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Mastering Crisis: A Systemic and Human Approach to Project Leadership

 

Author: Ethel Mendocilla Sato, PMP

 

Do not miss our next PMI Masterclass on July 4th 2026!

Mastering Crisis: A Systemic and Human Approach to Project Leadership
Led by Camille Caclin, Founder of Sparkli & Systemic Project Coach™

In the heat of a project crisis, technical skills alone are not enough. True leadership demands self-awareness, relational agility, and systemic insight - the ability to navigate human dynamics and complex interactions with confidence.

Join Camille Caclin, a seasoned digital transformation and organizational change consultant with 18 years of experience in pharma, biotech, and global business systems. As the creator of the Systemic Project Coach™ framework, Camille will guide you through:

  • Self-leadership: Managing stress and emotions to stay decisive under pressure.
  • Relational agility: Using coaching techniques to prevent conflict and foster collaboration.
  • Systemic thinking: Mapping stakeholder dynamics to identify leverage points and reduce resistance.
  • Structuring complexity: Making sense of uncertainty and interdependencies in real time.

This PMI Masterclass blends experiential exercises, practical tools, and cross-disciplinary frameworks to help you lead projects - not just as a task manager, but as a systemic leader who anticipates tension, strengthens engagement, and drives results.

Are you ready to lead with clarity and impact?
Register now  https://pmi-switzerland.ch/events/pmi-master-class/2025-07-04-masterclass-zh and transform how you navigate crisis.




Ready to Lead Through Uncertainty? Join Us on 27 May

MajaMandic

Author: Maja Mandic

 

Join Us for Our Next PMI Switzerland Workshop: Navigating Change with Confidence

As Swiss organisations continue to transform at high speed, Project Managers are being asked to do more than deliver projects - they are expected to guide teams through uncertainty, lead with clarity, and stay resilient in the face of constant change.

Our upcoming interactive workshop, Navigating Change: How to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty as a Project Manager, is designed exactly for this moment.

On 27 May, the Swiss PM community will come together at SIX Convention Point for a hands-on learning experience that blends practical tools and peer exchange. If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership, sharpen your adaptability, and connect with fellow PMs facing similar challenges, this session is for you.

Why You Should Join

This workshop offers a focused space to explore:

  • Change Agility - navigating ambiguity with confidence
  • Resilience & Wellbeing - sustaining performance without burning out
  • Leadership Behaviours - showing up as a steady, credible leader during transformation

Rather than theory, you’ll gain insights grounded in real experiences from Project Managers across Switzerland - and walk away with concrete actions you can apply immediately.

What You’ll Take With You

  • Clarity on how to lead effectively through uncertainty
  • Practical steps to strengthen resilience and personal leadership
  • New connections within the Swiss PM community

A warm thank-you goes to the SIX PM Community and SIX Group for generously sponsoring the venue and supporting this high-impact learning experience.

Meet Your Facilitator

The session will be led by Matt Lanfear, PhD, Executive Coach and long-time PMI Switzerland member. With deep experience in business transformation, leadership coaching, and organisational change across global industries, Matt brings a unique blend of strategic insight and human-centred coaching.

Secure Your Spot

If you’re ready to invest in your growth and join a community of peers navigating similar challenges, we warmly invite you to register.

https://pmi-switzerland.ch/events/pmi-evening-event/2026-05-27-event-zurich



Strengthening Our Community: The First PMI Project Managers Networking Apéro in St. Gallen

 

MajaMandic

Author: Maja Mandic

 

On 23 April 2026, PMI Switzerland hosted its very first Project Managers Networking Apéro in St. Gallen.

What began as an idea to bring together project professionals in Eastern Switzerland quickly turned into an evening full of meaningful conversations and new connections, and a strong sense of community.

The event welcomed project managers, professionals not only from St. Gallen, but also from Liechtenstein, Chur, and the wider region. The diversity of backgrounds and experiences created exactly the atmosphere we hoped for: open, curious, and collaborative.

unnamed Maja Mandić

Participants shared insights from ongoing projects and discussed the challenges shaping today’s project landscape. 

What stood out most was the enthusiasm for building a stronger local PMI presence in Eastern Switzerland. Several attendees expressed interest in contributing to future events, and many highlighted how valuable it is to have a space dedicated to networking outside the major Swiss hubs.

This first gathering was inspiring, enriching, and a reminder of how much energy emerges when project professionals come together. We are already planning the next St. Gallen networking apéro coming before the summer holidays, and look forward to welcoming even more members of our growing community.

Stay tuned, and thank you to everyone who made this first gathering a valuable one!

 

 

Influence Without Authority: Strengthening a Core Skill for Project Professionals

Alessandro Perez

Author: Alessandro Perez, PMP, ACP

In project management, influence is rarely something we plan consciously. Yet it is present in almost every interaction.

Whether it is aligning stakeholders with different priorities, negotiating timelines under pressure, or supporting teams in uncertain conditions, project professionals rely on influence far more often than on formal authority. Despite this, it is a skill that is often developed informally, shaped by experience rather than by a structured understanding of what makes it effective.

This raises a simple but important question: what would change if influence were approached more intentionally?

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: AN INTERACTIVE SESSION

On June 22nd in Zurich, at iSolutions in The Circle (Zurich Airport), members of the local project management community will come together for an interactive evening session dedicated to this topic: “Influence in Action: Applying Cialdini’s Principles in Real Work Contexts”

The session is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. It builds on Robert Cialdini’s 7 Principles of Influence, a well-established framework for understanding how and why people respond to certain behaviours and communication styles. However, the focus of the evening goes beyond theory. After a short introduction, participants will be actively involved, working on real situations drawn from their own professional context.

WORKING ON REAL SITUATIONS

Through small group discussions and guided exchanges, participants will have the opportunity to analyse concrete challenges, explore different perspectives, and reflect on how to apply the principles of influence more deliberately in their day-to-day work.

The value of this approach also lies in peer exchange. Professionals operating in different environments often face similar challenges, and learning from each other helps generate practical insights that go beyond individual experience.

Christine Petersen

The session will be led by Christine Petersen, PMP, Founder and Director of VIRAK. With over 35 years of multinational experience, including leading large-scale international projects, Christine brings together strong technical expertise and a deep understanding of the human side of change.

Her background as a trainer, coach, and consultant, combined with her experience working across cultures and languages, allows her to create learning environments that are engaging, structured, and adaptable to participants’ needs.

BEYOND THE SESSION: THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY

As always, the evening will continue with a networking apéro, offering participants the opportunity to continue the conversation in a more informal setting and to strengthen connections within the PMI Switzerland community.

For project professionals who want to develop their ability to influence more effectively in real-world situations, this session offers a valuable opportunity to step back, reflect, and gain perspectives that can be applied immediately in practice.

More details about the event, including registration information, are available here: 

https://pmi-switzerland.ch/events/events-list/pmi-evening-event/2026-06-22-event-influence-zurich