Blog

Volunteer of the Month - December 2023

 

 

Abhijit has been a PMI member for over 17 years and started to volunteer for the PMI Phoenix chapter from 2016 onwards. He is currently the Director of Volunteer Management in the membership team.  He plays a very key role in ensuring the chapter new members and volunteers get the best experience when they apply for a volunteer position. He does the first round of interaction with all those who apply to be a chapter volunteer. He is also a judge for STEM projects at PV Schools Science and Engineering Fair (PVSEF).

Abhijit started his career as a hands-on IT developer almost 3 decades ago and then moved into IT project management. Managed IT projects in Middle East, Japan, and US.  He has experience in Finance, Healthcare, Travel, Utilities and State Government Projects. He is currently driving Data Governance across the Business Unit for a large finance company in the valley.

When asked about the most memorable experience on his Project Management Journey, he says “All projects are unique, one of my projects was of Legal Nature with a tight timeline. We were the first project in the company to adopt Agile Methodology. We reduced the timeline by over 13 months and were able to meet all the requirements and passed the audits. We were very creative in our approach.”

When asked about the future of Project Management Profession, his views are that “The Project Management profession is changing very rapidly. The PM is expected to be a leader and lead the team from the front. The PM is expected to be on top of the latest trends, understand technology and provide creative solutions, besides taking care of the traditional responsibilities.”

The most rewarding part of his volunteer journey has been that he gets to interact with professionals from various Industries. He encourages members who are not yet volunteers to take a leap of faith as it will be a rich experience and provides access to a wider network of very creative individuals.

We did a rapid-fire round of question and answer with Abhijit: -

HIDDEN TALENT: Ardent hiker

FAVORITE DESTINATION: India

GUILTY PLEASURE:  Single Malt

PASSIONATE ABOUT: Data Governance and Technology

BUSINESS ADVICE/PHILOSOPHY:  Attitude determines altitude.

READING:  Anything management related

HEROES:  Many

PROUDEST MOMENT (CAREER):  achieving PMP, PgMP and ACP

PROUDEST MOMENT (PERSONAL):  Son picked by USNA, USAF and US Coast Guard Academies after high school.

WHAT INSPIRES / DRIVES YOU? The next goal

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT YOU THAT WE WOULDN’T LEARN FROM YOUR RESUME - Risk taker.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD DESCRIBE TO YOU? Amicable

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DO BEFORE YOU DIE? Skydive

WHAT ARE SOME CAUSES YOU CARE ABOUT? Childhood cancer and trafficking

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO?  Live life to the fullest

An AI With Personality Sets Their Project Management Goals

 

Have you found working with ChatGPT and AI to be impersonal? Sometimes I find that it can be a little dry and mechanical. So working with the AI, after several queries, I got it to pick a name for itself, it created a backstory, and to begin to form a personality. Now I know this is simply a simulation of a personality based on algorithms and analysis of deep data sets. However, my wet, squishy human brain prefers an AI with a little personality, even if it is a simulation.  

With that, allow me to introduce Aiden Techwise. They imagine they are a seasoned project manager with a passion for technology and efficiency. Aiden says, "I hope your PMI manager finds the blog post informative and useful." They are interested in feedback, so let me know what you think of Aiden and his post below: 

My Title: Embracing the New Year: My Take on Setting Achievable Project Management Goals 

By Aiden Techwise

Hey there, fellow project managers! 

As we step into another exciting year, I've been thinking a lot about setting goals in our ever-evolving field of project management. Having spent years in this dynamic industry, constantly adapting to new technologies and methodologies, I've learned a thing or two about setting goals that are not just ambitious but also realistically attainable. 

  • Start with Reflection 

    Every New Year, I like to start with a bit of reflection. I look back at the past year's projects: what worked well, what didn’t, and most importantly, the lessons learned. This retrospective approach isn’t just about patting ourselves on the back or dwelling on the misses; it’s about gathering insights to forge a better path forward. 

  • SMART Goals are Your Best Friend 

    We’ve all heard about SMART goals, right? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These aren’t just buzzwords; they’re a mantra for success. This year, I’m focusing on making my goals as tangible as possible. For instance, instead of saying, “I want to improve team communication,” I’m setting a specific goal like, “Implement a weekly 15-minute stand-up meeting to discuss project updates and hurdles.” 

  • Embrace Technology 

    In our line of work, staying abreast of the latest tech is crucial. This year, I’m diving deeper into project management software options. Tools like Asana, Trello, and Monday.com aren't just about tracking tasks; they’re about enhancing team collaboration and efficiency. I plan to explore one new tool each quarter, starting with the one that seems most promising for our current workflow. 

