PM Conference Programme

PROGRAMME

08:30

Check-in Open, Breakfast

09:30

Welcome by PMI Switzerland Chapter (20 min)

Speaker
Stefan Vesenmeier
Stefan Vesenmeier
President
PMI Switzerland
09:50

Roche Keynote and Q&A (60 min)

Speaker
communications will follow soon


Session Details

Power Skills for the Age of AI, James Heidrich, our panel moderator from Roche will lead the discussions and steer a panel of both Roche insiders and external
thought leaders as they delve into the realm of "Power Skills for the Age of AI."In an era dominated by AI, what are the essential skills and mindsets that a Project Manager must possess to navigate and excel in this landscape?

Our panelist will dissect this vital question, sharing his invaluable insights and best practices that can be put into immediate action. Expect a stimulating Q&A session that promises to be enlightening and thought-provoking.

10:50 - 11:10 Break (20 min)


Morning sessions


11:10 Breakout Session #1

Explore the success principles to drive your own emopowerment and effectiveness as PM

On power skills
Speaker
Karin Merk
Karin Merk
Senior Project Manager, PM Trainer
Lonza AG, Seva Consulting GmbH
Session Details

Success Principles (SPs) are originally designed to help people make profound shifts in their mindset. Learn how to employ SPs to become a highly successful individual yourself and to develop the Project Managers in your organisation to become more self-conscious, empowered and effective.

In this workshop we will focus on the first and most important Success Principle E+R=O and learn how to create a highly effective mindset and feel more empowered. We will listen to real life stories out of Karin’s 25y+ experience as a PM in contract organisations and we will do some fun exercises to literally feel the effect of mindset in our bodies.

Learnings

  • How to create a highly effective mindset
  • How to effectively respond to situations to create the outcome you want and how not to respond
  • Understand the role you have in the existence of a difficult and troubling situation and how to empower yourself to address this situation
  • Understand how your thoughts and convictions and your behaviour create a result
  • Understand and experience how your physical body and your mind are affected by non-empowering behaviour
11:10 Breakout Session #2

Enhancing Project Performance through AI and ML Driven Process Automation

On power skills
Speaker
Ala Lutz
Ala Lutz
Vice President of Membership 
Ex-Googler
Session Details

Are you tired of tedious manual tasks, bottlenecks in project workflows, and inefficient processes? Imagine a world where your project management becomes streamlined, effortless, and highly efficient. That's exactly what AI-driven process automation offers.

With AI-powered automation, you can enhance project performance by streamlining workflows, reducing manual effort, and improving overall efficiency. By leveraging the power of Artificial Intelligence and advanced algorithms, we can transform how you manage projects.

No longer will you have to spend countless hours on repetitive tasks that drain your team's productivity. AI-driven process automation takes care of those mundane activities, allowing your team to focus on what truly matters—innovation, creativity, and problem-solving.

By analyzing vast amounts of project data, AI algorithms can identify bottlenecks, optimize resource allocation, and predict potential risks. This data-driven approach empowers you to make informed decisions and take proactive measures, resulting in better project outcomes.

Imagine having a virtual assistant that handles project communication, updates stakeholders in real-time, and automates routine reporting. AI-powered chatbots can streamline communication channels and ensure efficient collaboration among team members, saving you precious time and effort.

With AI-driven process automation, you can achieve greater accuracy and reliability in project planning and scheduling. Advanced analytics and predictive algorithms help you set realistic timelines, allocate resources effectively, and identify potential roadblocks well in advance.

Embracing AI-driven process automation means unlocking a new level of project management efficiency. It's time to let go of manual inefficiencies and embrace the power of AI to streamline your workflows, reduce errors, and enhance project performance.

Join us on this journey of transformation and witness the incredible results AI-driven process automation can bring to your projects. It's time to revolutionize the way you work and achieve new heights of success.

11:10 Breakout Session #3

Get to know your saboteur and explore how to handle them in your every day PM challenges

On power skills
Speaker
Monika Keller
Monika Keller
Managing Director & Coach
3C Keller
Session Details

Mental Fitness (PQ training) has helped thousands of leaders and project managers raise their emotional intelligence, make better decisions and communicate more effectively by identifying and catching their own saboteurs, those voices in your head that want to keep you small or tell you how stupid you, others or circumstances are instead of exploring options, bringing empathy to yourself and others or finding innovative solutions to a problem. 

