‍[Upcoming Events]

Editorial - Reflecting on the PM Conference and looking ahead

Dear readers,

In this edition of our newsletter, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of past accomplishments and future aspirations. The main reason is the resounding success of the PM Conference hosted at Roche (Basel) last October. We are excited to share with you an array of retrospective articles that will allow you to savor the rich insights, knowledge, and personal experiences that unfolded during this innovative event.

Our commitment to keeping you well-informed remains solid. Over the coming months, we will continue to curate a wealth of content designed to ensure you have access to a comprehensive overview of the conference proceedings. Rest assured, we aim to strike a delicate balance, providing depth without overwhelming you.

But that's not all. This newsletter issue also unveils an appealing glimpse into the future. We have recharged our creative engines and are gearing up for our usual event organizations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional events teams across various regions whose unwavering dedication consistently ensures the delivery of high-quality events. They truly rock!!, and their commitment to excellence never weakens.

I'd like to personally share my experience of the PM Conference. It was an effort that provided significant value and proved to be a remarkable learning experience. The insightful speakers and the stimulating interactions with fellow attendees offered a unique platform for in-depth discussions among peers. It was a forum where we contemplated novel approaches to work, fostering a culture of innovation and evolution.

The conference was an opportunity to challenge the status quo, explore uncharted territories, and adopt fresh perspectives on our work. It reaffirmed the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and collaboration in our ever-evolving professional landscape.

In the spirit of our ongoing journey together, we invite you to delve into the content within these pages and relive the moments from the PM Conference. As we set our sights on the horizon, we eagerly anticipate what the future holds and the collective wisdom we will gain along the way. Thank you for being part of our vibrant community, and for the many more shared experiences, learnings, and endeavors in the world of project management.

Warm regards,

Daniel

PMI Switzerland Chapter

‍Message from the Board

Celebrating Success: The 12th PMI Switzerland Conference in Basel

Dear PMI Switzerland Chapter Members and Volunteers,

I trust this message finds you in good health and high spirits, sharing in the enthusiasm and pride that fills my heart. It is with immense joy that I write to you today on behalf of the Board Members to reflect upon and express our heartfelt gratitude for the resounding success of the 12th PMI Switzerland Conference held in Basel. This remarkable event focused on "Innovative Project Management: Power Skills for the Future," was nothing short of extraordinary, and it owes its success to the unwavering dedication of our incredible team of 27 volunteers.

‍Our conference, which brought together nearly 200 participants from diverse backgrounds, exceeded all our expectations. The sessions were brimming with thought-provoking discussions, the venue was exceptional, and the support from Roche, under the leadership of James Heidrich and their exceptional tech and event team, was invaluable.

A special mention is due to two outstanding individuals who led this project with unwavering dedication and unparalleled expertise. David Puippe and Marco Singarella, your exceptional leadership as project leads made a significant impact. Your vision, leadership, and tireless efforts were instrumental in making this event a remarkable triumph.

In addition to David and Marco, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to each of our 27 dedicated volunteers. Your commitment to the cause, your tireless efforts, and your unwavering support were the cornerstones upon which this event was built. Without your selfless contributions, this conference would not have achieved the resounding success that it did.

We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the speakers, as well as our sponsors and partners, whose vital roles were instrumental in making this event a resounding success. A big thank you to the participants and the broad project community that supported and showed confidence by actively participating, making this conference one of the top events uniting project management professionals in Switzerland.

‍As we reflect on the journey we've undertaken, let us take pride in the following achievements:

• Engaging topics were discussed through interactive sessions that not only educated but also inspired our participants.
• Nearly 200 enthusiastic individuals from diverse backgrounds came together to learn, network, and grow, fostering a rich and diverse community.
• The event was held in a fantastic venue, thanks to the generous support of Roche, with our sincere appreciation extended to James Heidrich and the entire Roche tech and event team.
• The incredible speakers and PMI volunteers who shared their time and expertise were pivotal to the event's success.

The organization of this conference is the result of unwavering commitment, requiring countless hours of volunteer work. Yet, it's an endeavor we all willingly and eagerly underlook, driven by our shared goal of giving back to our community and advancing the field of project management. This experience has been a beautiful reminder of the significance of our mission, and as a PMI family, we hold it dear to our hearts.

Thank you

Thando DUBE

[Retrospective PM Conference Article]

Get to know your saboteur and explore how to handle them in your everyday PM challenges by Monika Keller

Monika kicked off the session by sharing her experiences in a toxic work environment. She described the frustration and overwhelm she felt during work tasks, unsure of the source until a crucial conversation with her manager. The manager's questions revealed Monika's self-imposed pressure and responsibility, leading to the realization that she was contributing to the toxic atmosphere.

This led Monika to advocate for herself, adopting a smarter approach to work. This set the stage for discussing inner saboteurs, illustrated with examples of inefficient work practices like participation in unproductive meetings and self-sabotaging behaviors like procrastinaion or employee energy waste. 

Monika emphasized that, in most cases, we sabotage ourselves, others, and our circumstances. She introduced saboteurs—inner voices with predominantly negative impacts on our mindset but also work environment and decisions.

