Projectified

What does the 2020 jobs scene look like for project professionals? In the season 3 opener of ProjectifiedTM, we get the scoop from Lindsay Scott, PM Network career columnist and co-founder of Arras People in London, England. She discusses the state of the job market as a potential recession looms and how a strong network and working across sectors can help project professionals in times of economic uncertainty. She also talks people skills— including a new focus on empathy and mental health among project leaders.   David Paré, PMP, CTO for healthcare business at DXC Technology in Perth, Australia, discusses how AI will change work. He also offers tips for using champions to sell tech projects.   Key themes: [02:51] Project opportunities during economic uncertainty [08:23] A stronger focus on empathy and mental health [12:36] Understand what you need to learn—and unlearn [15:40] Must-have skills for healthcare projects [16:43] How the AI upheaval will change work [18:46] Managing tech, change and stakeholders

There’s a lot of change happening in project management. At PMI’s Global Conference, we talked with project leaders about what’s new and next for 2020—and beyond. They discussed new ways of thinking and what next-gen project professionals mean for the future of work.   Narasimha Acharya, PMP, assistant director in the client technology practice at Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, talked about adapting to evolving trends and advocating for change.   Mike Palladino, PMP, head of the Agile Center of Excellence at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Paoli, Pennsylvania, USA, discussed how teaching needs to change and encouraged new project managers to accept ambiguity.    Fernando Antonio Oliveira, E2 program director for Embraer in São José dos Campos, Brazil, proposed new ways of working—from how we use data to finding ways to change the world.   Kaustuv Bagchi, head of India operations for oil and gas offshore projects for LT Hydrocarbon Engineering in Mumbai, India, talked about how disruptive technology can help younger project managers learn different skills.   Olivier Schmitt, CEO of The Project Group France SAS in Lyon, discussed how organizations struggle to integrate emerging points of view from up-and-coming project professionals entering the workforce.   Key themes [00:58] Positioning yourself for success in a time of change [02:10] Honing new ways of thinking and adjusting to change [04:56] Using data for prevention instead of reaction  [06:28] Disruptive technology as a teaching tool [08:47] Bringing together new and established ways of working [09:48] Why you should seek a mentor—even if it takes time [12:44] Avoiding the right versus wrong mentality [13:56] How do you want to change the world?

As technology evolves, so does the way we work. At PMI Global Conference, Bob Safian, founder of The Flux Group and former editor-in-chief of Fast Company, talked about how technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning present project leaders with new opportunities—as well as new risks. He also discussed the factors fueling The Project Economy—and why as the world of work continues to shift, the most important skill is the ability to keep learning.   Key themes: [01:01] Why we’re moving to The Project Economy [03:17] Technology’s effect on business [06:51] Risks project leaders face as the world of work evolves [10:08] New opportunities coming from The Project Economy [12:13] The new needed skill: Continue learning new skills [13:28] How projects can leave a lasting legacy

Almost every executive is talking transformation. But the real test is whether project leaders can make it a reality. Two leaders from the Brightline Initiative discuss why successful transformations are really about bringing people together—and winning over their hearts and minds.   Ricardo Vargas, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP, executive director of the Brightline Initiative, discussed how organizations need to focus on people and culture—not just technology—during transformations. And that starts with getting executives and project teams on the same page.   Tahirou Assane, PMP, director of operations for the Brightline Initiative, shared how finding internal champions to back transformation initiatives will help keep things on track and build more buy-in. He also discussed how organizations need to prepare employees to accept, adopt and embrace change as the new normal.   Key themes: [00:22] Challenges to transformation [01:22] Putting people, culture at the center of transformations [03:00] How internal champions can increase buy-in [04:17] Accepting and embracing transformations as the new standard [07:25] Getting executives and project teams on the same page

As the business world changes, so too does project management. At PMI’s Global Conference 2019, project and program leaders shared how the profession has evolved, discussed the must-have skills and looked back at some of the projects that inspired them.   Fernando Antonio Oliveira, of Embraer in São José dos Campos, Brazil, and Shobhna Raghupathy, PMP, with Proficient Project Consulting Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, shared how Apollo 11 and the World Wide Web influenced them.   Laila Faridoon with the PMI UAE chapter in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Vinod Kumar Paidakula, PMI-ACP, PMP, PgMP, with KLC Consulting in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, discussed how project management has evolved with the mainstreaming of agile and the introduction of disruptive technologies.   Narasimha Acharya, PMP, of Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, talked about how technologies like artificial intelligence can change the profession—he believes for the better. Marc Lahmann with PwC Switzerland in Zurich shared how organizations are using simple AI, such as automation or chat bots, as well as advanced AI, like machine learning, predictive and fully autonomous project management.   Taiwo Abraham, PMP, with Horizant and Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, discussed the new must-have skills like strategic thinking and how volunteering can help project professionals gain experience.   Key themes [00:22] Highlights from PMI’s Global Conference 2019 [01:43] Inspirational and influential projects [05:32] Agile going mainstream [08:23] Technology’s impact: Transformation, tools and more [10:14] AI—both simple and complex—in project management [13:01] Broader roles lead to skill shift for project leaders