By becoming aware of those voices, you can take steps to catch and intercept them (also in others), ground yourself when you encounter stress and negative feelings and make laser-focused decisions about how to deal with challenges in a constructive way.

In the introductory workshop, we will get to know those saboteurs and see them in action in concrete situations of a project manager.

You can bring in your own experience and find out new ways of dealing with challenges in your work life.

The workshop will be interactive, so make sure you have a mobile device or laptop ready to interact and share your learnings with others.

Before the session:

If you want to know if this session is for you, please watch / read the following:

If you decide to come to the session, please take 5 minutes beforehand (best a day before the conference) to complete your FREE saboteur assessment so that you know what kind of saboteurs you are dealing with. The results will be delivered to your mailbox and are confidential.

You can also do those three things if you decide not to come to the workshop. Chances are high that you will discover something about yourself and others that may benefit you in your future work-life.

11:10 Breakout Session #4

Holcim Journey to Net Zero

On Ways of Working
Speaker
Sandeep Garg
Sandeep Garg
Project Director
Holcim
Session Details

Holcim’s Transformation Journey to decarbonize building across its entire lifecycle to build a net-zero future that works for people and the planet covering the following main topics:

  • Transformation Strategy
  • Megatrends Driving Construction
  • Accelerating Green Growth
  • Circular Economy
  • Reducing Carbon Footprint

Learning outcomes 

In this workshop, we will learn:

  • Organizational Transformation with relevance to PMI’s Brightline Transformation Principles
  • Impact of Organizational Transformation on Project Portfolio and Required Skills
  • Importance of Decarbonizing for a Net-Zero Future

12:00 - 12:50 Lunch



Afternoon sessions


13:00 Breakout Session #5

Transforming Project Management into Business Excellence Function

On Business Acumen
Speaker
Stefan Isler
Stefan Isler
Senior Consultant
Projects4P and R+R Burger & Partner
Session Details

Introduction and Application of the 4P House concept which change the focus from single stand-alone initiatives to a holistic and systematic approach to build a robust project management landscape (closely linked to the PMI Talent triangle)

Let’s build together the 4P house during this session within an initial presentation of the concept followed by the construction and visualization of the 4P house within your professional activity.

The learnings from this session are the following:

  • Why it’s crucial to embed single initiatives into a holistic framework to achieve Business Excellence.
  • The critical prerequisites for being able to build a robust landscape (Conflict requirement vs approach)
  • How the understanding and building of the PMI core competencies are key to scale project management capabilities within an organization.
  • What are triggers that impede the further development of project management as a discipline in organizations.

The session is structured through the 4P House concept. It is enriched by practical examples linked to the PMI talent triangle skills.

13:55 Breakout Session #7

Megatrends, the future of work and the power skills we need to succeed

On power skills
Speaker
Lucila Dotto
Lucila Dotto
Partner Success Manager
PMI
Session Details

We’re living in a world with an increasingly high rate of change, requiring people and organizations to develop transferable ways of working to adapt. In 2021 we learned there might not be a new normal, only the perpetual and accelerating pace of change. As PMI actively monitors the technological dynamics, demographic shifts, and complexities of globalization that are reshaping our world, six megatrends stand out based on their impact and the implications for projects across the world.

  • Digital Disruption
  • Climate Crisis
  • Demographic Shifts
  • Economic Shifts
  • Labor Shortages
  • Civil, Civic, and Equality Movements

Based on these Global Trends we have found our future-proof skills that will boost your employability and get connected to exclusive career development resources by Project Management Institute. You’ll learn:

  • Top global trends that are shaping today’s workforce
  • How organizations are restructuring to adapt
  • Why project-based work is leading the economy
  • Some of the future-proof skills that professionals need to succeed in any industry
13:00 Workshop #1

Impactful public speaking workshop for PMs

On power skills
Speaker
Damien Gauthier
Damien Gauthier
Founder
ImpactfulSpeaking
Session Details

Upcoming...

13:00 Workshop #2

The disciplined way of doing agile

On Business Acumen
Speaker
Florian Ivan
Florian Ivan
Managing Director

Rolf Consulting

Session Details

This session delves into the unique qualities that set Disciplined Agile (DA) apart from other methodologies and emphasizes its practicality in implementation. Attendees will discover the key differentiators of DA and understand how easily it can be integrated into their organizations. 

