What makes human beings human is spirituality, art and philosophy. Science and technology can be made by artificial intelligence, created by human beings, which means that they are not specific to human beings. Therefore, it is inherent to the human being to be a spiritual, artistic and philosophical being. Without this there is no humanity (nor Humanity).

In this conference I will talk about how art contributes to Project Leadership.

What is the relevance of art to project leadership and its success?

Art is inseparable from creativity and inspiration. It is from them that it is born, that is what it provides, in addition to self-knowledge.

How does art inspire us to surpass ourselves in our abilities and skills?

How does art contribute to creating a good team spirit, boosting creativity and intelligence?

How does art contribute to creating a spatial work environment conducive to the good professional performance of people and teams?

How is all this the result of a good, more human project leadership through art?

PMI is a professional organization established in 1969 to create a space for project managers to share ideas and keep current with the best practices of their very special role as project managers. 

One of the benefits that PMI quickly recognized was facilitating these project manager collaborations by conducting projects using PMI volunteers was a win-win. Projects got done, volunteers gained experience that could be applied in their jobs. 

The PMI membership is approximately 650,000 and the number of volunteers are estimated at 14,000.  What’s wrong with this picture? 

Lee Lambert will explain what’s wrong and what can be done to improve volunteer participation.  This is a message you must hear directly from someone who has been volunteering for PMI for over 45 years.  You’ve never heard a Keynote like this. You will leave this Conference inspired. Guaranteed. 

The power of collective intelligence shows when working together, can collectively achieve better results, make smarter decisions, and solve more complex problems than any single individual could achieve alone. This concept is based on the principle that the combination of diverse knowledge, perspectives, and skills within a group can lead to enhanced problem-solving abilities and increased overall intelligence. Collective intelligence leverages the wisdom of the crowd, where each member’s contribution, no matter how small, contributes to the collective knowledge and decision-making process. By pooling together the expertise and insights of multiple individuals, collective intelligence enables a more comprehensive and robust analysis of information and a greater likelihood of arriving at optimal solutions.

This concept has become increasingly relevant and influential in the digital age, as technology has facilitated communication, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among large groups of people across geographical boundaries. From crowdsourcing ideas and solutions to fostering collaboration in scientific research or business innovation, the power of collective intelligence has the potential to drive innovation, progress, and positive change in various domains.

Some trends related to the power of collective intelligence: crowdsourcing, open-source software and collaboration, citizen science, collective decision-making, online communities and social networks, collaborative problem-solving in organizations, swarm intelligence and centralized and distributed systems.

The power of collective intelligence offers numerous advantages and benefits across various domains: Diverse perspectives, Enhanced problem-solving, Faster decision-making, Continuous learning and improvement, Increased accuracy and reliability, Adaptability and agility, Empowerment and inclusion, Innovation and breakthroughs. Let´s walk the talk.

Ricardo Vargas’ keynote “How AI is Transforming Project Management” investigates AI’s current role in the field, the obstacles to its full integration, emerging trends, and strategies for preparing for what is coming.

It includes practical advice on continuous learning and adaptation to embrace AI’s transformative potential effectively.

Active listening is a powerful skill that can help us bridge differences, resolve conflicts, and create a sense of belonging.

Active listening is not just about hearing words, but also about paying attention to nonverbal cues and emotions, to create a supportive environment where people feel heard, valued, and understood.

To ‘truly’ listen requires practice and effort, and it is a skill that can be developed over time. By becoming better listeners, we can strengthen our relationships – both personally and professionally – and ultimately build a more compassionate world.

One person at a time, one project at a time… We can make our mark; we can be the ripple of meaningful impact. Together We Can.

In the realm of Leadership 4.0, project management is undergoing a transformative shift. Leadership 4.0, with its emphasis on technology, agility, collaboration, and adaptability, has already revolutionized project management. However, I want to set a Plus in Leadership 4.0 to show the next dimension that will come: the holistic leadership Dimension. Holistic leadership recognizes that project managers play a vital role beyond overseeing tasks; they become champions of their team members’ well-being, growth, and personal goals.

