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Skip to content * Program * Overview * Agenda * Speakers * Summit Extras * Who Should Attend * Overview * New to PMI * Make the Case to Attend * For PMI Volunteers * Registration * Exhibitors * Travel/Hotel * Hotel * Travel and Transportation * Destination Los Angeles * FAQs * Sustainability * Global Summit Series * PMI Global Summit Series 2024 Europe * PMI Global Summit Series 2024 Africa * Privacy * Terms of Use AGENDA * All Days * Wednesday, 18 September * Thursday, 19 September * Friday, 20 September * Saturday, 21 September PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE -- All Days --Wednesday, 18 SeptemberThursday, 19 SeptemberFriday, 20 SeptemberSaturday, 21 September -- All Types --Annual Meeting Educational SessionGeneral SessionInteractive WorkshopLightning SessionNetworking BreakOffsite Learning ExcursionPanel DiscussionProduct Educational SessionProduct TheaterReception -- All Audience Levels --AdvancedCoreIntermediate -- All Topics --AgileArtificial IntelligenceBenefits RealizationBusiness AnalysisCareer DevelopmentChange ManagementCommunicationComplexityCost ManagementDecision MakingDisciplined Agile DeliveryEarned Value ManagementEnvironmental Social and Governance (ESG)EstimatingEthicsGovernanceHybridInnovationLeadershipOrganizational CultureOrganizational Project ManagementPMOPortfolio ManagementProgram ManagementProject IntegrationProject Management EducationQuality ManagementRequirements ManagementResource ManagementRisk ManagementSchedulingScope ManagementSCRUMStakeholder EngagementStrategySustainabilityTalent ManagementTeamsUsing PMI StandardsWork Breakdown Structures -- All Speaker Regions --Asia PacificEuropeIndiaLATAMMENANorth AmericaSub-Saharan Africa Clear Filters Wednesday, 18 September, 11:00 AM - 07:00 PM PDT REGISTRATION OPEN & BADGE PICK UP Location: South Lobby Interactive Workshop| Wednesday, 18 September, 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT JOIN THE WORKSHOP FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WITH PROJECT MANAGERS WITHOUT BORDERS Topics: Communication, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 152 This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact and create potential solutions for actionable work plans with Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs), many of whom are from the Los Angeles area. We invite you to participate in our upcoming NPO Workshop, an exclusive opportunity to volunteer your skills and expertise to help NPOs thrive. Why Participate? This workshop is your chance to give back by applying your project management knowledge to real-world challenges faced by NPOs. Here’s what you can expect: * Collaborate with Local NPOs: Partner with NPOs to deliver capacity-building project solutions. Your expertise will help these organizations develop and implement actionable solutions to their most pressing issues. * Hands-On Experience: Directly address NPO challenges. Your contributions will be pivotal in creating practical and impactful work plans. * Professional Growth: Enhance your project management skills by working on diverse, real-world problems. This experience will not only benefit the NPOs but also enrich your professional journey. * Community Impact: Use your skills to create sustainable change within the community. Your efforts will help build stronger, more resilient organizations capable of making a lasting difference. * Support UN Sustainable Development Goals: PMI is a United Nations Global Compact Partner. This effort supports the direct application of project management and is eligible for our Hours for Impact program. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to use your project management skills for the greater good. Join us in making a tangible difference in the lives of those served by local NPOs. Results from the workshop will become Project Managers Without Borders projects directly applying your input and ideas. Pre-registration is required; check back in late August for pre-registration details. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 2.00 Wednesday, 18 September, 01:00 PM - 04:30 PM PDT (INVITE ONLY) VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION SESSION Topics: Communication, Leadership, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 150 & 151 The Volunteer Appreciation Session kicks off with an update and address by PMI President and CEO, Pierre Le Manh, and other members of the PMI executive leadership team and Board of Directors. We will celebrate the work of PMI volunteers and announce the winners of the Chapter of Year awards. Finally, you will be treated to an exclusive keynote address, “Charismatic Communication: The Art and Science of Presence, Confidence and Trust,” presented by Vanessa Van Edwards, renowned behavioral researcher and multi-time bestselling author, where you will learn to develop skills of social perceptiveness to strike the right balance between trust and power, likeability and productivity, collaboration and capability; and how to use research-backed verbal and nonverbal cues to maintain charisma on video calls, phone calls, email, and chat. Following the session enjoy an opportunity to network with fellow PMI volunteers from across the globe. Reception| Wednesday, 18 September, 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM PDT RECEPTION & EXHIBIT HALL SNEAK PEEK Location: South Hall HJ Gather in the Exhibit Hall for the Welcome Reception & Exhibit Hall Sneak Peek. Make new connections, see old friends, and get a sneak peek of the bustling exhibit hall before Global Summit officially kicks off on Thursday morning. Thursday, 19 September, 07:00 AM - 06:00 PM PDT REGISTRATION OPEN & BADGE PICK UP Location: South Lobby Thursday, 19 September, 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM PDT CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST Location: South Hall HJ Thursday, 19 September, 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM PDT EXHIBIT HALL OPEN Location: South Hall HJ Start your day at the Exhibit Hall! Enjoy coffee and breakfast while exploring the latest solutions and services. Network with peers and continue your education. Product Theater| Thursday, 19 September, 08:10 AM - 08:25 AM PDT SESSION 202-EXH: SQUEEZING IN TOO MANY PROJECTS? BUILD PLANS THAT ACTUALLY WORK WITH MEISTERPLAN 15-minute session Topics: Hybrid, Innovation, PMO, Portfolio Management, Resource Management, Scheduling, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategy Learning Level: Core Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage Two Ever found your team stretched thin across too many projects? Ever felt that your scarce expert resources aren't working on what matters most? With Meisterplan, create lightweight portfolio plans that are aligned with your strategy and realistic from a resource perspective, regardless of your team's working methodology. Whether you're building solutions for customers, managing R&D, IT, or navigating business transformations, learn how over 400 companies worldwide use our unique capabilities to achieve more with less. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Recognize the importance of managing resources across the portfolio; and * Evaluate whether Meisterplan's capabilities can help attendees meet their challenges. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speaker Karoline Holicky Director of Marketing Meisterplan USA, Inc. North America Karoline Holicky is the Director of Marketing at Meisterplan USA, Inc., where she has been part of the team since 2015. Currently located near Lake Charles, Louisiana, she has spent most of her career in the Houston area, as well as five years at Meisterplan's headquarters in Tübingen, Germany. With 20 years of professional experience working with international companies across various industries, including financial services, engineering, oil & gas, and tech, she believes that companies can be successful and productive while taking care of their employees' well-being. Karoline thinks that companies that truly care and ensure their employees are balanced and not overloaded are even more productive and successful. This belief drives her to constantly explore and discuss ways to better connect portfolio management with capacity planning and to identify the most effective methods. Product Theater| Thursday, 19 September, 08:35 AM - 08:50 AM PDT SESSION 203-EXH: ACCELERATING AI ADOPTION 15-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Core Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage Two In this presentation, we will go through practical strategies and best practices to accelerate AI adoption, enabling your organization to enhance efficiency, foster innovation, and stay ahead in the competitive landscape. We’ll cover a four-step approach: aligning knowledge, assessing readiness, identifying opportunities, and creating an implementation plan. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand how to accelerate AI adoption in your organizational; and * Participate in a live hands-on sample assessment. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speaker Leon Herszon DASSM, PMP Head of Consulting International Institute for Learning North America Dr. Leon Herszon, MSc, PhD, PMP, CSM, CSPO, DASSM. Dr. Herszon is a highly accomplished, versatile, and respected executive with over 30 years of extensive achievements within diverse environments utilizing exemplary management, analytical, organizational, and people skills. He has experience leading teams to improve performance and manage business transformation focused on agility, transparency, teamwork, experimentation, and innovation. Dr. Herszon’s doctoral research explored factors that contribute to project complexity and proposed a model to manage complexity. Dr. Herszon performed roles as executive and managing director, Chief Agility Officer, entrepreneur, portfolio, program and project director, business transformation leader, corporate educator, and is currently the Head of International Institute for Learning’s global consulting practice. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the prestigious Rutgers Business School. Dr. Herszon can communicate in English, French, Portuguese, German, and Spanish, and is also a several times Ironman triathlon finisher. General Session| Thursday, 19 September, 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM PDT SESSION 210: OPENING KEYNOTE AFDHEL AZIZ 90-minute session Topics: Change Management, Innovation Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall K Join best-selling co-author of Good is the New Cool, Afdhel Aziz, for an engaging keynote on “Elevating Our World Through Projects: The Power of Purpose.” Afdhel will drill down into the opportunity that every project professional has to make an impact on their organization—and our world—through project success. Attendees engaged in the keynote and panel session will be able to: * Identify the opportunity that each project professional has to increase their impact through their work * Relate and connect examples from the session to their own work. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speakers Afdhel Aziz Chief Purpose Officer Conspiracy of Love North America Afdhel Aziz, a best-selling author, visionary founder, and inspiring keynote speaker, is dedicated to tackling a fundamental challenge of the 21st century: helping individuals and companies find purpose and meaning in their work while leveraging business as a force for good. As the Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of Conspiracy of Love, a global purpose consultancy, Afdhel collaborates with Fortune 500 companies like Adidas, PepsiCo, and Microsoft to enhance their impact by aligning business goals with social good. Conspiracy of Love has facilitated significant investments into causes such as racial justice, food insecurity, and arts education, partnering with leading non-profits like Feeding America and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Afdhel's company is a proud Minority-Owned Business and Certified B Corp. Additionally, Afdhel is the Co-Founder of Good is the New Cool, a creative company and content incubator focused on sharing positive stories through books, podcasts, TV shows, and the global conference series GoodCon, held in major cities worldwide. Afdhel's influential work extends to writing columns for Forbes and co-authoring best-selling books like 'Good is the New Cool: Market Like You Give a Damn' and 'The Principles of Purpose'. Pierre Le Manh PMP President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PMI North America Pierre Le Manh is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Project Management Institute. As a global executive with a multicultural background, Pierre Le Manh brings a proven track record of delivering results and guiding organizations through complex transformations. He is passionate about leading teams in innovating and creating new ways to disseminate specialized knowledge, upskilling, and education. Pierre Le Manh most recently led Galileo Global Education’s expansion project in North America. Galileo is the European leading provider of higher education serving more than 170,000 students across an international network of 54 institutions and high-growth education technology platforms. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer North America and Global Deputy CEO at Ipsos, one of the world’s largest data, analytics, and insights companies. Pierre Le Manh played a crucial role in taking Ipsos from a $700 million primarily European-focused organization in 2004 to a $2.5 billion global leader in its industry in 2021, growing to more than 18,000 employees operating in 90 countries. Networking Break| Thursday, 19 September, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM PDT MORNING REFRESHMENT BREAK Location: South Hall HJ Grab a snack in the Exhibit Hall and visit our sponsors and exhibitors. Spend time learning something new or network with peers, friends, and colleagues. There's so much to do! Product Theater| Thursday, 19 September, 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM PDT SESSION 211-EXH: ACCELERATE STRATEGY & OUTCOME REALIZATION WITH OKRS & TEAMS OF TEAMS 30-minute session Topics: Agile, Benefits Realization, Change Management, Earned Value Management, Leadership, Organizational Culture, PMO, Portfolio Management, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage One Great organizations have high-performing teams that are aligned to outcomes and deliver measurable value. Unfortunately, too many organizations are hyper-focused on projects and deliverables rather than aligning teams to deliver real business value. This session will introduce creative ways to leverage Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), Team of Teams, and Agile Ways of Working to deliver measurable results using the AgilityHealth strategy and team management platform. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Describe how modern Team of Teams operating models can accelerate alignment and impact; and * Leverage mature OKRs and internal Business Outcome Champions to accelerate value realization. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speaker Sally Elatta PMI-ACP CEO, Co-Founder AgilityHealth North America Sally Elatta is a thought leader in enabling enterprise business agility by measuring what matters at every level of the organization. She’s passionate about helping organizations accelerate strategy and value realization by building high-performing teams. Sally is a trusted advisor to many top executives in large enterprises. She is a dynamic and engaging speaker whose leadership mantra is “Be bold, be real and lead with love.” Lightning Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM PDT SESSION 215: ESG INTEGRATION: PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR A GREENER FUTURE 45-minute session Topics: Benefits Realization, Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), Strategy, Sustainability Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 306 Confused by Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) in projects? Join us to unlock its secrets and harness its power! Learn actionable strategies to integrate sustainability, drive positive impact and build a thriving future. Real-world case studies, practical tools and expert insights await. Leave empowered to champion sustainable projects that make a difference. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Convey the topic of ESG integration in projects and emphasize the long-term benefits of sustainable strategies for a thriving future; and * Demystify and drive impact for greener project execution. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Joseph Musiitwa PMI-ACP, PMP, PgMP Projects Consultant Pearl Project Management Synergies Int Sub-Saharan Africa Joseph Musiitwa is a results-oriented program manager who transforms projects into success stories. He is a seasoned program manager with a passion for delivering complex initiatives on time and within budget. Proven expertise in stakeholder engagement, benefits realization, program governance and resource optimization empower him to navigate diverse challenges and drive desired outcomes. Beyond technical proficiency in methodologies like agile and waterfall, he excels at identifying and mitigating risks, ensuring strategic alignment and fostering continuous improvement. His more than 8 years of experience span across ICT, banking and finance and healthcare sectors in Uganda, providing a broad perspective and adaptability to various industries. He holds the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Program Management Professional (PgMP)® certifications and has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. Lightning Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM PDT SESSION 216: THE EVOLUTION OF PMOS: DELIVERING VALUE THROUGH XMOS 45-minute session Topics: Change Management, Innovation, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Organizational Project Management, PMO Learning Level: Advanced Location: 403A Last year, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Project Management Office (PMO) presented its strategy to transform its PMO into a Center of Excellence. A year into this transformation, we will discuss the implications of our expanded mandate and how to deliver value-driven project outcomes by adopting the xMO model. This model represents a contemporary approach to project management that is gaining traction in various industries. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the difference between PMO traditional delivery models versus value delivery models (xMO model); and. * Identify and explore innovative tools and techniques utilized by PIF PMO to deliver value, including collaboration models, trainings and automations. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speakers Ahmed Al-Thobaiti PMI-RMP, PMP, PfMP Senior Vice President, Head of Investment and Economic Development Projects Portfolio Public Investment Fund MENA Ahmed Al-Thobaiti is a senior vice president and head of the investment and economic development projects portfolio at the Public Investment Fund (PIF). He holds a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and a master’s degree in business administration, along with PMI Risk Management Practitioner (PMI-RMP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® certifications. His experience spans operational and maintenance roles for aircraft simulators, leading transformational initiatives Ahmed’s focus lies in overseeing, supporting and managing joint ventures, asset transfers, M&A and national projects within the investment and economic development landscape. He’s successfully spearheaded transformational projects and managed large-scale government programs. In addition, he successfully managed the establishment of new companies at PIF. Ahmed is a dynamic leader known for his strategic thinking . With a distinguished career spanning investment, economic development and project management, he has consistently demonstrated his capacity to lead teams toward achieving ambitious goals. Moreover, Ahmed is committed to developing organizations from within, recognizing that sustainable success stems from investing in people and processes. By fostering a culture of excellence, he ensures that his organization remains agile, resilient and poised for long-term success in an ever-changing business. Areej Naqshbandi Head of Project Management Department Public Investment Fund MENA Areej Naqshbandi is a senior director and head of the project management department in the Public Investment Fund (PIF). She is an expert in enterprise portfolio management offices, having worked at leading international financial, investment, retail institutions and government entities. She has a strong track record in corporate transformation, vision realization and strategy execution. She obtained her executive master’s degree in business administration from HEC Paris in 2023 and has a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science from King Saud University. She led the establishment and implementation of six PMOs across different industries using international standards, frameworks and methodologies in addition to implementing different PMO types and engagement models. Areej is a Certified International Project Manager (CIPM), ITIL, a Six Sigma black belt and Strategy Management certified. In her journey, she implemented various business disciplines starting from process optimization to enterprise performance management and operational excellence. Across her career, Areej managed the execution and delivery of several strategic giga and transformational programs in various disciplines ranging from institutional, business-related construction to IT projects. In addition, she instituted the required change management framework to achieve the organizational strategic targets. During her free time, Areej enjoys reading and traveling. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PDT SESSION 217: AI-DRIVEN PROJECT MANAGEMENT: REVOLUTIONIZING COLLABORATION AND DECISION-MAKING 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408B Explore AI’s transformative power in project management with our session on AI-driven strategies. Learn to create virtual subject matter experts (SME) for better project insights, enhance meeting efficiency using AI tools and develop bespoke AI solutions for effective internal tracking and decision-making. Join us to acquire actionable skills for leveraging AI, elevating project delivery and driving organizational value, all illustrated through real-world success stories. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Utilize AI-driven virtual SMEs to enhance project insights; and * Employ custom AI applications to enhance communication and knowledge transfer. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00 Speaker Alexander Moen Senior Product Manager ArgonDigital North America Over the last 10 years, Alexander Moen has been instrumental in assisting companies in establishing entirely new processes, roles and departments. His recent endeavors have spanned a wide spectrum, ranging from retiring legacy systems to automating error-prone process issues. He currently works at ArgonDigital, where he plays a significant role in developing and deploying AI tools to augment his tasks and processes, and those of his teams. Alexander earned a master’s degree in business administration from UC Irvine with a strong emphasis on AI, machine learning and data analysis. He proudly identifies as an “AI nerd,” constantly exploring the latest AI advancements and seeking innovative ways to integrate them into business practices. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PDT SESSION 218: ARE YOU A JEDI? ADVANCING RESPONSIBLE USE OF AI IN THE UNIVERSE 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 403B As project managers and analysts, we’re professionally obligated to ensure that the solutions we develop, especially those involving artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML), promote benefits to society and don’t cause harm. Just like a Jedi guarding the “Stars Wars” universe, we should be guided by justice and equity in pursuing extended capabilities through responsible AI use and application. This session will explore the impacts of AI, citing cases and statistics, as well as responsible approaches to AI to encourage accountability and a responsible AI culture. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify the various applications of AI and recognize intended and unintended impacts; and * Compare responsible approaches to AI development and uses. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Joy Toney Senior Program Consultant AIM For Change LLC North America Joy Toney has more than 20 years of professional experience in nonprofit, consumer services, government contracting, transportation and distribution. Joy specializes in process and performance improvement; software development; information security; quality assurance; project management; talent management; organizational change management; and justice, equity, diversity and inclusion awareness. She’s an active member and volunteer for the Project Management Institute as well as the Society for Human Resource Management. She holds CISSP, ACCISO, SACP, CCA, CBAP, CST, CSM, CSPO, ITIL4 and Prosci Change Management certifications as well as SHRM Inclusive Workplace Culture specialty certifications. She also holds micro credentials for the PMI’s Brightline® Organizational Transformation Foundation (OTF), Organizational Transformation Orchestration (OTO) and Organizational Transformation Implementation (OTI) courses. Joy holds a master’s degree in business administration and is currently pursuing her doctorate in organizational behavior in tech spaces. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PDT SESSION 219: CHANGE LEADERSHIP: A PROJECT SUPERPOWER 60-minute session Topics: Change Management, Leadership Learning Level: Core Location: 153 Change leadership is a crucial and people-centered skill to have when leading and navigating organizational change. This 60-minute interactive session will transform your project, bringing to life your inner change leader. Set yourself up for success as you harness this superpower to drive successful project outcomes for you, your people and your organization. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the complementary role of change leadership within project delivery and how to apply it to projects; and * Apply change leadership skills and ideas to projects and programs to improve outcomes and experiences. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Susie Palmer-Trew Chief Change Brain Everyday Change Europe Susie Palmer-Trewis mum to Harry, wife to Nicky and the chief change brain behind Everyday Change. She is a runner, outdoor swimmer and change leadership consultant. She works with brilliant people and organizations to make change experiences and outcomes better. Susie spends most of her time working across sectors that are designed to do good. With more than 10 years in change, she has both stories and skin in the game and is able to advise, lead and empathize to meet you where you are and with what you need. A multi-award winner and best-selling author, she has the credibility and experience to support you on your change management journey. Susie flourishes in complex and sticky situations and shines when working with organizations that want to change for the better. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PDT SESSION 220: FIRE UP GEN Z: IGNITING TOMORROW’S AGILE PIONEERS! 60-minute session Topics: Agile Learning Level: Core Location: 408A In today’s dynamic workforce, Gen Z shines as future agile innovators. Discover how to unleash their potential in this session, as we delve into strategies for propelling Gen Z into agile leadership. Learn how Gen Z’s knack for adaptability and collaboration makes them natural agile leaders. Leave with insights on leveraging their agility, the importance of mentorship and sponsorship and connecting with their workplace values. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Elucidate the value of Gen Z in agile leadership; and * Expound on the value of mentorship and sponsorship. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Semira Allen Solution Engineer Pearl Consulting Group North America Semira Allen is a Gen Z professional who started her career interning and then working full time for Deloitte, then moved to IBM for a few years. She is currently working for Pearl Consulting Group, a black-woman-owned-and-led company. She attended Northwestern University and graduated with a degree in computer science. More recently, she was a program chair with the Agile Alliance for Agile 2023 and 2024 and was instrumental in reviving their technology track. In her spare time, she is an avid science fiction reader (and viewer), tennis player and mentor who helps students to reach their career goals. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PDT SESSION 221: FROM BENCHWARMER TO MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: MASTERING PRESENTATIONS FOR PROJECT WINS 60-minute session Topics: Career Development, Communication Learning Level: Core Location: 150 Transform project presentations from nerve-wracking to captivating! This interactive session empowers you with the psychological, physical and technical skills to master public speaking—virtually and in person. Unlock your inherent charisma through tailored exercises and build a presentation toolkit that inspires action and secures buy-in. Leave stage fright behind and ignite your voice as a leader who confidently champions every project. Join us to unleash your communications superpowers! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Command the room: Recall the fundamentals for delivering clear, concise messages with confidence, even under pressure and in virtual settings; and * Tell the tale: Practice the power of storytelling to inspire your team and communicate project complexities in a memorable way. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Glenn Hoxie PMP Practice Solutions Manager Paul Hastings LLP North America Glenn Hoxie is a seasoned project manager with more than 25 years of experience in the field. He has worked with various clients, including many law firms, and has a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget. Glenn has also honed his public speaking skills over the years, having presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He believes that developing his public speaking skills has helped him become a better project manager by improving his communication, leadership and problem-solving abilities. Glenn is excited to share his insights and looks forward to connecting with everyone. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PDT SESSION 223: NURTURING ATYPICALITY: A TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP APPROACH TO DIVERSITY 60-minute session Topics: Communication, Decision Making, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Sustainability, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: 303 Efforts to diversify teams and organizations rarely include the much-needed reimagining and redesigning of internal systems and structures. Embracing transformative leadership means a commitment to diversity beyond hiring people from diverse backgrounds. It’s a commitment to nurturing people’s individuality, and intentionally building structures that continuously support those individuals. Using the model proposed in this session, we learn to foster atypicality in order to improve individual and team psychological safety, cultivate innovation and enrich organizational culture. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Recognize existing workplace and societal structures and how they serve to support or hinder team members; and * Identify strategies for creating an inclusive work culture that encourages and foundationally supports atypical workers. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Alejandra Moreno Prieto Project Manager Aponwao Ideas Europe Alejandra Moreno Prieto has more than 10 years of rich international experience in project coordination and management, with a multicultural background that has shaped a global perspective, fueling a passion for social justice and an unwavering dedication to making a positive impact. With a sprinkle of hospitality, most of her professional background is focused on nonprofit and government work. Alejandra brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to integrated and intentional work. She is in eternal pursuit of growth and learning. While not at work, she’s at her happiest when either creating art or completely surrounded by nature. Alejandra is originally from Venezuela, holds degrees in communications and international studies and currently lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PDT SESSION 224: THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT: PROJECT SUCCESS CONTINGENCY 60-minute session Topics: Organizational Project Management Learning Level: Advanced Location: 406 This presentation is focused on research on organizational context, particularly on studying the dimensions of the organizational context in the realm of projects. The organizational context (OC) in this study refers to the dimensions of an organization and its alignment with data, processes and other mechanisms to support projects. This research presents findings from a quantitative study involving 258 project professionals worldwide, tracking the organizational context dimension indicators. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify the dimensions of organizational context in the realm of projects; and * Discover the correlation between organizational context and project success. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Alfonso Bucero PMI-RMP, PMP, PfMP, PMI Fellow Senior PM Consultant BUCERO PM Consulting Europe Alfonso Bucero, PhD, is a certified public speaker, is an independent project management consultant, author and speaker. He is founder, partner and director of BUCERO PM Consulting in Spain. Bucero holds a doctorate in management in the field of project management, has authored 11 project management books and manages projects internationally. He delivers workshops, keynote speeches and consults for organizations on project, program and portfolio management. He has received the PMI Distinguished Contribution Award, the PMI Fellow Award and the PMI Eric Jenett Excellence Award. His motto is “Passion, Persistence and Patience” and “Today is a good day!’ is his preferred sentence. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PDT SESSION 225: UTILIZE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EVM FOR PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Earned Value Management, Program Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 409 Earned Value Management (EVM) is a tool used by project management offices and project managers to assess project performance and forecast results. But what about evaluating programs and portfolios and forecasting their outcomes? This talk will show how to combine EVM indicators to assess several projects and initiatives as a whole. It will also explain how GenAI has recently been used to analyze EVM metrics and provide forecasts for portfolios and individual projects alike. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Utilize earned value management to assess program and portfolio performance; and * Apply AI to forecast program and portfolio outcomes and spot trends, enabling project managers and directors. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.50; Ways of Working (PfMP): 0.50; Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.50 Speaker Douglas Bower PMP Lecturer Northeastern University North America Douglas Bower, PhD, is an independent project management consultant and educator who supports organizations that want to improve project delivery through the application of recognized techniques by trained technical staff. As manager of e-business with the Ontario, Canada, Government, Doug led teams that actively promoted the adoption of e-business techniques and strategies by small and medium enterprises and the availability of broadband services in rural and remote areas of Ontario. In his 20 years of experience before joining local government, Doug directed and managed complex, multimillion-dollar projects within major Canadian corporations such as CIBC, and also provided consulting services to large IT and telecom firms, including IBM, CGI, Telus Mobility (Clearnet) and Bell Canada (Group Telecom). Bower has a master’s degree in business administration from York University, a master’s degree in telecommunications and network management from Syracuse University and a doctorate in project management from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Doug has been an invited speaker at many project management conferences in Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia. His research on project planning, phases and earned value management has been published in professional journals. Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM PDT SESSION 226: AUTONOMOUS PROJECT MANAGER: STEERING THE AUTONOMOUS AND CONNECTED FUTURE IN SMART CITIES! 90-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Change Management, Complexity Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 301 Gear up for a turbocharged journey into project management's future! Imagine driverless vehicles in smart cities by 2030. This workshop equips you as the autonomous project manager, leading intricate projects in this revolution. We'll dissect the evolving project manager role for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV), AI and smart ‘cityscapes,’ along with the necessary skills and strategies to be empowered—lead autonomous teams and conquer complexities. Become the architect of success in this new era. Don't just witness the future; steer it! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the evolving role of project managers in the connected future, specifically with CAVs and smart cities; and * Manage the complexities of CAVs, smart cities, AI and autonomous teams with practical skills and strategies. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75; Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Benjamin Anyacho PMP Senior Management Analyst Texas Department of Transportation North America Benjamin Anyacho is a senior strategic management analyst at TxDOT with more than 25 years of leadership experience. He is an author and co-author of several books, including the thriller The Knowledge Café and Knowledge Ethics, respectively. He is a project portfolio manager, knowledge management evangelist, mentor, keynote speaker and momentum-builder. Benjamin has architected multiple enterprise programs at Texas DOT, including organizational project management, knowledge management and innovation academy, which have saved the agency millions of dollars. His mission is to mentor one million authentic leaders. Benjamin is the founder of Leaders and Thinkers International and Apostolic Bridge Builders, which are leadership think-tanks serving more than 40,000 global leaders. He is also a founding advisory board member of ADRN, one of the largest disaster relief networks in Texas. In 2018, he served as president of the PMI Austin Chapter, where he led the board to increase membership, double offerings, reduce attrition and gain 97% overall customer satisfaction. Benjamin is a board member of Juliana King University, Houston, Texas, USA and holds a master’s degree in business administration from St. Edward’s University, Austin, a doctorate in leadership and a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM PDT SESSION 227: FROM STRESS TO SUCCESS: NEUROSCIENCE STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP 90-minute session Topics: Innovation, Leadership, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 404 In the dynamic and high-pressure realm of project management, leading with resilience and agility isn't just an advantage—it's a necessity. Our innovative session delves into the brain's power, transforming how you lead and fostering emotional intelligence to navigate complex team dynamics. Drawing from evidence-based neuroscience, we'll explore stress, decision-making and adaptability, offering practical strategies to enhance your leadership. Equip yourself with proven techniques to elevate your emotional quotient and resilience to overcome professional or personal challenges. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand how the brain responds to stress, the impact on decision-making and how to strengthen one’s creativity, agility and resilience; and * Boost individual and team performance and navigate change with strategies that enhance emotional intelligence, self-awareness and regulation. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker Annmarie Curley PMP CEO/Principal Consultant Newgrange IT Consulting, LLC North America Annmarie Curley has a career spanning more than 25 years in executive leadership and is a recognized authority in the orchestration of global teams and the management of mission-critical initiatives. Her tenure as a senior executive at a Fortune 500 investment bank distinguished her as a transformational leader, where she was renowned for developing high-performing teams responsible for managing business-critical applications. In 2010, Annmarie established a management consulting firm where she has empowered dozens of clients to revitalize their team dynamics and operational strategies. Utilizing a results-driven approach, Annmarie works in close collaboration with C-suite executives to undertake a comprehensive assessment of their unique challenges and opportunities. Together, they cocreate targeted action plans, supplemented by tailored training and coaching modules, designed to facilitate transformative changes. Annmarie's core passion lies in helping her clients cultivate a collaborative, outcome-focused culture. She specializes in forging strong, cohesive teams that exceed organizational objectives, thereby delivering transformative value to clients and stakeholders alike. Thursday, 19 September, 12:15 PM - 02:00 PM PDT LUNCH BREAK Location: South Hall HJ Take a well-deserved break! Lunchtime is the perfect opportunity to explore the Exhibit Hall! Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 12:30 PM - 01:00 PM PDT SESSION 228: (INVITE ONLY) LIMC ALUMNI SESSION: THE SURPRISING SECRETS OF HIGH PERFORMERS: HOW THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE USE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE Topics: Communication, Leadership, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 151 Highly effective people have a unique approach to productivity. The key is being a productive communicator. You will learn how to maximize relationships and streamline communication with a simple, but powerful framework, as well as how to communicate like a human when leveraging AI tools. You will receive scripts for prompts. The goal of the session is to empower you to increase efficiency by connecting and collaborating in a purposeful way. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Implement a framework to maximize relationships and streamline communication. * communicate like a human when leveraging AI tools. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker Vanessa Van Edwards Founder Science of People North America Vanessa Van Edwards is the national bestselling author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication which have been translated into over 17 languages. As founder of Science of People, Vanessa’s YouTube videos have been seen by over 60 million people. For over a decade she has worked with top brands, government entities, nonprofits and companies to increase their effectiveness by improving their communication. Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM PDT SESSION 230: RESILIENCE AND RELATABILITY: A NEW PARADIGM FOR PROJECT LEADERSHIP 90-minute session Topics: Innovation, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Talent Management, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 152 Discover key strategies for maintaining and fostering psychological safety in this session that integrates fireside chats, roundtables and choreographed conversations. Learn from experts (including yourself and your peers!) about how to lead teams through stress, nurture engagement and enhance project management with empathy. Then, we’ll transition from dialogue to actionable insights in roundtable discussions, culminating in sharing “Aha!” moments to inspire and equip for immediate application. Leave the session with a mental-health empowering workbook! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Demonstrate techniques to compassionately solve team problems, increasing stakeholder engagement and trust; and * Translate session insights into strategies and tactics for leading high-stress projects with empathy and resilience. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speakers Erik Rueter PMI-ACP, PMP Senior Project Manager American Marketing Association North America Erik K. Rueter has more than 20 years of experience in diverse industries, including tech startups, academia, healthcare and entertainment. Erik holds a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Wesleyan University, with further education in digital design, Irish studies and a micro master’s in design thinking and project management from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is also certified in diversity and inclusion by Cornell. Erik’s contributions to the field include co-authoring papers on health inequity, lecturing at Boston and Emerson Colleges and advocating for diversity and inclusion with organizations like Medtronic, VSP and the San Antonio Spurs. He has spoken, in person and virtually, at the PMI Greece Chapter, PMI Michiana Chapter and PMI Western Michigan Chapter, among others. He has appeared on podcasts such as “Confessions of a Higher Education CMO” and “I Wanna Work There!” and contributed to “The Evolution of the PMO,” a key resource for project managers. He founded Human-Centered Success LLC to promote inclusive leadership. Erik lives outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, with his husband and two dachshunds, and enjoys marathons, gaming and sharing his insights. Jake McGaffin DASM IT Manager Gensco INC North America Jake McGaffin, MBA, MEM, brings a diverse background from construction to technology, currently leading a broad team covering operations, development and project management at Gensco since 2022. His dynamic career path includes significant tenure in the Royal Australian Air Force, focusing on avionics and mental health, and later enhancing leadership and project management in higher education, technology, manufacturing and distribution sectors. Jake holds a bachelor’s degree in aviation management, a master’s degree in business administration in global leadership and a master’s of engineering management in entrepreneurship and innovation. Deeply involved in the project management community, Jake serves as vice president of operations for the PMI Olympia Chapter and advances project management through research and volunteering, notably with PMI Infinity™. He recently founded Giving Good Solutions, promoting solutions for global challenges with a keen focus on new product development. Residing in Washington state with his family, this Australian native is dedicated to people, leadership and innovation, continually bridging his professional endeavors with a passion for improving mental health awareness and support within all sectors, including project management. Olivia Montgomery PMP Associate Principal Analyst Gartner North America Olivia Montgomery specializes in project management, with a focus on the benefits of closely aligning the IT team with operations to drive digital transformation. Her key areas of focus are decision-making, emotional intelligence and stakeholder management. Olivia pulls from her experience as an IT project management office leader and her humanities studies to deliver data-driven insights for small-business leaders. Her work has been published in Forbes, CIO Dive, The Digital Project Manager and TechRepublic. When not researching tech trends, you can find her jumping horses or rewatching “Jurassic Park." Panel Discussion| Thursday, 19 September, 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM PDT SESSION 231: TRANSFORMING OUR FUTURE THROUGH PROJECT SUCCESS: HOLLYWOOD AND GAMING 90-minute session Topics: Innovation Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 411 Learn how Hollywood’s Inclusion Rider went from idea to reality, transforming accountability for inclusion & diversity in films. Hear from experts in the gaming industry about the work they are doing to galvanize passionate gamers to have a positive social impact. In part one, you’ll hear from Fanshen Cox, DEIA Manager for the the California Film Commission’s Tax Credit Program, and Romola Ratnam, SVP of Social Impact at Endeavor, for a discussion on how project management helped bring the Hollywood inclusion rider to fruition. They’ll talk about how this important idea is transforming accountability for inclusion and diversity in movies like ‘Air’ from the Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. In part two of this session. Jeffrey Burrell from Riot Games shares how League of Legends used project management to rally its community to raise funds for good and Dan Goldenberg, President of the Call of Duty Endowment, shares how the teams used project management to help the ‘Call of Duty’ community come together to help veterans find employment. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Relate how social impact efforts in the Hollywood and Gaming industries can be tied back to their own work to transform their industries for good; and * Identify specific opportunities in their own work to incorporate inclusion. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speakers Fanshen Cox DEIA Initiative Manager CA Film & TV Tax Credit Program North America Fanshen is a multi-talented artist, producer, and educator renowned for her award-winning storytelling. She founded TruJuLo Productions, a media company focused on stories promoting truth, justice, and love. Currently, she serves as the DEIA Manager for the California Film Commission’s Tax Credit Program. As former Senior Vice President of Development and Impact at Pearl Street Films, founded by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Fanshen oversaw the development of socially conscious projects by underrepresented writers and directors. Her dedication to positive change extends beyond media. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde and holds a Bachelor's in Spanish and Education, a Master's in TESOL, and an MFA in TV, Film, & Theatre. Fanshen has earned numerous accolades, including Distinguished Alumni Awards from California State University, Los Angeles, and Teachers College, Columbia University, and an honorary MFA in producing from New York Film Academy. She co-authored the Inclusion Rider, announced at the 2018 Oscars by Frances McDormand, promoting diversity in entertainment. Additionally, she co-created, produces, and hosts the Webby-nominated podcast Sista Brunch, highlighting the achievements of Black women and gender-expansive individuals in media. Fanshen's commitment to positive change through media and education continues to inspire and uplift audiences worldwide. Romola Ratnam Senior Vice President and Head of Impact, Inclusion and Advocacy Endeavor North America Romola Ratnam oversees all corporate social responsibility initiatives and DEI efforts globally, leveraging Endeavor’s network to drive social change. Throughout her career, Ratnam has championed equity and inclusion, implementing solutions to democratize industry access for underrepresented and marginalized groups, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and people with disabilities. Ratnam launched Endeavor Impact, the company's social impact brand, focusing on equity, democracy, industry inclusion, and sustainability. She also leads the Endeavor Foundation, aligning its activities to support industry inclusion and funding programs to ensure that the sports, entertainment, and fashion industries are accessible to all and reflective of diverse communities. Under her leadership, Endeavor's virtual Industry Education programs, including Summer Series, NXT, and the Excellence Program, have been developed. These programs have provided over 24,000 students with industry coursework, masterclass sessions with senior executives, and opportunities to succeed in sports, entertainment, and fashion. Endeavor has hired over 50 participants from these programs. Prior Ratnam was Director of Corporate and Sports Partnership at UNICEF USA and Co-Executive Director of the SEED Project, a sports and education non-profit in Senegal. She began her career at the NBA in Global Business Development, focusing on their philanthropic unit, NBA Cares. Jeffrey Burrell Head of Social Impact and Sustainability Riot Games North America Jeffrey Burrell is the Head of Social Impact & Sustainability and Executive Director of the Riot Games Social Impact Fund. In this role, Jeffrey leads all social impact efforts which include in-game fundraisers across Riot’s five titles, the disbursement of funds and grants given out globally by the Social Impact Fund, internal employee fundraising and volunteer efforts. Under Jeffrey’s leadership, the Social Impact Fund has raised $50M and supported 450+ nonprofits across 25 regions around the world. He also leads Riot’s sustainability division where he oversees company-wide environmental sustainability work which includes emission reporting and reduction efforts across all areas of the business from game development, to esports, to partnerships. Prior to joining Riot, Jeffrey worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Apple, and worked with Microfinance Institutions in Tanzania. Jeffrey received an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and is a First Mover Fellow at the Aspen Institute. Dan Goldenberg Chief Sustainability Officer In-Residence Deloitte North America Dan Goldenberg is CSO In-Residence at Deloitte and served as the Head of Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, and ESG Reporting at Activision Blizzard, prior to its acquisition by Microsoft. During his tenure, Dan led Activision Blizzard to a top quartile rating among America's Greenest Companies, according to Newsweek. Dan also serves as the President of the Call of Duty Endowment, America's largest non-profit funder of veteran employment that has backed the placement of more than 130,000 veterans into high-quality jobs and won more than 30 national awards for its work. His business background includes more than 20 years of leadership roles in the tech and information services sectors, including P&L responsibility in public and private companies. Dan is also a retired U.S. Navy Captain, having served as a carrier-based naval flight officer and intelligence officer, four-time commanding officer, and special assistant to four Secretaries of the Navy. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Harvard Business School, and MIT's CSO program, he resides in the Los Angeles area, is married with four children and a rambunctious bernedoodle. Afdhel Aziz Chief Purpose Officer Conspiracy of Love North America Afdhel Aziz, a best-selling author, visionary founder, and inspiring keynote speaker, is dedicated to tackling a fundamental challenge of the 21st century: helping individuals and companies find purpose and meaning in their work while leveraging business as a force for good. As the Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of Conspiracy of Love, a global purpose consultancy, Afdhel collaborates with Fortune 500 companies like Adidas, PepsiCo, and Microsoft to enhance their impact by aligning business goals with social good. Conspiracy of Love has facilitated significant investments into causes such as racial justice, food insecurity, and arts education, partnering with leading non-profits like Feeding America and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Afdhel's company is a proud Minority-Owned Business and Certified B Corp. Additionally, Afdhel is the Co-Founder of Good is the New Cool, a creative company and content incubator focused on sharing positive stories through books, podcasts, TV shows, and the global conference series GoodCon, held in major cities worldwide. Afdhel's influential work extends to writing columns for Forbes and co-authoring best-selling books like 'Good is the New Cool: Market Like You Give a Damn' and 'The Principles of Purpose'. Product Theater| Thursday, 19 September, 01:15 PM - 01:45 PM PDT SESSION 235-EXH: BRINGING PREDICTABILITY TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT - GAINING COMPLETE CONTROL AND CONSISTENCY ENTERPRISE-WIDE 30-minute session Topics: Decision Making, Earned Value Management, Organizational Project Management, PMO, Project Integration, Resource Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage One The session explores best practices for Enterprise PPM. It outlines a unique 'control tower' approach that provides predictive, actionable insights across the enterprise. The session includes a live demonstration of how the project schedule serves as the single source for cost forecasting, resource planning, and risk management. The interactive demonstration shows how project data flows up to programs and enables financial forecasting and scenario comparison. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Differentiate between project management software and an enterprise PPM; and * Standardized work process and a connected PPM data delivers business value To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speakers Nick Manzo Enterprise Account Executive Cora Systems North America Nicholas Manzo is a tenured software professional with over 20 years of experience in supporting companies as they expand into new industries and practices. He has worked closely with some of the world’s largest organizations and U.S. Government Departments, as they moved from long-standing but under-integrated software solutions to modern, integrated data platforms that create efficiencies and improve outcomes. Nick has been appointed to multiple industry boards focused on driving modernization and standardization. For the past five years, he has led the expansion of a major experiential and data integration-focused software platform from its purely commercial customer base to its rapid adoption by U.S. Federal and Defense agencies. Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Hampden-Sydney College. Yancey Joiner Solutions Consultant Cora Systems North America Yancey Joiner has been a Solutions Consultant supporting Enterprise Portfolio Management solutions for the past 15 years. The solutions he has supported include Clarity, Primavera, and Cora. He has worked with both sales and deployment teams to position enterprise applications that address complex workforce planning, budgeting, and efforts to maximize value across a portfolio of projects. His experience has taught him that the most important aspect of the Solutions Consultant role is conducting thorough discovery to understand the true goals and intent of the customer. Once these goals are established and documented, Yancey's expertise centers around configuring solutions and presenting them back to the client for validation and refinement. Product Theater| Thursday, 19 September, 01:15 PM - 01:45 PM PDT SESSION 236-EXH: AI POWERED AGILE TRANSFORMATION 30-minute session Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Change Management, Governance, Organizational Culture, SCRUM, Strategy Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage Two Agile transformation is challenging, with only 10% of cultural transformations and half of Agile initiatives succeeding. Challenges include limited executive support, a shortage of skilled Agile coaches, and high costs of Agile coaching. Efforts often focus more on procedural aspects rather than cultural change. Ahmet, with 18 years of experience, will demonstrate how AI, particularly the oNabu AI Agile Coach, can enhance Agile practices by offering role-based journeys, advice, AI chatbot, sprints, teams, reporting, etc. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understanding about the maturity of Agile transformation and Agile coach archetypes in a fun way; and * Use AI in change management while managing their budget effectively in line with their strategy. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speakers Ahmet Akdag PMI-ACP, PMP CEO oNabu MENA Ahmet is a consultant and a certified Scrum.org and SAFe trainer, helping organizations through their Agile transitions. As one of the co-founders/contributors of many Agile associations in his local market, such as Agile Turkey, Agile Middle East, Agile Greece, and Agile Africa, he also serves the non-commercial side. Ahmet helps organizations adopt Scrum, Kanban, and other Agile processes correctly by teaching fundamentals to all levels within the organizations, coaching management and teams, and helping design organizational principles, practices, and tools for enterprise Agility. Contributing to over 20 large organizational Agile transformation projects and coaching over 400 teams in small to large-scale enterprises, Ahmet’s expertise in management and framework design has led him to create high-quality solutions and best practices for scaling Agile while adhering to Agile's fundamental principles. He has been coaching and consulting companies with a combination of extensive know-how and experience in both the process and practices sides of Agile. Umut Arisoy Agility Consultant and Principal Engineer oNabu MENA Graduating from Bilkent University’s Computer Science/Engineering department in 2008, Umut Arisoy serves ACM as an Agile and DevOps Coach. Between 2008 and 2013, he was involved in numerous software projects with international software development teams, serving as a consultant, technical team lead, and offshore liaison in Turkey’s biggest financial services companies. He has worked with three different startups since 2013, prior to joining ACM in 2017 as a software team leader. Offsite Learning Excursion| Thursday, 19 September, 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 244: OFFSITE LEARNING EXCURSION: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AT LAX Learning Level: Intermediate What does it mean to transform the world's busiest designation and origin airport while it is still fully operational? Join representatives of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to learn about the Capital Improvement Program underway at LAX. Key to the transformation is the future Automated People Mover (APM), a vital piece of infrastructure that will seamlessly connect guests to LAX's terminals, a new Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility (ConRAC), L.A. Metro, ride-hailing services and more. During the onsite visit, learn more about the AMP, ConRAC, Midfield Satellite Concourse South and other projects that are part of LAX's ambitious modernization plans. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Explain the critical steps involved in the planning and design phases of the Capital Improvement Program * Describe project management techniques used to ensure timely and on-budget completion of the program. Note this session requires pre-registration; information on registering will be available in August. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 2.00 Lightning Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 02:45 PM PDT SESSION 245: AGILE MINDSET IN CONSTRUCTION: AN UNTOLD STORY 45-minute session Topics: Agile, Complexity, Leadership, SCRUM Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 409 Discover the fascinating origins of agile practices, their emergence as a revolutionary solution tailored to the demands of time and the compelling reasons why the construction industry is primed to embrace this transformative approach. Uncover how the same agile principles and practices are currently used in the construction industry and what can further be done to elevate this trend. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Express the need for agile practices in construction; and * Identify agile practices to be used in construction. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.75; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 0.75 Speaker Saud Anver PMI-ACP, PMP Corporate Trainer Marvel Management Training Institute MENA Saud Anver comes from a construction background and is currently working as a full-time trainer in a quest to keep things simple. Lightning Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 02:45 PM PDT SESSION 246: AI-POWERED CONSULTING: UNLEASHING THE NEXT GENERATION TOOLBOX 45-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Business Analysis, Career Development, Complexity Learning Level: Advanced Location: 403B Discover how AI is revolutionizing consulting and learn how cutting-edge AI technologies can reshape the consulting landscape, empowering professionals to deliver unparalleled insights and solutions. Participants can explore the future of consulting and gain valuable insights into leveraging AI for transformative results. Attendees will receive a comprehensive list of AI-driven tools specifically curated for their respective project, program, portfolio and project management office (PMO) consulting roles. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Recognize the transformative role of AI in consulting and utilize key AI-powered tools and techniques to enhance problem-solving and decision-making; and. * Integrate AI-driven insights into consulting practices to deliver value-added services, drawing upon case studies showcasing successful AI implementation in consulting. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speakers Mohamed Khalifa DASM, PMI-ACP, DASSM, PMI-PBA, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP, PgMP, PfMP Director LIFELONG MENA Mohamed Khalifa is an accomplished business partner at Valense Group United Kingdom and partner and director of consulting and solutions at LIFELONG Innovation Studio Kuwait. With more than 20 years of expertise in project management practice and information technology, Mohamed is a renowned project management consultant and speaker in agile, PMOs, future technology, culture and organization strategies. Mohamed's impressive skill set was broadened by participating in the PMI Leadership Institute Master Class (LIMC) and earning several project management certifications. He is also a former PMI Ethics Insight Team (EIT) member and manager of the PMI Global Sustainability Community of Practice Council. As a result of his unique skills and experience, Mohamed has developed, implemented and operated numerous project and program management offices and project management information systems (PMIS). He takes a hands-on approach to project planning, control, reporting and contract administration automation, utilizing AI through different platforms. Mohamed has actively worked with organizations across more than 20 countries and various sectors, focusing on AI and other descriptive technologies in project management. Throughout the past 20 years, he has delivered consulting, coaching and training services and spoken at over 300 global events. Muhammd Ilyas PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP, PgMP, PfMP CEO LIFELONG MENA Muhammad A. B. Ilyas is an educator, entrepreneur and futurist specializing in human resource development, the project economy and digital transformation. In addition to leading LIFELONG, he teaches project management and entrepreneurship to undergraduate students at Gulf University for Science and Technology in Kuwait. A recipient of President's Gold Medal for academic excellence, Muhammad also holds a very diverse range of professional certifications in fields of project management, human resources and information systems. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry and 17 years in academia, he has also trained hundreds of professionals from different sectors such as government, energy, banking, telecommunications, construction and professional services. Muhammad has served PMI as a member of the PMI Registered Education Providers Member Advisory Group representing the Middle East and North African region. He actively engaged in PMI undergraduate curriculum and resources projects providing region- and domain-specific inputs for PM-1 and PM-2. Muhammad has presented in-person and virtual educational sessions at PMI® Global Congresses, Leadership Institute Meetings, PMI Virtual Experience Series and other regional forums in Indonesia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Ghana, Pakistan, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Lightning Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 02:45 PM PDT SESSION 247: ARE YOU A FRICTION GENERATOR OR A FRICTION FIXER? 45-minute session Topics: Career Development, Communication, Leadership Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 406 Teams are diverse, global and remote. As a project leader, you have a pivotal role: You can ease the life of your team members and steer them toward project success—or you can complicate things. What kind of leader are you? Do you facilitate teams or infuriate them? Join me for a journey into behaviors that can block or ease your project’s success. Let’s take an honest look in the leadership mirror. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Recognize the behaviors that create friction in project teams and apply strategies to change them; and * Identify friction-reducing behaviors and apply strategies to reinforce them. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Yasmina Khelifi PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PMP Senior Project Manager ORANGE Europe Yasmina Khelifi is a French telecommunication engineer and project manager. She has worked in the telecom industry for 20 years with primary industry stakeholders. She is a passionate volunteer at PMI, a regular volunteer blogger on ProjectManagement.com and a volunteer international correspondent at PMWorld Journal. She also writes articles about leadership for Harvard Business Review Ascend and Forbes. She is the host and founder of the podcast “Global Leaders Talk with Yasmina Khelifi.” Yasmina is the author of How to Become a Culturally Aware Project Manager, speaks six languages and has a master’s degree in mobile telecommunications. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT SESSION 248: A JOURNEY TOWARD INTERNAL CONSULTANCY EXCELLENCE: AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT DRIVEN FRAMEWORK 60-minute session Topics: Organizational Culture, Organizational Project Management, Talent Management, Teams Learning Level: Advanced Location: 306 This session explores building an internal consultancy program within a large organization. It reveals how project management transformed reliance on external consultants into internal expertise. Highlighting the initial issue of siloed knowledge, the session details how talent development with project management at its core fostered internal specialists across various fields. It showcases the program's success through data and achievements, concluding with aspirations for the future. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Build a general understanding of the ecosystem required to build internal consultancy capability for an organization; and * Develop the critical role of project management in executing strategic consultancy projects and consultancy skills, simultaneously. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Husam Maghrabi PMI-ACP, PMP, PgMP, PfMP ICT Project Management Senior Consultant stc MENA Husam T. Maghrabi is an ICT project management senior consultant working for Saudi Telecom Company, the largest telecom provider and digital enabler in MENA region. Husam brings 16 years of experience in engineering and project management in the oil and gas and telecom industries. He holds an executive master’s degree in business administration from the University of Bradford (United Kingdom) and a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from KFUPM (KSA). Husam also holds several project management certifications such as the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, Agile Hybrid Project Pro, Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Program Management Professional (PgMP)® and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® and is a PMI ATP member delivering several PMI courses every year. Husam is driven by continuous education in areas such strategy, innovation, leadership and he holds a certification of specialization in each of the 3 areas from Harvard Business School. Hissah Bin Zuayer PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PMP, PfMP Director, Specialist Development Program stc MENA Hissah I. Bin Zuayer is a director at Saudi Telecom Company (stc), leading a program to elevate future consultants in technical fields within the company. In 2023, Hissah was selected for the PMI Future 50 List for her massive contributions in the project management domain and communities within KSA and the technology sector. Prior to joining Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Hissah served as a program manager at the Vision 2030 Realization Office, where she led transformative and megaprojects across the country of Saudi Arabia. She also worked with KPMG where she co-built a new governance function. Hissah is one of the first female professionals in Saudi Arabia to attain Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® certification and is a member of the High Potential Leadership Program in stc, in partnership with Michigan Ross University. Hissah holds many PMI certifications in addition to the PfMP® certification along with Business Continuity Professional (BCP) and KPI-P. She is also Strategy Execution certified from Harvard Business School and holds a master’s certificate in project management from George Washington University and a master’s degree in business administration in innovation and entrepreneurship from Dublin City University, graduating with first-class honors. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT SESSION 249: AI-DRIVEN QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Quality Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408B The construction industry stands on the brink of a new era, fueled by the power of AI. This session delves into how AI is revolutionizing the realm of quality management in construction projects, setting unprecedented standards for precision, efficiency and compliance. We’ll explore the forefront of AI technologies—from predictive analytics that preempt quality issues to sophisticated, AI-driven inspection tools—offering a holistic view of AI's capability to elevate construction quality management to groundbreaking levels. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Illustrate how AI technologies are significantly enhancing the processes of quality within construction projects; and * Provide practical guidance on integrating AI into construction quality management, addressing opportunities and challenges. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Abbigail Meah-Ali PMP Manager, Construction Services The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago LATAM Abbigail Meah-Ali is a professional with more than two decades of experience in project management, quality management and technical leadership as well as a passion for continuous improvement. She holds a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of the West Indies, a master’s degree in business administration from the Edinburgh Business School (Heriot Watt) and a micro master’s in sustainable energy from the University of Queensland. Abbigail holds the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification and is a Certified 21502 Senior Lead Project Manager, ASQ-certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Quality Engineer and Quality Auditor. She is also a member of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) and holds the MCQI CQP designation. Her extensive qualifications extend to ISO Management Systems, welding inspection, pressure vessel inspection and risk-based inspection. Abbigail is also a Professional Education and Certification Board Certified Trainer and an American Society for Quality ConnEx expert. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT SESSION 250: GREAT ESTIMATES: IT'S ALL RELATIVE 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Earned Value Management, Estimating, Work Breakdown Structures Learning Level: Core Location: 404 Unlock the power of accurate estimates bridging the boardroom and front line. Agile estimating, a dynamic team sport, offers efficiency, pragmatism, and value. Join us to explore tools, templates, and discussions transforming estimates into strategic assets for annual planning, Op EX/Cap EX planning, color of money considerations, and tax reporting. Make your estimates not just right but profoundly useful! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Apply agile planning to deliver reliability, streamlined processes, and synchronized efforts through interactive exercises designed for effective annual planning; and * Utilize tools to discover methods to become being agile in the annual planning process. Be ready for future application. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 1.00 Speaker Andrew Burns DASM, PMI-ACP, DASSM, DAC, PMP Chief Scrum Master Siemens Digital Industries North America Andy Burns is the Chief Scrum Master at Siemens Digital Industries, Siemens Digital Industries is one of the top ten product development companies in the world. Across the globe, Andy coaches 130 Scrum teams building product life cycle management products. Siemens products help companies build everything from the satellites above our heads to the shoes on children’s feet. Andy believes the human element must guide product development from conception to delivery. A disciplined approach to producing sustainable, equitable results is an elusive prize for many companies. Yet project managers can do it. As a coach and project and program manager, Andy seeks to master the PMI Talent Triangle® areas of Business Acumen, Power Skills and Ways of Working to unlock extraordinary results. Results must come fast. In our disruptive business era, product developers (and all stakeholders) must be prepared to fail-forward to survive. As a leader, Andy embraces a purpose-oriented approach that serves the needs of all stakeholders. A fit-for-purpose approach requires leaders to encourage mastery of many techniques. Andy's vocation is sharing, promoting, and executing techniques from predictive to agile to deliver winning results. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT SESSION 252: LESSONS LEARNED AND THEIR IMPACT ON PROJECT SUCCESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL REVENUE 60-minute session Topics: Benefits Realization, Decision Making, Organizational Project Management, Project Management Education Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 303 This session unveils groundbreaking insights from a pivotal study on how lessons learned in project management affect organizational revenue. Designed for project managers and leaders across industries, the session delves into practical strategies for leveraging past project insights to drive success, leading to financial improvement. Discover evidence-based practices that not only elevate project outcomes but also contribute to potential tangible revenue increases, equipping you with the knowledge to transform your approach to project management. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify and apply key project management lessons learned practices that have been statistically proven to affect organizational revenue; and * Develop strategies for effectively documenting, analyzing and implementing lessons learned to enhance project outcomes and drive financial growth. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Joshua Cunio PMP Senior Program Manager Harbor Freight Tools North America Joshua Cunio is a retired U.S. Army CID Special Agent who found his niche in project management. He has dedicated his professional and academic careers to learning and practicing project, program and portfolio management. His dedication to share knowledge is evident through his desire to mentor fellow colleagues in project management, business and leadership-related topics. Throughout his post-military professional career, he has worked in various industries from construction, safety and emergency management to defense and aerospace technology development. These experiences have helped him to develop into a transformative and adaptive PMO leader. In his free time, he focuses on researching project-management-related topics for publication and volunteering for several organizations within his community. He holds a doctorate degree in business administration with a specialization in project management from National University, a master’s degree in project management from Post University and several project management and business-related certifications. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT SESSION 253: MANAGING AI TRANSFORMATIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LIFE CYCLE MODELS AND FRAMEWORKS 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Change Management, Organizational Project Management, Strategy Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 403A The presentation offers a rigorous comparative analysis of life cycle models and frameworks for AI project management. It articulates the nuances of adapting traditional project management methodologies within the context of AI initiatives, providing a critical examination of models such as CRISP-DM, TDSP and agile AI. Participants will explore theoretical and practical aspects of choosing and applying effective strategies for AI projects, making it ideal for professionals aiming to deepen their expertise in AI project management. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the distinctive characteristics of AI projects; and * Compare and contrast AI project life cycle models. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Georgios Moschoglou PMP Professor Georgetown University North America Georgios Moschoglou, PhD, is a professor of the practice and faculty director for the master’s in project management program. He has more than 25 years’ experience leading large-scale digital transformation programs and implementing change for a broad range of organizations. He managed complex enterprise platform establishment programs at the World Bank’s risk management and analytics unit for a number of years, providing key capabilities in managing the bank’s investments and capital markets activities. His previous professional experience includes various managerial and consulting engagements across multiple functional areas and products, from software engineering and technology transformations in organizations such as NASA, Ericsson, Freddie Mac and Capital One to command-and-control systems engineering and defense program management overseas. He holds a doctorate in systems engineering from George Washington University. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT SESSION 254: MASTERING PROJECT PORTFOLIOS: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION IN SEVEN STEPS FOR SUCCESS 60-minute session Topics: PMO, Portfolio Management, Resource Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408A Unlock the power of your project portfolio! Join us to demystify resource management as a key component to achieving your goals. Organizations often grapple with effective implementation strategies. In this session, we’ll explore practical steps to seamlessly integrate resource management, empowering you to make informed portfolio decisions and achieve sustainable resource workload balance. Take the leap toward efficient and strategic project portfolio management with our insightful class! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Design and implement a tailored resource management model, aligned with organizational capabilities and maturity levels, to leverage a proven approach; and * Apply techniques for building and analyzing resource capacity versus demand, involving key stakeholders for data collection. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Noe Dorantes PMP Project Management Office Director: Knowledge and Process Management IPM North America Noe Dorantes is a director at Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM). He leads an internal project management office dedicated to advancing the development and execution of organizational training, knowledge management and program and project management practices. Additionally, he specializes in program and portfolio management. He has a background in aerospace, life sciences, healthcare and consumer packaging, and more than 20 years of diverse leadership positions in operations, product, project and portfolio management. Noe earned a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and a master’s in business administration in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial studies from Northern Illinois University. He also holds the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT SESSION 255: WORDS MATTER: THE POWER OF INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE 60-minute session Topics: Communication Learning Level: Core Location: 153 Our daily use of language includes loads of common words and phrases drawn from ugly parts of history that perpetuate stereotypes or cause people to feel as “other.” Often, we recognize the inappropriateness of certain expressions, yet grapple with finding suitable alternatives. This interactive workshop is designed to delve into the nuances of inclusive language. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Recognize inclusive language and explain its significance in promoting equality and respect in diverse settings; and * Apply inclusive language principles in workplace communications. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Debra Howell PMP Director of IT Operations Cornell University North America As the Director of Information Technology Operations at Cornell University's University Library, Debra brings more than 20 years of valuable expertise in driving strategic direction across all facets of information technology. With a flair for creativity and dynamism, Debra excels in leading and facilitating intricate workplace and technology processes while nurturing internal talent and fostering effective collaboration for optimal computing environments. She boasts a rich background in facilitation, organizational change and development, team building and leadership. Debra obtained her masters of industrial and labor relations degree from Cornell University in 2006, holds a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification (2008) and is a Master Trainer and Master Resiliency Trainer as certified by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM PDT SESSION 256: ENABLING ENTERPRISE BUSINESS AGILITY 90-minute session Topics: Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 301 Business agility is the ability to respond to change, learn and pivot, deliver at speed, and thrive in a competitive market. This session will explore why organizations are shifting their focus to enterprise business agility, not just team agility, and why “doing” agile alone isn’t enough to deliver results or real business outcomes. We will explore the five areas of change and the three types of metrics you need to measure at every level. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Define business agility and describe its benefits; and * Articulate the five areas of change to enable agility. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker Sally Elatta PMI-ACP CEO, Co-Founder AgilityHealth North America Sally Elatta is a thought leader in enabling enterprise business agility by measuring what matters at every level of the organization. She’s passionate about helping organizations accelerate strategy and value realization by building high-performing teams. Sally is a trusted advisor to many top executives in large enterprises. She is a dynamic and engaging speaker whose leadership mantra is “Be bold, be real and lead with love.” Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM PDT SESSION 257: IDEAL WAYS TO PRIORITIZE AND OPTIMIZE YOUR PROJECT AND PROGRAM PORTFOLIO 90-minute session Topics: Business Analysis, Decision Making, Governance, PMO, Portfolio Management Learning Level: Advanced Location: 152 Ever thought about how your organization arrives at the ranking criteria used to prioritize its projects and programs? How do you know if these are indeed the right criteria? How do you assign the correct weights to each and what is the ideal way to use them to rank the projects and programs? How do you then optimize the resultant portfolio? This 90-minute, hands-on workshop will answer these questions by showing the ideal ways to get it done! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Prioritize ranking criteria and know how to use them to rank projects and programs in portfolios; and * Optimize the ranked projects and programs while accounting for various, often competing constraints. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.50; Ways of Working (PfMP): 1.50 Speaker Nana Kwame PMP Director, Enterprise Project Management Office Abt Assoiciates North America Nana Kwame is a writer and frequent speaker and presenter on project and portfolio management who focuses on how a project management office (PMO) can deliver value to organizations by emphasizing the processes (and key metrics) that help realize project and portfolio benefits as part of the strategic planning process. He has more than 20 years of experience working in varied industries including government contracting, utilities and international development. He currently helps manage the enterprise PMO at Abt Associates where he has implemented project portfolio management (PPM) tool sets, led process improvement initiatives and managed several enterprise projects including enterprise resource planning implementations. He led DC Water’s IT PMO, with the responsibility of transforming DC Water’s IT PPM function from an ad hoc, individual-effort-based operation into an agile, team-oriented organization working to deliver measurable benefits to the company. This PMO deployed several award-winning and innovative projects that contributed to winning PMI’s prestigious PMO of the Year Award for 2020. Nana holds a master’s degree in project management from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in information systems management from Strayer University. Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM PDT SESSION 258: LEADING HIGH-FUNCTIONING TEAMS 90-minute session Topics: Benefits Realization, Complexity, Risk Management, Using PMI Standards Learning Level: Core Location: 151 Project teams require a collaborative leader to nurture successful outcomes. Learn to understand all of the players, including yourself, better! Hands-on activities will encourage problem-solving, creative thinking, decision-making, communications, cooperation, trust and support and, of course, leadership! This FUN session will provide you with tools you can take back to understand your challenges, prepare for and run your own team-building activities and learn how to debrief and reinforce these activities. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Develop introspective analysis of your own power skills to recognize the leader in you; and * Conduct team-building activities for FUNdamental collaboration. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker John Jones PMP Asst IT Director City of College Station North America John Jones is an “Army brat” who spent his formative years in Germany and worked in the international marketing industry. He began his professional career in technology in the United States as a help desk technician and has developed a specialized skill set for IT projects in the public sector. Jones has held the positions of network engineer, project and program manager and IT director and is currently the assistant IT director for the City of College Station, Texas, USA. As an adjunct professor for USC–Bovard College, Jones develops curriculum and teaches courses at the graduate level in project and program management. In a volunteer role, he has served on various technology, leadership and project management boards. Aside from speaking engagements, Jones conducts workshops on leadership and team building. Jones graduated from the PMI Leadership Institute Master Class (LIMC) in 2015, was region mentor for Region 7 (Southwest North America) (2019–22) and is currently on the DE&I Global Insight Team. He obtained his bachelor’s in digital graphics from CSU–East Bay and is working on a graduate degree in communications and organizational from the University of Alabama. Panel Discussion| Thursday, 19 September, 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM PDT SESSION 259: TRANSFORMING OUR FUTURE THROUGH PROJECT SUCCESS: BEAUTY AND FASHION 90-minute session Topics: Innovation Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 411 Dive into the inspiring and innovative collaboration between fragrance house D.S. & DURGA and the groundbreaking nonprofit Project CETI. Together they are creating awareness for marine conservation through fragrance. And learn from innovators in sustainable fashion about the critical work to be done to make fashion more sustainable. In part one, you’ll hear from Fiona Korwin-Pawlowki, Chief Strategy Officer at CETI PROJECT to learn more about CETI’s innovative partnership with D.S. & DURGA to create a new perfume, LET’S DIVE, inspired by the linguistic bridge between humans and whales. She will go deeper into how the groundbreaking nonprofit leverages project management to build powerful collaborations that connect people to their cause. In part two, Adam Taubenfligel from Triarchy will join a conversation on how project management is a critical part of solving one of fashion’s biggest challenges - sustainability. Adam will share more about how project management was a driving force in Triarchy’s efforts to create the world’s first plastic-free denim - massively reducing the water needed to create their denim. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Relate how social impact efforts in the Beauty and Fashion industries can be tied back to their own work to transform their industries for good; and * Identify specific opportunities in their own work to incorporate inclusion. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speakers Menaka Gopinath CAPM Chief Marketing Officer PMI North America Menaka Gopinath leads efforts to enhance PMI’s global reputation, overseeing brand, communications, and marketing. She provides strategic counsel in sharing our evolving story and unique value proposition worldwide. Menaka has a successful career as a strategic leader, guiding Fortune 100 brands like Coca-Cola, Apple, Nike, Uber, P&G, and Meta in building stronger customer-centric businesses. As President and COO of Graf Lanz, she led a sustainable fashion brand, shaping the company's long-term business model and revenue growth, and overseeing sales, marketing, and merchandising. At Ipsos, she led the Social Media Exchange service line, growing the practice from 20 to 100 team members with consistent double-digit revenue growth. Passionate about purpose-driven initiatives, Menaka is on the Board of Mentors for Monday Night Mentorship, supporting career acceleration for people of color. She also served as a leader for the Women in Ipsos ERG and helped establish BRIDGE, an ERG focused on anti-racism. Menaka holds a BA in Economics and Communications from New York University and an MBA in Finance from the University of San Francisco. Fiona Korwin-Pawlowski Chief Strategy Officer Project CETI North America Fiona Korwin-Pawlowski is Chief Strategy Officer at Project CETI, a nonprofit organization on a mission to listen to and translate the communication of whales. From 2016-2022, she served as lead on programs and grantmaking at Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF). During her tenure, CLF distributed over $35 million in funding in 2020 alone and received a variety of honors including selection as one of Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas for its Climate Resilience Initiative. With over 20 years of experience building programs and partnerships within the social impact space, Fiona is a specialist in structure and strategy for new organizations and initiatives. Fiona currently serves as a subject area expert at Untraditional Philanthropy, which helps donors identify and scale effective nonprofit models. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Operation Triple Threat and the U.S. Advisory Panel of Earth/Percent. Fiona is committed to storytelling as a tool for social change and in 2011 she co-founded Project Istwa, a nonprofit organization that produced photography and youth development workshops across Haiti. Adam Taubenfligl Co-Founder, Creative Director, Responsibility Lead Triarchy North America Adam Taubenfligel, an author and co-founder of Triarchy, serves as the brand's creative director and responsibility lead. Under his guidance, Triarchy continues to innovate, pioneering new industry standards that prioritize mindful and responsible denim fabrications and production practices with the ultimate goal of restoring integrity to the word sustainable. Bobby Jones Founding Partner Conspiracy of Love North America Bobby Jones, a pioneer in purpose-transformation in leaders and organizations, has been one of the driving forces in the worldwide movement towards conscious capitalism. Having spent 25 years helping the world’s most powerful brands drive growth and impact, Bobby has come to learn the critical principles and behaviors required of leaders to build resilient, adaptive and thriving businesses. Bobby's acclaimed best-selling Good is the New Cool books have become the go-to resources for C-Suites leaders across industries, providing the inspiration, data, and tools to lead and do business driven with purpose. His award-winning consultancy, Conspiracy of Love is helping adidas, Ford, Haleon, Unilever, AB InBev, Mondelez, Diageo, PepsiCo and others activate their purpose to achieve inspired innovation, engaged employees, and new frontiers for growth. Networking Break| Thursday, 19 September, 02:45 PM - 04:00 PM PDT AFTERNOON REFRESHMENT BREAK Location: South Hall HJ There's still plenty to see and do in the Exhibit Hall! Grab a snack, explore everything it has to offer, visit our sponsors and exhibitors, and catch up with colleagues. Product Theater| Thursday, 19 September, 03:15 PM - 03:45 PM PDT SESSION 261-EXH: MAKING THE MOVE FROM MANAGING PROJECTS TO MANAGING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION 30-minute session Topics: Decision Making, Innovation, Organizational Culture, Organizational Project Management, PMO, Program Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage One To move faster, make smarter decisions, and drive value, PMOs and project leaders must lead the charge. But great intentions need great tools, which is why it’s time to upgrade from traditional PPM software to cutting-edge Business Transformation software. Join CEO Ivan Lloyd as he introduces you to edison365, the ultimate “deliver it all” platform powered by Microsoft. This game-changer offers unmatched control, customization, and visibility over all your innovation, project, and portfolio efforts. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Differentiate between managing projects and managing business transformation, and describe the end-to-end business transformation process; and * Recognize how, edison365, powered by Microsoft enables organizations to accelerate business transformation. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speaker Ivan Lloyd CEO edison365 Europe With over 25 years of consulting experience in the innovation and PPM space, Ivan Lloyd, founder and CEO of edison365, has worked with hundreds of organizations across the globe. He has shared his insights, knowledge, and experience at conferences worldwide, including the very first PMI conference in 1995 in New Orleans. In 1995, with his passion firmly rooted in Project Management, Ivan founded Corporate Project Solutions (CPS). Under his leadership, CPS expanded into an 80-strong team, becoming the largest implementation partner of the Microsoft PPM suite in the UK and winning three Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year Awards prior to his exit in 2021. In 2018, recognizing a significant gap in the market for an enterprise-ready platform that encompassed the end-to-end business transformation journey, Ivan founded the SaaS company edison365. Now with offices in the UK, US, and Spain, edison365 sets the standard for empowering global organizations to seamlessly plan, orchestrate, and execute transformative change. Built on Microsoft, edison365 represents the next generation of PPM solutions, characterized by its user-friendliness, enterprise-ready capabilities, and limitless configurability. By leveraging the platform, businesses accelerate innovation delivery, achieve project management excellence, and deliver true benefit realization. Product Theater| Thursday, 19 September, 03:15 PM - 03:45 PM PDT SESSION 262-EXH: GEN AI FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT: GAME CHANGER OR EMPTY PROMISES 30-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, PMO Learning Level: Core Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage Two We’ve seen the seemingly utopian promises of what Gen AI could bring to the table. Join us for an insightful session unraveling these visions and exploring how we’ve worked with PMOs to redefine project planning and achieve measurable outcomes with Gen AI. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Dispelling AI myths and showcasing tangible success stories, we'll equip you with actionable insights to effectively harness AI tool outputs; and * Discover the competitive edge AI offers in today's digital era and unlock its full potential for your projects and organization. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speakers Jenn Duignan PMP Partner PwC North America Jenn Duignan, a PwC Partner, has over 25 years of experience leading large-scale, enterprise-wide regulatory and transformational programs and PMOs for high-profile financial services, life sciences, and data management companies. Her areas of expertise include value creation, Portfolio Centers of Excellence, program management, process excellence, business growth and scaling, strategy, change management, and Agile. Tyler Guryan Senior Manager, Digital PwC North America Tyler is a Senior Manager in PwC's AI Studio with over 7 years of experience in enterprise B2B and B2C software product management. Throughout his career, Tyler has built and delivered products in food service, healthcare, risk, and insurance industries. Today, Tyler leads the development of enterprise scale AI ecosystems and multi-agent frameworks within PwC to revolutionize the software development lifecycle and help teams of all sizes capture the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. He excels at identifying critical problem spaces and prioritizing solutions to deliver the most important things at speed and scale. Paul Buchman Senior Manager, PMO Managed Services PwC North America Paul is a Senior Manager in PwC's Strategic PMO Managed Services with over 8 years of experience in project and program management, covering M&A integration, enterprise transformation, process improvement, supply chain/manufacturing logistics, data analytics, and corporate strategy. During his time at PwC, Paul has led a variety of technology and AI implementations, process improvement initiatives, and multiple M&A consulting teams responsible for the IT integration of client acquisitions ranging from $20B to $80B in transaction value. Throughout his career, Paul has led an international PMO focused on providing large-scale electrical technology solutions, alongside a wide array of enterprise-level efforts, including sales operations, ERP and CRM transformations, and process improvement initiatives resulting in significant cost reduction. He thrives in a fast-paced environment and excels at developing strong teams to tackle difficult and multifaceted problems. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 265: ACCELERATING PMO PERFORMANCE: A PROVEN FRAMEWORK FOR STRATEGY IMPACT 60-minute session Topics: Benefits Realization, Organizational Project Management, PMO Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 409 Whether launching a new Project Management Office (PMO) or elevating an existing one, this session explores the six-step IMPACT Engine System to evolve overlooked PMOs into engines driving strategic IMPACT. Perfect for those needing to demonstrate value fast with limited resources, this session will teach techniques developed over nearly 30 years to secure executive influence, resolve delivery barriers and optimize portfolio throughput. Depart with an actionable blueprint for making a PMO an indispensable accelerator of enterprise strategy outcomes. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Learn a proven PMO implementation framework to resolve delivery barriers and drive enterprise strategic impact; and * Utilize an actionable blueprint to evolve a PMO into an indispensable portfolio throughput engine. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Laura Barnard PMP Chief IMPACT Driver PMO Strategies North America Laura Barnard for nearly three decades has spearheaded efforts to unleash the power of effective project management to rapidly achieve higher returns on investment for strategic goals. Starting in 1999 with the creation of her first project management office (PMO), she spent 15 years as a PMO and strategy delivery leader before founding her company PMO Strategies, dedicated to helping organizations maximize returns on investment by unleashing the full potential of project management and PMOs. Her groundbreaking IMPACT Engine System empowers organizations to align transformational outcomes to their vision with unprecedented speed and measurable business IMPACT. In 2021, Laura was named the World PMO Influencer of the Year by the PMO Global Alliance (now part of PMI) for her accomplishments in positioning the PMO as the most valuable strategic asset for organizations to deliver their strategy. She shares expertise on her popular “PMO Strategies” podcast and through the long-running IMPACT Summit, which convenes top global PMO influencers and the last three PMI CEOs on a shared mission to elevate PMOs worldwide. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 266: AI IN THE PMO: AUTOPILOT OR COPILOT? 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Business Analysis, Career Development, Change Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 403B Can you imagine a world where you input your parameters for a project and it automatically run by an AI engine? Stakeholders are identified, completely aligned and everything is successful. This autopilot scenario is unlikely. In this presentation, you’ll learn how to leverage AI as a copilot, in stages, based on your organization’s adoption rate, while developing the key coaching, influencing and emotional intelligence that will become increasingly more important as AI impacts organizations. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify your organization’s position on the adoption curve and what the AI journey will look like for you; and * Plan the technical skills needed over time, while enhancing the power skills that will become increasingly important. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Kimia Penton PMP Director, PMO, Global Sourcing and Procurement McKesson Corporation North America Kimia Penton has runs the Global Sourcing and Procurement PMO team at McKesson Corporation, a Fortune 10 company. With a background in organizational psychology and consulting, she is passionate about taking care of people and processes. Kimia also teaches project management at the University of Texas at Dallas and serves on the board of directors for the PMI Dallas Chapter as vice president of applied project management. In addition to her work roles, Kimia is an advocate for developing ourselves holistically and nurturing creative outlets. As a professional musician and internationally touring recording artist, she has written and released five albums of original music focused on empowerment, growth and contribution. She is also a TEDx speaker on the topic of overcoming career roadblocks. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 267: BREAKING BARRIERS: EMPOWERING WOMEN IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT 60-minute session Topics: Career Development, Governance, Organizational Culture, Strategy Learning Level: Core Location: 153 This presentation will address the crucial topic of women in technology and project management, specifically, and how to bring more gender diversity into the project management discipline. We will look at feedback we collected from women in many industries and what guided them to project management, what help they got, what roadblock(s) they may have encountered and their advice for the younger generations. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Diagnose gender diversity challenges in an organization; and * Apply easy-to-use strategies to increase diversity in project management. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Claude Scher PMP Senior Project Manager Veolia North America North America Claude Scher, CSM, SAFE PO/PM, is a member of the CORP Strategy team and manages multiple initiatives for the domain. He is actively involved in the project management community and is currently sponsoring an initiative on project onboarding. Claude has been a leader in the PMI Milwaukee/Southeast WI Chapter since 2005 and is the current president. He is a proud parent of three teenage daughters. He has extensive experience as a global program and portfolio manager, working for companies like GE Healthcare, Johnson Controls and Veolia North America. Claude is a dedicated mentor to new project managers and frequently presents at project and portfolio management conferences on topics like portfolio prioritization, business cases and project management office maturity models. Jen Abonce Project Manager Veolia North America North America Jen Abonce is a junior project manager for Veolia North America's IT organization. With a background in software development, analytics, project management and a passion for driving operational excellence, she is excited to collaborate with the team to deliver exceptional results and contribute to Veolia's continued success. She recently joined Veolia North America's Women in Technology community as the communications lead. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 268: UNLOCKING EFFORTLESS STRATEGY EXECUTION: CASE OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA 60-minute session Topics: Organizational Project Management, Strategy Learning Level: Advanced Location: 406 This research-based presentation will discuss issues impeding strategy execution and establishes that the implementation of a “balanced scorecard” management system helps address the problems faced by organizations during strategy execution. The focus is on nine strategy execution hurdles applicable to industries and geographies across the globe that can be minimized by the implementation of strategy management systems such as the balanced scorecard. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the nine hurdles impeding strategy execution; and * Learn how implementation of a Balanced Scorecard management system helps in addressing the nine problems faced by organizations during strategy execution. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Rahul Deo Gupta PMP Executive Director - EPMO Boutique Group MENA Dr. Rahul Deo Gupta has more than 28 years of experience in strategy formulation and execution. In addition to being an engineer, he holds a doctorate in business administration focused on strategy planning and execution. He leads complex strategic initiatives for a luxury hospitality startup, ensuring alignment with the company’s vision and goals. His expertise lies in establishing and leading enterprise project management office (EPMO) functions, implementing transformation strategies and providing strategic guidance to senior executives. With a passion for making strategies actionable and creating value, he is a valuable asset to clients, stakeholders and his team. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 269: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: THE ROLES OF AGILITY AND EFFECTIVE PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Portfolio Management, Strategy Learning Level: Advanced Location: 408A This session delves into the essential strategies for navigating the ever-evolving business landscape. Discover how organizations can thrive in the digital age by enhancing agility and optimizing project portfolio management. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Apply the roles of agility and effective project portfolio management to drive successful transformations; and * Gain insights from real-world case studies of organizations that have successfully implemented agile practices and project portfolio management. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PfMP): 0.50; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 0.50 Speakers Taopheek Babayeju DASM, DASSM, PfMP CEO ICENTRA North America Taopheek Babayeju is a transformation expert, management and technology professional and author. He has more than two decades of experience and expertise in strategy; organizational, digital and agile transformation; project, program and portfolio management; project management office delivery; technology consulting; information security; change management; and learning and development. A trusted executive advisor, he has helped several organizations achieve their strategic objectives. Taopheek has led high-impact transformation projects and programs, managed several multimillion-dollar portfolios and delivered value across different sectors such as IT, telecoms, finance, agriculture, construction, health, education, government and development. Taopheek holds a master’s degree in business administration from Lagos Business School and has acquired executive education from renowned institutions such as Harvard Business School and IESE Business School, coupled with several other global certifications. He studied physics at the undergraduate level at Lagos State University. Taopheek is also a changemaker. In 2009, he convened Nigeria’s first-ever National Project Management Conference to champion the institutionalization of project management practices in Nigeria and Africa. He is a recipient of the PMI Nigeria Chapter’s Most Outstanding Contribution to Project Management Award in 2010. Nazif Benna PMP Principal Delivery Consultant Naz Global Services North America Nazif Benna is a seasoned technology delivery and digital transformation professional. He is the proprietor of Naz Global Services, a worldwide project and program management practice headquartered in Los Angeles, California, USA. With extensive industry experience, Nazif guides his practice in achieving successful project and program outcomes, contributing significantly to the progression of technology initiatives. His proficiency encompasses the oversight of diverse projects, ensuring their efficient delivery and implementation. Under his leadership, Naz Global Services stands as a central hub for comprehensive project and program management solutions on a global scale. Nazif earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom, and has garnered invaluable experience working with various Fortune 100 companies. He has led projects and programs for Microsoft, CBRE, Metlife, Enterprise Car Rental and SoCal Gas. This diverse exposure further enhances his capability to navigate and excel in complex technological landscapes. In addition to his role as a technology delivery and digital transformation professional, Nazif is a successful entrepreneur who owns and manages real estate in the Los Angeles area. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 270: STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT USING A HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN APPROACH 60-minute session Topics: Change Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategy Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 304AB How do you craft a robust business strategy that all stakeholders understand and use? A case study from a cancer research institute will introduce human-centered design methods and demonstrate how they can make any business or project strategy more effective by defining each project’s path to impact; helping stakeholders to visualize their contribution to strategy success and preventing execution failures. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify three essential components of a robust strategy design process; and * Apply a method that critically evaluates possible causes of strategy failure. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Ariel Achtman PMP Senior Project Manager - Strategy and Impact Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute Asia Pacific Ariel Achtman is a strategy and project manager in the nonprofit sector. She has worked for the global men’s health charity Movember and now works at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute. She brings the analytical approach of a former scientist and the empathy of a groupwork-trained facilitator to business transformation and global collaborations. Ariel is passionate about bringing people with her on change journeys using human-centered design approaches and the power of collective impact frameworks. As a board director of the PMI Melbourne, Australia Chapter, Ariel drives professional development and mentoring opportunities in the Australian project management community. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 271: NAVIGATING CONFLICT LIKE A PRO FOR BETTER PROJECT OUTCOMES 60-minute session Topics: Change Management, Leadership Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 306 It’s not a matter of if, but when, your projects will experience conflict, which increases the risk of missed project goals or timelines. Those that thrive are able to handle conflict effectively. In this interactive session, you’ll discover your default style to handling conflict. We’ll then explore how to leverage respectful conflict as an advantage, surfacing diverse perspectives to arrive at better outcomes and ways of working together. Don’t avoid conflict. Instead, skillfully navigate conflict for “good.” At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand their default approach to handling conflict; and * Apply conflict navigation tips to various common conflict scenarios. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Steven Martin PMI-ACP, PMP CEO and Principal Consultant Agility Guides North America Steve Martin has more than 25 years of invaluable experience as an agile expert, consultant and certified trainer (CST, CAL Educator). Steve has navigated a diverse set of industries, from startups to Fortune-500 companies, for a range of clients including for-profit companies (both public and private), nonprofits and government agencies. Steve's core focus revolves around collaborating with senior leadership and management teams. He excels in defining and executing agile transformation strategies, shaping organizational design and reengineering business processes through agile and lean startup principles—all with an eye toward ensuring that the organization is delivering on its core portfolio of projects and programs. Steve is also an expert team coach, helping teams and organizations define and deliver amazing products and services to their customers. Steve is a graduate of the PMI Leadership Institute Master Class (LIMC) (2012) and has held multiple board roles, including president, with the PMI Massachusetts Bay Chapter in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Recognized for his engaging presentation style, Steve is a frequent presenter, where his sessions are not only informative but also interactive. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 272: OKAY, OURS! EMPOWERING PROJECT SUCCESS USING OKRS FOR SHARED PURPOSE AND ALIGNMENT 60-minute session Topics: Change Management, Portfolio Management, Program Management, Strategy Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 404 In today’s fast-paced and complex project environments, clarity and alignment on objectives are essential for success. This session pragmatically provides guidance on the practical application of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) as a transformative tool for project management practitioners. By integrating OKRs, project teams can enhance transparency, improve alignment and drive unprecedented outcomes. We will explore the strategic formulation of OKRs, their implementation challenges and how they can foster a high-performance culture within project teams. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand what OKRs are and their essential components; and * Define and implement OKRs by acquiring practical skills for defining, aligning to and then integrating OKRs into the project life cycle. