PMXPO™ Agenda

Step up. Grow through collective learning.

On-Demand Virtual Event | 12 PDUs

PMXPO is the world’s premier free virtual event for Project Professionals and those exploring the field. The on-demand experience will help you build skills, earn PDUs, and strengthen the impact of projects shaping our world.

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PMXPO™ Agenda

Step up. Grow through collective learning.

On-Demand Virtual Event | 12 PDUs

PMXPO is the world’s premier free virtual event for Project Professionals and those exploring the field. The on-demand experience will help you build skills, earn PDUs, and strengthen the impact of projects shaping our world.

Register Now - opens in a new tabAlready Registered? Access Now - opens in a new tab

2026 Agenda

Your PMXPO experience starts here.

Browse the full list of PMXPO 2026 talks and topics to find the sessions that matter most to you.

Join us for mainstage presentations, choose from skill-building breakout sessions, and catch up anytime with on-demand learning—designed to help you grow your capabilities and earn PDUs along the way.

  • Mainstage Sessions

    Inspiring, high-impact sessions featuring big ideas and fresh perspectives from leading voices in the project profession.

  • Breakout Sessions

    Practical, skill-building sessions focused on tools, techniques, and strategies you can apply immediately.

  • Bonus Theater Sessions

    Bonus sessions featuring timely insights and practical takeaways, available to watch on-demand as soon as the platform opens.

Opening General Session

Session 202

(MAINSTAGE THEATER)

Pulse of the Profession: Leading Project Success in a Complex World

  • Session Topic: Project Success

    Core

  • Focus Track: Lead the Way

    for Project Professionals

Speakers

Pierre Le Manh, PMI President and CEO, sets the stage by challenging project professionals to step up as a strategic force within organizations. Pierre frames the realities leaders face today, including rising complexity, faster decision cycles, and increasing expectations for value delivery, underscoring why traditional approaches are no longer sufficient.

Building on this perspective, Lenka Pincot, PMI Chief of Staff to the CEO and executive for Thought Leadership, shares key insights from the newest  Pulse of the Profession® research findings. She explores how complexity is reshaping leadership expectations, decision-making, and accountability across organizations, and what this means for project professionals striving to deliver meaningful, sustainable outcomes.

The session culminates in an exclusive interview with Michael Lurie, Chief Catalyst at Bayer, who brings a C-suite lens to enterprise agility and leadership in action. Through this conversation, Michael shares how senior leaders think about agility beyond frameworks and buzzwords, addressing continuous reinvention, purpose-driven decision-making, modern governance models, responsible speed, and the human side of transformation in an increasingly digital world. His insights connect strategy to execution, illustrating how leaders can enable flow, empower teams, and maintain integrity while navigating constant change.

Together, this session connects PMI research with executive experience, offering project professionals a clearer view of how leadership, agility, and business acumen intersect to drive success in today’s complex environments.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Identify the key drivers of complexity impacting today’s project environments and explain how these forces are changing leadership expectations and definitions of project success, based on insights from PMI’s Pulse of the Profession research

  • Apply modern leadership behaviors and decision-making approaches that help project professionals navigate complexity, overcome organizational bottlenecks, and deliver meaningful, value-driven outcomes beyond traditional process execution

  • Earn 1 PDU

Session 203

(BREAKOUT THEATER)

The Authority Myth: Why Influence Matters More in Project Management

  • Session Topic: Leadership

    Intermediate

  • Focus Track: Accelerate Your Career

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

Project managers often lead teams without direct authority, making influence a critical skill for project success.

This session explores practical strategies for leading through influence, including relationship-building, stakeholder engagement, and communication techniques. Attendees will learn how to gain trust, inspire action, and navigate organizational challenges without a formal leadership title. Real-world case studies and actionable frameworks will help project managers develop powerful leadership skills that drive collaboration, motivation, and project success.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Apply key influence strategies to gain stakeholder buy-in and project support without formal authority

  • Utilize communication and relationship-building techniques to increase credibility and inspire action in project environments

  • Earn 0.75 PDU

Session 204

(BREAKOUT THEATER)

Small Island, Huge Challenges: Tahiti's Innovative Solutions for Paris 2024 Surf Competition

  • Session Topic: Giga Projects

    Advanced

  • Focus Track: Lead the Way

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

  • Jean-Luc Favrot, Consultant and Trainer in Project Management, AI, and Innovation, Decisif Pacifique

Discover the key success factors of the Paris 2024 Olympic project, including the innovative decision to host a world-class surfing event in Tahiti. Explore how challenges like isolation and environmental sensitivity were overcome through creative solutions.

