Technology is helping project teams make a positive social impact—an accelerator for addressing everything from the effects of climate change to gender equality. Guests discuss how they’re using tech in two projects: One helps adolescent girls develop skills in STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts and math—to create future tech leaders and build a more inclusive sector. The other project pairs tech tools with Indigenous knowledge to ensure local communities can more safely travel across Canada’s arctic region.Key themes[01:21] How UNICEF is preparing girls for futures in tech[06:39] Using tech tools to gather feedback from stakeholders across the globe[09:10] Measuring the Game Changers Coalition’s direct and indirect social impact[14:26] Using tech in your project? Ensure it’s making a real difference[16:14] Pairing tech with Indigenous knowledge: How SmartICE works with communities to measure sea ice thickness[21:41] Engaging with stakeholders to create customer-centric project processes[23:14] Embracing continuous improvement to develop better tech and training practices[27:16] How project managers can focus on the social impacts of any project—no matter the sector

Building sustainable infrastructure doesn’t just protect people and the planet—it boosts the bottom line. Project teams must deliver assets that can withstand the extreme effects of climate change. Guests discuss the growing focus on climate-resilient infrastructure, how to manage stakeholders across project partners and communities, and which skills project professionals need to lead these initiatives. Plus, an in-depth discussion about a major infrastructure overhaul program in Peru, with projects focused on climate resilience and delivering long-term value.Key themes[02:28] Climate change’s systemic effects on infrastructure—and why that’s a challenge for project professionals [07:49] Must-haves for climate resilience projects: Curiosity, communication skills and community engagement [13:49] What trends are next in climate-resilient infrastructure[17:29] The growing momentum for climate-resilient infrastructure[19:53] How Peru is rebuilding after 2017 El Niño, creating climate-resilient infrastructure, education and health centers[25:39] Future-proofing Peru’s reconstruction program through knowledge transfer

Navigating change is nothing new for project professionals. And this year is no different. How can being flexible and resilient help them seize job opportunities—and deliver value for organizations? Guests in this roundtable discussion talk about sector-specific job trends, the must-have skills needed to navigate challenges and how AI is changing project management now and in the years ahead.Key themes[01:30] Job opportunities for project professionals in IT, renewable energy and construction[07:13] Top challenges project professionals might face for the rest of this year[11:18] Market knowledge, influence, and leadership skills: The must-haves for today’s project professionals[14:27] AI’s effect on project management[18:32] What trends are creating a buzz for project professionals in 2024 and beyond

In today’s ever-evolving project environment, project professionals need to be flex-ready problem solvers. But how do they learn to choose the right ways of working—or know when to anticipate the need to adapt to change? Guests discuss how they empower project professionals at their organizations to become strategic decision makers—whether it means tailoring ways of working to fit projects and teams or implementing new tech tools.Key themes

[02:19] Updating CDW’s PMO for greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and upskilling among project professionals [05:34] How continuous learning encourages greater autonomy [08:21] Empowering project professionals with clear guidelines, expectations and ownership of initiatives [13:13] Delegation and trust: Two must-haves for empowering project and program managers [14:52] How Airbus’ engineering PMO focuses on tailored, empathetic project support[17:42] Why empowerment leads to better engagement and project outcomes[19:56] What you need to know to choose the right ways of working for your team[21:46] How PMO leaders can encourage teams to embrace unknowns in new tech or ways of working

There’s a glaring gender gap, in both artificial intelligence and project management. But as demand for AI talent surges, there’s an opportunity to close those gaps. Ahead of International Women’s Day, our guests discuss the gender gaps they’ve experienced in their careers in tech, how greater team diversity helps minimize algorithmic biases in AI projects, what they’ve learned from leading AI initiatives and building their AI expertise, and ways to help more women pursue careers in AI.Key themes[02:36] Bridging the gender gap: How diversity benefits AI initiatives[05:21] Identifying and mitigating risks in generative AI projects[07:52] Top advice to women in tech: Know your worth, be yourself and continue to learn[12:55] Building AI knowledge in a changing business landscape[16:15] Minimizing AI algorithmic biases with multiple perspectives[19:08] Ways to help more women kickstart their careers in AI

Continuous learning helps project professionals keep up with the skills they need to excel in the profession—but it has to be done strategically. Guests discuss how to create a flexible and durable continuous learning strategy, how to balance upskilling with day-to-day project and personal responsibilities, which skills they see as must-haves for project professionals—today and in the future—and how PMO leaders can help project professionals in their continuous learning journeys.Our guests include Alfred Maina, PMO-CP, PMI-ACP, PMP, technical project manager, Thunes, Nairobi; and Americo Pinto, PMO-CC, PMO-CP , PMP, managing director, PMO Global Alliance at PMI, Rio de Janeiro.Key themes[02:13] How to craft a continuous learning strategy[06:12] Where to find upskilling opportunities[07:19] Balancing work, personal time and continued learning[10:20] Top skills to improve: technical and power skills, plus artificial intelligence know-how[15:33] Why your continuous learning strategy should be flexible[18:18] Using formal and informal education opportunities to upskill[20:17] How to determine which skills to improve—and how much organizational objectives should be a factor[24:27] Ways PMO leaders can help project professionals create and meet their continuous learning goals