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMP/PgMP/PMI-CP): 1.00 Speaker John Halberstadt VP, Consulting Lithespeed North America John Halberstadt is a seasoned executive known for his leadership in agile consulting, product management and technology strategy. With extensive experience as the vice president, consulting at LitheSpeed and in various positions as CIO, CTO and vice president in the financial services and insurance domains, John has driven digital transformations, agile and lean implementations and product innovation. His career showcases a strong focus on enhancing user experience, employing data-driven strategies and leading high-performing teams to deliver customer-centric solutions. John's expertise spans strategic planning, technology modernization and fostering cultures of continuous improvement in dynamic industries. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 273: OPTIMIZING RISK MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE WITH AI DEVELOPMENT 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Governance, Risk Management, Strategy Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 403A Explore the transformative potential of AI in enhancing risk management and governance practices, focusing on strategies for leveraging AI technologies to mitigate risks and improve governance structures for competitive advantage. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Examine the role of AI in augmenting risk management and governance frameworks; and * Discover practical methods for integrating AI into risk management processes to enhance decision-making and compliance. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMP/PgMP/PMI-CP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PMI-RMP): 1.00 Speaker Estelle Detrembleur Associate Director Mace Group Europe Estelle Detrembleur is passionate about empowerment and diversity, serves as vice president of branches and events at the PMI United Kingdom Chapter, spearheading initiatives to promote project management and support women in project-related roles through the Women in Projects network. Committed to social impact, she advocates for environmental and social governance and aligns with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Seeking nonexecutive director positions and research opportunities, Estelle remains dedicated to leveraging her skills in project management office strategy and stakeholder engagement for meaningful projects. Her interests span geopolitics, cybersecurity, software applications and policy regulations. Her tenure involves driving initiatives to foster inclusivity, champion sustainability and align organizational strategies with global goals. She is driven by a passion for empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in diverse and dynamic environments, while consistently advocating for positive change and impactful outcomes. Educational Session| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PDT SESSION 275: THE INTERNAL CONSULTANT: MANAGING YOUR BRAND AS A PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERT 60-minute session Topics: Career Development, Change Management, Organizational Project Management, Project Management Education Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408B Do you find yourself known as “the project management expert” at your organization? Many of us hold this title, formally or informally, which can carry with it both positive and negative elements. In this session we’ll discuss a framework for defining and establishing your personal brand as a project management expert, leveraging that brand for your career development and avoiding many of the common pitfalls that can accompany this designation. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Establish themselves or further grow their role as a project management expert and an asset to their organization; and * Leverage the value of their personal brand for maximum personal and organizational benefit while avoiding potential risks and pitfalls. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Tyler Norman PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PMP, PgMP Senior Program Manager, Business Operations Scholastic Inc. North America Tyler Norman, MBA, is a passionate, energetic and results-driven project leader with 10 years of experience spanning industrial and commercial construction, manufacturing, energy and publishing. He is a senior program manager, business operations with Scholastic Inc., with varied certification experience across project management, human resources; and environment, health and safety. He is passionate about standing up project management offices—with direct experience across multiple organizations, mentoring project staff in their career development and leading cultures for high performance and inclusivity. Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM PDT SESSION 276: THE ACT MINDSET: GROWING YOUR GENERATIVE PM SKILLS THROUGH AUTHENTICITY, CURIOSITY AND TRUST 90-minute session Topics: Communication, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Talent Management, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 152 Do you want to understand “the differences that make the difference” for the modern, self-styled project manager, enabling you to rise above the complex world of emerging technologies, stakeholder expectations, and leadership demands? If yes, it’s time for you to ACT now! Increase your awareness of how the Authenticity, Curiosity, and Trust (ACT) mindset is crucial to helping you recognize, realize, and readily adapt your leadership style to become a more contemporary, transformational, and effective project manager. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Gain an enhanced understanding of the authenticity 'Sweet Spot’ and its impact on effective leadership and trust; and * Talk less to know more, be curious. Listen for a change and learn how to become more present for others. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speakers Nigel Smith PMP Senior Project Manager Sitetracker Europe Nigel is an agile project management and coach at one of Silicon Valley’s fastest growing private tech companies, Sitetracker; immediate past director of professional development at the PMI United Kingdom Chapter; and a long-standing member of Toastmasters International, where he's currently president of the chartered PMI United Kingdom Changemakers Club. He’s also an aspiring writer, speaker, avid reader, visual storyteller, world traveler, music lover and car fan, though not necessarily in that order! He’s passionate about bringing out the very best in himself and others. As such, he always seeks out great opportunities to learn, have fun and share his world, particularly with those who get him thinking and drive his curiosity! And pretty much, that is what brings him here today! Kevin Lavering PMP Senior Project Manager Snohomish County PUD North America Kevin Lavering has more than 25 years’ experience as a program and project manager and is a company trainer of project management and leadership courses. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU) and a master’s degree in business administration from Seattle University. Kevin holds the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, has been married for 35 years and is the parent of five kids, who provide him with many training opportunities in project management and organizational behavior. Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM PDT SESSION 277: THE LANGUAGE OF INFLUENCE: TRANSFORM YOUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS 90-minute session Topics: Communication, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategy Learning Level: Core Location: 303 Explore the transformative power of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in project management. This session unveils how strategic language use can enhance leadership, forge stronger connections and navigate complex challenges. Learn a key NLP communications principle and a practical technique to immediately elevate your influence. This interactive experience will shift your management from mere oversight to visionary leadership, ensuring projects are led with unparalleled effectiveness and inspiration. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Use the NLP model of communications to significantly improve leadership presence and foster authentic team engagement and collaboration; and * Apply a specific, effective NLP technique to immediately enhance communications and project management effectiveness within any team. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker Sepo Mwangelwa Clinical Research Physician Center for Family Health Research in Zambia Sub-Saharan Africa Dr. Sepo Mwangelwa is a University of Zambia School of Medicine and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine graduate, involved in HIV vaccine trials and COVID-19 research, underscoring his dedication to the impact of global health. Beyond his clinical expertise, Sepo is a leadership mindset coach, merging his medical insights with Neuro-Pinguistic programming (NLP) to elevate project management. As a board-certified NLP practitioner, he transforms leadership communications, advocating that the mastery of self is the pinnacle of effective project management. His belief in the power of language to reshape thought and action has made him a sought-after speaker and author. Sepo's mission is to forge a new breed of leaders—those adept at navigating complexities with enhanced communication skills, turning challenges into opportunities. His aim is to shape health policy worldwide and contribute to pivotal healthcare discussions. For the project management community, Sepo presents a unique blend of scientific rigor and transformative leadership coaching. His goal is to inspire project managers to become unparalleled leaders who navigate the evolving landscapes of their fields with agility and insight. Sepo hopes these leaders will excel in their personal and professional realms through exceptional communications and strategic thinking. Interactive Workshop| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM PDT SESSION 278: USING SCAFFOLDS TO SCALE YOUR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TEAMS 90-minute session Topics: Agile, Change Management, Organizational Project Management, PMO Learning Level: Core Location: 151 Scaffolds help guarantee a successful transformation. Growing product development beyond a few teams or a simple product is hard. Scaling scaffolds, like a splint or a cast when recovering from a broken arm, create temporary support to enable organizational change. While scaling patterns are well known, every context provides a different challenge, such as distributed team members or complex dependency management. Scaffolds offer a temporary organizational support targeted to where your organization needs it most. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Describe what is meant by a scaling scaffold and how they help support sustainable change in organizations; and * Practice using scaffolds to increase the chance of a successful and sustainable organizational change. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker Dave Sharrock Founder IncrementOne North America Dave Sharrock is the visionary behind IncrementOne, where we train, facilitate and elevate organizations to respond to customer needs quickly in fast-moving, uncertain environments. With more than 20 years’ experience in organizational change, Dave specializes in applying a customer-centric philosophy to iterative and incremental organizational change, elevating business impact while focusing on the human interactions that make change sustainable. Dave has been working closely with the Scrum Alliance since 2010, most recently working with a select group of guides helping to define the Certified Agile Skills – Scaling course. Dave’s passion is helping others unlock the potential of the people they have around them. With a master’s degree in business administration and a doctorate degree, Dave believes in lifelong learning and his trainings and keynotes provide a unique blend of knowledge and experience. Dave is cohost of the “Definitely Maybe” agile podcast, and a frequent conference and keynote speaker. Panel Discussion| Thursday, 19 September, 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM PDT SESSION 279: TRANSFORMING OUR FUTURE THROUGH PROJECT SUCCESS: AI AND ARCHITECTURE 90-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 411 Dive deeper into the positive potential of AI with startup IV.AI and learn about how they are using AI to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. Hear from experts in construction and design at Oracle and Gensler about the work they are doing to advance sustainable housing and construction. In part one, Join Vince Lynch, CEO of from pioneering AI start up IV.AI, to talk about how they use project management to help tackle issues as diverse as vaccine hesitancy to voter fraud through the power of AI. In part two, you’ll hear from Roger Sherman, Design Director at Gensler and Mark Webster, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Oracle Construction and Engineering for a discussion on the important role project management plays in pioneering sustainable construction. These leaders are at the forefront of designing bold new models for housing and construction that aim to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and help solve affordable housing crises facing many cities today. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speakers Roger Sherman Design Director Gensler North America Roger Sherman, FAIA leads the Stone Soup Group at Gensler LA, which incubates design strategies and solutions that address problems of contemporary urbanization.The Group’s urban design work ranges from an Infrastructure and Development Plan for Northeastern Haiti; to two Riverfront Public Parks in Wuhan, China; an “agrihood” town center for Placer County, CA; to a pilot Resilience Hub in Compton. Its “Urban Awning” supportive housing prototype won a coveted PA Award from Architecture Magazine and a Design Award from Fast Company in 2021, and its pilot for affordable housing on a parking rooftop a prestigious Wells Fargo Foundation grant this year. Prior to joining Gensler, Roger was Director of Roger Sherman Architecture and Urban Design. His groundbreaking work has been featured at TEDx and MoMA, in Newsweek and Forbes and on CNN, and at the Venice, Rotterdam and Chicago Architecture Biennales. Sherman, with Dana Cuff, co-founded cityLAB, an urban think tank at UCLA, where he is an Adjunct Professor. Sherman is author of 3 books, including “LA Under the Influence: The Hidden Logic of Urban Property”, and with Cuff, “Fast Forward Urbanism”. He has taught and lectured widely including at Harvard, Princeton and UC Berkeley. Vince Lynch CEO IV.AI North America Vince Lynch is the CEO of IV.AI, The AI platform for decision-making. IV.AI is trusted by the smartest executives globally at Netflix, Uber, Samsung, Disney, Walmart, Capital One, Estée Lauder, Telefonica, and Toyota. The business also partners with AI companies including NVIDIA, and AWS. Lynch has worked in the AI space for 10+ years, was the host of the AI Review, and has been featured in Wired, The Washington Post, NBC, CNN, and Forbes discussing the value of NLP, managing bias, and deploying ethical AI. He previously worked with Spotify, Rogers, The Times of India, and Virgin. Annual Meeting | Thursday, 19 September, 05:00 PM - 05:45 PM PDT ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Location: 150 The PMI 2024 Annual Membership Meeting will feature the approval of the 2023 Annual Membership Meeting Minutes, acknowledgments for the Board of Directors, and a heartfelt thanks to directors completing their terms. Board Chair LuAnn Piccard will thank PMI volunteers for their contributions and share an inspiring video showcasing the PMI community. PMI President and CEO Pierre Le Manh will provide an update on PMI:NEXT, PMI operations, and recent accomplishments. Engage in an interactive Q&A session with Pierre and LuAnn, facilitated by Chief Community Officer Brantlee Underhill. Don’t miss this opportunity to gather and grow—attend in person or virtually! The agenda for this meeting can be found HERE. This session will be live streamed from Los Angeles, CA, via the PMI channel on YouTube. Those who want to attend in-person must be registered to attend PMI Global Summit. Please note space is limited on a first-come, first-basis. If you miss this session, you will be able to access the recording posted HERE on 15 October 2024. Reception| Thursday, 19 September, 05:30 PM - 08:00 PM PDT RECEPTION AND AWARDS CELEBRATION Don’t miss the official reception of Global Summit 2024 honoring the people, projects, and teams moving the world forward. Get excited for an unforgettable evening of networking and entertainment! Friday, 20 September, 07:30 AM - 05:30 PM PDT REGISTRATION OPEN & BADGE PICK UP Location: South Lobby Friday, 20 September, 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM PDT CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST Location: South Hall HJ Friday, 20 September, 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM PDT EXHIBIT HALL OPEN Location: South Hall HJ Start your day at the Exhibit Hall! Enjoy coffee and breakfast while exploring the latest solutions and services. Network with peers and continue your education. Product Theater| Friday, 20 September, 08:15 AM - 08:45 AM PDT SESSION 301-EXH: UNLOCK THE POWER OF ONEPLAN: AI-DRIVEN INSIGHTS AND SEAMLESS INTEGRATIONS FOR SUCCESS 30-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Business Analysis, Hybrid, Leadership, Resource Management, Risk Management, Strategy, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage One Discover OnePlan's transformative Strategic Portfolio and Work Management platform. Learn how seamless integration with Planner, Project for the web, Microsoft Project, Azure DevOps, Jira, Smartsheet, monday.com, and more provides a single source of truth. Explore AI-driven insights, alignment with corporate strategy, and standardized reporting. Understand resource management across multiple tools and methodologies. Attend and receive a free OnePlan license! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Learn how OnePlan’s integrations create a single source of truth and strategic alignment without disrupting existing team workflows; and * Explore AI-driven insights and resource management across multiple tools for improved business outcomes. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speaker Jim Patterson Vice President OnePlan Solutions North America Jim has over 28 years of experience in the design, implementation, and training of project and portfolio management systems and processes. He is currently Vice President, Sales for OnePlan Solutions, a leading provider of Project, Portfolio, and Work Management solutions built for Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft Cloud. Since 1995, his efforts have been focused on Microsoft technology, with a current emphasis on cloud technologies and solutions. His background encompasses a wide variety of vertical industries, methodologies, and approaches. Jim currently works to provide insights and solutions for organizations looking to solve the challenges of distributed teams, fragmented/disconnected tools, and multiple methodologies like Waterfall and Agile. The trends for digital transformation, Agile transformation, business agility, and the evolution to modern workplace solutions are his current areas of focus. Product Theater| Friday, 20 September, 08:15 AM - 08:45 AM PDT SESSION 302-EXH: AI IN PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: 5 ACTIONABLE TIPS TO STAY AHEAD 30-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Core Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage Two As data and AI promise to revolutionize Project Management, discerning the next truly groundbreaking innovation—and understanding its day-to-day impact—has become increasingly challenging. In this session, we will explore real-world experiments and the current state of technology to outline five effective steps for building a robust foundation tailored to your needs. Join Loic Martinot, VP of Client Solutions at Planisware, for an insightful discussion on distinguishing between artificial hype and intelligent solutions. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Gain actionable insights and strategies to future-proof your project management practices; and * Ensure your team stays ahead of the curve in the AI rapidly evolving landscape. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speaker Loic Martinot Vice President of Client Solutions Planisware North America Passionate about innovation and sustainability, he helps organizations deliver value to new markets. With a background in industrial program management and digital product ownership (B2B & B2C), he brings extensive experience to his role as VP of Client Solutions. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 310: DEFINITION OF DONE AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: PERFECT DUO TOWARD HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTS 60-minute session Topics: Agile, SCRUM Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 303 “Don’t worry about having a Definition of Done (DoD) so long we have clear acceptance criteria!” “We can get on without defining acceptance criteria since we are adopting a strong DoD!” Two opposite statements with one outcome: poor products and unsatisfied customers! This session will uncover the typical errors of writing bad definitions of done and acceptance criteria and how to overcome them using a product outside of software development. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Synthesize how DoD and acceptance criteria work in tandem to build a quality and delightful product; and * Apply DoD and acceptance criteria to a product outside of the technology or software development domain. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PMI-PBA): 1.00 Speaker Khaled Sherif PMI-ACP, PMP Principal Consultant Triangile North America Khaled Sherif is an agile project management consultant with 20 years of experience developing complex products across different industries and technologies. He currently works for the government of Alberta, Canada, leading two Scrum teams developing products in the public sector domain. Previously, Khaled worked with 500 Fortune companies such as Hoffman-LaRoche and HP. Khaled holds a master’s degree in software development and design from University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. He holds the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP )® and Project Management Professional (PMP)® certifications and has been a long-time member and volunteer with PMI. Khaled has been a frequent speaker at PMI® Global Congresses as well as at business and technology programs in colleges and universities in Ontario, Canada, in the area of agile product development. Khaled is a strong advocate of agile practices and has a servant leadership mindset. He is a Certified Scrum Professional (CSP-SM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (SAFe-POPM). Khaled lives in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada with his wife and three children where he provides agile coaching, consulting and training services across the province of Ontario, Canada. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 312: INNOVATE TO ELEVATE: PIONEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT GROWTH 60-minute session Topics: Innovation, Leadership, Organizational Culture Learning Level: Core Location: 150 Dive into how innovation can revolutionize project management, unpack strategies for fostering innovation and offer insights on achieving project excellence. We will share our experience on how emerging technologies can accelerate the adoption of next-generation technologies into mainstream learning methods and approaches. By sharing insights from our success with healthcare technologies, we will demonstrate how these strategies are universally applicable and may be extended to adjacent verticals and industries, enabling the elevation of project management. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Obtain interactive practices that incorporate innovative and emerging technologies into project management processes; and * Adapt an innovative mindset, emphasizing the necessity for adaptability and creative problem-solving in modern project management approaches. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Christine Aykac PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMP VP, Portfolio Strategy and Development Acuna Consulting Inc. North America Christine Aykac is a dynamic, engaging problem solver and change agent. With more than 25 years of experience managing programs and providing assistance in utilizing technologies and knowledge assets, she is able to use the best suitable solution to ensure her team’s success. Christine has been involved with organizations such as Project Management Institute (PMI), PeopleCert (AXELOS), Agile Business Consortium and others. She leads a global program focused on developing sustainable learning solutions for organizations. Christine has strong interpersonal skills with an ability to create trust quickly with people from diverse backgrounds. Her objective is to spark positive change in the business world through thought-provoking dialogue and interaction utilizing training materials, books, blogs, speaking and consulting engagements. She can adapt easily across cultures while building long-lasting relationships that are based on mutual respect. Her energy level is high, yet she also knows how to have fun! Ken Russell Chief Information and Innovation Officer New College Institute North America Dr. Ken Russell is an award-winning technologist, trusted digital transformation leader and innovation amplifier. He is an author, speaker and board member known for helping organizations define and pursue their transformation journeys by guiding experience, connections, conversations and collaborations. Key to his success as an active practitioner and coach and mentor is helping senior executives embrace the value of values and prepare for next-generation processes and workplace challenges. A technology pioneer, Ken developed early intranet systems for large banks, which led to his participation in developing one of the first successful internet-based training platforms. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 314: THE AI ADVANTAGE: ENHANCING PROJECT MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408B This session delves into the evolving role of AI in project management, offering a fresh perspective on how AI technologies are applied to enhance project outcomes. Through examination of case studies and research, and incorporating interactive discussions, attendees will explore the benefits, challenges and potential future directions of AI in this field. This session aims to equip project professionals with actionable knowledge and insights into integrating AI tools and methodologies within their project management practices. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the impact of AI on project management through analysis of real case studies, research findings and interactive group discussions; and * Gain practical strategies for implementing AI technologies in project management, including hands-on examples and collaborative learning exercises. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Charles Hale DASM, DASSM, PMP President Hale Consulting Solutions LLC North America Charles Hale is a dedicated healthcare IT leadership and project management expert with more than 20 years of experience, as well as a respected author, public speaker and AI evangelist. His expertise spans across HIPAA compliance, cybersecurity, project management and the burgeoning field of AI, particularly its application in project management and business automation. He holds multiple prestigious certifications, including Disciplined Agile® Senior Scrum Master (DASSM), Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Security+ and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). With a master's degree in biochemistry from the University of Southern California, he has cemented a stellar reputation in his field. This recognition is highlighted by Charles receiving the Outstanding Leadership in Healthcare award and his company, Hale Consulting Solutions LLC, receiving the accolade for Outstanding Contributions in Healthcare by Health 2.0 in 2022. His role as an AI evangelist involves advocating for the transformative power of AI in project management, highlighting its potential to revolutionize the practice across multiple industries. Outside the professional sphere, he is an enthusiastic traveler, ballroom dancer, hiker and live-music lover, continually seeking new experiences and perspectives. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 315: MASTERING THE PMO LANDSCAPE 60-minute session Topics: Organizational Project Management, PMO, Strategy Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 409 Embark on a transformative journey as we delve into the core of Project Management Office (PMO) excellence. Discover insights behind Ontario Power Generation’s PMO recognition as world class and its alignment with the PMO Global Alliance Value Ring. Uncover actionable insights on building a value-driven PMO, sustaining excellence and adapting to future trends. Join me for an engaging session blending theory with real-world case studies, promising to inspire and elevate your understanding of PMO success. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Distinguish and apply key strategies for sustaining world-class standards in PMO operations; and * Demonstrate the ability to adapt and deploy continuous improvement methodologies in a PMO. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Joe Campa PMI-PBA, PMI-RMP, PMP, PMI-CP Manager, Projects Center of Excellence Ontario Power Generation North America Joe Campa is an accomplished Project Management Office (PMO) leader and project professional with more than twenty years of expertise in project management and project controls practices including program and portfolio management. He has supported two of Canada’s largest clean-energy infrastructure projects and has played a pivotal role in the establishment of a world-class PMO. This specific PMO received recognition as a finalist for the PMI PMO of the Year Award in 2022 and earned the America’s PMO of the Year award by PMO Global Alliance in 2023. Joe’s passion for the project environment is demonstrated by his active involvement in shaping the project management profession at the local level, having served 9 years on his local PMI chapter board of directors. He has also contributed on the national and international stage, advancing the profession through training program deliveries and developing PMI content such as Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and Projects: A Practice Guide. He holds five PMI certifications, reflecting his dedication to advancing his skills and expertise in the field. Through his participation in the PMI Leadership Institute Master Class (LIMC), Joe has honed his leadership abilities, further enhancing his capacity to drive success in complex project environments. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 316: NAVIGATING CHANGE: A COMPANY’S TRANSFORMATION 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Change Management, Hybrid, Leadership Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 153 Many global companies have grown in size by acquisition over decades and may risk getting stalled by maintaining the same business processes and systems at formation. This session will demonstrate how a specific company, SLB, changed in order to protect performance and market relevance. The session will show the emotional aspects of project management and how frameworks are vital to organizational change. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Initiate transformations with a basic awareness of the human side of project management; and * Apply a change framework in an organizational transformation. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Adun Ige PMI-ACP, PMP Digital Business Transformation Manager SLB North America With more than 25 years at SLB, Adun Ige’s career began as a field engineer in the Reservoir Performance Division, progressing through roles such as product champion and oilfield services field engineer recruiter. She demonstrated her leadership capabilities in line management positions, including field service manager and general manager in operations, and extended her expertise across divisions like Well Production and Completions Services. In the past decade, Adun has been instrumental in enterprise system design, focusing on enterprise resource planning (ERP) deployments across all value streams. Her programs typically require a mix of business acumen and change leadership. Adun’s global career includes work in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysia and Nigeria, enriching her perspective with diverse experiences. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a degree in electrical engineering, and her professional certifications include SEPC Project Management Principal, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)® and a Eureka Community Leader. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 317: NAVIGATING SUSTAINABILITY IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH GRI AND SASB MATERIALITY MAPS 60-minute session Topics: Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), Ethics, Leadership, Sustainability Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 151 “Sustainability in project management is ideal, but I am only a project manager. I don't make enterprise-wide decisions and I already work to deliver stakeholder value. Why or how should I care or take on any more responsibilities?” Well, I invite you to this participatory session where we will not only collectively tease out clearer logic for sustainability in project management but more importantly, discuss the resources available to project managers who want to lead projects sustainably. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * State the logic for sustainability in project management through the lens of sustainability materiality, and * Perform sustainability materiality assessment on projects with Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) materiality maps. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Taiwo Abraham PMP Project Manager Horizant Canada North America Taiwo Abraham is a North America-based IT program manager, college professor, conference speaker and researcher. He has more than 15 years of experience in project management, business administration and organizational change management. He holds several certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP)®, CFA-ESG, GRI-CSP and several others. He is also a member of the development team for A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Seventh Edition and a three-time PMI awardee including his recognition as PMI Future50 honoree. He passionately shares his expertise in leveraging project management toward delivering complex projects and programs in various domains, such as IT, workplace tech, startups and sustainability. He also shares his insights on the latest trends and best practices in project management, such as agile, hybrid and adaptive approaches. He is an inspirational speaker who is passionate about teaching, impact volunteering and researching. Taiwo is a recognized leader and influencer in the project management profession. He has contributed to the development of global standards for project management and has demonstrated his commitment to social responsibility and environmental stewardship through his work and volunteerism. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 318: POWER UP YOUR PMO … WITH DUCKS! 60-minute session Topics: Decision Making, Leadership, PMO, Portfolio Management, Strategy Learning Level: Advanced Location: 403A Learn how ducks can unlock the potential of your project management office (PMO)! PMOS are often called into question by executives due to their perceived lack of strategic impact. We’ll use data (and ducks) to figure out how to transform the strategic impact of your PMO with the aim of doubling the return on investment from your portfolio … talk about a golden egg! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the root cause of executives’ dissatisfaction with PMOs and learn how to build a "case for change” for their PMO; and * Comprehend the potential to double the return on investment from the project portfolio. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PfMP): 1.00 Speaker Stuart Easton PMI-ACP CEO TransparentChoice Europe Stuart Easton is the CEO and cofounder of TransparentChoice, and is also a speaker and blogger on all things project prioritization and portfolio governance. He is a guest lecturer at Oxford University and USC. He helps project management offices (PMOs) deliver strategic value and improve project success rates through his master classes. Project prioritization is the foundation for portfolio management. Good prioritization allows you to focus on delivering strategic impact, fix the “too many projects” problem and more effectively plan your resources. TransparentChoice software helps PMO leaders and executives at top-tier organizations like the U.S. House of Representatives, Suzano and McCormick to make high-impact decisions faster using decision science techniques, a trend that can only accelerate as we harness the power of AI to help improve strategy execution and project portfolio governance. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 319: THE FUTURE OF PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: HYBRID, LEAN AND VALUE DRIVEN 60-minute session Topics: Benefits Realization, Complexity, Governance, Organizational Project Management, Portfolio Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 406 Responding to the unprecedented pace of change in an increasingly volatile and complex world, organizations are struggling to allocate resources wisely and adapt quickly. Many organizations use agile or hybrid methods, but still follow a traditional, yearly budget planning cycle and cost center key performance indicators (KPIs) for their project portfolios. Learn how value-based prioritization and dynamic planning per lean portfolio management can bridge the gap between strategy and execution. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Establish an effective governance for portfolio management to address the dynamics and changes throughout the execution; and * Create the ambition and a solution roadmap to ensure lean portfolio management is applied under the right conditions. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PfMP): 1.00 Speakers Marc Lahmann Partner PwC Europe Marc Lahmann has more than 20 years’ experience in advising multinational firms on technology and business transformation challenges and troubled projects in Europe, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. His focus is on the financial services industry. Marc drives large-scale transformation initiatives and has advocated for the success factors for large-scale transformation programs and the use of agility and artificial intelligence (AI) in project management for a couple of years. He has a master's degree in banking and finance, business administration and information management. He also worked as a senior project manager and as a black belt in the financial services industry. Adrian Stierli PMP Senior Manager PwC Europe Adrian Stierli has more than 10 years of experience working in the financial services industry. He advises and reviews IT and business transformations for financial service companies in Europe and Asia. His main focus of work is project management reviews, large transformations and core banking implementations in national as well as international environments. He holds a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification and a master’s degree in business information systems. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 320: THREE TRENDS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PROJECT TEAMS 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 306 Learn how the rise of AI, hybrid workspaces and agile evolution are converging to revolutionize project teams. Currently, GenAI is helping people be more productive. Tomorrow, aspects of teamwork will be replaced entirely. Also, remote and hybrid teams are now the norm, and AI-powered platforms change how we collaborate. Finally, the lines are blurring between agile approaches, design thinking, lean start-up and scaling frameworks. Explore how these factors will shape tomorrow’s project teams. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Evaluate the effects of AI, hybrid workspaces and agile evolution on project teams, focusing on practical collaboration and productivity enhancements; and * Create action plans to try out new team working tools and methodologies, encouraging adaptability and ongoing learning in dynamic project settings. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Mike Griffiths PMI-ACP, PMP Agile Thought Leader PMI and Leading Answers Inc. North America Mike Griffiths is a project management author, trainer and consultant for PMI. Mike helped create DSDM in 1994 and served on the board of the Agile Alliance. He cofounded the PMI Agile Community of Practice and was part of the steering committee that created the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® credential. Mike was chair for the PMI Agile Practice Guide and has contributed to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) since the Third edition. He was cochair for the PMBOK® Guide—Seventh Edition. Mike, a true project management enthusiast, also manages the websites “Leading Answers” and “PM Illustrated.” Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 322: THE FUTURE OF PMOS: LEADING THE WAY WITH CUSTOMER-CENTRICITY 60-minute session Topics: Estimating Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408A Get ready for a game-changing session that will redefine the future of Project Management Offices (PMOs) through the power of customer-centricity. At PMO Global Alliance, we've done our homework, diving deep into years of research with the world's top PMOs, and now we're ready to share the groundbreaking insights that will reshape the PMO landscape. This session is your ticket to discover how embracing a customer-centric mindset can supercharge your PMO's value delivery, paving the way for long-term success. Don't be left behind – join us and be part of the customer-centric revolution that will shape PMOs for years to come! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify the most common challenges faced by the world's leading PMOs and how to overcome them; * Discover the most relevant trends among successful PMOs and learn how to capitalize on these trends to drive value creation within your organization; and * Gain an essential understanding of the revolutionary new PMO Customer-Centric Framework, soon to be launched by PMI, and learn how to implement its principles to transform your PMO into a customer-focused powerhouse. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Americo Pinto PMP Managing Director PMO Global Alliance LATAM Americo Pinto is one of the preeminent thought leaders in the Project Management Office (PMO) domain, currently serving as the Managing Director of the PMO Global Alliance (PMOGA) at the Project Management Institute (PMI). With a rich professional history spanning over 25 years, Americo has established himself as a global authority in PMOs and project management. His career has seen him excel in various influential roles, including executive, international consultant, speaker, project manager, professor, researcher, and author. He founded the PMO Global Alliance in 2017, which became the world's largest global community of PMOs, being acquired by PMI in 2023. Americo's contributions to the field have been recognized with the PMI Distinguished Contribution Award, celebrating his global influence on project management practices. Currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Bordeaux, France, Americo also holds a master's degree in business administration and several credentials, including PMP, PMO-CP, and PMO-CC. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM PDT SESSION 325: ETHICS, EMPATHY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 90-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Ethics Learning Level: Core Location: 403B We are hurtling toward the time when we are unable to distinguish humans from machines and we are entwined in a perplexing conundrum. How can we harness the power of AI for the benefit of humanity while preventing it from being used as a destructive force? We must bring compassion to the workplace! Applying empathy and ethics to project management is compulsory to support our goals and achieve outcomes that optimize human experience! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the role of AI as a project management tool and the relationship among ethics, empathy and AI; and * Appreciate the critical importance of compassion and happiness in the workplace. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.50 Speakers David Newman DASM, PMI-ACP, DASSM, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP Principal Leadership Techniques, LLC North America David Newman is an instructor for PMI Training®, a series of professional seminars held monthly, both in person and virtually. Dave co-authored The Engagement Matrix: Actionable Options for Supervisors and Project Managers. This book combines basic human resources principles with a process that one can easily and quickly use to assess current behavior and performance to compare with the desired results. The strategy of managing, rather than reacting to, the gap between desired performance and actual results can lead your team to continual improvement and success! Dave has a diverse background in engineering and product development and is a certified trainer for leadership seminars. He loves to share his experience and extensive background with others. Project teams have excelled under his leadership as he emphasizes that the key to building a high-performance team is integrating management skills with a collaborative philosophy to motivate teams. Lisa Hammer DASM, DASSM, PMP Principal Leadership Techniques, LLC North America Lisa Hammer is a cofounder and principal of Leadership Techniques, LLC and is a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP). She has the honor of being part of an elite group of instructors selected to deliver multiple courses for PMI Training, a series of professional seminars. Lisa, along with her business partner, recently published The Engagement Matrix: Actionable Options for Supervisors and Project Managers. This text combines basic human resources principles with a process that one can easily and quickly use to assess current behavior and performance to compare with the desired results and manage. The strategy of managing, rather than reacting to, the gap between desired performance and actual results, can lead your team to continual improvement and success! Lisa has significant experience specializing in project management and staff development. She has managed the implementation of several multimillion-dollar programs, achieving client goals while maintaining budget and cost controls. Her executive career has been highlighted by a broad range of qualifications, including proven leadership and analytical skills and collaboration with outside groups, along with a reputation for accountability, flexibility and resourcefulness. Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM PDT SESSION 326: HYBRID PROGRAM MANAGEMENT IN AEROSPACE 45-minute session Topics: Complexity, Governance, Hybrid, Project Integration, Strategy Learning Level: Advanced Location: 404 The aerospace industry is known as a predictive one. But yet—due to the size of the projects, complexity of the products and strict industry quality standards—we may need adaptive ways of working to provide solutions faster and more reliably. In this context, delivering a complex product and establishing a cost-efficient process will require a highly challenging program management approach. In this session we will discuss how a program can be defined and run in the aerospace industry. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Discuss the practical ways to manage hybrid programs; and * Analyze how projects can be defined for complex parts. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMP/PgMP/PMI-CP): 0.75 Speaker B. Fırat Dengiz PMP, PgMP, PfMP Program Manager TUSAŞ Aerospace Europe B. Fırat Dengiz, was born in Ankara, Turkey in 1968. He graduated from Middle East Technical University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1991 and, after his military service, worked as a sales engineer at KSB Pump and Armature Industry between 1993–1994. During this period, he helped sell various fluid pumps and pipeline designs. In June 1994, he worked first as a technical purchasing engineer and then as a specialist technical purchasing engineer at TUSAŞ–Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc., where he still works. During these duties, he purchased fasteners, metallic and chemical raw materials, multimillion-dollar avionics equipment and machinery. In 2001, he continued his career in project and program management and started working as program manager in the A400M military transport aircraft program at TAI. He took an active role in the creation of program and project methodologies, plans, systems and procedures. He became a PMI member in 2006, received the Project Management Professional (PMP)® on June 23, 2006, and the first Program Management Professional (PgMP)® in Turkey on July 17, 2010. Then, he was entitled to receive the Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® on January 17, 2019; thus, becoming the first professional in Turkey to have all three certificates. Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM PDT SESSION 327: ROCK LOBSTER LEADERSHIP: LESSONS FROM THE MUSIC AND CAREER OF THE B-52S 45-minute session Topics: Change Management, Decision Making, Leadership, Talent Management, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: 152 In this engaging workshop, we’ll decode The B-52s’ secret to enduring success and apply it to leadership, fostering team authenticity and innovation. Through interactive activities, you’ll learn to harness your unique style and collaborate effectively, ensuring your leadership resonates with the adaptability, resilience and passion reminiscent of the band’s journey. Leave with practical tools to amplify team engagement and drive project success with The B-52s’ beat as your guide. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Demonstrate how to apply The B-52s’ principles of authenticity and resilience to foster a collaborative and innovative project management environment; and * Design leadership strategies that integrate the band’s adaptability and passion to enhance team engagement and project success. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Erik Rueter PMI-ACP, PMP Senior Project Manager American Marketing Association North America Erik K. Rueter has more than 20 years of experience in diverse industries, including tech startups, academia, healthcare and entertainment. Erik holds a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Wesleyan University, with further education in digital design, Irish studies and a micro master’s in design thinking and project management from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is also certified in diversity and inclusion by Cornell. Erik’s contributions to the field include co-authoring papers on health inequity, lecturing at Boston and Emerson Colleges and advocating for diversity and inclusion with organizations like Medtronic, VSP and the San Antonio Spurs. He has spoken, in person and virtually, at the PMI Greece Chapter, PMI Michiana Chapter and PMI Western Michigan Chapter, among others. He has appeared on podcasts such as “Confessions of a Higher Education CMO” and “I Wanna Work There!” and contributed to “The Evolution of the PMO,” a key resource for project managers. He founded Human-Centered Success LLC to promote inclusive leadership. Erik lives outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, with his husband and two dachshunds, and enjoys marathons, gaming and sharing his insights. Networking Break| Friday, 20 September, 09:45 AM - 10:30 AM PDT MORNING REFRESHMENT BREAK Location: South Hall HJ Grab a snack in the Exhibit Hall and visit our sponsors and exhibitors. Spend time learning something new or network with peers, friends, and colleagues. There's so much to do! Friday, 20 September, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM PDT SESSION 335: TRANSFORMING THE WORLD: HARNESSING AI FOR POSITIVE CHANGE Topics: Change Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall K Learn how Marita Cheng went from small town girl living in government housing to conquering the globe as one of Forbes Top 50 Women in Tech in the World, and the second youngest person to become a Member of the Order of Australia. Noticing the limited number of girls in her engineering class, at the age of 19, Marita founded Robogals to inspire girls into robotics, growing the organization into an international movement. She followed that up with artificial intelligence company Aipoly to help the blind identify objects in real time, which resonated with millions of people. And robotics company Aubot, making robots to help people in their everyday lives. Hold on tight as Marita shares how she changed the world. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Karla Eidem PMP Regional Managing Director, North America PMI North America Karla Eidem, with a strategic mindset, leadership prowess, and dedication to the community, Karla leads the regional strategy design and execution, expanding PMI's impact on organizations, individuals, and communities to maximize project success and create a better world. Prior to her role as Regional Managing Director, Karla served as PMI’s North America Regional Operations Manager. In this role, she was integral in developing and executing strategic initiatives to grow PMI’s reach and deepen its impact on the practitioner and chapter community across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. She also participated in countless speaking engagements, media interactions, and mentoring opportunities, sharing insights that resonated with individuals and organizations across the region, fostering a deeper sense of community and furthering a culture of continuous improvement. Karla's professional experience spans multiple disciplines, regions, and industries, including project management leadership roles in financial services and healthcare with organizations like HSBC and Sanford Health. She has successfully led regional teams and enterprise-wide projects and has a proven ability to translate organizational strategies into action plans that improve operational efficiency. She is also passionate about giving back through volunteering and served as a chapter leader for the PMI Sioux Empire, South Dakota Chapter. Marita Cheng Founder aubot North America Marita Cheng AM is a remarkable technologist and social entrepreneur, recognized as the youngest Member of the Order of Australia. Forbes has honored her as one of the World's Top 50 Women In Tech and as part of the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2016. Marita is the founder and CEO of aubot, renowned for its telepresence robot, Teleport, benefiting children with cancer, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly by facilitating school attendance, work participation, and social interaction. Under Marita's leadership, aubot introduced a suite of modular, transportable, and affordable robots in 2018, alongside conducting research into robot arms. Additionally, she co-founded Aipoly during Singularity University's Graduate Studies Program in 2015. Aipoly's pioneering app uses convolutional neural networks to identify objects in real-time for visually impaired individuals. Aipoly has been downloaded over 500,000 times and is available in 23 languages. Marita's commitment to empowering women in STEM led her to be named the 2012 Young Australian of the Year for founding Robogals, an organization that has provided robotics workshops to over 120,000 girls globally. With a bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics and Computer Science from the University of Melbourne, Marita continues to inspire through her public speaking engagements available through BigSpeak. Friday, 20 September, 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM PDT LUNCH BREAK Location: South Hall HJ Take a well-deserved break! Lunchtime is the perfect opportunity to explore the Exhibit Hall! Product Theater| Friday, 20 September, 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM PDT SESSION 340-EXH: NEW MICROSOFT PROJECT/PLANNER FOR TURN-KEY PPM IN M365 15-minute session Topics: Organizational Project Management, Project Management Education, Resource Management, Scheduling, Strategy, Work Breakdown Structures Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage One Learn how the new Microsoft Project/Planner and Microsoft's focus on providing a platform for PPM enable organizations to get started with a turnkey Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) solution like Sensei IQ in a matter of weeks rather than months. Best practices, processes, training, and tools are aligned with PMI standards for easy adoption of Project Management, Program/Portfolio Management, Resource Management, and Strategy. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify Microsoft's new PPM approach and updated versions of Microsoft Project/Planner; and * Evaluate the benefits of a turn-key PPM Power Platform solution deployed in their M365 tenant To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speakers Nate Auchter Director of Products and Solutions Sensei Project Solutions North America Nate is passionate about using Microsoft’s Project and Portfolio Management and Collaboration tools to help clients realize the benefits that these tools have to offer. He is certified in the installation, configuration, and architecture of SharePoint and Microsoft PPM platforms. Nate helps organizations focus on business process automation, demand management, and authoring high-quality reports to clearly display the business insights that Microsoft Project can deliver to their organization. He is an expert at demonstrating how Microsoft’s suite of products and new features provide value to Sensei’s clients. Kenneth Steiness CEO Sensei Project Solutions North America Kenneth has worked in the project management and scheduling field for over 25 years and has managed customer engagements in over 13 countries worldwide and throughout the United States. His focus is on process and the discipline of PPM and scheduling whenever he engages with clients to deploy Microsoft Project and Portfolio Management or teaches classes on the subject. As the founder of Sensei Project Solutions, Kenneth provides strategic direction to the business and is deeply involved with client relationships. Product Theater| Friday, 20 September, 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM PDT SESSION 341-EXH: AGILE X AI: SPEED, VALUE & RESPONSIBILITY 15-minute session Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Innovation, PMO, Strategy Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage Two The synergy between Agile methodologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can drive unparalleled value in product and project innovation. This convergence enhances decision-making, streamlines processes, and accelerates delivery. However, it is crucial to address the ethical considerations and maintain a human-centered approach to ensure responsible AI technology deployment. Join us to discover how Agile x AI can revolutionize your approach to innovation while upholding the values of responsibility and humanity. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Shift left to AI-assisted product discovery, shift right to AI-assisted agile development, and shift up to an AI-enabled Agile VMO; and * Utilize strategies to maintain a human-centered approach when implementing AI technology To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speaker Sanjiv Augustine PMI-ACP Founder and CEO LitheSpeed LLC North America Sanjiv Augustine is the Founder and CEO of LitheSpeed, LLC, and the Agile Leadership Academy. Sanjiv is an entrepreneur, industry-leading Agile and Lean expert, author, speaker, management consultant, and trainer. With over 30 years in the industry, Sanjiv has served as a trusted advisor to executives and management at leading firms, including Capital One, The Capital Group, CNBC, Comcast, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, General Dynamics, HCA Healthcare, Huntington Bank, The Motley Fool, National Geographic, Nationwide Insurance, Royal Bank of Canada, Samsung, and Walmart. Sanjiv is the host of the Agile Caravanserai podcast and the author of the books From PMO to VMO: Managing for Value Delivery, Managing Agile Projects, Scaling Agile: A Lean JumpStart, as well as several publications including Transitioning to Agile Project Management, The Lean-Agile PMO: Using Lean Thinking to Accelerate Agile Project Delivery, and Transformational Leadership for Business Agility. Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM PDT SESSION 350: EQUIPPING YOUR TEAM FOR LIFE'S CHALLENGES USING AGILE PRINCIPLES 45-minute session Topics: Agile, Innovation, Leadership, SCRUM, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408A Imagine using project management principles to help someone overcome personal adversity. Discover how agile principles, applied beyond work, empowered a person with cerebral palsy to achieve his goals. Learn practical applications for building collaborative support systems and fostering resilience in any challenge. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the core principles and values of agile practices and their applicability beyond project management; and * Build a collaborative support system utilizing agile practices to help individuals overcome personal challenges. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Billy S. Mwape DASM, PMI-ACP, DASSM, DAC, DAVSC, PMP Chief Information Officer First National Bank Zambia Sub-Saharan Africa BiIly Mwape is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert with more than 18 years' experience in the mining and banking sectors, handling digital transformation programs, IT strategy and governance, information security management, ICT operations, telecom and solution development. Billy is a certified and approved project management consultant and educator with a proven track record in agile business strategy, project business management and leadership. He is a passionate agile and leadership coach, TED speaker, distinguished Toastmaster and global keynote speaker. He is currently president of the PMI Zambia Chapter, an advisory board member for The PMO Leader, and council member for Heriot Watt University alumni. Billy has presented at virtual and in-person conferences with more than 17 global speaking engagements, including the PM 4 Ukraine charity conference that raised more than US$16,000 for UNICEF in support of children and family victims in Ukraine. He was also a speaker at the PM 4 The World, supporting earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey, and the 2022 APPortunity conference. These are in addition to PMI Africa Conferences in Legos and Nairobi and the PMI Angola Conference. Billy is passionate about the application of project management values and principles in real-life scenarios. Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM PDT SESSION 351: LEAN PPM: A HANDS-ON FRAMEWORK FOR VALUE-CENTRIC PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT 45-minute session Topics: Decision Making, Portfolio Management, Resource Management, Strategy Learning Level: Core Location: 306 Only one in 10 companies successfully implements all its strategic initiatives. PMI think tank Brightline® suggests the reasons are very straightforward: Too many initiatives are pursued simultaneously and resources are inadequately managed. Three design principles aid Project Management Offices (PMOs) in establishing a decision-making process that is simple enough to work in practice. In this session, attendees will learn about Lean Project and Portfolio Management (PPM), a collaborative decision-making framework at the portfolio level, proven at hundreds of organizations around the world. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Focus their portfolio management activities on value creation; and * Create a lightweight portfolio-decision-making process tailored to their organization. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.75; Ways of Working (PfMP): 0.75 Speaker Christoph Hirnle Managing Director Meisterplan Europe Christoph Hirnle, PhD, is an internationally recognized expert in organizational effectiveness, PMOs and project portfolio management (PPM). He believes in the essential link between business effectiveness and employee well-being. His academic journey includes degrees in computer science, management and sociology as well as a doctorate in organizational economics, grounding his view that information systems are fundamentally social systems. With 25 years of hands-on experience, Christoph has led various initiatives, from strategy development to agile transformation. Presently, as managing director at Meisterplan, a German SaaS company, he pioneered Lean PPM™, a widely embraced decision-making framework for adaptive portfolio and resource management. Beyond his professional endeavors, Christoph volunteers as the chair of the Global Advisory Board of the PMO Global Alliance. Formerly a management consultant at Boston Consulting Group and managing director of FinTech company 3C, his diverse experiences contribute to a holistic understanding of organizational dynamics. Christoph's goal is to cut through the jargon, offering genuine insights that resonate with people. His impact extends globally, touching hundreds of organizations through Meisterplan and the Lean PPM™ framework. Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM PDT SESSION 352: PROJECT MANAGER TO TEAM-EXPERIENCE MANAGER: IMPROVE OUTCOMES BY MANAGING TEAM EXPERIENCE 45-minute session Topics: Innovation, Leadership, Talent Management, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: 153 For game-changing results, reframe your role from project manager to Team Experience Manager (TXM). All too often, project managers focus too much on the end point instead of the journey and team member feelings (the experience). Learn how to leverage the simple yet powerful TXM approach to unlock your team's full potential to deliver incredible value. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Apply the Team Experience (TX) approach to achieve incredible project outcomes and team satisfaction; and * Evaluate team health and overall TX effectiveness to maximize value creation. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Andrew Morton PMP Director of Program Management and PMO StarFish Medical North America Andrew Morton has nearly two decades of project management experience with a particular focus on innovative product development. This includes experience in a number of sectors including biotechnology, medical technology, clean technology, manufacturing and construction. His expertise includes program management, project management, product development, product management, manufacturing and systems engineering. At Starfish Medical, Andrew is currently the director of program management & PMO at StarFish Medical, where he has built and grown the project management group from four to more than 20 practitioners. Andrew holds Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Professional Engineer certifications in addition to a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from Queen’s University, Canada, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from KTH in Stockholm, Sweden. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM PDT SESSION 353: AI AND EI: THE MAGIC HORSES THAT MAKE YOU WIN THE RACE 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Complexity, Decision Making, Leadership Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 406 Our story starts with a myth: The ebony horse in “Arabian Nights” was a magic horse that could fly a year’s distance in a single day. Can AI and emotional intelligence (EI) act as magic horses, solving our problems instantly? Join us in an exciting debate about problem-solving, intelligence and tools. This session is interactive, practical and original. Bring your critical thinking with you. We will bring the HORSE to help you win the race. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Leverage AI and EI to solve problems in projects and understand their applications and limits. * Decode complexity and contextualize your responses to problems using a multifactorial decision-making model—the power of the horse. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Ramona Maduta PMP, PgMP, PfMP Corporate PM Academy Manager COMAU Europe Ramona Maduta is a Stanford-certified project manager with Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Program Management Professional (PgMP)®, Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® and MoP certifications in project, program and portfolio management. She has been a Change Management Registered Practitioner with APMG since 2015. Ramona has 23 years of experience in the project management field, including 11 years in an enterprise project management office at COMAU, a multinational corporation. She developed her experience in business transformation while participating in complex, cross-country initiatives to transform systems, processes and tools. A PMI member since 2009 and a volunteer for PMI since 2019 in the ECCIT (European Chapter Collaboration Implementation team), she gained a new perspective on moving international initiatives further. Ramona has been a speaker at several management conferences in the United States, Spain and Japan and is the author of “Organizational Surfing” a hybrid leadership methodology awarded the Best Paper prize at the International SIBR Conference in Osaka, Japan, in 2016. Yasmina Khelifi PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PMP Senior Project Manager ORANGE Europe Yasmina Khelifi is a French telecommunication engineer and project manager. She has worked in the telecom industry for 20 years with primary industry stakeholders. She is a passionate volunteer at PMI, a regular volunteer blogger on ProjectManagement.com and a volunteer international correspondent at PMWorld Journal. She also writes articles about leadership for Harvard Business Review Ascend and Forbes. She is the host and founder of the podcast “Global Leaders Talk with Yasmina Khelifi.” Yasmina is the author of How to Become a Culturally Aware Project Manager, speaks six languages and has a master’s degree in mobile telecommunications. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM PDT SESSION 354: FUTURE-PROOFING CONSTRUCTION: INTEGRATING BIM WITH AGILE FOR ENHANCED PROJECT MANAGEMENT 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Change Management, Estimating, Scheduling, Stakeholder Engagement Learning Level: Core Location: 150 Discover the transformative power of merging building information modeling (BIM) and agile practices in construction project management. This session dives into the synergy between BIM's detailed visualization and agile's flexibility, showcasing how they collectively improve collaboration, efficiency and adaptability in projects. Learn to leverage these methodologies for future-proof project outcomes, navigating technology, people and processes with real-world applications and forward-looking insights. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Integrate BIM and agile to enhance construction project management; and * Develop strategies for implementing a flexible, agile-informed BIM execution plan. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 1.00 Speaker Justin Brooks PMP Corporate Design Technology Manager Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc North America Justin Brooks brings a wealth of expertise as a civil engineer and project professional, driven by a commitment to foster organizational growth and enhance operational efficiencies. His career is distinguished by a dynamic progression through the civil engineering sector, from foundational design roles to strategic project management positions. Currently serving as the corporate design technology manager at Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., Justin leverages innovative technology solutions and advanced employee training programs to propel organizational success. His multifaceted career path also encompasses a tenure in academia, where he directed a construction management and technology program at the post-secondary level. This unique blend of industry and educational experience positions Justin as a leader capable of bridging practical engineering challenges with cutting-edge management strategies. His dedication to both professional practice and academic excellence underscores his approach to project management, emphasizing continuous improvement, technology integration and skill development. Product Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM PDT SESSION 355: PMOS OF TOMORROW: LEVERAGING AI AND STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT TO DRIVE VALUE Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Business Analysis, Change Management, Cost Management, Decision Making, Disciplined Agile Delivery, Hybrid, Leadership, PMO, Portfolio Management, Resource Management, Strategy, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: 304AB Navigating changing technology and processes presents PMO leaders with unique challenges and opportunities. This session explores how decentralized digital tools and generative AI can transform Strategic Portfolio Management. Discover ways to handle uncertainties, manage spread-out tech investments, and close the strategy-to-value gap. Leverage popular project management tools to improve execution, planning, and resource management, and blend agile and traditional methods for better alignment. Join us in reimagining Strategic Portfolio Management in the AI era. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Foster AI-enabled leadership, orchestrate organizational change and align digital initiatives with strategic business goals; and * Create a "single source of truth" when using tools like Microsoft Project, Planner, Smartsheet, Monday.com, Asana, Azure DevOps, and JIRA. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Jim Patterson Vice President OnePlan Solutions North America Jim has over 28 years of experience in the design, implementation, and training of project and portfolio management systems and processes. He is currently Vice President, Sales for OnePlan Solutions, a leading provider of Project, Portfolio, and Work Management solutions built for Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft Cloud. Since 1995, his efforts have been focused on Microsoft technology, with a current emphasis on cloud technologies and solutions. His background encompasses a wide variety of vertical industries, methodologies, and approaches. Jim currently works to provide insights and solutions for organizations looking to solve the challenges of distributed teams, fragmented/disconnected tools, and multiple methodologies like Waterfall and Agile. The trends for digital transformation, Agile transformation, business agility, and the evolution to modern workplace solutions are his current areas of focus. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM PDT SESSION 356: INNOVATION IN ACTION: THE POWER OF DISRUPTIVE DECISION-MAKING 60-minute session Topics: Decision Making Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 404 In a rapidly changing world, the ability to make disruptive decisions is crucial for organizational success. These decisions challenge the status quo, open new opportunities and transform the way we do business. Disruptive thinking is essential in decision-making because it questions established norms, overcomes barriers and fosters innovation. In this session we’ll explore how such decisions can transform organizations and make a difference in an ever-evolving world. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify their decision-making style; and * Apply five disruptive thinking techniques to their decision-making. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Maria Padilla Olvera PMP CEO Soluciones integrales con tu ser LATAM María Padilla is a high-performance team strategist and professional project manager with more than 30 years of experience in the telecom, IT and banking sectors. Throughout her career, she has held various roles, including project manager, project manager officer, agile coach and sales executive. As an international speaker, María shares her expertise in project management, human development, power skills, executive coaching, sales, agility and work environment. She has also made significant contributions as president of the PMI Mexico Chapter, where she has volunteered for 12 years. María is the author of several books and methodologies, “Create Elite Teams,” “Empower Yourself with Your Sense” and coauthor of the book Mentoring for Entrepreneurs and Businessmen. Additionally, she cofounded the magazine Projecting Mexico and established a local Toastmasters’ club (Contuser). María’s journey began as an executive secretary, and over the years, she has pursued further education and certifications, including graduate studies in administrative computing, the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, Kanban Management Professional, Agile Coach, Scrum Master, Executive Coach, Master in Neurolinguistic Programming, Instructor endorsed by CONOCER, Distinguished Leader by Toastmasters International and professor at the Tecnologico de Monterrey. Her life mission is to empower people through projects, training and coaching. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM PDT SESSION 357: NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF AI PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION: COMMON PITFALLS AND STRATEGIES 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Innovation, Risk Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 409 Explore the intricacies of AI project implementation across diverse industries, uncovering common pitfalls and offering effective strategies for success. Attendees will gain valuable insights into navigating challenges such as data quality, stakeholder alignment and ethical considerations, empowering them to drive impactful AI initiatives within their organizations. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify key challenges and pitfalls associated with AI project implementation; and * Acquire practical strategies to mitigate risks and ensure successful outcomes in AI projects across various industries. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Anna Lukasiak PMI-ACP, PMP Founder and CEO Data Gallery LLC North America Anna Lukasiak is a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification holder and scrum master, with a successful track record of managing technology software projects for leading companies like Anthem Insurance, Reddit, Volvo, Syngenta and Deckers Brands. Anna graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and worked as an application developer at Goldman Sachs in the late 1990s. During her 16 years there, Anna managed technology teams for several departments. After leaving Wall Street, she founded Data Gallery LLC, which specialized in data visualization for project management, and OpenJC, a nonprofit organization helping local governments bridge the technology gap. Anna also helped grow Open Data Science, which is now the world's largest community of data scientists. Anna is a member of several professional organizations, including Project Management Institute (PMI), Scrum Alliance and the Toptal network. Her expertise in project management and technology continues to inspire others to pursue their passions and achieve their goals. She resides in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, with her two daughters and enjoys hiking, reading and coffee in her free time. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM PDT SESSION 358: REALIZING PMO VISION: EMBEDDING DE&I AS CORE TO PROJECT SUCCESS 60-minute session Topics: Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), Ethics, Organizational Culture, Organizational Project Management, PMO Learning Level: Advanced Location: 403A Project management office (PMO) leaders can strategically integrate diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) principles into their project management frameworks. Learn how fostering diversity and inclusivity at the core of project operations elevates team performance, innovation and overall project success. This insightful presentation equips PMO leaders with actionable strategies to align DE&I initiatives with organizational vision, driving sustainable growth and excellence. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Strategizing Diverse and Inclusive Teams: Explore methodologies to construct diverse and inclusive project teams, igniting innovation and sharpening problem-solving skills; and * Mastering Equity in Resource Allocation: Delve into techniques for establishing fair resource allocation mechanisms, ensuring each team member feels empowered. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Mayte Mata Sivera PMP Director of PMO PMI Northern Utah Chapter North America Mayte Mata Sivera, born and raised in Xabia, Spain, is a seasoned PMO director based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. With a master’s degree in chemical engineering, Mayte has served as a project manager in the technology sector, overseeing projects around the world. Motivated by a passion for strategic and business development, Mayte pivoted her career trajectory to specialize as a project leader in these domains. This transition allowed her to contribute significantly to the strategic growth of organizations and align projects with the business objectives. In addition to her professional endeavors, Mayte is a passionate volunteer and speaker, dedicated to giving back to her community and sharing her expertise with others. Committed to the project management community, she is a dedicated board member at the PMI Northern Utah Chapter. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM PDT SESSION 359: SITUATIONAL AWARENESS UNLEASHED: NAVIGATING THE AI FRONTIER 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Decision Making, Strategy Learning Level: Core Location: 408B As we navigate through this session, you will develop Situational Awareness (SA) skills and recognize the implications of AI. Greater SA enables better decision-making to determine the right course of action. Artificial intelligence is transforming organizational functions at breathtaking speeds. We will learn if AI capabilities can exceed human SA capabilities. Do you trust AI over SA? At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Enhance their situational awareness (SA) skills; and * Appreciate AI implications and analyze the intersection of SA and AI. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Marie Sterling PMP Doctoral Candidate Athabasca University North America Marie Sterling's strength is in building capabilities for strategic growth. Over the past 20 years, Marie has delivered presentations regarding work transformations through strategic planning and operational leadership. Her expertise is derived from her military service in the Canadian Armed Forces, private enterprises and PMI, through standards, methodologies and as a speaker. She has mentored veterans through the Prince’s Trust Organization and is a military speaker with Historic Canada. Marie holds a master’s degree in business administration and a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. Her most recent challenge has come from learning to play golf. Wanda Curlee PMI-RMP, PMP, PgMP, PfMP Academic Associate III Project Management Institute North America Wanda Curlee, Doctor of Management (DM), oversees curriculum and works with universities at Project Management Institute (PMI). Her business career spans over several industries, including IT, government, insurance, telecommunications and consulting. Dr. Curlee researches the practical aspects with AI especially in project management. Dr. Curlee has published three books; two delve into complexity theory and one is on virtual PMOs. She holds the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Program Management Professional (PgMP)® and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® certification from PMI. She is a professor at American Public University in the School of Business. She is proud to be the mother of three children who have served or currently serve for the U.S. military. She met her husband, Steve, while both were serving in the U.S. Navy. Interactive Workshop| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM PDT SESSION 363: IGNITE YOUR FIRE: EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AT ALL STAGES OF YOUR CAREER 90-minute session Topics: Career Development, Communication, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: 151 Think of your project management career as a fire. Maybe you’re a newer spark—striking the matchbox for the first time—or an evenly burning candle, or perhaps you’ve been a roaring bonfire for years. Within any stage there is always the opportunity to add fuel to your flame. In fact, it’s necessary! Using this analogy, this interactive, workshop-style session will discuss each stage and how to maximize your leadership within each through hands-on, effective tactics. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Categorize current management practices to diagnose potential roadblocks and opportunities for growth; and * Demonstrate influence by applying succinct tactics. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker Michelle Rose PMP Manager PMO and Business Intelligence, President's Office Broadridge Financial Solutions North America Michelle Rose is a project manager, data analyst and artist from New York, New York, USA. A performer at heart, she began her career as a professional dancer and filmmaker, dreaming of running her own company. While touring with different dance troupes, she was introduced to stage production management—an accidental foray into project management. To her surprise, she enjoyed this work as much as performing. She has managed productions featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ira Glass, Sasheer Zamata, American Ballet Theatre and more. Michelle began to seek project management opportunities beyond the arts, never planning on fully leaving the creative world. However, she realized that her she could use her creativity within the corporate sector. She is a founding member of her company’s project management community of practice. In her free time, Michelle mentors high school students in financial literacy and has taught yoga since 2015. She has presented and moderated on career development panels and was honored with writing and delivering a speech introducing President Bill Clinton. She enjoys running marathons and exploring coffee shops around New York City. Interactive Workshop| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM PDT SESSION 364: TRANSFORM YOUR WAYS OF WORKING: USE CASES FOR AI IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT 90-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 403B Transform your project management skills with the power of GenAI in our interactive and dynamic workshop. We’ll demonstrate the incredible applications of AI available through laptop computers. We’ll show you the step-by-step process of applying AI tools for various use cases in both waterfall and agile environments. This workshop is not about what AI can do for you but what you can do with AI—and how. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Apply GenAI tools to various scenarios in both waterfall and agile environments; and * Translate AI potential into practical, impactful strategies for real-world project execution. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.50; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 1.50 Speakers Prasad Kodukula DASM, DASSM, PgMP Adjunct Industry Professor Illinois Tech North America Prasad Kodukula, PhD, PMI Fellow, is a USA Today best-selling author, thought leader, speaker, coach, inventor and entrepreneur with more than 35 years of professional experience. A global ambassador of project management, Prasad has lectured on project management topics in nearly 50 countries and worked with 40 Fortune-100 companies (e.g., Abbott, BP, Caterpillar, Chrysler, Dow, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Kraft, Motorola, Stryker, United Technologies). He is cofounder and CEO of two companies: Kodukula and Associates, Inc., a project management coaching and consulting company; and NeoChloris, Inc., a renewable energy company. He also teaches project management at the University of Chicago. He was recognized three times by the Project Management Institute as “Best of the Best in Project Management” with the 2020 PMI Fellow Award, 2016 Eric Jenett Project Management Excellence Award and 2010 PMI Distinguished Contribution Award. One of the companies Prasad cofounded was recognized as the most innovative environmental technology company in Illinois in 2005. He also received prestigious awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Kansas for outstanding leadership in education and training and environmental improvement. Prasad is a coauthor or contributing author of 11 books and more than 40 articles and holds four patents. Gustavo Vinueza Senior Consultant The Ferryfield Group LATAM Gustavo Vinueza has extensive experience in analytics, data science and project management. He holds a degree in systems engineering from the Universidad de Cuenca, a master’s in business administration from the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and a master's in financial direction from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez. Gustavo has furthered his expertise with a postgraduate certificate in AI and machine learning from the University of Texas at Austin and has completed executive education programs at IE Madrid and ITESM TECMonterrey. Gustavo has held various roles, including data director at Betterfly, where he led the development of a comprehensive data strategy. He has also served as a professor, teaching data analysis, agile practices and project management at institutions such as EBAC, ESPOL and EALDE School. Additionally, Gustavo has a strong track record in consulting, having worked for more than 10 years with Palisade as director of consulting. Gustavo’s work has been recognized in the field, as evidenced by his published papers on topics such as cost estimation, risk and project management. His commitment to continuous learning is demonstrated by his participation in various courses and memberships in professional organizations like Project Management Institute (PMI) and American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE). Interactive Workshop| Friday, 20 September, 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM PDT SESSION 365: WHEN PRIORITIZATION FAILS: HOW TO GET FROM FRAGMENTATION TO FOCUS 90-minute session Topics: Governance, Portfolio Management, Program Management, Resource Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 152 Project and portfolio managers struggle with prioritization, whether the issues are getting stakeholders to agree, losing their best people to side projects or juggling planned work with emergencies. This leaves our teams confused and burned out trying to please everyone, everywhere, all of the time. What do we do? In this insightful workshop, you will practice three techniques to minimize both stakeholder shenanigans and unplanned disruptions, so your projects can finally be more efficient, focused and sustainable. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Describe why conventional prioritization techniques are not enough to create focused, efficient project teams; and * Apply specific techniques to reduce unreasonable stakeholder disruption and overwhelming workloads. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.50; Ways of Working (PfMP): 1.50 Speaker Jesse Fewell DASM, PMI-ACP, DASSM, PMP Agile Leadership Coach Fewell Innovation North America Jesse Fewell is an author, coach and trainer who helps leaders worldwide generate more innovation, collaboration and business agility. His consulting work has spanned a dozen industries, across 13 countries on five continents. He has contributed to multiple industry certifications (PMI-ACP®, CST, CEC) and PMI standards, including serving on the core team that developed A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Seventh Edition. Jesse has written several publications reaching a half million readers in 11 languages, including the book Untapped Agility: Seven Leadership Moves to Take Your Transformation to the Next Level. His industry contributions earned him an IEEE Computer Society Golden Core Award. Networking Break| Friday, 20 September, 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM PDT AFTERNOON REFRESHMENT BREAK Location: South Hall HJ There's still much to explore and experience in the Exhibit Hall! Grab a snack, discover all it has to offer, meet with our sponsors and exhibitors, and reconnect with colleagues. Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM PDT SESSION 380: EQ, AI, OH MY! HOW TO LEAD PEOPLE AND ROBOTS HARMONIOUSLY 45-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Communication, Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 404 We’re not just leading teams of people anymore—we’re also collaborating with and assigning tasks to AI more and more. Project managers must know how to manage people and robots (well, more like powerful software). Join me for a thoughtful, research-based session on how your Emotional Quotient (EQ) and AI capabilities can be leveraged in harmony to lead today’s projects. Discover actionable techniques for integrating EQ and AI to demonstrate your leadership and effectiveness. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Utilize EQ as part of the critical foundation for leading people while embracing AI and automation; and * Determine when and how to leverage people versus technology for decision-making and delivering business value. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Olivia Montgomery PMP Associate Principal Analyst Gartner North America Olivia Montgomery specializes in project management, with a focus on the benefits of closely aligning the IT team with operations to drive digital transformation. Her key areas of focus are decision-making, emotional intelligence and stakeholder management. Olivia pulls from her experience as an IT project management office leader and her humanities studies to deliver data-driven insights for small-business leaders. Her work has been published in Forbes, CIO Dive, The Digital Project Manager and TechRepublic. When not researching tech trends, you can find her jumping horses or rewatching “Jurassic Park." Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM PDT SESSION 381: NEW HORIZONS: INSPIRING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL ENGAGEMENT 45-minute session Topics: Career Development, Project Management Education, Talent Management Learning Level: Core Location: 304AB Because project management is integral across industries, young professionals are at a crossroads between opportunity and preparation. This presentation seeks to bridge the gap by unpacking the expectations and ambitions of these emerging leaders in the context of project management certification and organizational participation. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Guide young professionals regarding project management certifications and the roles of corresponding organizations in their career; and * Develop a strategic plan to enhance project management's appeal to young professionals, leveraging academic, corporate and social avenues for engagement and volunteerism. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speakers Sameh Mtibaa PMI-RMP, PMP Senior Project Manager Consultant Capgemini Europe Sameh Mtibaa’s journey began in the technical area as a software engineer. She has transitioned from the telecom sector to a significant role in the banking industry. She holds the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Prosci and ISO 14001 certifications and has applied her expertise in leading complex IT and infrastructure projects within Europe's dynamic banking sector. She was honored as the PMI France Chapter's Volunteer of the Year in 2020 and serves as vice president of the chapter’s Next Generation domain. I am passionately involved in mentoring and cultivating young professionals, guiding them toward certification and professional development within PMI. This role allows her to shape the future of project management by fostering a community where emerging talents can thrive and contribute to the industry's advancement. Juanita Woods PMP, PgMP Associate Professor University of North Georgia North America Juanita M Woods, PhD, is an associate professor with the Mike Cottrell College of Business at the University of North Georgia. Dr. Woods has more than 25 years of experience managing projects and people, where she focuses on ensuring projects align with organizational and group objectives. Her current research areas bridge the disciplines of project studies, people development and work teams. Dr. Woods is the 2023 recipient of the PMI Linn Stuckenbruck Teaching Excellence Award, which honors an individual faculty member for their outstanding contribution in teaching project management. In her work in the private sector as a project and program manager, and the public sector as a college professor, Dr. Woods mentors' people at all career stages in developing or strengthening their leadership, business acumen and technical skills in project management. Dr. Woods feels it is her responsibility to support the professional development of today’s workforce and the next generation of workers. She conducts academic and practitioner research in teamwork and leadership, GenAI and project management, and teaching and learning scholarship. Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM PDT SESSION 382: INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP IN DIVERSE TEAMS AND THE LANGUAGE OF PROGRESS 45-minute session Topics: Communication, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: 306 Our diversity, communication and application of experience are our greatest strengths to affect change—reaching across language and industry barriers to redefine what project management can achieve. We will discuss how to harness employee diversity to cultivate innovation in companies, translate diverse content into understanding and build greater trust. Our goal is to evaluate how coalescing language, time and form improves timelines and tools, while defining progress and success to provide long-lasting benefits and deliver world-class services. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Recognize and harness diversity within your teams, and utilize linguistic and characteristic traits to build stronger working relationships through tailored communications; and * Analyze patterns in language to create, adapt and illustrate intuitive tools for different audiences, inspiring innovation and driving success. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Emily Lukas Regulatory Project Submissions Manager ICON Ltd Europe Emily Lukas is an experienced regulatory project manager with knowledge and skills in regulatory affairs, pharmaceutical and healthcare spheres across the industry. She has worked in the National Health Service and local practice, alongside therapeutic areas including plasma-derived therapies and hematology, immunology, oncology, vaccines, pandemics and marketed products. Working within the regulatory area and the contract research organization environment at ICON plc, Emily is driven by her interest in harnessing the diversity of project management resources to evolve and expand the boundaries of the project manager role and its capabilities for delivery. Emily works globally and supports submission activity in the EU, the Americas, LATAM, APAC, EAEU and Africa. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature, alongside a Principles of Biochemistry accreditation from HarvardX. She also enjoys volunteering as a Random Acts of Kindness Activist (RAKtivist) and supports charitable initiatives worldwide and closer to home. She currently resides in Norwich, England. Lightning Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM PDT SESSION 383: THE ROLE OF PMO IN DRIVING SUCCESSFUL DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES 45-minute session Topics: Change Management, Leadership, Organizational Culture, PMO Learning Level: Advanced Location: 403A This presentation will cover the Project Management Office’s (PMO) role in digital transformation programs, including strategies for aligning the program outcomes with business goals, managing resources and supporting the program delivery. We will share real-world examples of how PMOs can facilitate and enable agile practices and cultivate a culture ready for digital advancements. We will offer PMO tips to help avoid common pitfalls by maintaining clear communications, engaging middle management effectively, building strong tech competencies and focusing on measurable outcomes. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Demonstrate the essential role of PMOs in synchronizing digital transformation efforts with an organization's strategic objectives and monitoring the program values; and * Identify key factors for successful digital transformation, including leadership support, effective resource management and collaboration between IT and business units. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Amireh Amirmazaheri PMI-PBA CEO and Founder PMO Solutions Asia Pacific Amireh Amirmazaheri is a highly experienced managing director and principal consultant at PMO Solutions. She has more than 25 years of experience in PMO and business analysis and holds multiple certifications in project management. Her expertise lies in managing business requirements and implementing enterprise project management systems. She is also actively involved in the PMO community as president of the PMO Global Alliance Australia Hub and advisory board member of PMO Global Alliance. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM PDT SESSION 384: AI ROCKSTAR: USE AI TOOLS TO SAVE TIME AND IMPRESS STAKEHOLDERS 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Core Location: 408B Worried that a robot may be taking your job? Fear not, project managers! In this session, we will explore situations that every project professional experiences and how the savvy use of AI can save you time and heartache and impress your stakeholders. We will do some live demonstrations of AI tools and explore when and when not to use AI when issues of ethics, confidentiality and decision-making arise. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand how AI can enhance project management efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction; and * Utilize AI tools and understand their ethical implications in decision-making. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.50; Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.50 Speaker Annie Sheehan PMP Director Navem Pty Ltd Asia Pacific Annie Sheehan was born in the United Kingdom, has more than 25 years’ international experience in projects, change and transformation and more than 20 years’ experience in executive coaching. Since 2011, she has specialized in helping executives deliver against their strategy and building capability in delivery teams. She works with numerous international clients and is a member of the Silicon Valley Alliances. Annie is a past president of the PMI’s Melbourne, Australia Chapter and a former PMI region mentor, advising board directors across Australia and New Zealand. She is the author of two practical project management books to help leaders get unstuck and deliver their projects: Ideas to Impact: Insights from 16 Silicon Valley Consultants—an Amazon #1 bestseller—and The Courageous Sponsor: How to Overcome Challenges to Get Your Project Done. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM PDT SESSION 385: CHATGPT CATALYST: NAVIGATING CRITICAL PROJECT SUCCESS AREAS 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Core Location: 403B We will ignite a conversation about the future of project management, where GenAI takes center stage. Imagine revolutionizing the week of a typical IT project manager, with AI handling project initiation, execution and closeout. We’ll explore how ChatGPT can masterfully craft critical project artifacts, such as project charters and communication plans. This is about elevating the quality of results through maximized prompt engineering, casting project management into the spotlight! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Demonstrate recommended use of prompt engineering to enhance the use of ChatGPT as a tool; and * Evaluate the results of ChatGPT-generated artifacts for use on projects. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Donna Gregorio PMI-ACP, PMP Department Manager The MITRE Corporation North America Donna Gregorio is a veteran corporate IT project manager, published author and college graduate school instructor. As the department head of the IT project management office at MITRE Corporation, she guides teams in a high-stress and fast-paced environment. Her book The Successful Project Manager tells firsthand stories of complex projects, highlights what went wrong and describes how to apply game-changing tools to address challenges. Donna is also vice president of professional development for the PMI Massachusetts Bay Chapter, providing members with project management best practices through scheduled events. She holds a bachelor's degree in math and computer science from Tufts University and master’s degree in computer engineering from Northeastern University. Svetlana Lyons PMP Project Manager Cimetrics, Inc. North America Svetlana Lyons holds a master’s degree in social science from the Saint-Petersburg Pedagogical University. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification holder and is a member of the PMI Massachusetts Bay Chapter. She currently manages the development of Cimetrics software and hardware projects and is a multiskilled manager with digital marketing and project and product management experience. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM PDT SESSION 386: CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: PUTTING THEORY INTO PRACTICE THROUGH ACTIVE RETROSPECTIVES AND LESSONS LEARNED 60-minute session Topics: Benefits Realization, Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Using PMI Standards Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 303 Move your current practices to a new level with concrete examples of how to use leadership and facilitation skills to prompt better retrospectives and lessons learned. Using technology and knowledge depositories, it is easier than ever to share ideas and save time doing so. Through active discussions, participants will examine their current practices and create an individual action plan to implement continuous improvement plans that may include updating or creating new processes or discontinuing processes. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Analyze current processes for retrospectives and lessons learned to enhance their effectiveness and move toward a more actionable process; and * Develop facilitation skills to elicit actionable feedback to improve processes and create continuous improvement plans. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00 Speaker Cheryl Carstens CAPM, PMP Manager of Curriculum Development RMC Learning Solutions Powered by Peterson's North America Cheryl Carstens is a lifelong learner with more than 20 years of experience in professional and leadership development, curriculum and instructional design, focusing on project management, both traditional and hybrid. By utilizing emotional intelligence, she has worked with participants around the world to influence their leadership and management styles to better manage their time, reduce conflict and stress, and promote a healthier work environment. Carstens holds the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® and Project Management Professional (PMP)® certifications. She has contributed content to “Rita Mulcahy’s PMP® Exam Prep—Tenth and Eleventh editions,” “Rita Mulcahy’s CAPM® Exam Prep—Fourth Edition,” and reviewed content for A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Seventh Edition. Carstens holds a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, and has completed courses toward a master’s in organizational leadership from Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM PDT SESSION 388: INTEGRATED OPM IS THE KEY TO MORE VALUE DELIVERY! 60-minute session Topics: Benefits Realization, Decision Making, Organizational Project Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 406 This session will explore the integration of an Organizational Project Management (OPM) framework with an Asset Management System (AMS) to enhance data-informed decision-making capabilities and optimize value delivery. Sound Transit is in the early phase of integrating AMS with OPM to establish a value framework by aligning project delivery with organizational priorities to holistically incorporate asset life cycle management strategies. The session will feature a case study demonstrating how the integration of AMS with OPM optimizes the life cycle cost while delivering reliable services to meet stakeholder requirements. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Recognize the importance of asset management life cycle integration in organizational project management (OPM) to deliver more value; and * Describe the importance of data-informed decision-making in optimizing life cycle cost. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PfMP): 1.00 Speaker Zahid Khan PMP Deputy Director - Eterprise Asset Management Sound Transit North America Zahid Khan, Professional Engineering (PE), is a highly accomplished and motivated leader with a proven track record in developing teams and delivering award-winning capital improvement portfolios. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering and has 25 years’ experience in managing and implementing complex projects, programs and portfolios. He has provided leadership to multidisciplinary teams to plan, design and construct water resources, wastewater, solid waste and transit projects and programs. Zahid planned and implemented a project management office, including project governance development, organizational change management and process improvement for King County, Washington, USA. Zahid developed and taught project management curriculums PMI for 8 years and presented several papers at PMI® Global Congresses, American Public Works Association conferences, International Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering and other conferences. As the program manager for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program, he developed comprehensive program management plans, project delivery method selection reports, program governance and contract management strategies. BRT is a multibillion-dollar program, consisting of 40+ projects located in Washington state. Zahid is currently leading Sound Transit’s enterprise asset management program by developing and implementing strategies to improve value delivery for a more than US$100 billion portfolio. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM PDT SESSION 389: STRATEGIC SYNERGY: SUPERCHARGING PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH AI 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408A Project management is the foundation of successful ventures, requiring meticulous planning, seamless coordination, and flawless execution. It involves navigating complex landscapes and managing timelines, resources, and stakeholder expectations. Recently, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized project management by augmenting human capabilities. AI enhances traditional approaches through advanced algorithms and data analytics, allowing project managers to predict bottlenecks, identify optimization opportunities, and make precise decisions. Automated task management streamlines workflows, freeing up time and resources for strategic efforts. AI-driven predictive analytics provide insights into project performance, enabling proactive risk mitigation and the seizing of opportunities, transforming project management into a dynamic, data-driven discipline. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Gain insight into the core principles of AI and apply it to project management; and * Acquire proficiency in implementing AI-driven solutions to optimize project workflows, automate repetitive tasks and leverage predictive modeling. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Manish Kumar CAPM Business Process Manager SLB North America Manish Kumar is a highly skilled IT professional with more than 11 years of experience. He has spent almost 7 years specializing in intelligent automation using tools such as Automation Anywhere, Microsoft Power Automate, Power BI, PowerApps and Dataiku. Additionally, he has 5 years of experience in business system analysis, quality assurance and automation and business process management. His expertise lies in understanding product capabilities, structure protocols, application integration, technology and architecture and deployment related to robotic process automation. Manish has achieved significant results in his role, including a 40% growth in product revenue in the last few years by implementing new tools for process discovery and attended automation. Manish also made substantial improvements in efficiency, saving 100% of manual hours and achieving a total of 1 million hours of effort savings to date across various domains such as human resources, finance, supply chain and logistics and engineering. He has demonstrated leadership skills by conducting technical training for more than 300 employees on Automation Anywhere and Power Platform tools. Additionally, his insights have been published in the “Automation Now & Next” global report and he has also led the Power Hackathon in his current organization for the last few years. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM PDT SESSION 390: UNITY IN DIVERSITY: “AIM HIGHER” TO BUILD INCLUSIVE PROJECT TEAMS! 60-minute session Topics: Communication, Decision Making, Leadership, Program Management, Sustainability Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 153 Diversity is a reality, but inclusion is still a choice today. As project management practitioners, following the PMI culture values, we can “aim higher” to build an inclusive workplace. Gartner studies show that inclusive teams can improve team performance by up to 30%. This session outlines the types of diversity and clearly lists a set of practices that can be incorporated into project management for building a workplace culture that values diversity and fosters inclusion. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Describe how inclusion matters in diverse teams and can enhance the value delivery through projects; and * Incorporate practices into project management for building a workplace culture that values diversity and fosters inclusion. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Shobhna Raghupathy PMP President SMR Global Consultants LLC North America Shobhna Raghupathy is an entrepreneur, thought leader and project portfolio management consultant. She has oversight and management experience of strategic and digital transformational initiatives in telecommunications, healthcare and finance. Shobhna is currently an invited board advisory member of the “Harvard Business Review” council. An engaging and vibrant speaker, she is a recognized presenter at PMI, non-PMI and virtual events. Shobhna has delivered several presentations in the United States, Canada, Trinidad, Poland, Asia and Australia. She has also had speaking engagements at Delta Airlines, AT&T, AIU and King & Spalding. Shobhna has published and coauthored many project management articles. A long-time volunteer leader at PMI, she was the architect of the marketing program for the PMI Atlanta Chapter as vice president and launched the PMI Ethics Community of Practice at the global level. Shobhna is an ethics subject matter expert and served on the PMI Ethics Member Advisory Group where she helped create PMI’s Ethical Decision-Making Framework and PMI’s Ethics website. She also served on the PMI Board Ethics Review Committee and is currently serving on the PMI Professional Awards team. Educational Session| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM PDT SESSION 391: WHAT DOES THE RIGHT KIND OF LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE? 60-minute session Topics: Leadership Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 150 Identify the transformative power of leadership in "What Does the Right Kind of Leadership Look Like?". Effective leadership hinges on skillful manipulation of leadership levers. Designed for aspiring and seasoned project professionals, this presentation offers practical strategies to activating effective leadership, creating an environment for heightened collaboration and productivity through the neuroscience of engagement. Join to identify how to deliver projects with empathy and vision, setting new standards for success in a global landscape. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify techniques to drive positive change in their working environments, enhancing team engagement and productivity; and * Implement strategies to elevate personal performance within a psychologically safe and collaborative project management framework. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Rose James PMI-ACP, PMP Program Manager, Enterprise PMO Edward Jones North America Rose James is an accomplished strategy and transformation leader dedicated to helping companies achieve optimal performance, agility and efficiency. With a master’s degree in business administration in strategic management and finance, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise as she consistently delivers exceptional results in diverse environments. She holds a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification and has more than two decades of experience in strategy consulting and transformation. She is a recognized thought leader and an influencer, sharing her insights and expertise through publications and as a keynote speaker at universities, conferences and multibillion-dollar companies. Her expertise covers a wide range of topics, including leadership, mentoring, growth mindset, burnout, change fatigue, effective communications, project management and agile transformation. Her expertise is reflected through certifications in project management, agile and lean portfolio management. She has led global transformations for leading organizations and excels in problem-solving, strategic thinking and effective planning, making her a trusted resource for turning around troubled operations. Rose serves on the boards of several organizations, leveraging her business acumen, leadership and strategic insights in advising leaders on strategic initiatives. She is a dynamic, sought-after speaker who connects with audiences, effectively communicating complex ideas and inspiring others. Interactive Workshop| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:30 PM PDT SESSION 393: ENHANCING PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH AI ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES: A GUIDE FOR MODERN PROFESSIONALS 90-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Requirements Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 409 In the rapidly evolving landscape of project management, integrating AI as an assistive technology has become a game changer. This interactive presentation delves into the multifaceted role of AI in revolutionizing project management practices, offering modern professionals insights into harnessing powerful AI tools and techniques. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify how AI assistive technologies bring a new dimension to project management; and * Describe how AI assistive technologies can automate routine tasks, predict project outcomes, and facilitate decision-making processes. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker Melissa Daley PMI-ACP CEO/President Orca Intelligence North America In 2007, Melissa Daley founded the 501©(3) nonprofit iT Gets Better in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, aiming to bridge the digital divide for underrepresented communities through IT workshops and consulting. Within 3 months, the organization grew to serve over 50 students in the Atlanta metro area, highlighting the urgent need for such initiatives. Despite selling the iT Gets Better website to another nonprofit in 2010 due to the recession, Melissa's commitment remained steadfast. An accomplished systems engineer and analyst, Melissa holds degrees from Hampton University and the University of Maryland. She has collaborated with top firms like Accenture and Booz Allen Hamilton, and worked with the State of Georgia’s Department of Human Resources, Next Generation Politics Voter Action Network (NGP VAN), Digital Management Incorporated (DMI) and Inner City Fund (ICF). In 2014, Melissa launched Orca Intelligence, introducing innovative methodologies in software requirements management. This was followed by the 2021 launch of Swiftly, an AI tool set to transform software development efficiency. With over two decades in IT, Melissa continues to be a driving force in technology, championing accessibility and innovation. Interactive Workshop| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:30 PM PDT SESSION 394: MASTERING THE DANCE: MANAGE THE DYNAMIC DUO OF PROJECT AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT 90-minute session Topics: Change Management, Complexity, Decision Making, Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 151 Unlock the secrets to successful organizational transformation! This dynamic session explores the challenging area of integrating project and change management for meaningful organizational change and project success. Discover how to navigate the people side of change, align project objectives with organizational goals and balance constraints with transformational objectives. Through interactive delivery and practical examples, gain the tools and insights to lead projects that drive impactful change. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Gain insights into the symbiotic relationship between project and change management; and * Integrate change management principles into project planning and execution. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.50 Speaker Ori Schibi PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PMP President PM Konnectors North America Ori Schibi has more than 25 years’ experience providing practical new ways of leading sustainable change through ambiguous conditions, managing projects and programs, and helping organizations maximize benefits from agile. Ori’s training sessions and speaking engagements are interesting, captivating, entertaining and packed with valuable information, concepts and practical ideas that are supported by down-to-earth, simple and relevant examples. His consulting work delivers value to organizations and teams through clear, practical and easy-to-implement ideas that help projects, change initiatives, communications, stakeholder engagement, process efficiencies, decision-making, leadership development and resource management in both agile and traditional environments. His approach is balanced and supports employee well-being while considering cultural sensitivity and productivity. Large- to mid-sized organizations (including telecoms, financial services, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, utilities, construction and aerospace) have benefited from Ori’s innovative approach. He addresses value creation, efficiencies, collaboration and focuses on customer satisfaction. A few notable clients include Disney, Marriott, Phillips, Pfizer and Amex. Ori also has extensive international public service experience at multiple levels (governments and UNHCR) and has written four books on stakeholders, agile, sponsorship and business analysis. Panel Discussion| Friday, 20 September, 03:00 PM - 04:30 PM PDT SESSION 395: THE FUTURE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT EDUCATION: HARNESSING AI FOR STUDENT SUCCESS 90-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Project Management Education Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 152 This panel session will delve into the transformative impact of AI on project management pedagogy, addressing key aspects such as skill development, critical thinking and adaptability. Participants will gain insights into how PMIxAI technologies can augment traditional teaching methods, offering a dynamic and responsive learning environment that mirrors the complexities of real-world project scenarios. The session is designed to acquaint project management practitioners with PMI tools, resources and services, including the AI tool PMI Infinity™. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the role of AI in project management education and design effective pedagogical approaches incorporating AI; and * Navigate ethical considerations and challenges. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.50 Speakers André B. Barcaui Adjunct Professor Federal University of Rio de Janeiro LATAM André B. Barcaui is a seasoned educator and consultant from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a rich academic background, including a D.Sc. in business management, and two postdoctoral degrees in organizational behavior and artificial intelligence. He also has a degree in psychology and information technology. He is a professor, consultant, and author specialized in combining psychological insights with his IT and AI expertise to improve organizational and project management practices. Robert Lee Gordon Program Director American Public University North America Dr. Robert Lee Gordon’s academic background includes a bachelor of arts degree in history from University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA), a master of business administration, and a doctorate of management and organizational leadership from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Gordon also holds graduate certificates in logistics management, project management, information systems security from American Public University and is a certified professional coach. He has hundreds of published articles pertaining to Artificial Intelligence (AI), supply chain management, project management, information technology and complexity. He is the author of four books and several chapters covering complexity, project management, IT security, program management, contracting, logistics, and reverse logistics and is currently research a book on artificial intelligence and supply chain management based upon recent AI presentations. Oliver Hedgepeth Program Director/Professor American Public University System North America Dr. Hedgepeth was the initial Director of the Artificial Intelligence Center for Army Logistics, Fort Lee, from 1985 to 1990, where his teams developed computer models and AI solutions for logistics and combat systems for project management courses. He taught logistics, supply chain, project management uses of Radio-Frequency Dentification (RFID) and AI courses at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where was a tenured associate professor of logistics and chair of the logistics department. His 2024 research grant from American Public University (APUS) will result in a revised book on RFID Metrics, with a focus on AI use in reverse logistics project management and supply chains. LuAnn Piccard PMP Chair, PMI Board of Directors PMI North America LuAnn Piccard, PMP, associate professor and chair, Master of Science Project Management Department at University of Alaska Anchorage, is passionate about developing next-generation project management leaders and professionals seeking to enhance and expand career opportunities through professional development and higher education. Students and graduates appreciate and benefit from the depth, relevance and breadth of Ms. Piccard’s seasoned executive experience, transforming the learning environment into rigorous, positive, collaborative and applied experience. Ms. Piccard, proud PMI and PMI Alaska Chapter member, volunteer, and PMP since 2007, served as director and chair for the PMI Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs, responsible for project management academic program accreditation and quality assurance worldwide. Inspired by community engagement, Ms. Piccard is well-versed in the balanced strategic and fiduciary responsibilities of board governance partnered with executive and operational leadership and has served as volunteer director for 11 different nonprofit boards including 10 years as an officer and director for Habitat for Humanity of Anchorage. Ms. Piccard holds BS and MS in Engineering/Product Design from Stanford University and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Wanda Curlee PMI-RMP, PMP, PgMP, PfMP Academic Associate III Project Management Institute North America Wanda Curlee, Doctor of Management (DM), oversees curriculum and works with universities at Project Management Institute (PMI). Her business career spans over several industries, including IT, government, insurance, telecommunications and consulting. Dr. Curlee researches the practical aspects with AI especially in project management. Dr. Curlee has published three books; two delve into complexity theory and one is on virtual PMOs. She holds the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Program Management Professional (PgMP)® and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® certification from PMI. She is a professor at American Public University in the School of Business. She is proud to be the mother of three children who have served or currently serve for the U.S. military. She met her husband, Steve, while both were serving in the U.S. Navy. Rebecca Lippert PMP Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC) Project Management Institute North America Rebecca Lippert, EdD, is manager of the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs at PMI. With more than 18 years of experience in higher education leadership, Rebecca has expertise working in the areas of strategic planning, accreditation, program development and institutional improvement. As a project manager, she has helped higher education institutions develop and implement new programs and solutions to meet their strategic objectives and improve institutional effectiveness. She has also served as a volunteer peer evaluator, ensuring the quality of higher education degree programs. Product Theater| Friday, 20 September, 04:15 PM - 04:45 PM PDT SESSION 398-EXH: OPTIMIZING STRATEGIC DELIVERY THROUGH PORTFOLIO CAPACITY PLANNING 30-minute session Topics: Change Management, Decision Making, Disciplined Agile Delivery, Portfolio Management, Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall HJ Product Stage One Optimizing portfolio flow requires continuously aligning the capacity of teams and people with work and strategy. Availability of teams and people should easily inform roadmap sequencing, project/epic delivery coordination, and portfolio/LPM planning. This session will review adoptable capacity planning practices that help ensure delivery predictability and business agility, enable business leaders to match opportunities with organizational capacity, streamline hybrid waterfall/agile delivery, optimize strategic delivery within capacity, financial, and governance guardrails, and identify talent skills gaps and bottlenecks early. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand how best capacity planning practices save time, reduce risk, and consistently improve the flow of value through the portfolio; and * Recommend capacity planning practices that continuously ensure talent is on the right work at the ideal time, without talent burnout. To request PDUs for this activity, please self-report to ccrs.pmi.org. Speaker Lloyd Norman PMP Vice President Strategic Solutions Prosymmetry North America Lloyd Norman has been involved in project and portfolio delivery and governance throughout his entire career. He believes the best project managers think critically and have the managerial courage to follow best practices and align their execution resources and deliverables with enterprise strategy. Communication fosters transparency in all aspects of project delivery. Treating people with respect, even when collaborating through disagreements, is always the correct approach. He believes that proper planning of people and teams will do more to ensure proficient project execution than almost any other aspect of project leadership. Saturday, 21 September, 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM PDT CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST Location: South Hall HJ Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 410: ARE YOU READY TO BECOME AN AI-POWERED PROJECT MANAGER? 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Change Management, Governance Learning Level: Core Location: 408B Integrating AI into project management is more than just flipping a switch; it's a strategic transformation. This engaging session will help you assess your readiness across people, processes and tools. You will discover the essential requirements for you, your team and your organization, identify gaps and develop actionable strategies to overcome these challenges. It’s time to grab the wheel and steer your organization toward success in AI-driven project management. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Assess current readiness to integrate AI into project management by examining the people, processes and tools within an organization; and * Identify gaps in the current approach of AI integration into project management and develop actionable strategies to address these gaps. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00 Speaker Keisha Lewis PMP Chief Enterprise Project Officer Montgomery County Government North America Keisha Lewis for the last 25 years has been immersed in technology. She has seen firsthand how it can redefine the way we work, especially in the world of project management. Today, her mission is twofold: to mentor and coach project managers and to inspire and equip them to embrace the transformative power of technology and artificial intelligence. Keisha believes that integrating AI into project management is not just about staying current, it’s about staying relevant and future-proofing careers. In her present job, she is currently responsible for establishing and managing the enterprise project management office. Keisha is also an entrepreneur and business owner. She is the owner of DTB Solutions, LLC, an information technology and business services firm. Keisha’s heart sits at the intersection of project management and tech with a little marketing sprinkled on top. She is passionate about community service and enjoys providing training on various project management and technology topics. She is proficient in various project management tools and holds several certifications including Project Management Professional (PMP)®, PMI Agile Hybrid Project Pro, Certified Scrum Master, Professional Certified Marketer and Certified Digital Marketing Professional. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 411: BEYOND BOUNDARIES: THE ARTISTRY OF AGILE WOW IN THE BANI ERA 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Change Management, Organizational Culture, Organizational Project Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408A Discover the transformative power of agile Ways of Working (WoW) amid today's Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear and Incomprehensible (BANI) landscape. Unveil how agile practices transcend traditional limits, fostering adaptability and innovation. Join us for actionable insights and real-world examples that empower teams to thrive in a BANI world. The session presents ideal information for agile practitioners seeking to navigate the challenges of the BANI era with confidence and creativity. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Outline the principles and methodologies of agile ways of working, applying them effectively to enhance organizational flexibility and responsiveness; and * Identify key challenges and opportunities in adapting to the BANI world, devising actionable strategies for successful transformation initiatives. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 1.00 Speakers Manohar Yerraguntla DASSM, PMP PMO Leader Amararaja India Manohar Yerraguntla holds a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification and has more than 16 years of IT and aerospace functional experience in the United States, United Kingdom and India. He has 12 years of experience in leading major programs with large global project teams spread across multiple locations. He demonstrates expertise in leading agile adoption for teams and organizations in training, implementation, mentoring and sustaining. Manohar currently serves as general secretary and board member of the PMI Pearl City, Hyderabad Chapter. He holds AS9100 RevD; ISO9001:2015 internal auditor and expertise in standards implementation and coaching certifications. He was a Pitch Perfect Speaker during the PMI National Conference 2018 at New Delhi and published white papers at the PMI National Conference in 2017 and 2018. His core expertise includes program and project management, project management office (PMO) implementation (coaching, mentoring and establishing PMOs), change management, risk management, value engineering, skills and competency mapping. He has trained people on areas like project management processes, quality tools, proposal development, on-site–offshore development models, business presentations, implementation and maintenance of AS9100, ISO standards, and root cause analysis and value stream mapping. Vinay Babu Tarala PMI-ACP, DASSM, PMP Principal Business Consultant - Agile Transformation Infosys Consultancy India Vinay Babu Tarala is a results-driven agile consultant, agile coach, release train engineer and scrum master with a deep understanding of lean and agile principles and expertise in Scaled Agile enterprise transformations, agile and Scrum, Kanban and Scrum/XP frameworks, as well as agile team building, coaching and guidance, and has been instrumental in driving success in organizations. He excels at promoting the adoption and enforcement of agile and Scrum principles and offers comprehensive boot camp and advanced agile training. Vinay’s skills extend to removing impediments and nurturing self-organization within teams, and he brings unwavering enthusiasm and a keen awareness to the product delivery process, employing expert judgment to eliminate obstacles, maintain focus and drive success within rapidly evolving and dynamic environments. In addition to coaching and consulting he has created and conducted 200+ training sessions for scrum masters and teams, with over 500 employees attending these sessions over a span of 3 years. Vinay has a strong track record of enhancing team dynamics and performance, leading to a remarkable 35% increase in efficiency. He has mentored and trained more than 100 scrum masters, teams and agile coaches, further establishing his commitment to fostering excellence and growth. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 412: DO YOU REALLY KNOW YOUR ORGANIZATION’S CULTURE? 60-minute session Topics: Agile, Leadership, Strategy Learning Level: Advanced Location: 406 Once a culture crystallizes and becomes the “way we do things around here,” it becomes a powerful force. When one person tells another, “That’s not the way we do things around here,” the advice better be heeded. While no organization has a pure culture at every level, every successful organization has a “core” culture that is central to the functioning of the organization. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Assess your dominant core culture and learn how it impacts your current project’s probability of success; and * Determine how current culture aligns with an organization’s strategy and leadership. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Lawrence Suda DASSM President Management Worlds, Inc. North America Lawrence Suda has more than 35 years of project and program management consulting and training experience, helping numerous government and private sector companies. At Palatine Group/Management Worlds, he specializes in creating computer-based simulations for project management and leadership training. Larry’s career emphasis is on organization behavior, project management, operations management, strategic management and enterprise-wide project management for leading companies and government agencies throughout the world. Some clients of his include NASA; US Navy; Departments of Commerce, Treasury, Energy, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, DAU and others. Private-sector clients include General Electric, Proctor & Gamble, ALCOA, AECOM, Verizon, Boeing, Lockheed/Martin, Hewlett-Packard, Perot Systems, PPG Industries, United States Steel and many others. Before founding Palatine Group/Management Worlds, Larry worked in the private and public sectors at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and was an assistant professor at the University of Maryland. He is a frequent speaker at PMI and IPMA Conferences in the United States and Europe and currently leads workshops for PMI Training in various locations around the World. Larry currently resides in New York where he enjoys skiing, kayaking and hiking. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 413: EMPOWERING RISK LEADERSHIP: A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-MAKING 60-minute session Topics: Change Management, Communication, Decision Making, Risk Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 150 Discover the keys to unlocking proactive risk leadership. Learn from global experts as we share actionable insights and real-world examples, from navigating organizational shifts to crisis management. Join us as we delve into the dynamic fusion of risk management and effective communication. Elevate your strategic risk thinking and empower transformative decision-making through enhanced connectivity. Uncover invaluable insights into the pivotal "communicate and consult" step of the risk management life cycle framework, for both projects and programs. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Describe techniques to influence change in an organization, project or program setting; and * Apply techniques that empower leadership skills to lead change through strategic risk management. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Rebecca Dobner PMP Associate Vice President - Global Program Risk Director AECOM North America Rebecca Dobner is the global risk director at AECOM Program Management, overseeing program and project delivery on a global scale. With more than 27 years of experience in program and change management, she specializes in enterprise risk management and program and project risk management. Rebecca's dedication to empowering clients is evident in her diverse portfolio, which ranges from executing large-scale gas development projects in Ghana to leading resilience programs in New York City and urban infrastructure initiatives in Libya. Rebecca has provided invaluable counsel to major organizations, governments and charities throughout her consulting career, helping them extract value from risk and instill confidence in implementing organizational and transformational changes. Rebecca is a respected thought leader and guest lecturer at Columbia University’s Global Leaders in Construction Management program. She actively participates in professional organizations such as PMI and Professional Women in Construction. With a background in business and global diplomacy, Rebecca consistently pushes boundaries. She fosters high-performing teams, emphasizing her commitment to delivering lasting benefits and driving excellence on a global scale. She is a passionate advocate for mentoring the next generation in the infrastructure industry, embodying her belief in nurturing talent and fostering innovation. Sue Kershaw Senior Vice President, Program Management Executive AECOM Europe Sue Kershaw is the senior vice president and program management executive of AECOM Program Management global business line. Sue oversees transformational and complex programs worldwide, providing technical leadership, strategic direction and driving innovation in program management. With more than 20 years of experience, Sue is an industry veteran who has led global teams to deliver some of the world’s most complex programs including Crossrail, HS2, Gatwick Airport Station and several national highways projects. She was also instrumental in the success of the London 2012 Olympics, serving as the deputy director and head of program management for transport within the Olympic Delivery Authority. A renowned changemaker, Sue has a track record of spearheading sustainable growth and fostering meaningful, long-term client relationships. She exemplifies industry leadership, serving as president of the Association for Project Management and advocating for greater representation of women in senior construction roles within our communities. Before joining her present company, Sue served as Costain’s managing director of transportation, managing director for KPMG’s infrastructure advisory group and director of rail at CH2M. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 414: IMPOSTER SYNDROME: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT 60-minute session Topics: Career Development, Leadership Learning Level: Core Location: 306 “I am in way over my head.” “I am not qualified to run a project like this.” “I am a total failure and am not good at this.” Have you ever said this to yourself? You may be infected with imposter syndrome! But that’s okay. All highly capable people, especially project managers, find themselves with this affliction at one time or another—and again and again. Attend this session and start your therapy today! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify imposter syndrome in yourself and others and its negative impacts; and * Learn how to work through imposter syndrome so it doesn’t hold you back. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Kim Essendrup PMP CEO, co-founder RAIDLOG North America Kim Essendrup is a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification holder, celebrated TEDx speaker, accomplished author and seasoned trainer who has dedicated more than two decades to the art and science of project leadership. His expertise is recognized internationally in the project management field, fueling his role as the cohost of the popular “Project Management Happy Hour” podcast, where he and his cohost share insights and stories that resonate with project professionals across the globe. As the CEO of RAIDLOG.com, Kim has innovated the way project managers address risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies by reinventing this time-tested tool. His entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to the discipline of project management extend to his partnership at the Kolme Group, a project portfolio management consultancy, which helps clients achieve their organizational goals through project delivery excellence. Kim's contributions to the field are further cemented by his book The Ultimate Guide to RAID Logs, a definitive resource that offers practical advice and strategies for effectively managing project uncertainties. Kate Anderson Product Owner Paypal North America Kate Anderson has been many things in their career, including product manager, integration lead, project manager and chief of staff. Having spent 17 years in technology driving difficult projects to closure, Kate brings that experience to their coaching practice in the “Project Management Happy Hour” podcast. They live in San Diego with their wife, 2 dogs, snake and horse. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 415: LEVEL-UP LEADERSHIP: ENCOURAGING INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT 60-minute session Topics: Career Development, Communication, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 304AB Are you ready to elevate your project leadership game? This presentation is designed to enhance your leadership capabilities, spotlighting the pivotal themes of addressing bias, fostering inclusion and bolstering engagement. This session promises actionable insights to drive team cohesion, innovation and project success. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your leadership approach and harness the power of your team. Join us and take your leadership style to the next level! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Apply skills to promote team cohesion, engagement and project success through inclusive leadership practices; and * Identify the impact of bias on leadership dynamics and explain its manifestations within project teams. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Mike Roberts CAPM, PMI-ACP, PMP Director, Training Practice Lead Millpond Asia Pacific Mike Roberts is a director and practice lead with Millpond, a professional services organization specializing in project management and training. He is well regarded among both peers and clients for his approach to leadership and the way he engages people during project delivery. With 17 years of experience in project management and training, Mike has developed a unique and insightful perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing project managers as their roles turn from a focus on process to a focus on people. With a passion for empowering others to reach their full potential, Mike draws from his own experience and expertise to provide attendees with the concepts and strategies they need to become more effective, inspiring leaders in their own right. Whether speaking to a room of sponsors or a group of aspiring project managers, Mike delivers a message that is both engaging and actionable, leaving attendees feeling motivated and empowered to tackle the challenges of leadership head on. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 416: ORGANIZATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT MATURITY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM QUEBEC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS 60-minute session Topics: Organizational Culture, Organizational Project Management, Using PMI Standards Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 409 Our objective is simple: Stimulate and encourage organizations and their professionals to improve project performance. Based on 6 years of collaboration among project management researchers, specialists and professionals from different organizations in Quebec, we describe a method to assess the organizational project management maturity (including governance, ways of working, knowledge and competencies) and present how organizations can initiate their journey to improve their project, program and portfolio practices. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Operate models and methods to assess the organizational project management maturity of their organizations; and * Translate maturity and performance improvement initiatives in their own organizational context. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speakers Benoit Lalonde PMI-RMP, PMP Senior Associate Gestion de Projet Benoit Lalonde inc North America Benoit Lalonde graduated from the Université du Québec à Montréal with a master’s degree in project management and an executive master’s degree of business administration. For more than 30 years, he has leveraged his expertise in project, program and portfolio management to assist companies in creating value. His professional mission is to guide organizational leaders toward performance through alignment between strategy and execution. His field of expertise spans private enterprises, municipalities, as well as public and semipublic institutions. Proficient in all aspects of project management, Benoît has supported hundreds of organizations with diverse profiles both in Canada and internationally. As president of the board of directors of the PMI Montreal Chapter for 10 years, he has shared best practices in strategic project management with numerous Quebec professionals. As the founder of GPBL Think Project, Benoît utilizes his expertise to prepare business leaders to achieve their objectives in a changing and competitive environment. Alejandro Romero-Torres PMP Professor ESG UQAM North America Alejandro Romero-Torres is a professor at the School of Management (ESG), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), director of the lab in innovative practices for project management PICoP ESG UQAM, director of the observatory of public projects ESG UQAM and director of the PMI Global Accreditation Center. Alejandro has collaborated within the project management industry to adopt project management standards. From 2014 to 2017, he was a member of the core committee responsible for reviewing A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Seventh Edition. His research interests are project management practices, project governance, public project, megaprojects and datafication. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 417: REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR RISK RADAR: LEVERAGING GENAI FOR SUPERIOR PROJECT INSIGHT 60-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Risk Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 404 From data acquisition to its interpretation, the process of identifying potential project risks is a complex, tedious and often challenging task. Leveraging the capabilities of GenAI can streamline this process, enabling the detection of often-overlooked risks, thus enhancing the effectiveness of risk management strategies. Ontario Power Generation is proud to share how GenAI has augmented its risk identification process with a showcase of real-world project use cases. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand of the role of GenAI in identifying project risks and learn how it surpasses traditional methods; and * Evaluate potential pitfalls of GenAI in risk identification and learn how to overcome them. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 1.00; Ways of Working (PMI-RMP): 1.00 Speaker Michael Wang Senior Manager, Project Controls Ontario Power Generation Inc. North America Michael Wang is a seasoned Project Management Office (PMO) leader and project professional with over 15 years in project management and project control practices, focusing on project management systems, data, and insights. His key interests lie in data analytics, decision intelligence, AI/machine learning, and other emergent technologies, leveraging them to drive project excellence. Michael’s career includes establishing a scalable project management information infrastructure supporting two of Canada’s largest clean-energy infrastructure projects and playing a crucial role in establishing a world-class PMO. This PMO achieved recognition as a finalist for the PMI PMO of the Year Award in 2022 and won the Americas PMO of the Year award by PMO Global Alliance in 2023. As an innovator in the industry, Michael is always seeking ways to seamlessly merge traditional project management practices with cutting-edge technology. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 418: SPEAK TO INFLUENCE: BALANCING AUTHORITY AND CONNECTION IN HARD CONVERSATIONS 60-minute session Topics: Communication, Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement Learning Level: Core Location: 152 Ever felt like you're speaking but no one in the room is truly listening? If your expertise and contributions are overlooked, it can threaten project success and your ability to influence outcomes. This session offers a solution through a unique framework for balanced, assertive communications. Learn to avoid common pitfalls and command attention with our direct, definitive, decisive approach. Enhance your ability to connect without compromising authority. Be heard, earn respect and drive impact. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify common communications mistakes that undermine your credibility and hurt your influence; and * Balance authority with empathy to command respect and encourage cooperation. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Ivna Curi Managing Director Assertive Way Institute North America Ivna Curi helps leaders and organizations amplify voices for greater engagement, productivity and innovation. An expert in leadership communication, speaking up and self-advocacy, she empowers individuals to articulate their perspectives, concerns and needs with confidence and clarity. Through her trainings and workshops, Ivna has upskilled more than 20,000 students worldwide. As the host of the podcast “Speak Your Mind Unapologetically,” with more than 300 storytelling-based educational episodes, she explores the nuances of leadership and communication. Ivna's influence extends to the TEDx stage and Forbes, where she shares her insights into creating cultures of open dialogue and assertiveness. Holding an international master’s degree in business administration from INSEAD, her global perspective is enriched by her international and leadership experience across the United States, Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Europe. Her book, Unapologetic Voices, features 101 leadership communication stories, offering readers practical advice on leading with authenticity. Her social media content has garnered more than 2 million views, establishing Ivna as a thought leader in her field. This work, combined with her more than 20 media appearances, highlights Ivna's commitment to fostering environments where voices are heard, and every voice can make an impact. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 419: THE FIVE ESSENTIAL DRIVERS AND THEIR HIDDEN BARRIERS TO A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFORMATION 60-minute session Topics: Change Management, Communication, Decision Making, Leadership, Strategy Learning Level: Advanced Location: 153 Explore the crucial elements driving successful transformations and learn to anticipate potential obstacles and challenges. Drawing on two decades of experience spanning diverse industries, the presenter shares firsthand insights into practical implementations, from product innovation and development to scaled agile transformation. Gain actionable strategies to accelerate your transformation endeavors, while also fostering a cohesive team environment and mitigating possible setbacks. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand the five essential drivers and the hidden barriers affecting transformation velocity and success; and * Leverage an understanding of human psychology to implement strategies for securing executive commitment, roadmap development and effective measurement. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Fiona Lin PMI-ACP, PMP VP Business Transformation inTune North America Fiona Lin has 20 years of experience leading large business transformations and project management offices (PMOs). She specializes in turning cost centers into growth centers through operational efficiencies, effective program and change management, and harmonizing physical and software product development. Fiona began her career in China with Black Diamond. She moved to the United States to earn a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Utah, and then joined Rio Tinto's Strategy and Investment team. She served ZAGG as global PMO director, where she transformed new product development and optimized lean operations, and then joined Snap! Finance as vice president, enterprise PMO. Here, she focused on strategic portfolio management and organizational agility through the Scaled Agile transformation. With a diverse background across five industries, she brings her international perspectives to scale organizational growth. Fiona holds PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Change Management Practitioner Fe Program Consultant (SPC) and Lean Portfolio Management certifications. She has taught as an adjunct professor at the David Eccles School of Business. As a conference speaker and thought leader, she advocates for elevating PMO value, extending beyond the conventional project management boundaries. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 420: THE POWER OF 'PPT' TO TRANSFORM YOUR PMO 60-minute session Topics: Communication, Organizational Project Management, PMO, Portfolio Management, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 403A It’s not the People, Process and Technology (PPT) you are thinking about, but it’s still going to help create immediate impact and build a strategic foundation toward modernizing a project management office (PMO) in your organization! The driving force of “PPT” is not to be underestimated! In the age of AI and digital transformation, it is imperative for project managers to acquire competencies that drive innovative workflow management. This session will unlock the key to a next-generation PMO! At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify key building blocks and tools that are critical to building, sustaining and modernizing a modern PMO practice; and * Demonstrate an understanding of behaviors, competencies, priorities and technologies that will make your PMO world class. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Mehul Shah PMP, PfMP Sr. Director PMO NBC Universal North America Mehul Shah is a highly motivated, results-oriented, data-driven executive with 20 years of experience in building, managing and sustaining PMOs. He is an award-winning leader with subject matter expertise in digital and business transformation initiatives, operational integration and strategic planning. He built and transformed PMOs at Fortune-100 companies GE, Siemens, Scholastic and NBC Universal. He holds the Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® certifications as well as Lean Six Sigma, Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and SAFe® Lean Portfolio Management credentials. His professional experience involves building, sustaining and transforming project management offices. He began his career in technology consulting, built and grew a portfolio in the manufacturing domain and then served in leadership roles in the project management domain over the past few years in the education and hospitality businesses. As a leader, he has focused on building strong, resilient, skilled teams that leverage the power of digitization as well as standardization—all toward the goal of building simple and efficient workflows as well as high-functioning PMOs. Educational Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT SESSION 421: TRANSFORMING HOW TO MANAGE STRESS FOR GREATER PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING 60-minute session Topics: Communication, Leadership Learning Level: Core Location: 151 This session provides a common framework and language around the three words, “bury, release and process,” that attendees can use to empower themselves toward higher performance, wellness and happiness. When put into practice, this framework can transform the way attendees manage stress in the workplace and in their everyday life, as well as enable them to let go of stress that has built up over time. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Leverage stress management strategies to become more resilient, present and free of stress; and * Discover practical ways to use the “bury, release, process” framework to empower relationships in and out of the workplace. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 1.00 Speaker Dat Tran Founder, Coach, and Speaker Dat Purpose LLC North America Dat Tran has more than 13 years of success transforming organizations through technology and culture and inclusion initiatives. He empowers leaders, communities and organizations toward their peak potential with well-being and inclusivity. Dat uses his mastery in creating psychological safety and making wisdom accessible. He has delivered more than 50 keynotes, talks and workshops reaching thousands of people at leading companies and organizations worldwide including PMI, Microsoft, Amazon and Bain and Company. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM PDT SESSION 425: AGILE X AI: THE PARANOID EXECUTIVE’S CHEAT SHEET 45-minute session Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Innovation, Leadership Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 403B Drawing inspiration from Andy Grove, the legendary CEO of Intel who coined the maxim, "Only the paranoid survives," this session explores the integration of AI with agile practices as a strategic imperative for today’s executives. Grove’s success at Intel was built on anticipating change and acting decisively, principles that are central to agile thinking and critical for harnessing the power of AI. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Apply Andy Grove's principles to enhance agile practices with AI; and * Cultivate a culture of “productive paranoia” to instill a mindset that balances the drive for innovation with a readiness to respond. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.75; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 0.75 Speaker Sanjiv Augustine PMI-ACP Founder and CEO LitheSpeed LLC North America Sanjiv Augustine is the Founder and CEO of LitheSpeed, LLC, and the Agile Leadership Academy. Sanjiv is an entrepreneur, industry-leading Agile and Lean expert, author, speaker, management consultant, and trainer. With over 30 years in the industry, Sanjiv has served as a trusted advisor to executives and management at leading firms, including Capital One, The Capital Group, CNBC, Comcast, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, General Dynamics, HCA Healthcare, Huntington Bank, The Motley Fool, National Geographic, Nationwide Insurance, Royal Bank of Canada, Samsung, and Walmart. Sanjiv is the host of the Agile Caravanserai podcast and the author of the books From PMO to VMO: Managing for Value Delivery, Managing Agile Projects, Scaling Agile: A Lean JumpStart, as well as several publications including Transitioning to Agile Project Management, The Lean-Agile PMO: Using Lean Thinking to Accelerate Agile Project Delivery, and Transformational Leadership for Business Agility. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 430: SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING YOUR ORGANIZATION’S CHANGE CAPABILITY WHILE IN FLIGHT 45-minute session Topics: Change Management Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 304AB The session will focus on how George Washington (GW) University uses change management to impact change at the institution against the backdrop of multiple challenges. The session will begin with a brief introduction to change management and an overview of the challenges faced. Next, the speaker will discuss how the information technology division leveraged seven people-centric strategies to build enterprise change capability and how it has successfully applied change management at GW. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Build enterprise change capability; and * Use change management to achieve change goals. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Uzezi Enodano PMP Digital Transformation Specialist The George Washington University North America Uzezi Enodano is an organizational transformation consultant, change advisor and project leader. Uzezi helps university leadership build enterprise capabilities and capture the full benefits of large-scale transformation initiatives. Since joining the George Washington University (GW) in 2011, Uzezi has held several roles, including leading the operations of GW Libraries and Academic Innovation (LAI) project management office, creating GW’s Change Management community of practice, establishing GW’s Cloud Center of Excellence and partnering with executive leadership to lead strategic initiatives such as ERP, CRM and agile transformation projects. Before joining GW, Uzezi managed all aspects of planning and the implementation of large infrastructure projects at a consulting firm, drawing on expertise he previously honed as a structural engineer. Uzezi holds a bachelor’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Benin, a master’s degree in engineering management and a master’s degree in business administration from GW. Uzezi also attended Harvard Extension School, where he obtained a certificate in strategies for leading successful change initiatives. Most recently, he completed an executive program at MIT Sloan School of Management on organizational design for digital transformation. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 431: AI-DRIVEN AGILITY: REDEFINING RISK MANAGEMENT IN AGILE TEAMS 45-minute session Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Risk Management, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 403B Explore how GenAI transforms risk management in agile teams, generating essential documents for informed decision-making. Empower product owners with prioritization insights for strategic decisions. Navigate critical agile ceremonies with AI-driven guidance for more productive retrospectives and innovative approaches to understanding team dynamics. Attend this session to learn actionable insights and a roadmap to seamlessly integrate GenAI into agile practices, fostering continuous improvement and sustainable success. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Describe GenAI's applications in agile risk management, creating documents and prioritizing tasks for product owners; and * Apply GenAI for scrum masters, enhancing agility in review and retrospective sessions. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.75; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 0.75; Ways of Working (PMI-RMP): 0.75 Speaker Tao Chun Liu DASSM, PMP Senior Business Consultant and Practitioner PM Mayors/PMI Taiwan Asia Pacific Tao Chun Liu is a highly accomplished and experienced professional in the field of project management, boasting an impressive list of degrees and credentials, including a master of business administration degree and Disciplined Agile® Senior Scrum Master (DASSM), Agile Hybrid Project Pro and Project Management Professional (PMP)® certifications. Having completed numerous multimillion-dollar projects in various industries, Tao has established himself as a sought-after speaker and authority in the project management field. His deep understanding of AI technologies and their application in project management sets him apart from his peers. Moreover, Tao’s extensive involvement in digital transformation projects has honed his ability to navigate complex organizational landscapes and drive successful outcomes. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 432: FROM PORTFOLIO MANAGER TO CHIEF OF STAFF: A STRATEGIC CAREER TRAJECTORY 45-minute session Topics: Career Development Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 406 In the ever-evolving landscape of portfolio management, the role of a chief of staff emerges as a pinnacle for portfolio managers seeking to amplify their strategic impact within organizations. This presentation is designed to guide midcareer portfolio management practitioners on a transformative journey, elucidating how the core competencies and strategic acumen developed in portfolio management are not just relevant but essential in the chief of staff role. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify the unique advantage that portfolio managers have in transitioning to chief of staff roles; and * Assess and envision a future career path that translates across multiple organizations and industries. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Amy Timmins Director of Portfolio Management Zendesk North America Amy Timmins is an action-oriented, resilient and curious project management executive delivering dynamic transformational solutions that elevate portfolio management practices, consistently achieving organizational goals. She has a proven record of excellence in establishing, scaling and leading global, enterprise-wide programs. Amy holds a juris doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications. She also held certifications in project management and project risk management. Amy has served as a trusted advisor and portfolio manager for high-profile companies including Zendesk, Workday, PayPal, Square, Facebook and Microsoft. It was natural for Amy to transfer her portfolio management experience to the chief of staff function, serving as chief of staff to two executive officers at Zendesk. During her time with Zendesk, Amy successfully married the chief of staff function with portfolio management best practices. This has led to consistently delivering solutions that achieve objectives and key result targets, retention goals and productivity metrics. Amy resides in Stockton, California, USA, and spends far too much of her time planning adventures at Yosemite National Park, where she has been more than twenty times in the last five years. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 434: INFLUENCING ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AS A PROJECT, PROGRAM OR PORTFOLIO MANAGER 45-minute session Topics: Career Development, Communication, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Teams Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 306 Ever wonder if you are influencing organizational culture? In this session we will dive into your unique position as a project, program or portfolio manager to champion and spread positive organizational culture. We will look at examples, signs to watch and pitfalls to avoid to keep you from falling into the "negative zone." You will take away thought-provoking ideas and questions about how "you can influence as you work with your stakeholders.” At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand ways to champion and influence organizational culture for the good as a project, program or portfolio manager; and * Navigate unfavorable organizational culture and turn it around with continuous improvement. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Jeffery Porter PMI-ACP, PMP, PgMP, PfMP Portfolio Manager Western Governors University North America Jeffrey Porter’s career strengths are in stakeholder communications and engagement. He has been a people leader and individual contributor is his more than 20 years in project, program and portfolio management in multiple sectors (higher education, nonprofit, for-profit and government). He stresses the importance and necessity of project, program and portfolio managers to influence their organizational culture, and teaches these skills in a university setting. Over the past 30 years of being a husband, father and grandfather, he has also weaved the importance of work-life balance into any speaking engagements. It's important for individuals to unplug and succeed in life, so you can succeed and influence while on the clock as a project, program and portfolio manager. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 435: INTELLIGENT FAILURE IN PROJECTS 45-minute session Topics: Benefits Realization, Complexity, Risk Management, Using PMI Standards Learning Level: Advanced Location: 404 The unique nature of projects makes dealing with some kind of failure inevitable during its life cycle. While certain failures can be avoided, others can even be designed to enhance the outcome of the project. This session will help identify the right kind of failures to allow, and how to apply project management principles to avoid unnecessary failures. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Differentiate kinds of failures and foster learning from intelligent failure; and * Apply project management principles to avoid unnecessary failures. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.75 Speaker Andreas Madjari PMP Consultant consigma Management Beratung GmbH Europe Andreas Madjari has worked in project-management-related roles since 2006 and gained experience in managing projects of different complexity, as well as governing project management in large corporations. In 2012, he earned the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. After 24 years in the financial industry, Andreas joined a consultancy in 2023, supporting clients as project manager, project management consultant and project management trainer. In projects managed by himself, and while reviewing more than100 medium- to large-scale projects from a governance perspective, Andreas gained valuable experience not just with successes, but also with failures in projects, providing him with a rich source of lessons learned. Andreas has volunteered for PMI in different chapters and roles, including a board position, since 2013. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 436: NEW HYBRID: BRIDGING AI TOOLS WITH HUMAN-CENTERED APPROACHES TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY 45-minute session Topics: Agile, Artificial Intelligence, Innovation Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 409 Join us as we explore the symbiotic relationship between AI and human-centric methodologies, such as design thinking. This session reveals how AI gains from human insights and, conversely, how human-centered strategies are enriched by AI capabilities. Learn balanced, actionable strategies for fostering a dynamic partnership where both AI and human insights are mutually enhanced, leading to innovative solutions and heightened workplace efficiency. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Interact efficiently with AI tools in order to improve AI outcomes; and * Integrate AI tools into human-centered approaches to amplify them. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.75 Speaker Jean-Luc Favrot DASM, CAPM, PMI-ACP, DASSM, PMP Consultant in Project Management, Agility and Innovation Decisif Pacifique Europe Jean-Luc Favrot is consultant, coach, trainer, author and speaker with more than 30 years’ experience in project management across both public and private sectors. As the founder of companies specializing in project management, agility and innovation in Europe and Oceania, Jean-Luc holds several professional certifications, including PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, Disciplined Agile® Senior Scrum Master (DASSM), Project Management Professional (PMP)®, SAFe SPC, PRINCE2 and UXC/Design Thinking. He is a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP) instructor and teaches project management and digital strategy at the University of French Polynesia. A passionate advocate for integrating AI with human-centered approaches, he effectively bridges technology with user-focused strategies to enhance organizational efficiency and drive innovation. His international influence is highlighted by his roles as a development team member for A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Seventh Edition, a subject matter expert for the PMIstandards+® platform and as a contributor to The Standard for Program Management—Fifth Edition. He is an active member of the PMI community, serving as vice president of the PMI France Chapter. Currently residing in Tahiti, Jean-Luc delivers inspirational addresses, coaches organizations and leads training sessions that encourage professionals worldwide to adopt transformative methodologies. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 437: PROJECT MANAGEMENT: DELIVERING BETTER RESULTS FOR 38 MILLION AMERICANS WITH DIABETES 45-minute session Topics: PMO, Program Management, Scope Management, Stakeholder Engagement Learning Level: Core Location: 403A Diabetes is a national epidemic impacting over 38 million Americans and one of the fastest growing chronic diseases. As such, the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) mission to prevent and cure diabetes is crucial. In 2021, ADA implemented a project management office to improve the way the organization delivers on its mission. This presentation will discuss how ADA implemented a PMO to manage complex, multimillion-dollar projects, including how PMI organizational assets may be adapted for nonprofits. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Understand how nonprofit organizations can implement a PMO to more efficiently deliver on its missions; and * Implement replicable, actionable tools to facilitate outcome-driven project management. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speakers Ruby Jennings PMP Program Director American Diabetes Association North America Ruby Jennings is a project professional with more than a decade of experience providing project management and process improvement in the federal government and nonprofit healthcare sector. She is passionate about how nonprofits can utilize a project management office to transform how they deliver on their mission. Ruby holds a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University. Sheila Amanat Program Director American Diabetes Association North America Sheila Amanat, MPH, is a dedicated public health and project professional who has held various roles within the ADA. Whether it’s managing programs from camps for children with diabetes to nutrition education programs and diabetes awareness campaigns, she has utilized her project management skills to ensure safe, effective and efficient programs. Sheila received her master’s degree inf public health from University of California, Irvine, and her bachelor's of science in psychobiology from University of California, Los Angeles. She knows project management plays an essential role within every organization and, truly, within everyday life. When she’s not looking over project plans and dashboards, Sheila loves trivia, logic puzzles, hiking and spending time with her family. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 438: PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY IN PROJECT TEAMS 45-minute session Topics: Communication, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Talent Management, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: 152 Psychological safety is a workplace environment where individuals feel comfortable taking interpersonal risks, sharing ideas and expressing themselves without fear of negative consequences. In today’s world, it fosters innovation, collaboration and well-being by encouraging open communications, diverse perspectives and a culture that values each person’s input; ultimately enhancing team effectiveness and organizational success. All of these are key concepts needed to create high-performing project teams. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Recall the principles of psychological safety; and * Apply psychological safety to project teams and work environments dealing with complex projects. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Ivan Rincon PMI-RMP, PMP, PgMP Executive Director Government of British Columbia North America Ivan Rincon, P.Eng., is a professional with 33 years of experience. He holds an electronics engineering degree with post-graduate master’s in business administration and project management. He holds the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Program Management Professional (PgMP)® certifications. He also holds Certified Scrum Master and CISA certifications. He is a licensed professional engineer in Canada. He moved from Colombia to Canada in 2004 after working in big multinational companies like Telefonica, IBM and HP. Landing in British Columbia, he worked in several capacities at Amazon, HP Advanced Solutions, BC Ferries. He is currently executive director, project management with the BC Government where he oversees components of the Connecting British Columbia program, aiming to connect 100% of households in BC to broadband internet services by 2027. He is also responsible for emergency management and public safety c He has volunteered with PMI since 1997 and has presented at over 20 PMI global and regional events. He is a Leadership Institute Master Class (LIMC) alumnus (2016). Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 439: SAFE THE PLANET: TRANSFORMING ORGANIZATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT 45-minute session Topics: Agile, Change Management, Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), SCRUM Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 153 In this presentation, we explore how the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) was leveraged to drive significant environmental and social outcomes at Transport for NSW and Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Through compelling case studies, we delve into the transformative power of SAFe in delivering tangible benefits to both organizations and society at large. We establish cohesive planning practices across teams, resulting in streamlined project execution and quantifiable societal benefits in terms of improved health and environmental outcomes. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Leverage SAFe methodologies for driving organizational transformation; and * Integrate SAFe principles into an organization’s culture and operations. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.75; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 0.75 Speaker Sandeep Mathur PMP, PgMP Head of Data and Engineering Greenpeace Australia Pacific Asia Pacific Sandeep Mathur has more than 20 years of project, program and portfolio management experience in organizations such as Greenpeace, Transport for NSW, First Data, Westpac, HSBC, Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank, IBM, Fujitsu and Tourism Australia. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Computer Society, he also holds Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Program Management Professional (PgMP)® certifications. Additionally, he is a certified SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), Agile Project Management Practitioner, Management of Portfolio (MoP) Practitioner and Prosci Change Management. Sandeep has been a member of PMI since 1998 and has served on the PMI Sydney, Australia Chapter board for more than 10 years. He is currently chair of the ACS – National Diversity and Inclusion Council; member of ACS Member Advisory Board and member of Standards Australia's IT-030 Committee for IT Governance and Management. An Industry Fellow at UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, he is finalizing his doctoral research, "Managing Data Science Initiatives as Exploratory Projects: A New Approach to Program Management.” He teaches portfolio, program and data management at University of Sydney. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 440: STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP: TECHNIQUES FOR ADAPTING COMMUNICATIONS TO BUILD HIGH-PERFORMING TEAMS 45-minute session Topics: Communication, Leadership, Teams Learning Level: Core Location: 150 Unlock the secrets of high-performance teamwork and explore effective team communications. Discover the foundations of high-performing teams, delve into the importance of group culture and learn how to adapt communication styles. Uncover the power of understanding your team’s values and elevate its emotional intelligence to drive unprecedented success. Learn more during a transformative session that will help equip you with practical skills and tools to lead and elevate team performance to new heights. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Identify key characteristics and components of high-performing teams and understand the importance of a well-functioning group culture; and * Utilize practical techniques for adapting communication styles to engage and motivate team members and fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Leah Awe PMP Global Program Management Director Amgen, Inc North America Leah Awe has more than 12 years of program management and biotechnology industry experience across multiple therapeutic areas and all phases of drug development. She currently serves as a global program management director at Amgen. Inc as a strategic partner and leader to her product teams. Leah blends her passion for science and business and employs her significant expertise to create and manage timelines, mitigate project and program risks, execute key deliverables and ensure high performance across all teams. Previously, she held a variety of roles in project and program management at Amgen blending her unique scientific acumen and program management proficiency to drive successful organizational and product outcomes. Leah holds a bachelor's in biochemistry and chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also has a master’s in biotechnology and bioinformatics and a master’s in business from California State University, Channel Islands. She holds the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification and is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM). Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 441: THREE KEY PERSPECTIVES OF AI IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT: LEARNED FROM THE AI@WORK COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE 45-minute session Topics: Artificial Intelligence Learning Level: Core Location: 408B Through 5 years of study in the “AI@Work Community of Practice” at the PMI Japan Chapter, three key perspectives of AI in Project Management were found: Project Management for AI (PM4AI), AI for Project Management (AI4PM) and AI Knowledge for Project Managers (AIK4PM). This session will discuss these perspectives and provide answers to following questions: What should we do to realize the benefits of AI application in projects? How do we leverage AI to transform project management? What knowledge should project managers have about AI? At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Apply effective strategy and actions needed to apply AI to Project Management; and * Describe how a community of practice can be effective and deliver benefits, especially in the cutting-edge area of AI. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speakers Hirotoshi Kamba PMP President Kamba PM Laboratory Asia Pacific Hirotoshi Kamba has been a dedicated member of the project management field and PMI since 1997, including serving as the president of the PMI Japan Chapter. With a 38-year career at IBM Japan, he transitioned to project management after a decade as a systems engineer in the systems integration business. His expertise spans various industries, including basic metals, life insurance, banking, manufacturing, process, distribution and automobiles. Certified as a senior executive project manager, he received a contribution award from the PM Society in 2009. He led the Japanese localization and adaptation of PMMPDR: Project Management Methodology for Disaster Recovery after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. He supported PMI chapters in South Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan Taipei and Hong Kong as a PMI region mentor and continues to serve as an advisor to the PMI Japan Chapter and was recognized as Best Speaker at the Japan Forum for 2021, 2022 and 2023. He focuses on training and education in project manager competency based on the Project Manager Competency Development Framework, advocating for program management and benefits realization management. Yahiro Takegami PMP Executive Project Manager IBM Japan Asia Pacific Yahiro Takegami is an IBM-Certified Executive Project Manager with more than 25 years of various project experience, including finance, government, manufacturing, transportation and distribution—from mainframe to AI. Throughout her career, she has transitioned her responsibility from service management of IT/application outsourcing service to project management office manager of IT integration, to the AI Center of Excellence of e-business, a joint project between the customer and IBM. She currently works with the Delivery Excellence in Technology Expert Labs at IBM Japan where her primary responsibilities are increasing organizational maturity of project management. In addition to her career as a project professional, Yahiro is also a former PMI Japan Chapter board member and is a representative of the PM×AI community: AI@Work. Yahiro’s heart sits at the intersection of project management, digital transformation and customer success. She is passionate about community service and enjoys sharing about various project management and AI topics. In addition to holding Project Management Professional (PMP)® and certified scrum master certifications, she holds some IBM Watson credentials. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 442: TRAINING FUTURE LEADERS THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH BASED ON PMIEF RESOURCES 45-minute session Topics: Project Management Education Learning Level: Core Location: 151 This presentation unveils how a team of graduate students designed and delivered a training program for the Navy League of Canada. The story is about Bob, an injured pelican and a group of young 9–12-year-old cadets tasked with building a ship to save him, showcasing their project management skills. This initiative demonstrates collaborative learning and project management application in an inspiring setting using Project Management Skills for Life® by the PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF). At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Apply PMIEF skills for life to effectively build a training program that inspires future leaders to embrace project management practices; and * Incorporate training materials to teach project management to young leaders in similar age groups or organizations. PDUs: Business Acumen (all credentials): 0.75 Speaker Alcides Santopietro DASM, PMI-ACP, DASSM, DAC, PMP Founder and Lead Instructor Santopietro Project Management North America Alcides Santopietro is the founder of Santopietro Project Management, an organization based in Montreal, Canada, specializing in project management training and career coaching. With more than 22 years of project management experience, he's managed international projects across various sectors, including IT and aviation, in over 10 countries. An expert in project management education, Alcides has spent more than a decade teaching courses and preparing professionals for certifications in multiple languages and formats. He is also an academic lecturer, focusing on portfolio management in project management master’s programs. An active PMI member since 2002, Alcides has contributed as a mentor, chapter board member and Disciplined Agile® chapter champion. He has a degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in project management. He also holds CSM, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Disciplined Agile® Coach (DAC) certifications. A PMI Leadership Institute Master Class (LIMC) alumnus, Alcides hails from São Paulo, Brazil, and lives in Québec, Canada. Lightning Session| Saturday, 21 September, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT SESSION 443: WAGILE: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. A HYBRID APPROACH TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT 45-minute session Topics: Agile Learning Level: Intermediate Location: 408A “Wagile” is a funny name for hybrid project management that combines the flexibility and adaptability of agile with the structure and predictability of waterfall. In this presentation, you will learn about the benefits and challenges of wagile, the unique ways to integrate agile and waterfall practices and the key principles and tips to implement wagile successfully in your projects. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: * Explain the benefits and challenges of hybrid project management, which combines both agile and waterfall practices; and * Identify the key principles and tips to implement hybrid project management successfully in projects. PDUs: Ways of Working (CAPM/PMI-CP/PMP/PgMP): 0.75; Ways of Working (PMI-ACP/DASM/DASSM/DAC/DAVSC): 0.75 Speakers Barbara Jones PMP IT Program Management Consultant Insight Enterprises North America Barbara Jones, a seasoned program manager, boasts more than 20 years of experience in the tech industry. Her journey began as a software engineer, equipping her with a deep understanding of the field. Currently, she serves as a consultant at Insight Enterprises, where she consistently delivers results-driven outcomes for her Fortune 500 clients. Barbara’s impressive credentials include a master’s degree in business administration from Perdue Global University and several certifications, includingProject Management Professional (PMP)®, Microsoft AI-900, CSM and PAL-EBM. Beyond her professional achievements, Barbara is a passionate advocate for Women in Technology, actively mentoring and fundraising for organizations like IT Women and Inroads. Additionally, she volunteers with Dress for Success. David Rog PMP Program Manager Insight Enterprises North America David Rog is a project management and agile leader with more than 20 years of proven success leading critical initiatives for Fortune 500 companies. He has extensive experience managing global teams and excels at bridging the gap between technology and business subject matter experts. He teaches advanced agile project management to graduate students at Northeastern University and holds a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Hofstra University. David also earned a master’s degree in project management from George Washington University School of Business and holds numerous agile certifications such as Professional Scrum Master (PSM®), Certified Scrum Master (I&II), Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO®) and Scaled Agile Release Train Engineer (SAFe® RTE). David has focused his career on improving the quality and effectiveness of project-oriented people, processes and governance models. For the past 3 years he has helped teams in healthcare research data sciences balance predictive and adaptive approaches to delivering value. Networking Break| Saturday, 21 September, 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM PDT MORNING REFRESHMENT BREAK Location: South Hall HJ General Session| Saturday, 21 September, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM PDT SESSION 445: CLOSING KEYNOTE: MICK EBELING Topics: Innovation Learning Level: Intermediate Location: South Hall K Named by Fortune Magazine as a Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders, a recipient of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award and listed as one of the world’s most influential creative people by The Creativity 50’s, Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic, inspirational innovation. As a career producer and filmmaker, and founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab, Mick has dedicated his life to tapping into the power of innovation, technology, and story to change the world. PDUs: Power Skills (all credentials): 0.75 Speakers Mick Ebeling Founder and CEO Not Impossible Labs North America Mick Ebeling, a renowned producer, filmmaker, and CEO of Not Impossible Labs, is a visionary leader recognized for his transformative impact. Fortune Magazine named him one of the Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders, and he received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award. His work has earned him a spot on The Creativity 50's list of the world's most influential creative individuals. Through Not Impossible Labs, Mick harnesses the power of innovation, technology, and storytelling to drive pragmatic, inspirational change. His mantra, "commit, then figure it out," underscores his unique problem-solving approach. By assembling a diverse community of engineers, makers, and storytellers, Mick has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives such as the EyeWriter and Project Daniel. Not Impossible Labs has also birthed Bento, a text-based service combating food insecurity, and Vyb Life, a medical device company aiding Parkinson's patients. Mick's endeavors have garnered global acclaim, winning Time Magazine's Top Invention of the Year thrice and Fast Company's World Changing Idea twice. Collaborating with various entities, Mick not only elevates innovation but also shares compelling narratives of resilience, inspiring others worldwide to adopt a "Help One. Help Many" mindset, thereby catalyzing positive change. Menaka Gopinath CAPM Chief Marketing Officer PMI North America Menaka Gopinath leads efforts to enhance PMI’s global reputation, overseeing brand, communications, and marketing. She provides strategic counsel in sharing our evolving story and unique value proposition worldwide. Menaka has a successful career as a strategic leader, guiding Fortune 100 brands like Coca-Cola, Apple, Nike, Uber, P&G, and Meta in building stronger customer-centric businesses. As President and COO of Graf Lanz, she led a sustainable fashion brand, shaping the company's long-term business model and revenue growth, and overseeing sales, marketing, and merchandising. At Ipsos, she led the Social Media Exchange service line, growing the practice from 20 to 100 team members with consistent double-digit revenue growth. Passionate about purpose-driven initiatives, Menaka is on the Board of Mentors for Monday Night Mentorship, supporting career acceleration for people of color. She also served as a leader for the Women in Ipsos ERG and helped establish BRIDGE, an ERG focused on anti-racism. Menaka holds a BA in Economics and Communications from New York University and an MBA in Finance from the University of San Francisco. Saturday, 21 September, 12:45 PM - 01:00 PM PDT BOXED LUNCH PICKUP Location: South Hall HJ Feeling inspired and hungry after the Closing Keynote? Grab a boxed lunch to go! FOOTER - SOCIAL MEDIA * Facebook * LinkedIn * Twitter * Instagram * YouTube ©2024 Project Management Institute, Inc. Search Search this site Submit