50. Pledge your time today. Go to PMI.org/anniversary to learn more and pledge.
Influence PMI's Future with Your Vote
Choose Your Candidates in the 2020–2022 Board Election
Annually, PMI's members have a chance to influence the future direction of the Institute by participating in the election of its Board of Directors.
The Board carries out the Institute's purposes and objectives. They are solely responsible and accountable for strategy direction and approval, strategy assurance and for fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities entrusted to them by PMI's membership.
The four directors selected by you, the members, will serve on PMI's Board for a three-year term and govern the Institute. They are “directors at large,” elected to serve the entire membership.
Personalized electronic ballots will be emailed on 15 July. If you do not receive your ballot, please visit My.PMI.org to verify your preferred email address, and contact [email protected] to request one.
All completed ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC –4), 26 August.
2019 PMI Nominating Committee
The volunteers on this committee selected the Board candidates profiled on the following pages. Their selection was guided by PMI Rules of the Board 6.0.3. The 2019 PMI Nominating Committee members are (from left) Nathan Price, PMP; Linda Vella, PMP, chair; Ayodeji Ishmael, PMP; and Kenn Dolan, PMP.
YOUR PMI BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES
Tony Appleby, MBA, CDir, PMP
Tony Appleby is the managing director of Project Strategy Consulting, specializing in organizational maturity and delivery of strategic transformation. He has led engagements on six continents, partnering with executive leadership teams to achieve business objectives through improved operational capabilities and strategic performance management. He has also been focused on expanding organizational project management (OPM) process excellence to government agencies and nongovernmental organizations in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Mr. Appleby is a Chartered Director and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and is a certified governance controls auditor. He co-authored the book Advancing Organizational Project Management Maturity and has written many articles and papers on the topic. He is an experienced public speaker and has given presentations around the world on OPM and strategy execution best practices.
Prior to consulting, he spent over 20 years advancing his practical knowledge of project and change management across a variety of industries and disciplines. He has directly managed complex, global high-value projects in the healthcare, engineering, technology and research sectors.
Mr. Appleby is a long-time PMI volunteer, having served as president of the PMI San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, and has supported several global PMI committees and task forces over the past decade, including serving four years as a PMI region mentor and service with the PMI Ethics Member Advisory Group. He currently serves on PMI's Board with the Strategy Oversight Committee and is the past chair of the Audit Committee.
In 2015, Mr. Appleby completed two terms on the board of directors of a multinational manufacturing concern. His contributions included facilitated transition to a balanced scorecard approach and serving on the financial oversight committee.
Mr. Appleby is a former military officer and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in international business. He is passionate about volunteerism and has been helping nonprofit and professional communities since his youth.
Teresa A. (Terri) Knudson, MBA, PMP, PgMP, PfMP
Teresa (Terri) Knudson is engaged in numerous PMI related volunteer activities. She is currently an active member of the 2019 PMI Board of Directors. In this role she serves as chair of the Audit Committee, a member of the Executive Committee, and works directly with other Board members and PMI leadership to oversee PMI and achieve our strategic goals. Ms. Knudson was a member of the PMI Global Executive Council for several years, wrote for PM Network®, served on a Global Congress keynote panel, presents at the PMO Symposium, has written for multiple magazines and books, and consults with organizations worldwide to share knowledge to enhance project, program and portfolio management (PPM) maturity and value.
Ms. Knudson has served Mayo Clinic, the largest integrated nonprofit medical center in the world, for over 30 years in various business areas. These include strategic planning, finance, information technology, audit, business management and operations administration. During these assignments she led some of the largest initiatives at Mayo Clinic, many earning Excellence in Teamwork Awards. Over the past 10 years, she established and matured the Enterprise Portfolio Management Office (EPMO) providing methodologies and standards, education, resources, consulting, systems, and reporting to develop advancements in PPM. She recently transitioned to a new assignment as senior director of strategy management services for the largest clinical department within Mayo. This position will allow her to further advance strategy design to delivery approaches in alignment with PMI's transformation plans. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic, Terri held positions at Deloitte and Cenex.
Ms. Knudson has led community volunteer efforts with the United Way and created the Ways of Caring initiative, sponsoring various events. She grew up in a military family and has a deep appreciation for the armed services. Ms. Knudson enjoys traveling to new places and meeting people from all countries and cultures.
Mark Kwandrans, PMP, PfMP
Mark Kwandrans is a long-time PMI volunteer, completing his second three-year term on the Ethics Review Committee, having served as that group's chair in 2018. Previously, he volunteered for the PMI Buffalo, NY Chapter, serving as president from 2010–2014. During his tenure on that board, he oversaw a 50 percent growth in the chapter's membership and the chapter's recognition as “Component of the Year.” The chapter also received a Community Advancement Award for its “Project Management for Nonprofits” Program, which trained nonprofit staff in project management and provided mentors to help complete strategic initiatives. He also facilitated simultaneous strategic planning workshops with boards of multiple U.S. and Canadian chapters.
In his professional career, Mr. Kwandrans serves as vice president and infrastructure portfolio manager for M&T Bank, where his efforts resulted in the department's first vision, mission and strategic goals. Previously, he served as the director of IT project services for Merchants Insurance Group and PMO manager for Adeptiv Solutions. He also held positions at Oracle Corporation and KPMG Peat Marwick.
