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Intellectual Property Challenges in Projects: Useful Tips for Risk Management

Anna Sinkevich pic Anna Sinkevich

 

 

 

 

Author: Anna Sinkevich, PMP

Do I deal with intellectual property (IP) at work? In my projects, am I using someone else’s products without adhering to IP rights? Or maybe my company and I are the creators of a work subject to IP protection?

If you are not entirely confident replying to these questions, our upcoming “Intellectual Property Challenges in Projects: Useful Tips for Risk Management” event is the right fit for you!

Join us on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, for an evening talk in Lausanne with Said Azimov, Program Officer at the IP for Business Division at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

This session will highlight the role IP plays in business and innovation, and explores the challenges and opportunities that IP rights might present in a project, regardless of its scale and field.

You will learn about:

  • What is IP and how to recognize it in everyday life.
  • Most common IP-related risks in projects and strategies to mitigate them.
  • Practical tools and resources for businesses and professionals.
  • The intersection of IP and AI. 

Whether you work in a small company or part of a huge corporation with its own legal department, participants will gain useful and practical insights on how to mitigate IP threats in your projects and escalate opportunities that IP may bring.

Along with practical insights from the speaker and networking opportunity with other PM professionals after the presentation, participants will also receive 0.5 PDUs in Ways of Working and 0.5 PDUs in Business Acumen

About the Speaker – Saidakhmad (Said) Azimov

Said is the Program Officer, IP for Business Division, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Passionate about intellectual property, he has built an 18-year career in the field, with the past 7 years dedicated to working at WIPO with businesses from around the globe to help leverage their intellectual property for growth and innovation.

Anna Sinkevich, PMP

Bloquez votre agenda, Piaf 2026 arrive !

Auteur: Elie Moukabed, PMP, PMI France Agile (PIAF)

Chères et chers passionnés d’Agilité,

Nous avons le plaisir de vous annoncer que :

  • PIAF 2026 se tiendra le 20 mars 2026 sur le thème : « Intégrer l’agilité aux business ». Une journée exceptionnelle pour explorer comment l’agilité, au-delà de l’IT, devient un levier stratégique pour délivrer de la valeur, innover et accompagner la transformation des organisations.
  • Le Call for Speaker est ouvert. Nous vous invitons à proposer vos conférences, ateliers ou panels. C’est l’occasion idéale de partager vos pratiques, vos retours d’expérience et vos idées pour enrichir la communauté. Voici le lien Sessionize pour vos propositions : https://sessionize.com/piaf-2026 .
  • Retrouvez également les replays des éditions précédentes sur notre chaîne YouTube www.youtube.com/@PIAFAgile>; .
  • Suivez toutes nos actualités et échangez avec la communauté sur LinkedIn Piaf : https://www.linkedin.com/company/piaf-agile .
  • Vous souhaitez rejoindre l’équipe d’organisation et contribuer au succès de cet événement ? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. !

Nous avons hâte de découvrir vos propositions et de vous retrouver le 20 mars 2026 pour une journée riche en apprentissages, en partages et en inspirations !

Cordialement,
L’équipe du PIAF

Mark your calendar, Piaf 2026 is coming!

Author: Elie Moukabed, PMP, PMI France Agile (PIAF)

Dear Agility enthusiasts,

PMI France Agile (PIAF) is pleased to announce that:

  • PIAF 2026 will be held on March 20, 2026 on the theme: “Integrating agility into business” « Intégrer l’agilité aux business ». An exceptional day to explore how agility, beyond IT, becomes a strategic lever to deliver value, innovate and support the transformation of organizations.
  • The Call for Speaker is open. We invite you to propose your conferences, workshops or panels. This is the ideal opportunity to share your practices, your feedback and your ideas to enrich the community. Here is the Sessionize link for your proposals: https://sessionize.com/piaf-2026 
  • Also find replays of previous editions on our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@PIAFAgile> 
  • Follow all our news and interact with the community on LinkedIn Piaf: https://www.linkedin.com/company/piaf-agile 
  • Would you like to join the organizing team and contribute to the success of this event? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. !

We look forward to discovering your proposals and seeing you on March 20, 2026 for a day rich in learning, sharing and inspiration!

Sincerely,

The PIAF team

From Vision to Community: The Founding of PMI Switzerland

Mariia Fufaieva

 

 

 

 

Author: Mariia Fufaieva, PMI Switzerland Anniversary Team

An interview with Dr. Andrea Behrends

As the PMI Switzerland Chapter prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in March 2026, it’s the perfect moment to look back at how it all began. We spoke with the chapter’s first president, Dr. Andrea Behrends, to reflect on the vision, challenges, and proud achievements of its early years. Did the founders’ hopes come true? What lessons remain relevant today?

Here is her story.

Andrea Behrends Linda Vasquez

Founding Vision & Early Days

A bold idea became a lasting network.

Q: Dr. Behrends, how did it all begin?

