PMI® Switzerland Chapter

Blog

Chapter Communications Blog

Product Owner Secrets Workshop – a continuation of a journey of discovery

Author: Patryk Nosalik, PMP

Late last Spring, PMI Switzerland held its first Open Spaces meeting. It was really warming to see so much genuine enthusiasm for a novel meeting format, on top of that, we did it online. And when I hear many people are missing the human networking component in other more typical webinars, one of the benefits of interactive formats is that it allows for the creation of meaningful connection. So it was here, from the people contributing and participating in the Open Space, that I was introduced to two very engaging Agilists, María Cortés Astudillo, and Nicolas Pagès.

It turned out Maria and Nicolas were keen to work with me and colleagues at PMI to create another interactive workshop, based on their successful experiences in the Agile Suisse community (agilesuisse.ch). They proposed a discussion about the Product Owner role. 

A quick search or browse of LinkedIn suggests the Product Owner (PO) is a much misunderstood or unappreciated role, and personally in the way this role was applied in my previous professional context, also left me with many unanswered questions. I’d love to share them with you, but the unique point of this workshop is that the participants who register are invited to send in via a form their 1-3 questions they have about the product owner role, be it as naïve, profound, basic, deep, personal or general as they like. Therefore, in order to not bias the event agenda before its inception, I’m having a tough time not sharing them with you! 

Nevertheless I shared this concept with both my Romandie events colleagues and Online Events back in July. We have now created a workshop you can see on our events page, https://pmi-switzerland.ch/index.php/events/events-list/product-owner-secrets-an-interactive-workshop

and invite you warmly to both explore the Product Owner role, and to experience this meeting format which you can take away and use for your own facilitations. 

The questions we will receive, up to a week before the event, will be analysed by Maria, Nicolas and me. We will create the agenda  probably starting with fundamentals before taking a deeper dive, but it will be wholly dependent on participants' input – so that could be you . Just register and you’ll get the link to the very easy form. It may be that we facilitate the discussion so that knowledgeable participants can answer the question, or it may be that the named expert speakers will do so. Of course we would expect to have time for more open discussion as we go along. 

So if you liked our previous Open Space or want to learn something new and be heard by the community, make a note to join this Product Owner workshop on the 13th October. Our facilitators are María Cortés Astudillo, and Nicolas Pagès. Maria is an industrial engineer, she is PMP, Professional Scrum Master, Professional Product Owner and Empowering People at the Workplace certified. Nicolas is a junior coach in design thinking, certified Scrum master and product owner, and has also practiced roles such as super key user, project coordinator, IT solution expert and in the last year, business analyst. Read more about Maria and Nicolas in their fascinating bios on our events page, and then challenge them with questions about the Product Owner role. Remember, the uniqueness of this workshop and relevance to you depends on those who have sent their questions in at registration (but circa 1-2 weeks before), so don’t delay! 

Finally, such workshops benefit from diversity, so share the message with colleagues on Linkedin, friends at work, it will all help harness a collaborative collective intelligence for the benefit of all participants.

Spoiler alert – if we get as many questions as we estimate, then based on experience, we may do some sort of follow up 3-4 weeks later for the most passionate amongst you!

 

Presenting Leadership Power Skills

Author: Stefania Tanasescu, PMP

Director Virtual Events - PMI Switzerland Chapter

Stefania Tanasescu 2

In today’s challenging business environment, complex challenges are not solved through technical project management or strategic/business management alone. To truly navigate current possibilities and use our energy and time more efficiently, we need to start from within ourselves. This is why transforming the way we communicate is at the very core of developing the collaborative leadership skills needed for the future of meaningful life and work.

PMI is continuously advocating the importance of leadership skills and Sunil Prashara shared some of the key “Power Skills”at the 2020 PMI Switzerland Annual meeting in Zürich:

 

Presenting Leadership Power Skills pic 1

In order to meet these needs PMI Switzerland is creating a series of what we call “Emergent Leadership Power Skills”. This series is segmented into subject-specific, interactive sessions. Each session will tackle one Power Skill. We will apply theory-based and practice proven hands-on methods and tools which are rooted in transformative learning and coaching, competence-oriented didactics and systems thinking. The sessions are designed in a virtual format using the Zoom application. 