Mr. Kwandrans serves on the board of directors for Buffalo Arts Studio, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build cultural connections through exhibitions, educational programs and public art. He also volunteers for the Kiwanis Club, an international service organization. Mr. Kwandrans is an adjunct instructor at the State University of New York, teaching graduate-level IT project management.
Mr. Kwandrans is certified as a PMP, PfMP, CSM, and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. He has earned a bachelor's degree in accounting, a master's degree in political science and an MBA in technology management. He has delivered presentations to national audiences on the topics of leadership, emotional intelligence and project management. He is a former U.S. Army officer and helicopter pilot.
Mr. Kwandrans resides with his family in Sanborn, New York, USA.
Anca Slușanschi, MSc, PMP
Anca Slușanschi, from Paraparaumu, New Zealand, is a senior leader with over three decades of experience inspiring people and delivering value in private and public sector organizations. She currently serves as program and project practice manager for the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Ms. Slușanschi's various leadership roles have focused on developing communities of professionals engaged in mastering the application of the agile mindset in project and program management contexts.
One of Ms. Slușanschi's most exciting recent assignments has been leading the successful implementation of the Emission Trading Scheme for New Zealand, supporting the Kyoto Protocol obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as the New Zealand Climate Change Act.
Ms. Slușanschi has been volunteering with PMI for over 15 years, serving in a wide variety of roles: president of the PMI New Zealand Chapter, region mentor for Australia and New Zealand, leader for the new Stakeholder Management chapter in the fifth edition of the PMBOK® Guide, core team member and integrator for The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition. She graduated the 2010 EMEA PMI Leadership Institute Master Class, served as a member of the Global Governance Committee, Social Media Advisory Group and Chapter Member Advisory Group; speaking at several Leadership Institute Meetings and Conferences. Her outstanding volunteering efforts have been recognized with a PMI Distinguished Contribution Award in 2014.
Ms. Slușanschi holds an MSc in computer science and secured her Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification in 2003. Ms. Slușanschi has her roots in Transylvania, Romania, where she started her professional career, and worked in England for a few years before moving to New Zealand over 20 years ago. Her multicultural exposure has given her deep insights into both the European and Antipodean cultures. She speaks a handful of languages and is currently learning Mandarin.
Roberto J. Toledo, MBA, PMP
Roberto Toledo is CEO and founder of Alpha Consultoria, SA, one of Latin America's leading project management training and consulting firms, founded in Mexico City in 1997. He is also founder and chief learning officer at Alpha PM Consulting, Inc. headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Both companies have trained more than 32,000 executives and have received two PMI professional awards, the first in 2009 and another one in 2011.
Mr. Toledo has been a speaker at forums in 17 different countries. Since 1996, he has been part of the faculty of Mexico's Institute of Technology (ITAM), where he currently heads the Master's Certificate Program in Project Management. He is also an instructor with the Inter-American Development Bank. From 2008 through 2013, he was a contributing editor for PMI's PM Network® magazine.
An active PMI volunteer for more than 12 years, Mr. Toledo was a PMI director for the 2017–2019 period, where he currently chairs the Strategy Oversight Committee. He previously served on the PMI Educational Foundation's board of directors and was chair of that board. He also held different leadership roles in the PMI Mexico Chapter from 2009through 2011. He graduated from the Leadership Institute Master Class in 2012.
Mr. Toledo holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from Iberoamericana University (UIA), an MBA from ITAM, is a Certified Company Director with the Institute of Directors of the United Kingdom and has been a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification holder since 2002. Born and raised in Mexico City, he moved with his wife and three sons to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, USA for five years, until 2015 when they returned to Mexico. Mr. Toledo speaks Spanish, English and conversational Portuguese, and devotes all his spare time to his family and playing golf, even though he is not a very good player.
Celebration of 50th Anniversary and Meeting New President and CEO Are LIM Highlights
An inspirational and collaborative learning and networking experience awaited attendees taking advantage of the recent PMI® Leadership Institute Meeting (LIM) in Dublin, Ireland. Attendance counts showed 330 attendees representing 82 chapters located in 62 countries.
Highlights included a celebration of PMI's 50th anniversary and the first introduction to the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) audience of new PMI President and CEO Sunil Prashara. After their formal talks, Mr. Prashara and PMI Chair Randy Black, P.Eng., PMP, met attendees in the informal setting of the Leader's Edge area.
Chapter leaders present at LIM benefited from nearly 40 educational sessions and learned about the available tools and resources to assist in managing their chapters. They also heard the latest news and information about PMI's global initiatives as well as ongoing transformation activities. The alumni of the Leadership Institute Master Class enjoyed a special workshop led by Jamil Qureshi, who was the opening keynote speaker at PMI EMEA Congress 2019.
Educational sessions fell into these categories:
- Academic
- Association Governance
- Leadership Development
- Marketing and Communication
- Membership
- PMI Update Tools and Resources
- Professional Development
- Region Meetings
- Technology
- Volunteer Engagement
The categories allowed attendees to customize their learning experience.
