Author: Philip SPRINGUEL, PMP

Dear members and colleagues,

We’re pleased this month to highlight a partnership with IngOG+ on PMI Switzerland’s social impact programme. Read about the challenges common to both corporations and non-profits that make the partnership between PMI Switzerland and IngOG+ both relevant and mutually beneficial. 

Also in your newsletter this month, the Chapter Elections Team reminds us about PMI Switzerland’s upcoming elections and why your vote is essential. Be on the lookout in the weeks ahead for an email on the elections to ensure your vote counts in shaping the Chapter's future.

An event of note is highlighted in your newsletter: The PMI Masterclass on Saturday November 14th at IBM Switzerland, in Zürich Altstetten. Markus Kopko, who is a member of the Core Development Team of the new PMI AI Standard, will present on how AI projects can be optimised with improved framing of the business problem.

PMI Switzerland is blessed to have lots of diverse events each month, among which we highlight a few in newsletters. There are many more for you to look into and sign up for. Just check our events calendar for formative training. Also, don’t forget that local units of PMI Switzerland propose standard member networking lunches in locations near you: this month, catch up with colleagues over lunch in Geneva and Bern.

Philip SPRINGUEL, Newsletter Copy Editor

Authors

Velan Thangavelu, PMP 

Paul Selwold, PMP

Dear PMI Switzerland Chapter Members,

Elections are vital, as our PMI Switzerland Chapter is governed by Chapter Officers who are elected by you, the Chapter members, as defined in the Chapter Bylaws. These individuals devote their time and energy to driving our Chapter's activities, as well as contributing to the professional development of volunteers and members. Here is why elections are crucial for the growth and sustainability of PMI Switzerland and why your vote counts:

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

Fostering Professional Growth: Your vote helps select leaders who are committed to advancing project management in Switzerland. With the right leadership, our chapter can offer more networking opportunities, professional development events, and resources to empower your career.

Inclusivity and Diversity: Just as we promote diversity and inclusion in project management, your vote can support leaders who champion these values within our chapter, making it a welcoming and diverse community for all.

We invite you to actively engage in our chapter's elections, influence our direction, and contribute to the growth of our project management community. Visit our candidates’ profiles on our elections page, participate in the election and make your voice count.

Please be on the lookout for an email from the Global PMI team on November 15th 2026 with the voting instructions. We are counting on your involvement to shape the future of PMI Switzerland.

Thank you for your support!

Your Elections Team, 

Velan Thangavelu and Paul Selwold

Author

Ethel Mendocilla Sato, PMP

Don't miss our PMI Masterclass on Saturday November 14th 2026!

Led by Markus Kopko, Founder of PMotion.ai, member of the Core Development Team of the new PMI AI Standard and lead author of its program management chapter.

AI projects rarely fail because of the technology. They struggle because classic project management stops working at exactly the point where AI needs governance, clear decisions and the right framing of the business problem.

AI is creating new opportunities and new challenges for organizations. Project and transformation leaders are being asked to support AI initiatives, often without a clear approach to governance, risk management and decision-making. This one-day workshop closes that gap, drawing on the new PMI AI Standard, published in 2026, and the CPMAI methodology.

Join Markus for a full day at IBM Switzerland in Zürich Altstetten, from 09:00 to 17:00. Doors open at 08:30, and the day is held in English. The day moves from the big picture to hands-on practice:

• The New PMI AI Standard: what it says and what it means for your projects
• AI Governance for Decision-Makers: how to assess and govern AI adoption in your organization
• Hands-on: Applying Governance to a Real Scenario: a 90-minute team exercise on a realistic case, from the first phase to a go or no-go decision.
• The CPMAI Framework in Depth: a closer look at the methodology behind successful AI projects
• The Seven AI Patterns: how to map AI to your business problem

You'll leave with:

• A clear understanding of the new PMI AI Standard and its practical implications
• A decision-maker's framework for assessing and governing AI adoption
• A working understanding of the CPMAI methodology and the seven AI patterns
• Hands-on experience applying the method to a real scenario
• Working templates and checklists you can use next Monday morning

If you are a senior project, program or portfolio manager, a PMO lead or a transformation manager involved in AI initiatives or strategy, this Masterclass is for you. No technical background is required.

Markus brings more than 25 years of project and program management experience, including programs of up to EUR 100 million. He holds the PgMP, PMP and PMI-CPMAI certifications, teaches CPMAI as a PMI Authorized Training Partner instructor and served on the review team of the PMBOK Guide, Seventh Edition. He has trained more than 300 project managers and works with organizations on the governance layer that AI projects need. 

The day includes coffee, French pastries, refreshments, lunch and all course materials in digital form. It ends with a networking apéro from 17:00, a chance to exchange ideas with fellow participants and with Markus. The venue is about 300 metres from Zürich Altstetten station and is kindly hosted by IBM. The programme is vendor-neutral and contains no product content.

Practical details

• PMI Switzerland members: CHF 340 | Non-members: CHF 400 (VAT included)
• 6 PDUs: 3 Business Acumen, 2 Ways of Working, 1 Power Skills
• Limited to 20 participants

Register now Leading AI initiatives: Standards, Governance and the CPMAI framework and lead your next AI initiative with confidence.

Ethel Mendocilla Sato, PMP

Authors

Richard Bostock, PMP

Joanna Keller

Over the last eighteen months, PMI Switzerland and IngOG+ have been working in partnership on strengthening project management practices and establishing a Project Management Office (PMO) within the organisation. The collaboration began by addressing key challenges around project prioritisation, measuring success, and maintaining focus and oversight throughout and beyond the project lifecycle. These challenges are common to professional organisations and non-profits alike, making the partnership between PMI Switzerland and IngOG+ both relevant and mutually beneficial.

The strength of the collaboration comes from sharing expertise as peers. PMI Switzerland brings project management, organisational consulting, team optimisation and delivery expertise, while IngOG+ contributes its deep engineering knowledge and experience in delivering tangible solutions for communities. Together, the teams identified how a PMO could strengthen IngOG+'s organisation, provide greater transparency to the Board and help ensure that projects remain aligned with its strategic objectives.

The partnership has progressed from establishing a common project management foundation to putting it into practice. Following a successful PMI training led by Stefan Isler and Joanna Keller, the focus has shifted to implementation and, importantly, to understanding the value these changes create for the organisation.

Richard Bostock now leads the engagement together with Joanna Keller, working closely with the IngOG+ team to turn the approach into practical outcomes. The current focus is on defining meaningful metrics and KPIs that will help the Board assess progress, measure impact and continuously improve how projects are prioritised and managed.

The collaboration will continue into 2027, moving from establishing new ways of working to demonstrating their value and embedding them sustainably within the organisation. We look forward to sharing the next results of this partnership.

"Thank you very much for the great training today. I am truly optimistic that it has set a very clear starting point to ensure that our organisation will be able to upscale and support as many communities in need as possible. Thank you very much for supporting us in our vision."
— Jannis Marabeas, Chairman of the Board, IngOG+

Richard Bostock, PMP & Joanna Keller

About IngOG+

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen Switzerland, IngOG+, is a non-profit organisation that works hand in hand with communities to create lasting, practical solutions that make everyday life safer and more dignified. Their teams of volunteers share knowledge and skills to help communities overcome barriers caused by poverty or isolation. Each project is built on trust, local collaboration, and respect for culture and the environment.