We will offer an adaptive frame of learning and doing: 

  • Maximize individual learning within an inspiring group of peers in a 90 min online group session with maximum 15 participants
  • Your personal needs and interests are driving the laser(“hit the spot” on a specific area of challenge or interest) coaching sessions as 3 individual online coaching sessions are included
  • Stay accountable by teaming up and expanding your network 

 

Power Skill 1: Courageous Feedback

Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 18:30 – 20:00 pm (CEST)

 

Learn how to: 

  • build solid frameworks for rigorous, excellent feedback
  • raise praise and criticism based on proven tools
  • strip out biases and “moodiness”
  • focus on results and forward the action
  • create better processes
  • better manage your energy

 

Power Skill 2: The Coach Approach

Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 18:30 – 20:00 pm (CEST)

 

Learn how to: 

  • start being more coach-like with 3 micro skills
  • use 1 practical tool with 5 steps to help your people finding their solution
  • shift from advice monster mode (tell-and-control) to considerate guidance and navigation
  • sustain a curiosity-led behavior as your innate way of leading and interacting
  • scale your leadership

 

Power Skill 3: Creative Conflict

Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 18:30 – 20:00 pm (CEST)

 

Learn how to: 

  • interpret the source and stage of the conflict
  • analyze the context that raised the conflict
  • navigate 5 conflict-handling modes
  • appreciate the value of different conflict styles
  • recommend the appropriate conflict resolution solution

About your coach - Julia Posselt

 Presenting Leadership Power Skills pic 2

 

I am...mentor coach for rocket builders, teacher at Swiss universities, learner of insight traditions, sparring partner for project professionals. 

www.juliaposselt.com

Creating breakthrough movements

Since the end of the nineties, I have been working at the forefront of digital innovation with multi-national teams, delivering large-scale transformation agendas and implementing strategic initiatives for Swiss and multinational organizations. 

Born from an eclectic blend of creative disciplines and organizational good practices, my work is tuned with insight traditions. It has over twenty years of professional development and refinement with some of the biggest brands in the financial services and healthcare industries. You now also find inspiring tech companies and nimble startups among my clients.

As a Certified Professional Coach and Project Professional, with me, you get the best of both worlds.Come as you are, bring curiosity and an open mind… and benefit from guaranteed value by knowing what you want to get out of the sessions.

 

 

Elections Committee Announcement - 2020 Elections

SkyDiving Networking2   

Would you like to try something different?

PMI Switzerland Elections Committee Announcement.

Dear PMI Switzerland Chapter Members,

It's again election time, not only across the ocean.

We need you not only as an active voter, but also as a PMI chapter officer candidate.

1.      Are you highly engaged, full of ideas and energy to complete them?

2.      Are you passionate to serve the community? 

3.      Are you ready for a new leadership challenge? 

4.      In case you want to take part as a Board of Directors member or Election Committee Officer, have you volunteered within PMI at least 6 months in the last 2 years?

5.      Can you commit to a two year term volunteer position?

If your answer is yes for all the questions, please reach out to one of our Board of Directors members to indicate your interest in standing for election for the following volunteer positions:

  • Board of Directors member
  • Financial Auditor
  • Election Committee Officer

A quick indication of interest in advance will be highly appreciated under This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

We will walk you through the official process so that we can formalize all applications by October 15th, 2020.

PMI empowers people to make ideas a reality.

Kind regards,

Elena and Carlos

A coffee with... Susana Moreno

Author: Miguel Hurtado, CAPM

Miguel Hurtado 

For our first "Coffee with" I am very happy to have Susana Moreno as my first guest. Architect, PMP Certified and since April 2020 the new president of PMI Madrid Chapter (my hometown).

 

PMI Swiss Chapter: Hi Susana and welcome to our first "Coffee with". Tell us,when PMI Madrid chapter was founded and many members are in this chapter?

Answer: I want to tell you first, that is always a joy for me to meet people like you, Miguel. To know that whatever you are, with PMI you can always participate in a great community of Project Managers. Thank you so much for your invitation. It is an honor for me.

The Madrid Spain Chapter was founded in 2003. Some years with an incredible growth and forging an incredible community of Project Managers not only in Madrid, but in 7 branches as well. We are a medium chapter, with more than 1.500 members, of which more than 1.200 are PMP certified. I am very honored to have been elected President, and I have a great responsability from now on. 

PMI Swiss Chapter: You are an Architect, PMP certified and now President but how PMI arrived to your life. How did you discover PMI?

Answer: I was an architect, I managed projects, and the previous crisis no longer forgave me in early 2013. I lost my job. I really didnt know about PMI, in Spain in the construction sector, even today, it is quite unknown. It was a very,very hard time both personally and professionally. My husband is a computer engineer and he didnt understand how I, with the management capacity and all experience I had, did not certify me as a PMP. He encouraged me to do it at that point in my career and I can say that it helped me to value myself more, to value my own experience and professionalism.

From that moment, I got to know the Madrid Chapter, its volunteer activities and I couldnt stop volunteering. From the mentoring program as a mentor, to the Volunteer Management Area, passing by being recognized as the most value volunteer in 2018, and elected to manage the membership area like a member of the board of directors.  The award of the best volunteer of the year take me to LIM (PMI Leadership Institute Meeting) celebrated in Dublin and with the previous president decided that we had to organize the "I Congress Women in Project Management". It was held on March 5 2020, one of my last activities before I was elected President. As you can see, I have lived through a huge professional evolution within my chapter. 