Are you ready for The Project Economy? At PMI Global Conference 2019, PMI President and CEO Sunil Prashara discussed how global trends like population growth and alternative energy are driving The Project Economy, the new opportunities coming from AI and other disruptive technologies, and how project and program managers can prepare themselves for the future. Key Themes [01:47] Global trends influencing project work [04:30] Work is changing: From lifelong careers to project-based roles [06:00] Needed skill sets in a shifting project landscape [06:52] How automation, AI can lead to opportunities in project management [07:45] Preparing for the future of The Project Economy  

As PMI celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look back at some of the most influential projects of the past 50 years. Guests discuss how these projects led to new ways of thinking, new technologies and how they changed the world.   Ahmed Bouzid, the former head of product on Amazon’s Alexa team, shares what inspired the project. Plus, he talks about how focusing on a minimum viable product helped the team gain feedback from customers—and ultimately deliver a mega-successful product.     Antti Heinonen, former director of banknotes at the European Central Bank, discusses how the team made the largest currency changeover of all time happen—without a glitch.   Aristides Patrinos, former director of biological and environmental research at the U.S. Department of Energy, talks about the inspiration for the Human Genome Project and what it could mean for medicine in the future.    Ilya Marotta, the Panama Canal’s chief operating officer, shares why the project to expand the canal was so important to the country, and how clear structure and strong leadership helped keep team members on track.   Key themes [00:23] Most influential projects of the past 50 years [03:12] Q&A with Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa [05:41] Focusing on minimum viable product and customer feedback [07:46] Hopes for Alexa—and her role in human interaction [09:39] How the euro was launched [11:23] Taking exceptional measures to prepare billions of coins and banknotes [14:29] The euro’s role in cultural change [16:03] Inspiration for the Human Genome Project [17:47] A new approach and specific roles for scientific researchers [19:59] A completed genome sequence: what followed and what’s to come [21:26] The importance of the Panama Canal expansion to the country’s economy [22:42] Building a project team that could deliver on time

We live in an era of instant gratification—and it’s redefined the customer experience. Guests discuss how technology has changed customer expectations and the innovations that are helping organizations provide faster, more personalized service.    Sindhu Joseph, CEO and founder of CogniCor Technologies in San Francisco, California, USA, outlines how artificial intelligence can help organizations deliver on-demand customer service.   Members of the PMO team at Triglav Group in Ljubljana, Slovenia explain how digitizing and centralizing customer data helped transform Triglav’s customer experience.   Borislav Tadić, PMP, vice president responsible for transformation and board member support for data protection, legal and compliance at Deutsche Telekom in Bonn, Germany, discusses how taking a more holistic approach—and getting every department involved—can help an organization offer a better customer experience.   Key Themes: [00:23] Evolving customer expectations  [02:46] How AI can enhance customer service [06:13] Creating more customized customer interactions [08:14] Case study: Triglav’s digital transformation [12:57] Delivering transparency, personalization, simplicity [15:03] Taking a holistic approach to customer experience [17:48] Simplifying processes creates better customer experiences

The world is changing fast. And big changes come with new risks—and new security vulnerabilities. Guests discuss emerging threats, what projects introduce the most security risk and how organizations can protect themselves. Albert Torres, PMP, cybersecurity program manager at Lockheed Martin in San Antonio, Texas, USA, outlines how to keep cloud-based projects secure. Kimberly Valentine, program manager for the office of the chief information security officer (CISO) and senior manager overseeing cybersecurity operations at Brunswick Corp., based in Denver, Colorado, USA, shares how she’s integrating cybersecurity reviews into the organization’s project planning process. Retired Air Force Brigadier Gen. Greg Touhill, president of Cyxtera Federal Group in Washington, D.C., was the United States’ first CISO during the Obama administration. He discusses what he learned during his time in public service and the greatest threats organizations need to defend against.   Key Themes: [00:22] Cybersecurity risks—and potential costs [03:14] Securing cloud-based projects [05:39] Creating a unified front [07:13] Building a cybersecurity culture [10:27] Lessons from the United States’ first CISO [14:15] Organizations face threats from outside and within [19:11] Strategies to succeed in security-focused projects

Predictive modeling. Augmented reality. Digital twin. Disruptive tech is changing the game for construction projects. Guests discuss how technology has helped them work more efficiently, create safer job sites and make better business decisions. Colin Cagney, PMP, director in KPMG’s major projects advisory practice in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, discusses how data analytics can help organizations prevent accidents and improve project outcomes. Monica Sosa, senior associate and project manager at Corgan in Culver City, California, USA, outlines how her organization used 3D cameras and augmented reality glasses to spot potential design flaws on an airport expansion project. Arsen Safaryan, head of building information modeling and digital construction at ALEC in Dubai, UAE, talks about what it takes to get new technology adopted across an organization—and what innovations are delivering the most value.     Key themes: [00:22] Trends in construction technology [04:13] Using data to inform project decisions [05:24] How data analysis can make job sites safer [08:36] Piloting disruptive technology [13:17] Top innovations influencing construction projects [15:29] Adopting new tech across an organization [18:41] In-demand skills for the future