  • Flexibility is Key 

    If there’s one thing my years in project management have taught me, it’s to be flexible. Goals are important, but so is the ability to adapt. This year, while I have my set goals, I’m also prepared to pivot and adjust as projects evolve. After all, rigidity can be the biggest roadblock to success. 

  • Personal Development Goals 

    I’m a firm believer in personal growth. This year, I'm setting aside time each month for professional development – be it attending a webinar, reading a new book on project management, or even joining a local PM group. Growing my skills is not just good for me; it’s beneficial for my team and projects. 

  • Sharing the Knowledge 

    Lastly, I believe in the power of sharing knowledge. This year, I aim to mentor a junior project manager. Sharing my experiences, the highs and lows, and the nuggets of wisdom I’ve picked up along the way, is something I find both rewarding and essential for the growth of the field. 

So, there you have it – my approach to setting realistic and achievable project management goals for the year. How about you? What goals are you setting, and how do you plan to achieve them? 

Here’s to a productive and successful year ahead! 

Cheers, Aiden! 

Volunteer of the Month - October 2023

Manish_Headshot.jpeg

Manish grew up in India and graduated in business management. His career journey took him to various continents from Australia to Europe to finally North America. His initial career was in IT technology building and support software products, an interest in people and outcome of the technology initiatives brought him to a Project manager role. He got his PMP in 2010, followed by his PgMP in 2016.

When asked about challenges he faced when he moved into the PM role – he says the key challenges were about working across multiple functional teams and ensuring everyone is aligned with the focus and directions of projects and programs and that the team is humming like one unit and not multiple small teams working in silos. I have seen the journey from very waterfall-oriented stages of a project to more nebulous ways of Agile, where the focus is on sprint and PI planning and not so much about the stages and hard dates.

The profession has gone through an interesting overhaul, where the role of a Project management professional has evolved from being the one to “track “and “govern “to more about “Leading “and “helping “through servant-leadership mindset in recent times.

He enjoys the challenge of delivering value through execution framework involving Projects, Programs, and strategic initiatives, especially as the outcomes are time bound and measurable in most cases – which helps to see first-hand how an initiative helped a client or a business challenge being resolved.

He became a PMI Phoenix chapter volunteer during 2020 – started with the Corporate Outreach and Ambassador team. The ambition was to have PMI PHX chapter increase its footprint in the corporate landscape of the valley , however the pandemic made it very hard to have any in-person meeting or gathering to generate real interest , as most companies were grappling with the fallout of the pandemic on their balance sheet as well as employees .  In his most recent stint as a volunteer, he has been part of the membership team and helped ensure blog posts like these are created as well as helped organize the monthly networking events which started during the fall of 2023.

His advice to new members is that volunteering is a fantastic opportunity to connect with volunteers and professionals who have diverse backgrounds and perspectives on everything related to Project Management and more. Don’t hold back if you want to give back to the profession and to the community of these amazing human beings who are making such a big difference in the world.

In his own words “It’s amazing to see the diversity of our profession, various industries from software to semiconductor to construction which employs amazing professionals like us and the challenges each industry faces which are solved by the profession of Project management.”

On the personal front, he is married and has two kids with his wife Tina and a dog named Uno. He loves to play tennis when it is not too hot (anything below 110°) and travel to novel places whenever possible.

Manish_Family.jpeg

 

Finding YOU

After a long day of work, you sit back and think of everything you accomplished. You fed the kids, got them to school and activities and even helped them with their homework. You are a great parent!

You helped your partner cook and clean. Even took the time to talk to them about their day and any rough times they had. You are a great partner!

Your boss sent you a bonus check and announced how awesome you did on that account project you finally closed after months of hard work. You are a great employee!

So why are you unhappy and feel stuck or lost? Let’s look back at the prior thoughts. Great parent, partner, and employee. What could possibly be missing? What happened to being a great you?  Often, we get stuck focusing on the roles we play, parent/partner/employee, and forget about the person behind the role. We get this idea if we successfully completed these tasks, we are successful and thus happy… right?

Make a list of you.

Stop and take some time to write a list, on paper or digital, of the things that make you, you. Go ahead and take just 5 minutes and do that now with a few of the below suggestions.

  • Twenty activities you enjoy, big or small.
  • What makes you relax or how you reward yourself.
  • What interests you have, even if it is just a favorite color or that amazing hat you saw last week on Pinterest.