Volunteering helps communities and organizations. But it also helps the volunteers who donate their time and skills. In a roundtable discussion, guests share how they started volunteering, how it has affected their careers and helped them grow as project professionals, the different ways they have taught project management skills to make initiatives run more efficiently and their advice to others looking to start their own community volunteering journey.Our guests include Lebogang Ngoato, PMP, program manager, Absa Group, Johannesburg; Priya Patra, PMP, director, Capgemini, Mumbai, India; and Silvana Tovar, international trade coordinator, Kenvue, São Paulo.Key themes[01:52] Why start volunteering? Three professionals share their stories[06:57] How volunteering can boost project professionals’ careers[11:25] The value of sharing your project management skills[14:07] How volunteering can help professionals upskill[18:20] Keeping volunteers motivated to work on outside projects[20:44] Advice for potential volunteers: share your knowledge, be honest about your availability and keep an open mind

Artificial intelligence is now a mainstay for organizations. But given the lack of widespread use across enterprises, there’s room for growth. And project teams are leading the way, developing AI solutions that deliver value to their companies and customers. We discuss this with: 

Mohammed Nabtiti, PMI-RMP, PMP, project management office and governance manager, Beeah Group, Dubai: Nabtiti discusses how his company created its “Office of the Future” with sustainability, AI and smart office technologies as the driving forces, how the team mitigated and managed risks to integrate several AI systems, how the organization determines accountability for AI outputs, and how he’s taking lessons learned about scoping and planning into future AI projects.

Sanjukta Ghosh, PMP, data and AI leader, Siemens AG, Munich: Ghosh discusses how she started her AI journey by solving customer problems, the knowledge project professionals need to manage AI initiatives and how she’s working to standardize AI projects across Siemens’ business units. Plus, Ghosh talks about a project to create digital twins for assets in the process industry using AI and engineering documents.

Key themes

[02:01] Creating a sustainable, AI-driven “Office of the Future”

[04:49] From smart meeting rooms to a digital concierge: Building the business case for which AI tech to use in the workplace

[07:44] Identifying and managing risks when integrating multiple AI systems

[10:43] Determining who is accountable for AI systems’ decisions

[14:08] How scoping and planning affect AI projects

[17:34] Skills and knowledge project professionals need to lead AI initiatives

[18:33] Standardizing AI projects across an enterprise

[22:05] Creating digital twins from AI tech and documentation

[26:52] Project professionals must stay up-to-date on tech advancements

We know that projects drive change, and today, more and more project professionals are managing initiatives to deliver positive impacts across the globe. Two 2023 PMI Future 50 leaders—Johnnie Stark, PMP, a project manager at BP in London, and Nuha Hashem, co-founder and CTO at Zywa in Dubai—discuss why the world needs project professionals, what sparked their passion to lead the innovative projects they’re managing today and their top advice for future project professionals.

Key themes

[01:59] Igniting a passion for project leadership

[04:33] Developing a low-carbon energy solution to help the U.K. decarbonize its electricity grid

[07:11] Creating a payment platform to boost financial literacy for Gen Z in the Middle East and North Africa

[10:20] How project management is changing—and how project professionals can adapt

[11:47] Advice for future project leaders: Be flexible, be willing to dive right in and care for team members’ well-being

Space projects push boundaries, aiming to give teams a better understanding of our own planet and to explore what’s beyond. But these efforts are full of complexity, with evolving risks, new innovations, long timelines and fluctuations in funding. We discuss this with:  

Kenneth Harris II, PhD, senior project engineer, The Aerospace Corporation, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA: The 2020 Future 50 leader discusses how the increasing number of crewed missions—and missions closer to Earth’s orbit—have changed the risk landscape for space projects, how he and his teams manage fast-paced change and tech innovations throughout years-long initiatives, what he sees as the top project management challenge for project professionals in the space sector, and how impact, curiosity and exposure have driven him throughout his career as a space project leader. 

Kay Lingenauber, project manager and system engineer, Institute of Planetary Research at the German Aerospace Center, Berlin: Lingenauber discusses how he and an international team created the Ganymede Laser Altimeter, or GALA, over 15 years, how he and the team managed changing resources and technology with a fixed launch date, good practices for collaborating with institutes and agencies across the globe, and his advice for other project professionals managing initiatives with plenty of complexity. 

Key themes 

[02:30] More crewed missions—and more missions closer to Earth—are changing the risk landscape 

[05:51] Managing fast-paced change and innovation with years-long timelines 

[09:56] Top project management challenges in space projects: Collaboration with new and established agencies and contending with tight budgets 

[14:17] Creating GALA, an instrument now headed for Jupiter’s moons 

[16:34] Leaning into adaptability and problem-solving in space projects 

[18:21] Boosting collaboration through requirements management, trust-building and transparency