At the time PMI Switzerland Chapter was founded, I was working at Novartis in Basel. Back then, the typical path for any young, ambitious employee seeking greater responsibility was to climb the management hierarchy. However, a new alternative was emerging: managing projects. This quickly became recognized as a parallel leadership path, especially for those with technical or scientific expertise. 

A notable example within Novartis was Jörg Reinhardt, chairman of the board of directors for 12 years. At the start of his career, he successfully led a project in drug development – so I have been told many times – and with that became highly visible in the company. For Jörg Reinhardt, it meant a short-cut to higher leadership ranks, and he was much admired for it. His success story underscored the potential of project leadership as an alternative to progressing through the classical hierarchical steps. 

I became deeply interested in advancing this dual-track approach within Novartis. The company sent me to the United States to learn about PMI and the PMBOK® Guide. My role was to design and implement a comprehensive project management training curriculum across the organization, consisting of seven progressive levels, including certification, tailored specifically for technical and research professionals.

Founding the PMI Switzerland Chapter felt like the natural next step — to support the growing community of project managers in the country and promote project leadership as a recognized and respected career path.

Q: What moments from the chapter’s founding stand out as particularly memorable?

The founding process was fairly administrative, involving extensive legal considerations. But one moment stands out vividly: our first public meeting.

It took place at a Novartis facility in the Schoren district of Basel — somewhat remote and not particularly accessible. I remember someone commenting that it was overly optimistic to expect the necessary quorum of 24 participants to form a founding member. I started to doubt myself.

But then, to my surprise and relief, between 30 and 40 people showed up from all over Switzerland. It was a powerful and emotional moment. The enthusiasm in the room made it clear: there was a real demand for a professional project management community.

Q: What did you hope the chapter would contribute?

I hoped the chapter would help promote the dual career ladder concept across Swiss organizations, giving ambitious professionals — especially those with technical backgrounds — more pathways to leadership.

Project management offers a unique opportunity for early leadership development. It allows subject matter experts to take on responsibility in a practical, results-driven context. In many cases, project management training feels more intuitive and applicable than traditional management training, particularly for scientists, engineers, and researchers.

Ultimately, the chapter should become a place where sharing of experience, exchange of tools and techniques, and building a strong network could take place easily.

Building a Team and a Community

Project leadership can be as powerful as climbing the management ladder.

Q: As the first president, what were your priorities?

My leadership style has always been participative. I didn’t see myself as the one leading the team, but rather as primus inter pares — first among equals.

We were all volunteers, doing this in our free time. So, I established a guiding motto: “We’re doing this after work, by choice, without pay — so let’s make it enjoyable!”

Creating a positive and enjoyable atmosphere was a priority. Humor played a big role. So did food. In the summer, I’d invite the team for a swim in my pool. That resulted in great memories and strong bonds.

Our first practical goals were visibility and financial sustainability. We built a website and engaged our personal networks for support. Rather than relying on high membership fees, we introduced a tiered sponsorship program — Silver, Gold, and Platinum — and approached companies we were connected to. It worked well for our grassroots beginnings.

Q: How did you keep volunteers motivated?

We were a small group at the start, which made it easier to form personal connections. Friendships naturally developed, and that sense of community was incredibly motivating.

Everyone involved was passionate about project management and genuinely wanted to contribute. That shared purpose, combined with project management competency and a good dose of fun, kept the momentum going.

Looking Ahead: PMI Switzerland in the Next 25 Years

Friendship and fun were key to keeping volunteers motivated.

Q: How do you see PMI Switzerland evolving?

Many companies in Switzerland have now embedded project management competencies into their organizational structures. With markets and technologies evolving so quickly, more organizations are adopting a projectized approach to remain agile and responsive.

I believe PMI Switzerland can play a crucial role in this — e.g. by serving as a hub for project talent and offering valuable possibilities for benchmarking and communities of practice.

Looking ahead, I hope PMI Switzerland remains a place where professionals from all backgrounds can connect, grow, and shape the future of work through project excellence.

 

Dr. Andrea Behrends’ recollections offer a rare glimpse into the origins of PMI Switzerland and the professional passion that gave it life. As the chapter celebrates 25 years in 2026, her story is a reminder of how grassroots vision, leadership, and community spirit can build something that lasts — and continues to grow. 

If you would like to meet Dr. Andrea Behrends and other inspiring leaders who shaped PMI Switzerland’s history, don’t miss our 25th Anniversary Celebration on the 6th of March 2026.

Banner date location Linda Vasquez

What’s waiting for you:

  • Connect with PMI Switzerland pioneers
  • Honor the key figures in our chapter’s history
  • Enjoy a delicious dinner at the iconic Biel Congress House
  • Be amazed by magician Arthur Roscha (we can tag him)
  • Take advantage of valuable networking opportunities
  • Join us for an after-hours gathering
  • …and a hotel deal + optional brunch for the “hardcore fans”!

Registration will be open very soon— stay tuned!

Mariia Fufaieva, Anniversary Team