PMI Swiss Chapter: Spain is one the most affected european countries regarding COVID-19 healthy situation and Spain suffers an economic crisis because this situation. How is PMI Madrid managing this moment and how is the actual situation for PMP / CAPM?

Answer:  Well, you know Spain. A country in which tourism is one of its main sources of wealth, a paralysis of its sector for several months has been a very hard blow, and not only that... the tremendous number of deceased and affected has caused an anemic status that also inevitably impacts our way of consumption. All of this is affecting our recovery. We are living a very complex moment, the disruption we were glipsing has accelerated. Tele working,home office, digital transformation, personal distance... everything was going to come but COVID-19 has sent it to us in just a couple of months. But I think it was a good opportunity, from PMI Madrid we have understood that there are new ways to continue to grow our partners and in this moment the most important (more than ever) is to be close to them.  We can reach all of them for the first time keeping the social distance, remember there are 7 branches scattered througout Spain including the Canary Islands. Events with them has been very easy for the first time.

And beyond this paradigm shift, I think it is time to raise awareness of the importance, now more than ever, of the figure of the Project Manager. Companies must be competitive if they want to survive in Spain. Organizational strategy has never been so close to Projects, for that I am convinced that from PMI we have a great social responsability to put in value our member, PMP and CAPM certified but PMI-ACP and to the rest of certified as well. They have the abilities, the knowledge, the soft skills to make grow the Spanish organizations again, now more than ever. 

PMI Swiss Chapter: PMI introduced some changes, for example now the PMP exam is also available to be done in a virtual way, they hold virtual events and virtual keynotes. Is PMI Madrid organizing virtual events too? What can you tell us about them?

Answer:  We want to hold events in person again. But the experience of organizing virtual events has been very positive. I think that the virtual and face-to-face world will overlap and things will never be the same again. 

We are already organizing our November Congress that will be totally virtual, and that will allow us for the first time that all our members can attend it wherever they are. It is our great annual event. 

But in June we already had an incredible experience, the first event celebrated by all Chapters in Spain. In Spain, in addition to Madrid there are chapters in Barcelona,Galicia,Andalusia and Valencia. All of them joined for the organization of the Virtual Open Space Summer Edition 2020 (#VOSSE2020). More than 900 people registered, from all over Spain and from allied chapters in Latin America. We were able to debate in 5 rooms simultaneously, in two different rounds on those topics that were proposed and voted by the attendees. With a magician performance in the opening, a contest with prizes and questions on topics related to PMI and PMI certifications. A virtual experience that has made it clear that borders no longer exist and that diversity all it makes is to enrich our knowledge and points of view.

PMI Swiss Chapter: Since April 2020 you are the new president of the PMI Madrid, which are your next challenges for the PMI Madrid chapter?

Answer: My challenge is to value the figure of the Project Manager. Now more than ever, you must know the value of PMI and the professionals who build and nurture the community you build continuously. We dont just become certified, we are commited professionals who continue to grow and learn to add more value to our projects and organizations. 

But I also want our project managers to understand the moment we are living. For the first time, knowledge of our sector and our certification are no longer enough. We must know more than ever the context in which we operate, innovation, transformation, disruption, diversity, agility...technology invades everything. It does not matter in which sector we work. We need to listen, enrich ourselves, interact, share..

Our events will transmit the Project Economy and our professionals will be presented at events with other organizations. I want to show who we are and how important we are to achieve a sustained recovery that help us to be more resilient, in a future that is presented to us loaded with global threats such as Climate Change, Cybersecurity, Pandemics... and these global threats do not understand of races or borders, only people.

 

PMI Swiss Chapter: Dear Susana, thanks a lot for this fantastic coffee talk and for giving us the opportunity to know more about PMI Madrid. Muchas gracias! 

 

You can follow Susana Moreno on her social network profiles:

Twitter: @sumorenoga

Linkedin: https://es.linkedin.com/in/susanamorenogarrido

For more information regarding the "I Congress Women in Project Management": https://pmi-mad.org/mujerespm

For more information regarding "Virtual Open Space Summer Edition 2020": https://pmi-mad.org/eventos/registro-de-eventos/webinar/vosse-virtual-open-space-summer-edition

 

Editorial PMI Switzerland Newsletter September 2020

Author: Miguel Hurtado, CAPM

Miguel Hurtado

Dear newsletter friends,

September is here, we had a very special summer time. With worldwide changes in our way of life. We need to confess this 2020 will be the beginning of a new time. A time full of changes in our lives, our freedom and in our way to understand this world. I am very optimistic in a bright future. 

In this newsletter I am happy to introduce you a new PMI colleague, she is Susana Moreno. PMI Madrid president, in this newsletter we have a very interesting interview with her regarding PMI Madrid chapter and how they adapt to this time. 

I would like to wish you and your family a very happy and healthy September. 

We can do it. 

Our Articles By Dates