This session highlights logistical triumphs, sustainability efforts, and lessons in adaptability, showcasing how small territories like Tahiti inspire bold leadership, collaboration, and impactful community engagement for global-scale success.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Identify challenges and solutions from Tahiti’s Olympic surfing event, showing how small islands inspire global-scale project management

  • Apply lessons from Tahiti’s Olympic success to lead projects with limited resources and environmental or logistical constraints

  • Earn 0.75 PDU

Session 205

(BREAKOUT THEATER)

Rising to Lead: The Journey from Volunteer to Global Impact Leader

  • Session Topic: Sustainability

    Core

  • Focus Track: Make an Impact

    for Young Professionals

Speaker

  • Marco Romero, Global Leader, Officer for Hydraulic Systems, Aeronautical Technical Maintenance Brigade, Angolan National Air Force
  • Clara Ingles, President, PMI Angola Chapter

Speakers

In this inspiring award spotlight session, the 2025 PMI Rising Leader Award winner, Marco Romero, joins Clara Ingles, President of the PMI Angola Chapter, for a candid, conversation on leadership, service, and creating impact on a global scale.

Fresh from his recognition at the PMI Global Summit, Marco reflects on the journey that shaped his leadership path. From volunteer service within PMI to leading complex, high‑stakes initiatives at the intersection of aerospace engineering, environmental stewardship, and national development. His work has contributed to transformative efforts including the establishment of a Project Management Office supporting Angola’s space and satellite initiatives, as well as community‑based STEM education and sustainability programs designed to inspire the next generation.

In this conversation, Marco and Clara explore how technical expertise, purpose‑driven volunteerism, and community engagement can coexist. They share how project professionals can use their skills not only to deliver results, but to create lasting social impact. Join this session to explore the human side of project leadership, with an emphasis on how meaningful change begins well before formal titles or global recognition.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Learn how volunteer leadership and community engagement can accelerate credibility, influence, and leadership growth; and

  • Gain insight into how early‑career project professionals can align technical skills with purpose to drive meaningful, long‑term impact.

  • Earn 0.75 PDUs

Session 206

(BREAKOUT THEATER)

The Future of Project Management: AI, Automation & Beyond

  • Session Topic: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Intermediate

  • Focus Track: Get Future Ready

    for AI-Focused Project Professionals

Speaker

The project management landscape is undergoing a major transformation driven by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and advanced technologies. As organizations embrace digital transformation, project managers must adapt to remain relevant and add value.

This session explores the evolving role of project managers in an AI-driven world, the tools reshaping project execution, and strategies for future-proof careers in project management.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Develop a strategic approach to integrating AI and automation into project workflows maintaining a balance between technology and human expertise

  • Assess the ethical implication, challenges of AI, including bias, data security, and importance of human oversight in automated decision-making

  • Earn 0.75 PDUs

Afternoon Sessions

Session 207

(MAINSTAGE THEATER)

AI and Lifelong Learning: Thriving in the Era of Intelligent Transformation

  • Topic: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Core

  • Track: Get Future Ready

    for Project Professionals

Speakers

In a world where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and redefining how we work, the ability to learn continuously has never been more critical. This session explores the intersection of AI and lifelong learning—how emerging technologies are transforming education, professional development, and the skills we need to stay relevant.

Join us for an inspiring conversation on embracing curiosity, adapting to change, and building a mindset that turns disruption into opportunity. Discover practical strategies for leveraging AI to accelerate learning and unlock your potential in a rapidly evolving landscape.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Recognize how artificial intelligence is transforming learning, skill development, and career pathways; and

  • Apply practical strategies for leveraging AI as a learning partner to accelerate personal growth, foster adaptability, and turn ongoing disruption into opportunity through a lifelong learning mindset.

