Author: Miroslava Sedlarova, PMP, PMI-PBA
On 29 September 2025, PMI Switzerland hosted an insightful evening at Julius Baer Zurich-Altstetten, featuring Sarah Gadd, recognized among the 2025 Global Top 100 Chief Data Officers. (See the full list).
Her talk, “AI, Data & Ethics: How Project Management Can Shape Responsible Innovation,” drew a full house of project professionals eager to learn how ethical principles can guide technology-driven change.
Sarah reminded us that artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept. It is already influencing how we manage projects, make decisions, and design services. Yet with opportunity comes responsibility. Using vivid real-world examples, from biased algorithms to data-driven decision pitfalls, Sarah demonstrated how ethical awareness and good data governance are becoming critical project-management skills.
The interactive format, including live Slido polls, sparked meaningful dialogue around questions such as:
- Where do ethicists sit within organizations today?
- What is the project manager’s duty when an AI project poses data-ethics concerns?
- How can we integrate ethical checkpoints across the project lifecycle?
- What happens with the data once used with AI?
The networking apéro that followed gave participants a chance to exchange experiences, debate real-world challenges, and connect with fellow practitioners passionate about shaping trustworthy innovation.
What we learned:
- Ethical considerations must start at project initiation. Not as an afterthought.
- Transparency, fairness, and accountability are core values that align with PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
- Project managers can and should act as guardians of responsible innovation, ensuring technology serves people and society, not the other way around.
Why you should join future events:
PMI Switzerland events are more than lectures. They’re interactive learning experiences and great networking opportunities. You’ll leave each one with fresh insights, new contacts, and renewed motivation to lead change responsibly.
Stay connected, join the conversation, and be part of shaping the future of project management together.
Follow PMI Switzerland on LinkedIn and visit pmi-switzerland.ch/events for upcoming sessions.
Best regards,
Miroslava Sedlarova