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The Power Skill of the Future: Effective Communication in Project Management

Author: Joanna Lubowiecka

Joanna Lubowiecka

The Power Skill of the Future: Effective Communication in Project Management

Interview with Damien Gauthier, speaker of the 12th PMI Switzerland PM Conference

In today's rapidly evolving business environment, communication has emerged as a highly differentiating skill for project leaders.

Project Managers' roles transcend the technical aspects of project processes, pivoting towards soft skills that drive team engagement, client satisfaction, and project success. But achieving proficiency in communication, particularly public speaking, is not without challenges.

Damien Gauthier

The Driving Force of AI

As we venture deeper into the age of Artificial Intelligence, we foresee that AI will shoulder most of the redundant manual tasks, freeing up Project Managers to focus on more strategic and people-oriented aspects of their roles. 

This prediction from Ricardo Vargas in his latest post (https://rvarg.as/1je/) is seconded by PMI's Pulse of the Profession 2023 report, where communication tops the Power Skills needed by project professionals.

In this not-so-distant future, PMs' capacity for conveying clear, persuasive messages will be the primary factor impacting their team's performance, the outcomes of their projects, and their professional career.

A Workshop to Harness the Future: Impactful Public Speaking for Project Managers

Enter Damien Gauthier's Impactful Public Speaking Workshop for Project Managers. As the founder of ImpactfulSpeaking, Damien has crafted a course tailored to prepare Project Managers for this imminent future. His workshop goes beyond superficial tips and tricks, empowering you with actionable frameworks and professional-level techniques to craft clear arguments and deliver them confidently.

The Man Behind: Meet Damien Gauthier

Damien's diverse background uniquely positions him to elevate your communication skills. As a mathematician, an actor, a director, a UX lead, and a team manager, Damien has accumulated a wealth of experiences that inform his holistic approach to speaking. With the precision of a mathematician, the flair of an actor, and the acumen of a team leader, he helps you master the fundamentals before guiding you toward developing advanced skills.

But his journey didn't stop there. As a curator and coach for TEDx Lausanne since 2015, Damien has honed his expertise to deliver transformative communication training. 

His philosophy? 

To empower good ideas with good storytelling for the benefit of organizational success.

Damien's Journey With PMI

In his successful collaboration with PMI Switzerland, Damien has delivered Impactful Speaking workshops and a 2-day masterclass, leaving a lasting impact on participants. Feedback from these attendees testify to mastering the art of persuasive communication and conquering stage fright – skills valuable across any professional context.

The Future is Now: Join the Communication Revolution

Communication is the key to better results and a thriving work environment. As the leading force in advancing project management excellence, it's only natural for PMI and its members to prioritize this skill. To equip yourself with the tools for effective communication, join Damien's Impactful Public Speaking Workshop.

To know more about Damien and his approach to communication training, visit his knowledge base for free at https://impactfulspeaking.substack.com and explore his training and coaching philosophy at www.impactfulspeaking.com

Trust in him to transform your communication abilities and unlock your true potential.

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

Author: Joanna Lubowiecka

Joanna Lubowiecka

Interview with Matteo Salabrina, speaker of the 12th PMI Switzerland PM Conference

Get ready to be inspired by Matteo Scalabrino, a distinguished speaker at the 12th PMI Conference who will take us into the journey of From engineering project management to environmental sustainability within manufacturing: description of a journeyand check out the insightful pre-conference interview with him.

 

Matteo Salabrina

 

1. How would you introduce yourself? How would you describe your personal and career achievements?

I am an industrial engineer, by training and by professional experience. I have oriented my career to the international level since the very beginning, in 1998, when I had the opportunity to complement my engineering degree from the Polytechnic School of Turin (Italy) with a master's degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Montpellier (France).

I had the opportunity to pursue my career by taking R&D roles in the USA and in France, and I was able to move to process development and engineering project management in 2005, when I participated in the construction and commissioning of a new plant in Germany. From there, I moved on to similar projects in Italy, Romania and China until 2011.