Inspiring Keynotes
LIM featured two keynote speakers to inspire leaders and leadership. Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE, PhD, talked on “Reaching for the Stars.” She is one of Britain's best-known space scientists and a prolific inventor and tinkerer. She has created numerous bespoke scientific tools and instruments, including a hand-held landmine detector.
Dr. Aderin-Pocock was diagnosed as dyslexic as a child and placed in a remedial class, bouncing between 14 different schools. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in physics and a doctorate in mechanical engineering. She strives to bring science of space to the masses and inspire the next generation of scientists.
Explorer Ben Saunders gave the closing keynote address, “Turning Ideas into Action.” He touched on the disconnect between ideas and action, bringing up themes such as challenging conventional wisdom, communicating with your team and testing your sense of self-belief. Discussing his transformative journeys to the North and South Poles, he shows how to fully commit to a vision in order to maximize the chances for success. He offered tips on training, preparedness and teamwork.
Attendee Impressions
Daniel Hendling, PMP, president, PMI Austria Chapter, said LIM was “the perfect combination of relevant input from PMI, networking opportunities with peers from all over the world (not just Europe), and exciting evening programs, making this the best LIM I've ever attended.
“I had a lot of exchanges regarding transitioning of board members, which will help us perform future handovers more effectively and in a holistic way,” he continued.
“I am now finishing my term, and LIM allowed me to talk to several people from the international PMI community, which inspired me to keep my eyes open for a possible future engagement as a volunteer in an international role within the PMI community,” concluded Mr. Hendling.
Clement Kitetu, PMP, president, PMI Kenya Chapter, noted that there are lots of changes taking place and leaders have a need to learn quickly in order to empower people to make ideas a reality.
“I got an opportunity to network with ‘old’ and ‘new’ [leaders], and the experience was fulfilling,” he said. “It was great meeting fellow Leadership Institute Master Class alumni and getting to know them and sharing success stories. ... We also shared challenges and solutions to some of the challenges that we face as professionals and chapter leaders.
“PMI @50 is going through changes and we need to align and adopt new ways of doing business from the chapter level in order to support the change,” continued Mr. Kitetu. “The president and CEO talk, together with that of the Board chair, brought insights to the directions that the Institute is moving toward.”
Dina Lavrova, PMP, vice president, special projects, PMI Moscow, Russia Chapter, was a first-timer at LIM and also served as a chapter leader for the first time. “It's really amazing that we are one membership and community, and that volunteering lives differently in every chapter,” observed Ms. Lavrova. “LIM is a unique opportunity to meet with PMI leaders, to [learn] from other's experiences, and to reflect on your own knowledge.”
Nirvanna Ramersad, PMP, vice president, professional development, PMI South Africa Chapter, reported that “I got to meet a founder and the president and CEO of PMI and share conversation with them. I learned that some of the work we do in South Africa as volunteers is, in fact, world class. I connected with other volunteers in the professional development roles. The mix of activities in this area throughout different countries and regions inspired me that we actually use a lot of innovative thinking to reach the individuals in each country.”
Joerg Glunde, PMI-ACP, PMP, president, PMI Southern Germany Chapter, has attended most LIMs since 2010. He enthused that “It was the greatest LIM I ever experienced.... I enjoyed the great hospitality of the Ireland Chapter and the really good program with much leadership knowledge.”
Progress Made Possible By A Project Manager
Join Us at PMI Global Conference; Help Celebrate Our 50th Anniversary
No organization is exempt from disruption. So whether you're an experienced project manager or new to the profession, helping your organization change and adapt is crucial to your role.
That's why PMI® Global Conference attracts professionals from leading organizations in a wide range of industries and sectors.
Over the course of three days, you'll share knowledge and learn relevant and applicable skills. You'll talk to, and learn from, some of the thousands of practitioners, chapter leaders and business professionals who attend from around the world. And you'll leave feeling part of a global community with the skills to thrive in an ever-changing world. If you want, you can also deepen your knowledge on a specific topic by attending a course at SeminarsWorld® in Philadelphia. These take place before or after the conference (1–4 October and 8–9 October). Separate registration fees apply.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Adam Grant will speak on “How Non-Conformists Move the World.”
- One of the world's 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortune's 40 under 40
- Wharton's top-rated professor for six straight years
- Presenter of TED Talks that have been viewed 11 million times
As an organizational psychologist, Mr. Grant studies how we can find motivation and meaning, and lead more generous and creative lives. He is the author of three New York Times best-selling books that have sold over one million copies and been translated into 35 languages.
To survive and thrive, organizations need original thinking. Yet most individuals stay silent rather than voicing their best ideas—and many leaders stifle dissent rather than encourage it. Drawing on his blockbuster book Originals, Mr. Grant explores how we can all get better at recognizing and championing new ideas, how to overcome fear and doubt, and how to build cultures that welcome diverse perspectives and honest feedback.
5–7 October 2019 • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Join us in Philadelphia and you'll be able to:
- Help maintain your certification(s) by earning up to 18 PDUs across the PMI Talent Triangle® in just three days (earn even more if you attend SeminarsWorld®)
- Choose the educational sessions that best suit your needs
- Learn new practices and approaches you can apply in your organization straightaway
- Hear how our keynote speakers and experts deal with change and overcome challenges
- In the exhibit hall, test-drive your skills and try out new products and services that will help you do your job better.