[PMI Switzerland Chapter Elections]

PMI Switzerland Chapter Elections: Your Vote, Your Impact (November 15 – December 15, 2023)

The Project Management Institute (PMI) Switzerland Chapter is a community driven by innovation, leadership, and collaboration. Please be on the lookout for an email from the Global PMI team on November 15th with the voting instructions. We are counting on your involvement to shape the future of PMI Switzerland.

As we navigate a world of constant change, we want to highlight the power of voting. Your vote is important and here’s why it matters to PMI Switzerland:

Shaping Our Chapter's Future: Your vote directly influences the leadership and direction of PMI Switzerland. By participating in chapter elections, you ensure that our leaders represent your values, interests, and vision for our community.

[Retrospective PM Conference Article ]

Effects of recent and upcoming AI discoveries 

‍The session started with explaining general terms in the area of AI together with a roadmap of its development - here, we stopped and gave it a moment to understand where we are currently.

Basically, we have Narrow AI and Weak AI which is capable of doing narrow set of tasks as eg. recognising or creating speech and recognizing or creating images. The AI explosion is happening now because we have access to two components: scalable computing power and high quality data.

The other thing which was pointed out is the difference between Narrow AI and AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). This introduction could help us imagine more easily what will come next with a great example of having a video call with AI tools which will change how we learn and work.

Afterwards we dived into opportunities and risks that bring AI into individual, organizational and societal aspects of our lives. 

[Article]

Navigating the Digital Era: How Project Managers Enable Sustainable Growth?

In the fast-paced world of digital advancements, project managers are becoming pivotal navigators, steering organizations toward sustainable growth. PMI Switzerland's strategy is designed to help you smoothly sail in the modern business environment.

Renowned for our commitment to equipping professionals with essential skills and knowledge, we ensure project managers are not mere participants but leaders in the digital revolution.

Lenka Pincot, Chief of Staff to the PMI CEO and an expert with 20 years of experience in connecting business strategies to IT innovations enlightened the topic and shared invaluable insights in the recently hosted event.

[Article]

PMI UK Virtual Sustainability Summit 8th November 2023 

Dear PMI Switzerland Community,

We are thrilled to introduce one of our speakers for the upcoming Sustainability Summit on November 8th, 2023.

Mariia Borsuk, a biotechnology industry professional with a focus on sustainable projects, will be talking about “Tackling Multiple SDGs With The Power Of Cellular Agriculture.” The presentation promises to be a thought-provoking journey into the future of sustainable food production, and the critical role project managers can play in this transformation.

In an era where meat consumption has skyrocketed, Mariia will shed light on the astonishing shift in the perception of meat from a luxury product to a daily staple and the alarming environmental cost of our meat-heavy diets.

[Survey]

What motivates project managers to work in projects and to pursue a career in project management? 

This is exactly what a scientific study, conducted by WU Wien and TU Darmstadt is investigating.

This global survey represents a significant extension of the PMI-supported research project, "The Future of Project Work."

You can find the attached Whitepaper, which presents the extensive research findings.

This survey will be distributed globally and the findings will be presented in an online conference early 2024

[Article]

Martin Haerri has won PMI® Eric Jenett Person of the Year Award

I am proud to share that our Martin Haerri has been named PMI® Eric Jenett Person of the Year Award winner! The PMI® Eric Jenett Person of the Year Award recognizes and honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the project management profession or its practice through leadership, technical project management, and strategic and business management acumen.

There are certainly many PMI volunteers which have served their chapter over a long time, and in many different functions. What distinguishes Martin is that he created in 2010 the “Swiss Corporate Networking Group” (SCNG) which is unique in the PMI landscape. Since then, 36 meetings have taken place so it can certainly be called a long-lasting success.

[Article]

Problem solving comes to Ticino 

In the late and cold days of November, join us Down South for a day workshop. We'll experiment with the tools, techniques, and mindset of solving even the thorniest of problems.

First order of the day, solving the difficult question of eating all the fine foods on offer.
More seriously, the day will feature minimal theory on the structure and approach to problems. We prefer instead to dive deep into practice, with simple and challenging scenarios.

To do so you will practice methods to run workshops and drive collaboration, first.

[Article]

Implementing Disciplined Agile at Swissquote

True business agility comes from freedom, not frameworks. Disciplined Agile helps you learn about your options and guides you to your best next step.

At our event on 9 November, Fostering Innovation and Optimizing Delivery: Embracing Disciplined Agile Practices in a FinTech, at Swissquote in Gland, you will have the opportunity to hear how Swissquote adapted their way of working using Disciplined Agile principles.

During this presentation, Edwige Fiaclou and Laetitia Aegerter-Cuello will explain through practical examples and solutions, how they addressed common challenges and how they always keep valuable takeaways in mind when applying these strategies, ensuring they remain competitive and innovative in an ever-changing environment.

[Social media]

‍What's‍ New on Your YouTube Channel?

The PMI Switzerland Chapter has developped its own YouTube channel. Every month you can watch interesting topics about project management and all around.

Discover the last 3 videos posted on the channel:

‍The PMI Switzerland Chapter is a non-profit professional business organization, and is a chartered chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI), Newtown Square, PA, USA.

Views and opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and, unless otherwise stated, do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the chapter or PMI or imply partnership.

© Copyright 2022 Project Management Institute Switzerland Chapter. All rights reserved.

Unsubscribe from our Newsletter ‍

‍ ‍