During the first half of my career, I had the opportunity to cumulate a significant experience in engineering project management within the fast-paced environment of startup companies: we had to fail quickly and learn fast, and we lacked the structure of a formal engineering project management process.

This is exactly what I found when I moved to Syngenta Switzerland at the end of 2011. Syngenta is a company that collected and merged the legacy of two major European chemical conglomerates of the 20th century: the Swiss CIBA and the British ICI. Part of this legacy was a very robust governance of capital expenditure, backed up by an equally robust engineering project management process. The quality of these processes was confirmed back in 2017 by a benchmark performed by IPA, "a benchmarking, research, and consulting organization devoted to the empirical research of capital projects and project systems".

For 10 years (from end of 2011 until end of 2021), I occupied roles with an increasing level of responsibility within the Syngenta EAME Capital Project Group: project engineer, project manager and eventually engineering manager. I directly managed a project portfolio of more than 90mUSD, and I have been involved in a number of cross-functional initiatives, both at regional and global level. This 10 years long experience allowed me to consolidate my competencies in the area of engineering project management, competencies that became key for successfully delivering two strategic and complex projects in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. What motivated you to choose the "From engineering project management to environmental sustainability within manufacturing: description of a journey”  topic for your workshops?

Across my whole career, I have been directly involved in projects dedicated to the development of technologies for environmental protection, in the frame of an evolving, but still well-known and somehow predictable regulatory environment.

But the beginning of this decade has brought up a set of overwhelming, urgent subjects: once the pandemic behind us, challenges such as climate change, energy crisis, geopolitical conflicts and (eventually) protection of biodiversity have increasingly influenced the agenda of globalized companies like Syngenta.

So far, environmental sustainability has been a subject of Freedom to Operate: companies have been influenced by external stakeholders, and until 2020 it was sufficient to declare carbon emission reduction targets validated by the SBTi, and therefore in line with the objectives of the Paris agreement. In this context, the subject was owned mainly by functions such as Business Sustainability and External Communication. But the external pressure has rapidly increased, and companies now have to demonstrate that they are capable of reaching such targets. So, when in 2021 the company created the new role of global manufacturing sustainability lead, I had the opportunity to steer my career in this direction, since the subject of climate change, and in particular the challenge of decreasing the carbon emissions of our industrial operations, was the one that captured most of my attention.

Indeed, as an engineering project manager, I was increasingly worried by the gap existing between the urgency (for instance) of the energy transition, and the current (and sometimes obsolete) engineering standards applied to the design and construction of new industrial assets. But what I quickly learnt is the complexity of climate change mitigation, the need of climate change adaptation, and the sheer difficulty associated with the decarbonization of the chemical industry. All these are formidable intellectual challenges, and I firmly believe they offer great development opportunities to the community of engineers and project managers.

3. What can the audience expect after these workshops?

My intention is to offer the audience the opportunity to:

  • Have a clear understanding of the concept of environmental sustainability, which "refers to the responsible use and management of natural resources in a way that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
  • Have the largest understanding of the most urgent element of the environmental sustainability (a stable, predictable climate is considered a natural resource), of the challenges associated with climate change mitigation and adaptation for industrial operations, and in particular for the chemical industry
  • Grasp the order of magnitude of the mutations and transformations required, and therefore of the need for the contribution of every actor within the industry
  • Understand how the engineering and project management communities can bring a contribution
  • Describe a process we have developed in Syngenta for introducing the variable of sustainability in the design of new industrial assets (the Project Sustainability Assessment)
  • Spark a discussion allowing the exchange of experiences from different industries, some of which are certainly more advanced than the chemical sector

4. How does your presentation fit the title of the Conference: «Innovative project management: power skills for the future?"

Meeting the targets set for carbon emissions reduction will require a fundamental transformation of all industrial sectors: the community of engineers and project managers are and will be actors of this transformation. The tools, models, metrics and performance indicators that have been applied so far need to be adapted to these new challenges. The business cases need to factor in the risks associated with the sustainability of an investment. All the above requires the development of a new set of competencies and skills in the areas, for instance, of corporate, asset and product carbon footprint assessment, Life Cycle Impact Assessment, energy transition.