- Share insights, solve workplace problems and socialize with like-minded professionals.
More Benefits
Other opportunities at Conference you can take advantage of include:
- Stepping away from meetings and distractions to better absorb and apply the skills you've set out to learn.
- Keeping ahead of competition and staying relevant by learning the latest trends and best practices
- Getting inspired by our keynote speakers, who are chosen not only for their expertise but for their passion.
- Asking questions, seeking advice and exploring possibilities with potential new business partners, mentors or employers.
- Meeting experts and influencers in your industry or field.
- Sharing knowledge and new ideas to give back, advocate and stand out.
PMI Partners With TED
To celebrate our 50th anniversary and further advance the project management profession, PMI is partnering with TED, the non-profit dedicated to ideas worth spreading. Our two great brands will bring inspiring ideas and powerful voices to the world of project, program and portfolio management, empowering people to make ideas a reality. This partnership is an immersive and impactful experience that has the power to create change, to shift perspectives and connect cultures.
We'll tap into ideas and innovations of TED speakers from around the world to showcase a series of TED Talks that will spark your interests and imagination.
The PMI Awards Gala and Dinner is an annual celebration of project, program, and portfolio management—and the industry stars who are not only changing the profession and their organizations, but enabling the evolution of their communities and the business landscape.
Based on nominations from our global membership, PMI and the PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF) will honor those who represent the best of the best from across the world of project management.
Call for Volunteers
Leveraging a collaborative approach with our stakeholders, PMI will be adapting both The Standard for Project Management and the Project Management Body of Knowledge. This approach will include the entire value delivery landscape of project management, recognizing that practitioners can use a broad range of methods and approaches from traditional to cutting-edge to deliver outcomes.
PMI is announcing its call for volunteers for those who would like to participate in the development of the PMBOK® Guide – Seventh Edition. We are now looking for volunteers to be part of both the Development Committee and Review Team for the latest edition. Access the Volunteer Relationship Management System (VRMS) at PMI.org now to read more about this opportunity. This opportunity is open to potential volunteers until 19 July 2019. Go to vrms.pmi.org to learn more.
PMI China News
R.E.P. Kickoff Meeting Held in Shenzhen
PMI China's Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) kickoff meeting was held in Shenzhen this year. It welcomed over 70 attendees, including senior leaders from PMI, China International Talent Exchange Foundation (CITEF)—formerly known as the Training Center of the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs (TCSAFEA)—and representatives from R.E.P.s.
The annual one-day conference acted as a platform for PMI China and its strategic partner CITEF to share the newest market trends, statistics and policies of PMI, as well as the yearly plan pertinent to R.E.P. businesses. It also helped promote exchanges of business experience and lessons learned among R.E.P.s, providing a face-to-face discussion opportunity.
This year, the meeting featured plenty of highlights:
- Latest News on PMI Certification and Professional Development: PMI China Managing Director Bob Chen addressed the conference on the newest updates of PMI certification, renewal and professional development unit (PDU) events in China, as of the end of 2018. “Statistics from last year present very positive results,” said Mr. Chen. “Yet more efforts are needed to standardize the [profession's] development. For the 2019 plan, we decided to launch the PMI China Premium Community and the PMI China R.E.P. Advisory Committee to provide better service and strengthen interaction with R.E.P.s and PMI certification holders.”
- R.E.P. Priorities; PMI and CITEF Perspectives: Following Mr. Chen, CITEF Director Wan Jinfa made a point that the priority for R.E.P.s was to preserve the PMI brand, enhance service quality and nurture the professional ethics of candidates. Then Mr. Chen and Mr. Wan gave detailed explanations from the perspectives of PMI and CITEF respectively, supplemented by several R.E.P. representatives, making the session a real idea-exchanging dialogue.
- NASA Lessons Learned and Talent Development: Dr. Edward J. Hoffman, PMI Strategic Advisor and former Chief Knowledge Officer of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), shared lessons learned and talent development from NASA and beyond. He noted that all the people present at the conference actually worked on talent development and the meeting itself is a learning and sharing process, which is an important part of talent development.
- Awards for 2018 Contributions: During the meeting, several leading R.E.P.s were honored with awards to show appreciation for their valuable contribution in 2018. One of the award winners was invited to share their successful experiences from 2018. Following this, the China Software Industry Association's Project Management Committee was introduced by Lu Lin, vice president of the committee. Founded in January 2019, it is committed to promoting project management in the software industry in China by collaborating with PMI.
The meeting ended after a networking dinner open to all participants. For all attendees, the conference was a good opportunity to learn and to build their professional network. It laid a good foundation for the 2019 development of R.E.P.s.
Events Calendar congresses | conferences | seminars | symposiums | e-Learning
PMI In-Person Events
Take part in PMI in-person events where you can participate in top-notch learning and have access to product and services solutions, PDUs and networking. Wherever you practice project management, our in-person events are an invaluable resource to hear from high-energy presenters and build a powerful global network.
Attending a PMI in-person event is a valuable asset for your career. Make sure you're signed up today.
PMI members receive significant discounts on registration for most events.
PMI® Global Conference 2019
Early Bird
savings until 24 July
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA • 5–7 October
Registration is open!
This is our flagship event, attracting thousands for three days of top-notch learning, networking and fun! New this year—benefit from the TED experience. Come help PMI celebrate its 50th anniversary.