Disciplined Agile stands out by offering a comprehensive and pragmatic approach to agility. It provides a hybrid framework that integrates various agile practices, enabling organizations to customize their implementation. This adaptability makes DA versatile and adaptable to different contexts, empowering teams to leverage their strengths and select practices that align with their needs. 

DA's ease of implementation lies in its emphasis on embracing the organizational context. It acknowledges that each organization operates within unique constraints and challenges. By assessing the context and selecting practices accordingly, teams can smoothly transition to DA without requiring drastic process overhauls. This context-driven approach ensures a practical and realistic implementation. 

DA is designed to build upon the foundation of existing agile knowledge. Organizations that have already adopted agile practices can seamlessly transition to DA by enhancing their current approaches. DA provides comprehensive guidance and resources, enabling teams to evolve their practices incrementally and foster continuous improvement. This approach minimizes disruption and maximizes the utilization of existing agile knowledge. 

DA offers robust implementation support through its comprehensive toolkit and guidance. It provides practical insights on scaling agile practices, addressing governance and compliance, and navigating the full product lifecycle. With a wide range of options and techniques, the DA toolkit allows organizations to tailor the methodology to their specific needs. Clear implementation pathways and support resources make the adoption of DA a practical and achievable endeavor. 

This session aims to inspire attendees to consider Disciplined Agile as a transformative and practical approach to agility. By leveraging its unique differentiators, embracing the organizational context, building on existing agile knowledge, and utilizing the pragmatic implementation support, organizations can seamlessly integrate DA and drive impactful change. With DA, they can unlock their true potential in an agile and adaptive world. 

Learning Outcomes: 

  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of Disciplined Agile and its key elements. 
  • Explore the benefits of cultivating a comprehensive agile mindset throughout the organization. 
  • Gain insights into the hybrid approach of Disciplined Agile, allowing for customization and adaptation. 
  • Acquire practical strategies for scaling agility, embracing value-driven delivery, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
13:00 Breakout Session #8

From engineering project management to environmental sustainability within manufacturing: description of a journey

On power skills
Speaker
Matteo Scalabrino
Matteo Scalabrino
Global Manufacturing Sustainability Lead

Syngenta Crop Protection AG

Session Details

The subject of the environmental sustainability of industrial manufacturing is rapidly moving from a Free-to-Operate to a License-to-Operate domain. This transformation is happening on a global level, with developing economies such as EU and USA leading the path.

This change, coupled with more stringent ESG reporting frameworks, requires the development of a robust governance of the operational environmental impact, and of the carbon footprint in particular.


In this session we will exchange on:

  • What does managing sustainability mean for an industrial/chemical manufacturing operation?
  • How do the competencies of an engineering project manager be leveraged?
  • What are the next generation skills that will be required for successfully managing sustainable industrial operations?
13:55 Breakout Session #9

Effects of recent and upcoming AI discoveries

On Ways of Working
Speaker
Annar Merirand
Annar Merirand
Scrum Master & Agile Coach
Session Details

The rise of the Large Language Models has brought the topic of Artificial Intelligence into the spotlight again.

The engine behind AI - machine learning, that was first formed in the 1950s, has been part of our everyday lives for decades, often invisible.

We will look at the situation on 3 different levels: Individual, Organizational and Societal and discuss how to take advantage of the opportunities and mitigate the risks that are highly likely to be realized.

Learning outcomes:

  • Understanding on what is happening in AML (Advanced Machine Learning) space
  • How to take advantage of the opportunities and mitigate the risks involved
  • How to spark discussions on what to do next in your organization
13:00 Networking / Speed dating #1

Networking / Speed dating #1

Networking
13:55 Networking / Speed dating #2

Networking / Speed dating #2

Networking

14:40 - 15:10 Break (30 min)


15:10 Breakout Session #10

Unleashing its true potential: Evolving a “time-and-budget” PMO into a Global-Transformation-Office that influences and delivers the strategy.

On Business Acumen
Speaker
Alexandre Rezende
Alexandre Rezende
Associate Partner
AdEx Partners
Jochen Gajda
Jochen Gajda
Partner
AdEx Partners
Session Details

Can you imagine evolving a PMO towards a Global-Transformation-Office which paves the path from strategy towards delivery?

This presentation aims to inspire a resounding "yes!" as we unveil the journey of the PMO's “metamorphosis”, contributing up to 40% of the company's results.

Join us as we explore the steps taken to establish a robust global framework & governance while fostering a cultural change. We will provide details behind our integrative approach and share how we triumphed over various challenges along the way.