  • Earn 0.75 PDUs

Session 208

(BREAKOUT THEATER)

The Pre-Product Formula: 6-Steps for Success

  • Session Topic: PMOs (Project Management Offices)

    Intermediate

  • Focus Track: Lead the Way

    for PMO Professionals

Speaker

Tommy's insightful presentation reveals the proven strategies teams employ for seamless product delivery. Using a comprehensive example from a leading energy supermajor, Tommy will unveil a six-step blueprint for achieving success.

Get ready to discover the secrets behind effective preparation and execution in the pre-product space!

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Describe the six-step process for pre-product preparation

  • Construct a targeted backlog to set your team and product up for success

  • Earn 0.75 PDUs

Session 209

(BREAKOUT THEATER)

Elevate Your PMO: Scaling Agile, Change, and Community for Business Outcomes

  • Session Topic: PMOs (Project Management Offices)

    Intermediate

  • Focus Track: Lead the Way

    for PMO Professionals

Speaker

Presenters will share learnings from their agile PMO leadership experiences across five industries, four continents, seventeen countries on how PMO, leaders, and an energized Community of Practitioner change agents can achieve business outcomes at scale.

We cover leadership tips to “walk the talk”, action learning and coaching, selecting high-impact pilots, hypothesis decision-making, scaling up to programs, value streams and portfolios, project-managing products, selecting key performance indicators (KPIs), and change management techniques you can apply tomorrow.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Develop a roadmap that blends capabilities for their PMO’s unique needs, and high business-value pilot(s) to get started

  • Identify agile metrics for tracking, decision making, and change management concepts for building excitement and momentum to embed cultural change

  • Earn 0.75 PDUs

Session 210

(BREAKOUT THEATER)

Agile in Action: From Robotics to Real-World Readiness

  • Session Topic: Agile

    Core

  • Focus Track: Get Future Ready

    for Agile-focused Project Professionals

Speaker & Co-Presenter

  • Lisa Sun, Director, Technology Product Delivery, Optum
  • Isaac Ma, Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, Student

Explore “Agile in Action” among high school students to develop real-world project management skills through the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics competition. This session highlights how to apply agile and PMBOK® Guide knowledge areas in robotics.

Discover how students leverage agile approaches to manage robot design iterations and organize community outreach events. Gain insights into how this hands-on approach builds future project managers, fostering leadership, innovation, and social impact in STEM and beyond.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Explore how agile and PMBOK® Guide knowledge areas enhance iterative robotics design, driving innovation, and improving project outcomes

  • Demonstrate how teaching project management methodologies to high school students creates a ripple effect of leadership, innovation, and social impact

  • Earn 0.75 PDUs

Session 211

(BREAKOUT THEATER)

Project Management as a Force Multiplier: How Small Moves Create Massive Results

  • Session Topic: Sustainability

    Intermediate

  • Focus Track: Make an Impact

    for Agile-focused Project Professionals

Speaker

When resources are limited, authority is unclear, and the stakes are high, impact does not scale through effort alone. It is scaled through structure, influence, and deliberate decision making. This session explores how project management principles enabled a global humanitarian organization to deliver millions of meals annually using a volunteer workforce with no formal authority, varying skill levels, and constant constraints. The results were driven by small, intentional moves that multiplied impact far beyond what resources alone would suggest.

Through a real-world case, attendees will examine how decision design under constraint, flow efficiency, and lightweight governance transformed complexity into consistent outcomes. Clear parallels are drawn to everyday project environments where teams are matrixed, priorities compete, and influence is the primary lever for execution.

This session reframes project management as a strategic force multiplier and highlights the often-unseen leadership embedded in effective delivery. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how their skills translate across contexts and how purposeful, well-placed moves create momentum, alignment, and results at scale.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Apply transferable project management principles to create leverage and outcomes across humanitarian, enterprise, and matrixed work environments

  • Recognize how decision design, flow, and influence without authority enable consistent impact under conditions of constraint and uncertainty

  • Earn 0.75 PDUs

Closing General Session

Session 212

(MAINSTAGE THEATER)

Play Is Planning: Building Reliable Surprise Into Complex Projects

  • Product Management

    Intermediate

  • Focus Track: Get Future Ready

    for Project Professionals

Speakers

What do synchronized robots, zero-gravity flights, and one-take music videos have to do with project management? Everything.