PMO Symposium® 2019
Early Bird
savings until 14 August
Denver, Colorado, USA 3–6 November
Registration is open for this unique event aimed at PMO leaders. Learn how PMOs can bring benefits above and beyond completing projects on time and on budget. Share your experiences, build valuable connections and develop practical solutions with PMO leaders from around the world.
PMI Today Deadlines:
SEPTEMBER 2019............................ 15 JULY
OCTOBER 2019.........................15 AUGUST
Free listings in the PMI Today® Events Calendar are reserved for activities organized by PMI, its communities and its cooperating organizations. For information on how to purchase a paid advertisement in this calendar, email [email protected]. Please see PMI's online Events Calendar at PMI.org/events/calendar for more events.
JULY 2019
12–13 July
PMI Bangalore India Chapter
14th Annual Project Management Practitioners Conference
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Bringing together Bengaluru, India. The focus of this year's conference is “architecting project management for embracing disruptions.” pmpc2019.pmibangalorechapter.in.
AUGUST 2019
12 August
PMI North Carolina Chapter
2019 Annual Conference
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Premier professional development day. Join 1,000+ fellow project managers for a memorable experience. The theme is: “Level Up! Taking your career to the next level.” Keynote speakers include Judy Umlas, Dave Crenshaw and Joshua Lozoff. ncpmi.org.
SEPTEMBER 2019
8–10 September
PMI Africa Conference 2019
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Bringing together hundreds of project, program and portfolio managers from around the world, this event provides two-and-a-half days of professional development and networking. The conference will enhance your personal skill sets and empower your drive toward strategic organizational objectives through the advocacy and advancement of the profession. Peer-driven content offers real-world insight into today's evolving project and business challenges. pmiafricaconference.com.
27–28 September
PMI Romania Chapter
International Project Leadership Conference (IPLC) 2019
Bucharest, Romania. Come attend the leading project/program/portfolio management event in Romania. We are committed to bringing together the hottest topics of our profession and invite you to take part in the IPLC 2019 journey! pmdays.ro.
27–28 September
PMI Caribe, Colombia Potential Chapter
Summit PM Caribe 2019
Barranquilla, Colombia. The project management community is invited to the 2nd Congress of Project Management to be held in the Colombian Caribbean Region. Join us for two days of learning, success stories, business visits, conferences, workshops and a lot of networking. pmicaribe.org.
OCTOBER 2019
4 October
PMI Belgium Chapter
PM Fair 2019
Brussels, Belgium. The theme this year is “Project Management and Digital Disruption: Are You Ready?” Enjoy a combination of keynotes, workshops and booths where sponsors and authors demonstrate their products and services to a targeted group of professionals. pmi-belgium.be.
NOVEMBER 2019
6–7 November
PMI Southern Caribbean Chapter
10th Biennial International Project Management Conference
San Fernando, Trinidad. “Rebooting for the Digital Age.” Inherent to the fourth industrial revolution that is upon us are three key considerations: velocity, scope and impact. The chaos presents opportunities and challenges, and business leaders must understand changing environments and challenge assumptions while relentlessly innovating. pmiscc.org.
7 November
PMI Budapest, Hungarian Chapter
Art of Projects Conference 2019
Budapest, Hungary. Save the date for this seventh annual conference. pmi.hu.
23–24 November
PMI MENA Conference 2019
Kuwait City, Kuwait (23 November) and Manama, Bahrain (24 November). Join the third edition of the Middle East–Northern Africa (MENA) Conference. The event will have a keynote speaker from the PMI Board of Directors and other international project management experts sharing the latest topics ranging from project excellence and strategic PMOs to business analysis and much more. Whether you are a seasoned project professional, starting your career or returning to the profession, there are unique learning and networking opportunities that await you!! pmimenaconference.org.
Interested in having a FREE PMI Today® event listing? Please go to PMI.org/events/calendar and click on the link for submitting events. Your listing will be considered for both the PMI.org online calendar and the PMI Today calendar.
SeminarsWorld® Events
Leading subject matter experts share their experience and deep knowledge on a variety of topics. Whether you are looking to build your leadership skills, work on soft skills such as communications and collaboration, or dive deeper into agile, these events provide unique opportunities to learn and connect with the project management community.
Learn more about SeminarsWorld courses being held in these locations and throughout the world. Use PMI's search tool for project management training matched to your specific needs. Visit learning.PMI.org.
15–18 July
Chicago, Illinois, USA
5–8 August
San Francisco, California, USA
15–19 September
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
1–4 and 8–9 October
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Live Webinars From ProjectManagement.com
As a valued member of the ProjectManagement.com community, you can access webinars that provide insight from the industry's most respected voices on the most relevant and important topics today—and earn PDUs.
3 July, 1:00 p.m. EDT (UTC–4)
The Recipe for Successful Project Delivery
What is the recipe for delivering projects successfully? It takes the right ingredients and proper amount of time to deliver a successful project. If you skip the crucial ingredients of a recipe or use more than required, it doesn't turn out to be perfect. So, where is the sweet spot? Presented by NK Shrivastava, PMI-RMP, PMI-ACP, PMP, and Phillip George.