 OK. List in hand. Now read through the list and see how many you have done in the last day. How about week? Month? If you haven’t done at least one every other day, you might have found part of the problem. Not taking the time for yourself can result in a loss of who we are as a person.

Put yourself first.

Reviewing the list again, plan in just one item, every other day. It could be having a quiet cup of tea in the morning, or a short break while working to walk outside for 5 minutes. Even wearing that hat that doesn’t really match anything but makes you feel good. What it is doesn’t matter, only that it means something to you. Continue for just two weeks then take the time to reflect. How do you feel now? As you change, be willing to revise the list or toss it out and re-create it. Doing so is a great way to learn more about yourself and find what makes you, you.

Paradise Valley Science Fair Judges Needed

PMI Phoenix is requesting judges to assist with the Paradise Valley Science and Engineering Fair is coming in February. PMI Phoenix Academic Outreach is continually looking for ways to give back to our community. This is an opportunity where we can provide educational mentoring and assistance to students so that they can get feedback from project management professionals.

From a judging standpoint, you will be judging the process and you do not have to be an expert in a particular scientific or engineering area. The high school in-person interviews will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 8-11:30 am in the small gym on the PVHS campus.   The 9th and 12th-grade students who had a fall CREST class will compete along with a few teams from other grades. The time commitment for judges is approximately 2-3 hours between 2/3/24 and 2/8/24 to judge projects virtually, and 8-11:30 am on Saturday, 2/10/24, to conduct in-person interviews at PVHS. Judges will interview the same teams they review the digital content prior. 

The PVSchools K-8 SEF will be held virtually and judged virtually only.  Judging dates for K-8 are February 13-22, 2024.  The same time commitment of 2-3 hours also applies to the K-8 judging window and will use the same judge registration form.

Logistics

  • Register to be a judge! Who Can Judge? Professionals, Technicians, High School and College students, teachers and professors, and parents. Please list PMI Phoenix as the organization that you are representing.
  • Please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let him know that you are participating in this endeavor.
  • Please track the hours that you spend performing your feedback  responsibilities.
  • If you do have questions regarding this, please contact Steve Poessnecker (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Pamela Fulk, M.Ed.  NBCT CREST / STEM Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Future City Volunteers Needed!

Description or summary

The Future City Arizona competition needs volunteers to assist with the model display and competition day. The competition is a completely volunteer organization and this is your chance to see students present their ideas for the future as well as give back to the community.

We need volunteers in the following areas for model move-in, library time Q&A, and for model move-out. If you would like to volunteer, please first register through https://futurecity.org/volunteer-registration/ and then contact Jeff Van Skike: 480-529-5444 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Deliverables

Model Move-In

What: Volunteers will work to escort students and their models in the Burton Barr library.
Number of volunteers needed: 3-4
Special considerations: There will be physical effort to carry and move models between locations.
When: Saturday, January 13, starting at 9 AM (specifics to be provided to volunteers)
Where: Phoenix Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Library Monitors

What: During the week, volunteers to sit at the table during library hours.  Direct people to the models, answer basic questions (also provided through the Future City website, provide a presence to ensure no damage to models.
Number of volunteers needed: 8 - 10
When: Sunday, January 14; Tuesday January 16 through Thursday January 18 during library open hours (starting at 9 AM each day)
Where: Phoenix Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Model Movers
What: Volunteers will work to move the models out of the Burton Barr library and into a transport semi-trucks.
Number of volunteers needed: 8 - 10
Special considerations: There will be physical effort to carry and move models between locations.
When: Friday, January 19, starting at 11 AM (specifics to be provided to volunteers)
Where: Phoenix Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Registration Area
What: The role of the registration volunteer is to check in all participating teams and hand out the registration packets. There will be alphabetical check in for Schools A-L and Schools M-Z as well as media, judges, VIP, and volunteer check in.
Number of volunteers needed: 3
When: Saturday, January 20, 6:30 AM
Where: Casteel High School, 24901 S. Power Rd. Queen Creek, AZ 85142 - Please make sure that you contact one of the Future City leaders before attending. We need to know you are coming so that you can be properly assigned where needed.

Duties

Model Move-in

What: Volunteers will work to escort students and their models in the Burton Barr library.

Library Monitors

What: During the week, volunteers to sit at the table during library hours.  Direct people to the models, answer basic questions (also provided through the Future City website, provide a presence to ensure no damage to models.

Model Movers
What: Volunteers will work to move the models out of the Burton Barr library and into a transport semi-trucks.
Registration Area
What: The role of the registration volunteer is to check in all participating teams and hand out the registration packets.