Holistic project managers embrace the principles of Leadership 4.0 while going above and beyond the project work. They understand the importance of being available for their team members, providing support and guidance that extends beyond professional responsibilities. By nurturing a culture of trust and empowerment, these leaders foster an environment where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally. As we look towards the future, holistic leadership sets the stage for Leadership 5.0. It envisions a leadership approach that not only embraces technology and agility but also places a strong emphasis on the human element, emotional intelligence, lifelong learning and the holistic well-being of the team. This integrated approach will shape the future of leadership, where projects and organizations thrive through the synergistic combination of technological advancement and human-centered leadership practices.

In conclusion, Leadership 4.0⁺ introduces the next dimension of leadership: holistic leadership. By merging the principles of Leadership 4.0 with a focus on the well-being and personal growth of team members, holistic leadership sets the stage for a future Leadership 5.0, where the human element takes center stage alongside technological advancements.

“The important thing -said Albert Einstein – is not to stop questioning.”  So, I followed the advice and asked ChatGPT “Does it matter whether the intelligence is human or artificial?”

The answer was:

“The distinction between human intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI) is indeed significant and can have implications in various contexts. Here are a few considerations:

1. Ethical Considerations: Human intelligence is typically associated with moral agency, consciousness, and subjective experiences. This raises unique ethical considerations when compared to AI, which lacks consciousness and subjective experience.”

The ball, so to say, is back in our court, to human intelligence. The word comes from Latin inter (between) and legere – choose, pick, read and gather. How we navigate between the many opportunities and risks posed by AI and what we pick and choose from the biased experience it offers us defines what I shall call “Ethical Intelligence”.

Pushing back when dealing with your manager is not an act of insubordination or disrespect. Rather, effective pushback allows employees to share their point of view and important, relevant information with their managers through a collaborative process of active engagement and effective communication. The result is task clarity and alignment. 

That having been said, pushing back is never easy. It requires a sense of entitlement for upwards advocacy and a set of communications tools specifically designed for this purpose. In this session, you will explore methods and strategies for effective pushback and learn impactful and easy-to-use communication tools, which when used together, will help you pushback like a pro.

Collaboration is that power skill that everyone knows is critical to help project teams to deliver.

We have literature, trainings, Ted talks, and so much more to guide us on the topic, but how many times you sat down in that project team meeting, and regardless of how much you have prepared to explain what’s going on right now, and why outcomes are not going as per the plan… deep inside you don’t understand what is causing the problem, or what else needs to happen to bring the project on time, on budget… to bring the team performing … to bring yourself on track?.

If you had experienced this already, great, that means you are just a normal human being, and if you are a professional that is curious to discover more, join us for a thoughtful provocative transparent conversation about how individual and collective intelligence can help you navigate complexity.

What is a project without people? How well do you really know your project team?

The Art of Project Resourcing is managing complex moving parts that can be outside of your control. 

The Science is having the knowledge and methods to counteract potential risks. 

How do you attract, retain, and develop a high performing team in a highly competitive labor market?

As a servant leader are you empowering your team to work to their strengths whilst providing personal development in other areas? 

In the era of the so called “Anthropocene” and “liquid society”, the world is changing faster than ever before, and Project Managers are facing a reality where uncertainty is the only certainty. In addition, every day we are witnessing the growing fragility of our planet and, more in general, of world economy and balance.

As further observation about the evolution of project management best practices, we cannot fail to recognize the success of agile approaches as a means to mitigate project complexity.

Now, if both observations are well-founded, I think we should ask ourselves if agile is still enough within a scenario in which everything is more fragile.

In my opinion, the answer lies in a paradigm shift in which “way of thinking” becomes more important than “way of working” and “why” prevails over “how”. And I do believe that Project Managers can be the protagonists of this cultural change.

In an increasingly complex and fast-moving global economy, the nature of work itself is changing. We see technologies like Artificial Intelligence reshaping how projects are delivered around the world. The A.I. revolution has sparked both hopes and fears regarding the impact this technology will leave on society. For every technological advancement in fields like machine learning, many become concerned about the potential of machines to replace humans in the workforce.

We will welcome Jennifer Tharp, Chair of the Board of Directors of Project Management Institute to share her perspective on A.I.’s impact on the work of project professionals – and the role that the PMI community is playing to prepare both individuals and their organizations to future-proof themselves in a time of continuous change.