5. Why did you decide to speak at the PMI conference?

I have been informed by Ethel Sato of the organization of the Swiss PMI Annual Conference, and after having discussed with her, she invited me to apply. Given the complexity of the issues associated with climate change mitigation and adaptation, I see this as an opportunity not only for reaching out and influencing a community beyond the Syngenta boundaries, but also for eventually benefitting from the experience of colleagues that are facing similar challenges.

 

Empowering Tomorrow's Project Leaders: Revealing the Motivation of Generation Y

Author: Joanna Lubowiecka

Joanna Lubowiecka

Interview with Ruth Christine Lechler, speaker of the 12th PMI Switzerland PM Conference

Prepare yourself to be inspired by Ruth Christine Lechler, one of the speakers at the 12th PMI Conference. She will lead us on a journey titled "Empowering Tomorrow's Project Leaders: Revealing the Motivation of Generation Y." Don't miss the enlightening pre-conference interview with her!

 

Ruth Christine Lechler

Could you kindly introduce yourself and share some highlights from your personal and professional journey?

I am Ruth Christine Lechler, currently serving as a Research Associate at Zurich University of Applied Sciences and pursuing my doctoral studies at WU Vienna as part of the Project Management Group. My primary research and teaching areas encompass project motivation, project management, and organizational design. I am a passionate advocate for Design Thinking and have completed a rigorous course on "Global Team-based Design Innovation with Corporate Partners" from Stanford University. I have also been privileged to earn my degree in Management, Organizational Studies, and Cultural Theory from the prestigious University of St. Gallen (HSG). My professional journey spans roles such as a project manager in strategy consulting, and a project lead in transformation and digitalization projects within the industrial sector

What inspired you to select "Empowering Tomorrow's Project Leaders: Unveiling Motivation of Gen Y" as the theme for your workshops?

The choice of this topic was strongly influenced by my academic research and doctoral dissertation at WU Vienna's Project Management Group. In collaboration with PMI, we've been engrossed in a PMI-funded research initiative titled “The Future of Project Work”. The focus on Generation Y and their motivation to work on projects emerged from this extensive research project.

What outcomes can the audience anticipate from these workshops?

From this enriching session, participants can expect to...

  • Harness their passion and energy for successful project outcomes by delving deeper into their core motivations.
  • Gain insights on mentoring young professionals effectively.
  • Learn strategies to motivate and lead younger team members.
  • Understand how to maintain a competitive edge by unlocking the potential of their young workforce.

After the conclusion of the workshops, attendees will have access to a PMI-issued whitepaper that encapsulates the key findings. Additionally, we are conducting workshops with various companies to aid them in understanding their motivational profiles, and subsequently developing strategic approaches for their project managers and their career progressions, attendees can contact me, if they are interested

How does your presentation align with the conference's theme: "Innovative project management: power skills for the future"?

My presentation, "Empowering Tomorrow's Project Leaders: Unveiling Motivation of Gen Y", aligns with the conference theme by shedding light on the driving forces behind young project professionals. This aligns with the future of project management, where young professionals are not just seeking, but expecting work environments that provide learning, purpose, and achievement - all of which are found abundantly in project-based settings. By unveiling our research findings on what motivates young professionals to engage in project work, the presentation provides vital insights into their power skills. This knowledge will help team leads and organizations to harness these skills effectively, fostering innovative project management practices, and preparing them for a future where such skills will be increasingly important.

What influenced your decision to present at the PMI conference?

I was extended an invitation by a PMI member who had previously witnessed a presentation of mine at another conference. They agreed on the relevance and adaptability of my work, and I am excited about the opportunity to share my insights with the PMI community.