In this keynote, OK Go frontman and creative director Damian Kulash unpacks the band’s most ambitious productions to answer two questions: How did you make that? And how did you think of that? The first answer is disciplined project management. The second requires a shift in how we think about planning.

Traditional processes optimize for predictability and risk reduction — but those same forces can quietly eliminate breakthrough ideas. Using real production examples — including reliability math from a 131-component robotic system — Damian shows why planning alone doesn’t generate surprise. He introduces a practical alternative: intentionally designing a contained, agile “project within the project” — a structured sandbox for exploration. This phase isn’t abstract creativity; it’s a disciplined method for discovering ideas that are both bold and reliable enough to anchor execution. By treating play as a strategic planning tool, teams can strengthen both Results and Engagement within PMI M.O.R.E. — delivering work that performs and resonates.

By treating play as a strategic planning tool, teams can strengthen both Results and Engagement within PMI M.O.R.E. — delivering work that performs and resonates.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Apply a “project within the project” model to generate innovative, executable solutions

  • Recognize how early planning assumptions may suppress high-impact ideas

  • Integrate controlled experimentation to improve Results and stakeholder Engagement

  • Earn 0.75 PDUs

Bonus Theater Sessions

Available On Demand

Strategic Reflection: The Power of Journaling for Clarity and Calm

  • Session Topic: Leadership

    Core

  • Focus Track: Get Future Ready

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

In a world of constant noise, silence is a strategy. This session introduces structured journaling as a tool for professional problem-solving and personal clarity.

We will explore different journaling techniques, from "Morning Pages” to "Decision Journaling", to help you process complex emotions, untangle difficult project problems, and document your professional journey.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Master three specific journaling techniques for stress reduction and problem-solving - Use writing to “de-clutter" your mind and prioritize what truly matters; and

  • Establish a sustainable reflection habit to track your growth and insights over time.

  • Earn 0.5 PDUs

Ikigai: Discovering Your Professional Purpose

  • Session Topic: Sustainability

    Core

  • Focus Track: Make an Impact

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

Move beyond the daily grind and rediscover your “why”. This session introduces the Japanese concept of Ikigai, your "reason for being", to help you find the sweet spot where your passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect.

We will map out how your current project management skills can align with what the world needs and what you love, reducing burnout and increasing fulfillment.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Map your personal Ikigai to identify where your true professional satisfaction lies - Align your current projects and career trajectory with your deeper values; and

  • Create a “Purpose Statement" to guide your career decisions and combat overwhelm.

  • Earn 0.5 PDUs

Beyond Networking: Leveraging Connections to Empower Your Career

  • Session Topic: Leadership

    Core

  • Focus Track: Accelerate Your Career

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

Shift your mindset from transactional “networking" to authentic relationship building.

In this session, we reframe stakeholders as partners and explore how to build a “personal board of directors." Learn how to articulate your unique value proposition (your personal brand) in a way that feels genuine, not salesy, and leverage your connections to open doors for professional growth and collaboration.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Craft an authentic “elevator pitch" that highlights your unique value as a leader - Identify key relationships to nurture for a “Personal Board of Directors"; and

  • Learn strategies to turn casual connections into meaningful, collaborative partnerships.

  • Earn 0.5 PDUs

Conscious Leadership: Mastering Emotional Resilience in Chaos

  • Session Topic: Leadership

    Core

  • Focus Track: Make an Impact

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

For the overwhelmed Project Professional, emotional intelligence is the ultimate survival skill.

This session moves from “cat herding" to conscious leadership. We will explore how to manage your energy, not just your time, and how to remain grounded and resilient when projects go off the rails. This is about "whole person" leadership that prioritizes mental well-being as a key performance indicator.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Perform an “Energy Audit" to identify what drains you and what fuels you—Learn mindfulness techniques to de-escalate stress in high-pressure moments; and

  • Develop a “Resilience Toolkit” to maintain composure and clarity during crises.

  • Earn 0.5 PDUs

Move to Recharge: A Guided Stretch Break for Energy and Mobility

  • Session Topic: Sustainability

    Core

  • Focus Track: Get Future Ready

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

  • Jack Bauer, Senior Account Executive, Salesforce

Long hours at a desk can drain energy and limit mobility. This guided stretch break is designed to help release physical tension, improve circulation, and re-energize between sessions.

