Author: Ala Lutz, PMP

Speakers for the 2023 PMI Conference!

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your applications to become speakers at the upcoming PMI Conference. We appreciate your interest and the valuable insights you have shared with us.

PMI Conference team is waiting for you for in Basel

We are pleased to inform you that the processing of applications is currently in progress. Our team is carefully reviewing each application and evaluating the proposed topics and experiences. We understand the anticipation and excitement surrounding the selection process.

Rest assured, we will be providing updates soon regarding the status of your application. Our goal is to ensure a thorough and fair evaluation process to select the most relevant and impactful speakers for the conference.

Once again, we sincerely thank you for your time, effort, and interest in contributing to the PMI Conference. We truly value the knowledge and expertise you bring to the table. Your willingness to share your experiences will undoubtedly enrich the conference and benefit the project management community.

We look forward to reaching out to you shortly with further information. In the meantime, if you have any questions or require additional assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for your understanding and patience and forward to seeing you in Basel.

Author: Mafalda Amaro

Dear PMI Switzerland Community,

We are thrilled to share with you the incredible success of our recent social impact initiative, held in collaboration with Bevel World, where we provided project management training to a group of 35 displaced professionals from Ukraine. The event took place on the 24th and 25th of June, and it was an inspiring demonstration of how our collective efforts can make a lasting social impact.

At PMI Switzerland, we believe in the power of our project management community to create positive change. Partnering with Bevel World, an organization committed to social transformation, allowed us to amplify our impact and reach a broader audience. Their expertise in working with displaced individuals created a synergistic partnership that amplified the social outcomes we aim to achieve.

Our team of PMI volunteers shared their project management expertise, guiding participants through modules on project management principles, methodologies, and best practices. Additionally, we emphasized the power skills development, enabling the participants to enhance their communication, collaborative leadership, problem-solving, and strategic thinking.

While we celebrate the achievements of this event, we also recognize the need to continue our efforts to create lasting social impact. We firmly believe that every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances, should have access to opportunities that enable their personal and professional growth.

We invite our community to join our Social Impact & Youth team, as your involvement can make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.

To learn more and get involved, visit our website or contact our team directly. Together, let's continue leveraging project management for positive social change.

Join us in celebrating this initiative!

Become a Volunteer

Author: Eric Jelenje, PMP

Retrospective on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: Helping Enhance Sustainability and Competitiveness in Uncertain Times

Over the past three editions of the Newsletter, we have been talking about all things Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), and their relevance to modern day organizational and project management.

As a continuation, I was privileged to facilitate an evening of conversation around DEI  and its benefits to organizations needing to thrive amidst immense volatility and uncertainty.

Kickstarting proceedings, Adi Muslic, VP for Sponsors and Partners, provided a background to the event’s organization process and a brief overview of the keynote presentation.

The next highlight, a 3-minute monologue on the power of DEI in the work, was an ideal preamble, reinforcing its relevance in the face of talent shortages and societal upheaval in the project economy. The conversation subsequently shifted to the DEI strategy formulation process, referencing  the USA for Africa project as a case study.

Equally as engaging were the exchanges and debates between participants. One such was around balancing data protection legislative compliance with the need for comprehensive data to support decision-making and strategy formulation. 

Others thoughts shared were around organizations displaying “superficial” commitments to DEI, how meaningful action is important and how embracing DEI should not be forceful but organic.

My shared takeaways? 

Context is important. DEI strategy should reflect the uniqueness of circumstances.

Perfection is unrealistic. Every step forward is progress. 

Embrace and balance the use of quantitative and qualitative data.

Concluding the discussions, Adi talked of the Chapter’s ongoing and pipeline initiatives, upcoming events and the Chapter volunteer experience. 

Participants were then treated to a networking apéro in what was the perfect ending to a wonderful evening of networking and conversations.

Interested in attending a future PMI event? Then access the events listing page on the Chapter website and register for the event of your choice.

Author: Joanna Lubowiecka

I am delighted to share with you the key highlights and insights gained from our recent event Collaboration Simplified: Practical Tools to Power Your Projects driven by Stefano Mastrogiacomo in Zurich.

The focus of the event was to improve collaboration and enhance team effectiveness. The event offered practical tips to strengthen teamwork and foster a collaborative culture.

The fundamental aspect we explored was collaboration within teams. By understanding each team member's responsibilities and ensuring a smooth workflow, teams can achieve goals more efficiently.

Simple yet effective collaboration, both within and across teams, proved to be a crucial component for project success. Stefano placed a strong emphasis on creating a supportive work environment that encourages open communication, trust, and respect. When team members feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to freely share ideas, cooperate on projects, and contribute their unique skills and expertise. By fostering a culture of collaboration, teams can unlock their full potential and achieve better results. 

At the event, we had the chance to experiment with a tool provided by the speaker. The purpose was to showcase a practical and effective approach to improving collaboration within a team. Stefano guided us through his approach using the tool, which showed innovative ways to streamline communication, project management, and knowledge sharing. We discovered how we can facilitate seamless collaboration, enabling team members to work together more efficiently regardless of time and location.

Another crucial lesson we learned is the significance of project mission alignment in driving collaboration and team success.

We emphasized the importance of clearly communicating the project's mission and ensuring that each team member understands his or her role in achieving it.

When everyone shares a common purpose and feels a sense of ownership, collaboration becomes more purposeful and focused, resulting in higher levels of engagement and motivation.

Identifying and addressing collaboration blockers and enablers was another key aspect of our discussions. We examined common obstacles that hinder collaboration, such as communication gaps, lack of trust, and resistance to change.

Through interactive sessions, we shared effective approaches to overcome these challenges and create an environment conducive to collaboration. By proactively addressing these blockers, teams can foster a culture of trust, open communication, and cooperation. Showcased real-life examples brought practical insights to understand the topic even better.

We are excited to implement these learnings within our own teams and witness the positive impact they will have on our projects.

Together, let's continue to build a culture of collaboration, where every team member's contribution is valued, and our collective achievements soar to new heights.