"I am a Project Manager." "I am a Business Analyst." This is how you used to answer when asked "What do you do?" In today’s professional world, the line drawn between these two professions is increasingly blurry, and in some cases, non-existent, so answering this question has become much harder. Have you ever been asked to take on a hybrid project manager/business analyst role? Are you doing it now? Come join us as a panel of PMs and BAs discuss how these two professions are becoming increasingly more blended. If you can relate, please come and engage in the discussion and share your stories!
August 2020 Virtual Breakfast Meeting
Presentation Title/Topic:
There’s got to be a better way – Leveraging innovation in project management.
Speaker: Kevin Jacobs
Kevin Jacobs has 20+ years of experience leveraging IT project management to implement innovative solutions in a wide variety of industries. He completed a doctoral degree in information systems focused on reducing project failure in 2006. He just finished six years of working as the PMO manager for Freeport McMoRan where he developed and taught an internal PMP course, improved the visibility between strategic roadmaps and ongoing projects, and rolled out agile and design thinking principles to both IT and business operations. He is currently coaching Agile, blogging, and enjoying time with family while looking for his next adventure.
Kevin's Blog is https://simplifiedagile.com/blog/
People are also welcome to connect with him via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-jacobsdba/
Topic Summary:
Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) tools can enable your organization by providing transparency, governance and the ability to manage work across remote, distributed teams. But, how much do these tools cost? What functionality is going to cost us the most, and how can I ensure I maximize the value of our organization’s investment?
In this talk, Kim Essendrup of Kolme Group walks through the typical costs you can expect when implementing a PPM tool, and provides actionable advice on how to maximize the value of your PPM solution – whether you are looking for a tool now, or already have one implemented in your organization.
Speaker Bio:
Kim Essendrup is co-host of the Project Management Happy Hour podcast, and co-founder of Kolme Group, a PPM consultancy with an aim to help their clients make data driven decisions by integrating Project Delivery leadership with modern project management systems. Kim is a PMP with 20+ years experience managing teams, projects, programs and PMO’s.
The PMI Chapter Exchange is an 8 chapter collaborative group dedicated to holding multi-chapter events to promote diversity and project management values on a global stage. This month we are joined by 3 panelists that review three books on digital transformation.
Topic Summary:
The Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe) was recently named the most widely used method for Scaling Agile from a team level to a Program and then Enterprise level, making the value of holding a SAFe Certification greater now more than ever before. With over 70% of the US Fortune 100 companies and government agencies like the DOD using SAFe; the demand for SAFe certified professionals is growing at an exponential rate. Many employers are seeking professional candidates who bring credentials that demonstrate their ability to work within a SAFe environment, as displayed and verified through a SAFe Certification.
Since there are no prerequisites or experience to take any of the courses and get certified, you can experiment with different areas this fast-growing Project Management framework and decide what career track suits your skills, experience, and interests!
Debra Hildebrand, Founder, and CEO of LurnAgile, a boutique Scaled Agile coaching and training firm, will walk you through the evolution of SAFe and how it can boost your career – even if you have been working in traditional project management up to this point.
Speaker Bio:
Debra Hildebrand, MBA, SPC, PMP
Debra Hildebrand is the Founder and CEO of LurnAgile and has over 20 years’ experience in project management; including consulting and training in the public and private sector and teaching in higher education. She is one of the architects for the Project Management Certification program at the University of Washington, where she received the Team-Teaching Excellence Award and currently instructs in the online portion of the program. Additionally, she developed and currently teaches traditional and agile project management courses at Stanford University.
“I am passionate about helping organizations realize their full potential through Business Agility.” says Debra “I love working with organizations to build big systems and/or solve big problems. For over 20 years I have worked on some tough, high profile consulting assignments and have enjoyed every minute of it. I work hard to understand each client’s specific needs, problems, and “personality. Becoming a Scaled Agile Transformation Partner was the perfect fit for our organization”.
Her passion projects include highlighting Women in Agile through her Business RadioX Show, The Lurnist, and helping veterans transition into meaningful careers in project management after service disconnection through her work on the board of Veteran Project Manager Mentor Alliance (VPMMA).
She is a certified SAFe Program Consultant (SPC 5.0), Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute and has an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York, NY.
Debra currently lives in Phoenix, AZ
About LurnAgile
LurnAgile is a boutique firm that offers SAFe Certification Training, Transformation Coaching, and “SAFe as a Service” for clients that are going through an Agile Transformation. We are a Scaled Agile Silver Transformation Partner, which means that we have invested a great deal in the framework so our students and clients know we are committed to the highest quality and standards of training and coaching delivery. We are an Elite Team of Agile Coaches and Instructors – each team member has over 10 years’ experience coaching and leading Agile Transformations, so you know you are working with someone who “has been there and done that”.
- Leadership for Remote Work in Today's New Virtual World (1 Leadership PDU)
- Project Managers need to be Change Managers (1 Leadership PDU)
- How Train Difficult Stakeholders Like You Would Train a Bird of prey (Self Claim PDU)
- Using the Language of Projects/Process Improvements to enJOY Life Balance (Self-Claim PDU)