11 July, 9:00 a.m. EDT (UTC–4)
The Agile Enterprise: Benchmarking Projects—Measuring Project Outcome Not the Output
Unlike the traditional approach of measuring value delivered based on planned deliverables, agile doesn't provide clear metrics that can be used to compare projects and delivery teams. Agile teams use qualitative or semiquantitative metrics to visualize progress. This webinar presents a user-centric model, measuring the project from the customer perspective. Presented by Stelian Roman, PMI-ACP, PMP.
18 July, 3:00 p.m. EDT (UTC–4)
Project HEADWAY: It's All Strategy...Always
It has been argued that project management is all about the execution of strategy. We tend to think of “strategy” and “project” as being separate and distinct concepts. This webinar explores where these lines blur, how to make sense of them and how to think about our projects relating to strategy. Presented by Mark Mullaly, PhD.
For more information and to register, visit ProjectManagement.com/Webinars.
PMI Educational Foundation
Advice to My Younger Self: The Benefits of Learning Project Management Early in Life
All of us, at least once in our lives, have thought “if I only knew then what I know now.” It could have been in a work situation where you needed just a little more experience, or maybe in life when talking with friends, or perhaps maybe even when you were in grade school. Inevitably, we all have a situation where we wish our current skill set was available to us earlier and that we had a role model to look up to.
In this Q&A series with the PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF), we apply the “shoulda, coulda, woulda” mindset to project management, and asked members in the project management field how they feel their current skill set could have helped them as a kid. We started with advice from our active PMIEF community about how they feel this skill set can help kids to achieve their goals and fulfill future dreams in life.
In this article, three women—Gina Abudi, consultant, author, speaker, and founder of Abudi Consulting Group in New Hampshire, USA; Titilola Park, director of projects for Tamgor Nigeria Ltd. in Nigeria; and Ana Carolina Gaeta, production engineer and project management specialist in Brazil—share their thoughts on teaching project management skills to youth and why they think project management is a vital tool for the future.
Read further to learn not only how project management has helped to shape them and their careers, but also what advice they have for the next generation of project managers.
If you had learned project management skills at a young age, how would that have helped your early growth, school life, opportunities, etc.?
Gina Abudi: I think learning project management skills at a younger age would have helped in getting my school work completed. I certainly could have used those skills to get research papers done!
Titilola Park: I have always been someone who thinks sequentially, but if I had learned project management earlier in my life, I would have been able to break down projects that felt overwhelming, and I wouldn't have given up as easily as I did. It would've provided me an opportunity to be more successful in my school projects.
Ana Carolina Gaeta: I've been lucky that I learned early project management skills and started to volunteer at a PMI chapter. Since then, my personal and professional lives have changed, and I have had amazing opportunities throughout my career. So, I always wanted to share with younger kids all the things that I learned because if it was this good for me, it could be good for them too. I remember when PMIEF did a presentation in Brazil and I thought, “This is what I want to teach; this is what I want to be a part of.”
In your experience, have you seen kids with project management skills perform differently than kids without those skills?
Ms. Abudi: I'm going to use my nephew as an example. I taught him project management skills and I saw him using those skills doing school work and helping his mom to organize birthday parties (for him!). Additionally, I saw children use project management skills to plan group events in school, such as monthly birthday parties and holiday parties. It is fun and exciting for them!
Ms. Park: When we went to the global conference last year, we let our students showcase what they learned from the Project Management Skills for Life® resources. They learned that there are projects all around us, and the need for a project management skill set is crucial. Their project enabled them to make a donation to their school library and they were able to engage with adults confidently and discuss their learnings at the conference. I look forward to replicating their success outside of Nigeria.
Ms. Gaeta: I witnessed younger kids who have some knowledge in project management use their soft skills, like communication and leadership, for example, in a more developed way than kids without project management knowledge. These kids are able to think and react better when they are faced with some challenges or difficulty. Kids who have learned project management skills grow up to be more prepared and self-confident because they possess the tools for planning and achieving their goals.
What advice would you give to a young person when it comes to learning project management early as a vital tool for the future?
Ms. Abudi: While I am not a project manager by profession, I use my project management skills in everything I do. Project management is a way to be organized about how you approach work. I would highly recommend that everyone learn project management skills. You will be able to do so much with those skills, whether planning an event at school, organizing a birthday party for a friend, planning a surprise for parents, or any other number of things.
Ms. Park: I think project management is a skill that's needed in all aspects of life. It helps solve and address issues of governance and accountability. If you teach kids accountability early, then they become better students. Better students become better leaders, and better leaders help transform tomorrow. It's so important to learn these skills early.
Ms. Gaeta: If you have the opportunity to learn project management early, do it! Many professionals today (like doctors, lawyers, etc.) are lacking project management skills and are suffering the consequences of entering into the labor market without that essential knowledge, not only for their career but also for their lives. With project management skills, professionals are more apt to achieve their goals and fulfill their dreams.
PMIEF's work centers on bringing project management to youth. To learn more about PMIEF's work visit pmief.org.
Upcoming Certification Changes
This year, you will see exciting new changes to the PMI certification program. Overall and in general, here's what you can expect:
- Better support of your career journey: We'll create stepping stones that help advance skill sets and link one certification to another.