Through light, accessible movements and stretches, participants will gently activate the body and reduce stiffness caused by prolonged sitting and screen time. The session is inclusive, low-impact, and adaptable for all fitness levels.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Perform simple stretches to reduce tension and improve mobility during long workdays; and

  • Integrate short movement breaks into their routine to sustain energy and physical comfort.

  • Earn 0.25 PDUs

The Power of Pause: Breathwork and Meditation

  • Session Topic: Sustainability

    Core

  • Focus Track: Get Future Ready

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

  • Jack Bauer, Senior Account Executive, Salesforce

This guided meditation and breathwork session helps reset your nervous system, clear mental clutter, and refocus attention—without stepping away from your day. Participants will be guided through simple breathing techniques and a short meditation designed to reduce stress, improve concentration, and restore calm.

No prior meditation experience is required, and the session can be done seated, making it accessible to all.  This session offers practical tools project professionals can return to whenever focus, clarity, or emotional regulation is needed.

At the conclusion attendees will be able to:

  • Use simple breathwork techniques to regulate stress and regain focus during demanding workdays; and

  • Apply short meditation practices to improve clarity, decision-making, and sustained attention.

  • Earn 0.25 PDUs

PMI Sponsor Sessions

Available On Demand

The Frontier PMO: Co-Intelligent Human + AI Value Delivery Decoding Project Online retirement and the future of PPM on Microsoft 365

  • Session Topic: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Intermediate

  • Focus Track: Accelerate

    for PMO Professionals

Speaker

Microsoft’s PPM landscape is changing rapidly. Project Online is retiring, AI is reshaping how work gets done, and many PMOs are unsure what’ next. This session introduces the concept of The Frontier PMO, a new model where human expertise and artificial intelligence work together to accelerate insight, decision-making, and value delivery.

You’ll gain clarity on Microsoft’s direction, understand the implications of Project Online retirement, and explore how organizations are moving beyond traditional PPM tools toward co-intelligent work orchestration on Microsoft 365.

The session will also include short AI demonstrations of the Microsoft Planner Project Manager Agent and Teams4PM orchestration across the M365 platform.

What Thousands of Buyers Can Teach You About Choosing Project Management Software

  • Session Topic: Product Management

    Core

  • Focus Track: Make an Impact

    for Project Professionals

Speaker

Project managers often face challenges when choosing project management software: unclear requirements, confusing demos, and tools that don’t match real workflows.  In this session, Olivia Montgomery, PMP and analyst, shares insights from thousands of buyers and advisory calls about selecting the right system.

Learn the five feature areas buyers prioritize—collaboration, scheduling, time tracking, integrations, and AI readiness—and how these connect to common pain points like efficiency bottlenecks and adoption issues.

Attendees will leave with practical, vendor-neutral guidance, demo questions, and a simple evaluation framework for assessing tools based on functionality, friction, and flexibility.

Rise of the AI-powered PMO: Leading with Tools, Skills, and Strategy

  • Session Topic: PMO

    Intermediate

  • Focus Track: Lead the Way

    for PMO Professionals

Speaker

AI is transforming the project management office (PMO). Whether it is intelligent intake, prioritization, portfolio-wide insights, or autonomous reporting, AI is redefining how work gets done. However, technology alone does not ensure the success of your project portfolios.

This session will explore how today’s PMO leaders can drive change by adopting AI, building future-ready skillsets and moving away from just operational oversight to strategy orchestration. Walk away with a playbook on how to leverage an AI-powered platform to amplify the impact of your PMO.

Join this presentation to learn how to transition from traditional manual data collection to a world of predictive analytics and decision support using AI.

At the conclusion, attendees will be able to:

  • Apply practical AI strategies to streamline intake, reporting, and portfolio optimization; and

  • Develop a realistic roadmap for adopting AI including governance, upskilling, and quick-win opportunities.

Meet the Speakers

Explore Speakers

PMXPO™ 2026

Free On-Demand Virtual Event | 12 PDUs

PMXPO™ is the world’s premier free virtual event for Project Professionals and those exploring the field. The on-demand experience will help you build skills, earn PDUs, and strengthen the impact of projects shaping our world.

Learn More