Thursday Workshops
Essential power skills – communication, collaboration, and prioritization
Thursday, November 28 | 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Speaker: Robyn Roscoe
4.0 PDUs
For more than 20 years, I have been a project manager and leader in the world of research project management. I was an early advocate of applying sound project management principles to a domain that previously had been less structured. In this workshop, I will share my learning and knowledge in three essential power skills for project management:
- Effective communication – essentials and best practices, including establishing key messages, mindful listening, persuasion, and assertiveness.
- Stakeholder collaboration – defining stakeholders and their requirements to build effective collaborations.
- Prioritization and time management - applying a goal-setting approach to tasks, classifying work within the urgent-vs-important matrix, and look at some effective tools for managing your time to increase effectiveness and productivity and (more importantly) to reduce stress and improve contribution.
Evolving into Strategic Leaders: Strategies and Tactics for Women in Project Management
Thursday, November 28 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Speakers: Megan Johnston & Nathalie Chan King Choy
4.0 PDUs
Many women in leadership roles experience challenges being viewed as strategic leaders. Few educational experiences exist in the project management landscape that refine strategic leadership skills for project managers. Even fewer opportunities exist for women in the profession to connect and learn together, especially where the skills being taught are by women and for women. We aim to bring this unique experience to the PMI-CWCC community.
In this workshop we aim to empower women and those identifying as female within the profession to grow into new responsibilities as strategic leaders within their organizations. We will discuss organizational strategy; considerations for strategic planning in agile organizations, and practice hands-on with Objectives and Key Results as a popular strategic planning technique suited to agile organizations. We will showcase the connection between projects and OKRs, building skills for strategic project management.
We will compare and contrast male and female leadership differences and present data on the benefits that women bring to projects and organizations when they lead. We will practice techniques to improve boardroom influence and executive presence. We will also discuss how to cultivate diversity, equity and inclusion in project teams and to influence these practices at the organizational level.
Finally, we will showcase the incorporation of AI tools into the daily work of women in project management; building confidence in designing and implementing prompts that can reduce busywork and build knowledge. Our session will include in-depth skills for using Copilot-type assistants and popular AI chat tools.
Stakeholder Engagement and Analysis: Influencing and Aligning Multiple Bottom Lines in Project Management
Thursday, November 28 | 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Speaker: Mandy Hansen
4.0 PDUs
Successful stakeholder engagement and management are crucial for achieving project objectives and ensuring stakeholder satisfaction in today's complex project environments. This masterclass will delve into advanced strategies for stakeholder engagement and analysis, focusing on influencing and aligning the diverse interests of all stakeholders to achieve multiple bottom lines—economic, social, and environmental. Participants will learn practical tools and techniques to identify, analyze, and manage stakeholder expectations, drive consensus, and ensure all stakeholders benefit from the project outcomes.
Empowering Change: Strategic Planning & Leadership for Project Professionals Masterclass
Thursday, November 28 | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Speakers: Amber McMillan & Martin Castellani
7.0 PDUs
This masterclass is crafted to provide professionals and project managers with advanced strategies, insights, and coaching to drive transformative change in their careers. The agenda combines strategic planning, professional coaching, and leadership development, all rooted in the core values of authenticity, diversity, inclusion, integrity, transparency, and trust.
Elevate Your Project Management with Customized AI Solutions: A Guide with Real-Life Examples
Thursday, November 28 | 01:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Speaker: Kristian Bainey
2.0 PDUs
Ready to elevate your project management skills? Join us as we explore the world of ChatGPT, a powerful language model tailored to enhance your project management capabilities! We'll begin with an introduction to prompt engineering, covering its fundamentals and how it can be leveraged to maximize the potential of AI in project management.
Additionally, we will discuss the integration of AI and human talent in projects, emphasizing secure AI implementation strategies, key principles, and the future of AI for project managers. Learn how to navigate and integrate AI solutions within your team to optimize project outcomes and maintain security and compliance.
To bring these concepts to life, we'll present an AI-generated real-world example of initiating a project proposal for a steering committee. This example will walk you through the process from vision to project charter, scope statement, stakeholder register, work breakdown structure (WBS), timeline, and final presentation.
Finally, we'll host an interactive learning session where you can review the material and gain hands-on experience with ChatGPT. Join us and discover how to advance your project management skills with this innovative AI tool!
Shift Uncomfortable Conversations into Productive Collaborations
Thursday, November 28 | 01:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Speaker: Jim Brosseau
3.0 PDUs
Many factors contribute to interpersonal and communication challenges in the workplace, factors that are not adequately addressed by traditional PM guidance. These include hierarchy and power, performance barriers and challenged EDI practices. We can also add the biology of how we process information and manage our own self-awareness to the mix. Imagine an environment with greater trust, respect, curiosity, engagement, clarity and appreciation, resulting in improved collaboration and performance. We can learn how to shift difficult and uncomfortable conversations into productive collaborations.
In this workshop we explore the behaviours and attitudes behind poor communication that we have all been guilty of. We then adjust these behaviours to build a more positive, collaborative work environment. You will develop increased self-awareness and skills in effective listening and empathy. You will learn how to manage your perception and reactions to reduce defensiveness and anxiety in yourself and others. This allows you to manage conflict situations and give and receive effective feedback.
Power Up Your Presentations
Thursday, November 28 | 01:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Speaker: Ben Chan
3.0 PDUs
Have you ever felt like your slide deck presentations were more of a chore than a tool? Do you find yourself spending hours crafting slides that still fall flat? In this interactive workshop, we'll dive deep into the art and science of effective PowerPoint presentations.
In the world of project management, communication is key. PowerPoint and slide deck presentations offer a powerful way to align teams, share complex information, and drive results. But to truly leverage this tool, you need to understand the underlying principles of effective communication and design.
In this workshop, you will learn:
- The storytelling framework: Discover how to structure your presentations around a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience.
- Design principles for impact: Understand the psychology of visual communication and learn how to create slides that are both visually appealing and informative.
- Effective use of visuals: Explore the power of images, charts, and graphs to enhance your message and make it more memorable.
- Tips for engaging your audience: Learn how to deliver your presentation confidently and keep your audience engaged throughout.