- More customized offerings: Your needs change as you progress through your career, so our certifications will adapt to address this as well. We will avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Modernization: The basis behind the changes to certifications will better reflect real-world work experiences and practices across the value delivery spectrum. This will enable customers to be equipped with the tools they need to deliver results.
- Recognition of specialized skills: We'll improve on acknowledging the skill sets you acquire and hone through professional development.
Certification Exam Delivery
Our first change is the move on 1 July to Pearson VUE for all certification exam delivery (except in China) to provide more testing locations—over 5,000 worldwide.
This change provides:
- Additional test locations: With more testing locations available, choosing a convenient test site is easier than ever.
- Online proctoring for the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® exams: Candidates can now test from their home or office for increased convenience and ease of access.
- Versatility to U.S. Service Members: Pearson VUE offers a global U.S. federal and military on-base test center network, allowing U.S. service and government members to test where they serve around the world.
PMP® Exam Will Change in December
We know the profession of project management is evolving—just like we are as an association. With that in mind, the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam will be updated in December to ensure it reflects up-to-date practices and equips project managers with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today's modern project environments.
Every three to five years, we conduct research to understand how the profession has progressed, the impact of emerging trends, and how the responsibilities of project managers have changed. The last round of this research was conducted in 2015 and resulted in the current Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content Outline.
Subject matter experts from leading organizations around the world worked with us to define the PMP certification of the future. Updating the exam ensures that PMP certification holders will continue to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in today's fast-paced project environments.
Global Practice Analysis
Historically, our Role Delineation Study (RDS) informed the updates to each of our certification exams, but for this update, we approached things a little differently and conducted a Global Practice Analysis. This research study comprehensively looked at the profession of project management from a cross-geographic, cross-industry, cross-role lens to define certification structure and content.
This effort specifically focused on the roles of project manager (PMP®), novice in project management (CAPM®), business analyst (PMI-PBA®) and agile practitioner (PMI-ACP®). The findings from this research will help define the content of these certifications to ensure we remain relevant in the market.
The PMP is the first certification that will be updated as a result of the Global Practice Analysis. The new PMP exam will be released in December and the last day to take the current version of the PMP exam will be 15 December 2019.
Chapter Links news | people | projects
PMI Manitoba Chapter pmimanitoba.org
Celebration Honors Award Winners
The PMI Manitoba Chapter recently celebrated its 15th annual Project of the Year gala. The project of the year award honors the top project in the province based on superior performance of project management methodologies and practices. A total of 122 guests were treated to a video presentation of the winning project.
This year's gala was even more significant as the chapter celebrated its 25th anniversary. In addition, the chapter hosted the 2019 PMI Region 2 meetings during the same week, and several executives from other chapters joined in for the celebration.
The Honorable Janice C. Filmon, lieutenant governor of Manitoba, Chapter President Christa Ferreira, PMP, and The Honorable Scott Fielding, provincial minister of finance, were in attendance and assisted with recognizing the nominated projects.
The 2019 Project of the Year was awarded to the Celero ITSM Project Phase I, submitted by Celero. Celero is a credit union-owned digital technology and integration company that delivers a comprehensive range of digital technology and payment solutions to financial institutions across Canada. Currently, Celero's clients represent C$97.4 billion in assets representing 1.9 million credit union members.
In 2018, Celero adopted ITIL as a best practice for its IT processes and implemented a new cloud-based IT service management (ITSM) system for its staff and credit union customers. The process and system aimed to improve Celero's ability to deliver high-quality and reliable IT services for its staff and customers across Canada.
The project faced many challenges such as schedule conflicts, and network and security technical challenges. In addition, every person in the organization, as well as many partners and customers, needed to be engaged and focused in this initiative.
The project's main lessons learned included:
- An executive-sponsored and unified organizational vision to adopt a new approach provides the mandate required for fast and clear decision making.
- Organizational change management must be employed at the start of the project, not at the end.
- Colocation into a single environment at critical points is a must for reducing risks.
The key factors that resulted in a successful implementation for the project were:
- High executive engagement.
- Successful negotiation for a highly skilled vendor specialist.
- Flexible and highly dedicated project team.
The project's top three project outcomes included:
- Organization-wide training and buy-in of ITIL processes.
- Modern cloud-based ITSM system.
- Groundwork was laid for many new IT initiatives in the future.
The Project of the Year runner-up title was awarded to Owner's Engineering Services for a highway construction project. The other finalist was the Credit Card Portfolio Replacement Project by Assiniboine Credit Union.
For more information on the PMI Manitoba Chapter Project of the Year, contact the organizing committee at [email protected].
PMI Singapore Chapter pmi.org.sg
Chapter Recognizes Project Management Excellence
Nearly 300 project professionals from more than 200 companies across various industries attended a gala awards dinner to celebrate excellence in the form of the winners and runners-up of the chapter's fifth project of the year competition.
This program was launched in 2014, inviting all government agencies as well as private corporations to showcase their outstanding projects for these awards. This year, there were 30 percent more nomination entries as compared to the previous year, which shows the growing appetite and keenness for companies to take part. Entries came from a wide spectrum of industry and government sectors, including IT, pharmaceutical and telecommunications.
The chapter started this program with the sole purpose and objective of creating a merit-based platform to recognize projects from Singapore under two broad categories: business and information systems, and engineering and construction. Winners would be those projects distinguished by their project management practices, innovation, value creation, complexity and impact.