16:05 Breakout Session #11

Crisis resolution for Project Managers: empathetic listening

On power skills
Speaker
Alberto Restuccia
Alberto Restuccia
PMP
Session Details

Based on my training as a crisis hotline operator (volunteer) and passion for the field of negotiation, I want to propose an introduction to the power of listening. These activities we all do, many times on auto-pilot, when done with purpose and attention, can return many times the dividend in less conflict, smoother execution, and higher engagement.

Learning Outcomes

  • How to approach (difficult) discussions ?
  • What to be mindful of ?
  • What questions are best to ask ?
  • What to absolute avoid?
15:10 Workshop #3

Wicked Problem solving to explore better ways to solve complex problems and collaborate with others.

On power skills
Speakers
Tetiana Pavliuk
Tetiana Pavliuk
Sponsors & Partners volunteer
PMI Switzerland
Adi Muslic
Adi Muslic
VP Sponsors & Partners
PMI Switzerland
Joachim Dehais
Joachim Dehais
VP Volunteers
PMI Switzerland
Session Details

We introduce to you PMI's latest tool to break complex problems into simple collaborative exercises. With this tool, you will identify, analyze, and solve problems easily to ensure better outcomes for yourself and those around you.

Through this introduction, we will show you examples of complex problems and a taste of the tools you can use on them. First comes framing and understanding problems. After this, we will go through the search for and design of solutions, followed by methods to take decisions and plan action.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understanding how to frame complex problems
  • Knowing how to decide efficiently on a way to address them
  • Practicing collaborative problem solving tools
15:10 Workshop #4

Interactive session with station on running agile business intelligence

On Ways of Working
Speaker


Gianna Neeser
Gianna Neeser
Consultant Data & Analytics / Associate Partner
IT-Logix

 

 

 
Raphael Branger
Raphael Branger
Principal Consultant Data & Analytics
IT-Logix
Session Details

Embark on an agile journey with your BI or DWH project via our tour of Agile BI City. Our interactive workshop features over 30 waypoints across seven distinct districts to help navigate your own Agile BI journey. Starting at Foundation Beach, we explore agile principles, processes, contracts, and requirement handling, culminating in a reflection on your organization's position in the Agile BI landscape. Post-workshop, you'll possess practical experience, a clearer path ahead, and an Agile BI City map.

 

Key Learnings

  • Mastering the techniques to effectively establish your Agile BI project.
  • Gaining insights into the process of agile BI requirements gathering.
  • Exploring the variety of agile development processes available for delivering BI systems.
  • Assessing the current state of Agile BI in your organization and plotting potential next steps.
  • Learning strategies to harmonize agile practices with contracting processes in the BI domain.
  • Identifying and understanding the role of design patterns and automation tools for achieving a robust system architecture
15:10 Breakout Session #12

Empowering Tomorrow's Project Leaders: Unveiling Motivation of Gen Y

On power skills
Speaker
Ruth Christine Lechler
Ruth Christine Lechler
PaResearch Associate, Zurich University of Applied Sciences
ZHAW
 
Session Details

Shape tomorrow’s projects and unleash young talent by learning what motivates young project professionals to work on projects.

Young professionals are increasingly looking for a specific work environment characterized by opportunities for learning, meaningfulness and achievement. Projects outcomes offer the kind of work environment that fits the expectations of young professionals quite well. In this session, we present research results on what motivates young professionals to work on projects and how team leads and organizations can leverage this and support project management careers.

 In this session you will…

  • …leverage your energy and passion for successful projects by focusing on what truly motivates you.
  • …learn to mentor young professionals effectively.
  • …discover how to motivate and lead young team members.
  • …learn to stay competitive by tapping into the potential of your young workforce.

The session draws on the findings of the PMI-funded research project, The Future of Project Work.

16:05 Breakout Session #13

Leverage of AI artificial swarm intelligence for PM

On Ways of Working
Speaker
Frank Wendt
Frank Wendt
Managing Director
Protiviti
Baris Karapinar
Baris Karapinar
Head ESG & Sustainability
Protiviti
Session Details

Upcoming...

15:10 Networking / Speed dating #3

Networking / Speed dating #3

Networking
16:05 Networking / Speed dating #4

Networking / Speed dating #4

Networking

17:00 - 17:30 Closing session

17:30 - 20:00 Networking Apéro


20:00 Doors Closing