Author: 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!

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.

Author: 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 journey” and check out the insightful pre-conference interview with him.

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.

Author: 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.

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 

Authors: Ala Lutz, VP Membership, and Adi Muslic, VP Sponsors & Partners

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of project management, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) promises to be a game-changer. As organizations worldwide seek to harness the power of AI to drive digital transformation, PMI Switzerland and other PMI chapters have embarked on a groundbreaking survey to understand the impact of AI in project management. This global initiative invites professionals from all corners of the globe to contribute their expertise and shape the future of project management with the transformative potential of AI.

The Rising Potential of AI in Project Management

AI has revolutionized diverse industries, empowering them with data-driven insights, automation, and improved decision-making. In the context of project management, AI can offer invaluable benefits by optimizing resource allocation, predicting risks, enhancing communication, and accelerating project delivery. By embracing AI, project managers can unlock untapped potential and drive greater efficiency and success.

Become Part of a Historic Global Initiative

PMI Switzerland and PMI chapters worldwide have come together to conduct a comprehensive survey on "AI in project management." This initiative aims to collect perspectives from professionals like you who have firsthand experience in project management and an interest in AI. By dedicating just 5-10 minutes of your time, you become an integral part of this historic global movement.

Empowering Insights Await

Your valuable contribution to the survey holds the key to unlocking powerful insights. In return for your participation, you will receive an invaluable report filled with intriguing findings and analysis. This report, to be released in December, will offer a panoramic view of AI's current and potential applications in project management, shedding light on industry trends and best practices.

How to Participate

Participating in the survey is simple and accessible. Just follow the provided link: https://cutt.ly/nwq3tzU9, and take the survey to share your thoughts, experiences, and expectations regarding AI in project management. Your unique perspectives will contribute to shaping the trajectory of AI integration and its impact on projects across various sectors.

Embark on an Unprecedented Journey

By joining the PMI global survey, you join a community of forward-thinking professionals ready to revolutionize project management through AI. Together, we will navigate the uncharted territories of digital transformation and leverage AI's transformative potential to reshape project management practices.

Conclusion

In a world where technology drives innovation and progress, AI emerges as a transformative force for project management. PMI Switzerland and PMI chapters globally recognize the significance of AI's integration in projects and are conducting a pioneering survey to better understand its impact. As a project management professional, your expertise is crucial in shaping the future of AI in project management. Seize the opportunity to contribute to this historic global initiative by taking the survey today. 

Best regards

Adi Muslic, Ala Lutz