What You Missed at PMI Global Summit 2022

Revolutionary. Powerful. Global. Unforgettable.??

This year’s PMI Global Summit attendees gave rave reviews. The largest event that we have ever organized brought virtual and in-person project professionals, volunteers, chapters and team members together from around the world.??

Our PMI Global Summit 2022 was full of opportunities for networking, knowledge—and fun! Along with an exhibit hall packed with future-focused solutions, there was a reimagined awards ceremony honoring people and ideas advancing the profession (and some stellar musical performances).??

And with more than 140 educational sessions and subject matter experts—covering everything from sustainability to power skills—attendees could access a breadth of incredible content to level up in their projects and their careers. Here are five key takeaways:?

1. Lean into agility.?

Deep uncertainty is the new reality—so stop trying to control it, said Amy Webb, the opening keynote speaker, author and CEO of the Future Today Institute. Webb’s advice? Be willing to challenge your most cherished beliefs and rethink the status quo. And avoid running after every shiny new thing. Real trends move us into the future and indicate long-term change, she explained.??

Still, knowing when to pivot is crucial. It’s do or die time for companies: If they’re not agile, they won’t survive, said Mohamed Khalifa, DASM, PMI-ACP, DASSM, PMI-PBA, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, Lifelong. But it’s going to take more than sprints. It takes a mind reset, he said.?

And it’s okay to start small. Think of micro-transformations as “bite-size wins” that get people excited and moving in the direction you want to go, said Michelle Venezia, PMI-ACP, #PMP, PfMP, UR Medicine.??

2. Stake out new turf.??

When it comes to your career, don’t feel like you have to pick one lane and stay there. Explore what excites you, said musician and #PMIFuture50 leader Beatie Wolfe. For her, that’s meant experimenting with new ways to talk about climate change. One example? Turning 800,000 years of data into a powerful piece of art: a song that tracks the rise of atmospheric CO2 levels on the planet.??

Jessica O. Matthews, our closing keynote speaker, credits the people around her for “pushing me not to be afraid of things.” The payoff? She invented an energy-harnessing soccer ball at age 19 and launched her own energy solutions company at 22.?

3. Define your own leadership style.?

As the world continues to transform, so does the definition of what it means to be a leader. Sometimes that means showing you’re not perfect, said GmbH’s Marcus Glowasz, PMI-ACP, PMP, PgMP. Project leaders who are open and authentic remove team members’ fear of speaking up and admitting failure, he explained.??

Modern leaders also recognize the value of investing in building and retaining high-performing teams. One proven strategy? Focus on mentoring, said Benjamin Anyacho, PMP, Apostolic Bridge Builders. Meta’s Vijay Ratthinam agrees—contending that mentors get as much out of mentoring relationships as mentees.??

4. Representation matters.??

Successful project management is fueled by innovation, creativity and feedback from everyone—including women, explained SLB’s Fabiola Maisonnier, PMP. If we don’t have women as role models, then other women may think they can’t do it either, said Ana Maria Rodriguez, PMP, PMI-ACP, ERA Project Management. And don’t overlook young people. Rising leaders are the future of your profession, said Aliki Courmanopoulos, PMP.??

That mélange of minds can be a powerful force. Different types of thinkers will solve problems in different ways, said Teresa Lawrence, PMP, International Deliverables. It’s not always that no one has done something before—but that no one who looks like you has done it, said Tammara Buckey, PMP, BDO Global.??

5. Celebrate achievements.

There’s no shortage of innovation this year—and project leaders are scoring big wins across sectors. We recognized (and regaled) the best of the best in 2022 at our ILLUMINATE! #PMIAwards ceremony:

• Snagging our PMI Project of the Year Award was CDL Rapid Screening Consortium, a not-for-profit initiative led by the Creative Destruction Lab to safely re-open the Canadian economy.
• The PMI Large and Mega Project Award went to Dubai Roads and Transport Authority’s Dubai Metro Route 2020, which delivered safe, sustainable, inclusive and architecturally significant transport?to the city—and is expected to reach 275,000 commuters by 2030.
• Our PMI Small and Mid-Size Project Award winner was the Medical Oxygen Plant project. The team at Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. installed 309 plants for the Prime Minister Cares Fund, bringing 24/7 oxygen supplies to 46,350 hospital beds during the second wave of COVID-19 in India.
• And the PMI PMO of the Year Award went to Dubai Municipality Project Management Office, which has established itself as an expert hub for an average of 180 projects per year with a community of 380 project practitioners.

Learn more about these incredible projects, the people who made them reality, and view the full list of 2022 honorees in our Awards Gallery.

These and other lessons learned gave our attendees plenty to think about as they forge ahead into a new year.??Feeling inspired? Learn even more by accessing all sessions on demand. And if you’re already developing FOMO, mark your calendars for #PMIGlobalSummit in October 2023 in Atlanta, GA. We’ll see you there!?