Megatrends, the future of work and the Power Skills we need to succeed

Author: Joanna Lubowiecka

Joanna Lubowiecka

Megatrends, the future of work and the Power Skills we need to succeed

Interview with Lucila Dotto, speaker of the 12th PMI Switzerland PM Conference

Introduction

Project Management Power Skills take center stage at this year's conference. Lucila, an experienced strategy designer and the head of PMI's community, will delve into several current megatrends and elaborate on the skills necessary to navigate this dynamic landscape successfully.The central theme of her presentation revolves around the intersection of megatrends, the future of work, and the essential Power Skills needed for success. She expresses her curiosity about the shifts in the professional world brought about by technology, societal changes, and economic forces. These megatrends have a profound impact on the way we work and require us to develop specific skills to navigate these transformations effectively.

Lucila Dotto speaker PM conference 2023

 

In a world of constant change and innovation, our ability to adapt in our professional lives becomes nothing short of a ‘superpower’. My professional experience combines orchestrating cultural transformations, fostering leadership, and igniting behavior change. My approach merges academic insights with practical expertise. Born in Argentina and residing in London for the past five years, my journey has been enriched by a global perspective.

A Voyage of Curiosity: Megatrends, Future Work, and Empowering Skills

My intrigue with the topic “Megatrends, the future of work, and the power skills we need to succeed” emerges from a fervent curiosity about shifts in our professional world. Witnessing the tides of technology, society, and economics reshape our landscape, I find myself inexorably drawn to the Power Skills—the human-centered tools that illuminate our path during times of transformation. The spotlight will shine on these skills: the precision of problem solving and strategic thinking that guides our every step, the effective communications that bridge divides and the art of collaborative leadership that propels us forward.

Elevating Excellence: Power Skills in the Evolving World of Project Management

As the art of project management unfolds into new dimensions, the rise of Power Skills takes center stage. They stand as the bridge between visionary ideas and their tangible fruition, propelling us beyond theoretical realms and into the transformative heart of project management.

A Call to the PMI Conference: Unity, Insights, and Collective Progress

Why answer the call to speak at the PMI conference? Because it’s about weaving tighter threads and fostering a sense of unity. It’s about sharing insights and connecting with individuals who carry the torch of dedication and passion. As we journey through the landscape of megatrends, skills, and the future, let’s be mindful that change is not a barrier, but a compass. Let’s Aim Higher, Together We Can!

Conclusion 

Lucila Dotto's presentation promises to be an engaging exploration of the Power Skills required to thrive in a dynamic professional world. Her global perspective and dedication to promoting unity and progress in the field make her a compelling speaker for the  12th PMI conference! Looking forward to experiencing and learning about all of this in person!

Register today here 

 

AI in Project Management: Capabilities, Limitations, and the Power of Emotional Intelligence

Author: Adi Muslic, VP Sponsors & Partners

Adi Muslic

Are you ready to embark 🚀 on a journey to explore the dynamic relationship 🤝 between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) in the world of project management?

Join us for an immersive event where we'll dive into the capabilities and limitations of AI, showcasing 🗣️real-world examples of how it can automate tasks, predict risks, and optimize resources. But that's not all – we'll take it a step further by incorporating the Disciplined Agile toolkit to plan the project, pushing boundaries like never before!

AI in PM with DA

While AI brings efficiency 🤖, it's essential to acknowledge its shortcomings – data reliance, lack of context, and ethical challenges. Let's discuss how to strike the right balance, combining the power of AI with human intelligence and expertise.

Enter Emotional Intelligence (EI), the missing link! 💡 Explore the key components of EI – self-awareness, empathy, motivation, and social skills – and witness how they foster effective communication, build trust, and inspire teams to greatness.

By the end of the event, you'll emerge with profound insights 🧠 into AI's role, along with the invaluable understanding of how Emotional Intelligence complements it. Engage in interactive activities and discussions to hone your skills and unleash your true leadership potential.

⏰ Our early bird pricing ends on 1 September, so act fast to grab your spot at a discounted rate! 🎟️

Click the link 🔗 below to reserve your seat and unlock a world of opportunities 🌟 for your project management skills.

👉 [Registration Link]