SPMI POV Awards Chairman Harihara Subramanian
POY 2018–19 Award Winning companies, Business & Information Systems.
SPMI President Umesh Ursekar
The 2018–19 Awards Chairman Harihara Subramanian noted in his speech that Singapore has a very vibrant project management community. It is important to tap into this vibrancy, and one way to do so, he said, is to provide recognition of outstanding projects and the hard work by their teams. These awards will motivate the vibrant project management community in Singapore and be an example to other regions as well.”
The chapter's award program was backed by a strong lineup of 17 judges and evaluation panel members, which included senior executives from the corporate world.
For more information, including the names of the winners in each category and project size subcategory, please visit pmi.org.sg/poy2018-19.
PMI Mile-Hi Chapter pmimilehi.org
21st Annual Symposium Focuses on New Leadership Trends
New leadership trends in influence and relevance were the focus of the 21st annual Rocky Mountain Project Management Symposium from the PMI Mile-Hi Chapter.
A significant value-add from the event, the popular After-Event Benefits package, was back for the third year. Surveys conducted after each event revealed that while professional development units (PDUs) continue to rank as the number one attendee benefit, there is an expressed need for more networking time. After-Event Benefits allow attendees to skip sessions to keep conversations going, and later claim additional PDUs post-symposium by accessing selected recorded sessions from the day.
Project management in Colorado was honored, with the PMI Pike's Peak Regional, Colorado Chapter joining the event as an exhibitor and Mayor Michael B. Hancock recognizing the event by officially proclaiming “Project Management Day in Denver.” Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued an official welcome to the more than 1,550 registered attendees.
More than 100 chapter members donated their time and talents in planning and implementing the chapter's 21st annual symposium.
Best-selling author Daniel Pink was the morning keynote, speaking on “Leadership and New Principles and Influence.” Leadership coach Neen James, MBA, CSP, closed the day with a high-energy presentation on “Attention Pays: How to Drive Profitability, Increase Productivity and Boost Accountability.”
A Selfie of the Day contest had attendees team up with an accountability partner for the day to get the networking and fun off to a good start during the morning session. To facilitate connecting with attendees and sponsors for the day, the popular mobile app was back for the third year, with a whopping 87 percent of attendees downloading it.
“In this one day at Symposium, there are literally so many opportunities for learning, contemplation and socializing that I try not to miss it,” said Joseph J. Komperda, Sr., PMP. “When you add the ability to continue learning and earning PDUs after the event due to the magic of technology, the symposium's benefits just keep adding up.”
Best-selling author Daniel Pink keynoted PMI Mile-Hi's 21st annual symposium.
“Continuous learning is important to me, not only because it is an integral part of maintaining my [Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification] status but also because if I'm not learning, I'm falling behind,” Mr. Komperda continued. “As a project manager, in order to stay vital and connected, I find that the PMI Mile-Hi's symposium is the perfect activity to meet those needs,” he added.
Angela Sims-Ceja, PMP, senior IT project manager for the City of Aurora, Colorado, concurred. “The 2019 Symposium was an awesome training and networking opportunity, and our team attended as a group.”
“Symposium speakers were outstanding, such as Daniel Pink, and we appreciate the discounts. The member/early bird discount and group discount combined to make the symposium a real bargain,” she explained. More than 50 percent of registered attendees took advantage of the group discount.
PMI Turkey Chapter pmi-tr.org
First Summit in İzmir Covers Digital Transformation
Volunteers from the PMI Turkey Chapter who live in İzmir, Turkey's third-largest city, created a considerable impact at their first attempt to organize a Project Management Summit in their home city. The event attracted 240 attendees, 12 official sponsors and 15 influential speakers in the grand hall, and three valuable workshops in parallel sessions.
As a keynote speaker, Süreyya Ciliv inspired the attendees to discover their potentials to be ready for the future.
Professionals and academicians came together in this panel to discuss analytical skills needed for digital transformation.
Up until now, the PMI Turkey Chapter only organized annual summits in two of the largest cities in Turkey: Istanbul and Ankara. This year, thanks to the successful efforts of enthusiastic volunteers, Izmir joined in with Project Management Summit İzmir 2019, held at Yasar University. This was the 18th summit held by the chapter.
Within the scope of the main theme, “Transformation Now for the Future,” the summit placed emphasis on digital transformation for PMI members and project management practitioners.
This meeting discussed many related questions:
- What is digital transformation?
- Where is Turkey in this process of digital transformation?
- Is digital transformation something good or bad?
- Which professions are threatened by this transformation?
- What will be the role of humans in the digitalized world?
- How will the digital transformation affect our organizational structure, business processes and relationships?
- What is the role of project management principles and standards in this transformation?
Expert speakers and workshops helped the summit to make sense of digital transformation. The keynote speaker was Süreyya Ciliv, an international ICT executive and software entrepreneur who served at Microsoft and as the CEO of Turkcell, one of the largest telecommunications companies in Europe. Other speakers included Bishan Ruder, director/ global black belt for Microsoft project and portfolio management in the Middle East–Africa region.
About 240 attendees from various sectors created a huge synergy while discussing the effects of digital transformation.