10 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss PW&WCBA in Seattle

ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts is an event for all those needing to take charge, reduce risk and deliver results in a changing work environment. Learn how to elevate your skills, deploy technical innovation and collaborate across functions to become a more effective project manager or business analyst from industry leaders

Here are the top 10 reasons you can't miss PW&WCBA 2015:

1.       Project Portfolio Management - New Secrets Revealed
Barb Hurst, Manager, Project Portfolio, Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, will help you uncover secrets on how to plan, communicate and rollout portfolio management as a valuable service in the real world (including the best day/time to present a new idea and influencing the influencers.

2.       Build Your Brand as an Emerging Leader
Uncover the three essential elements of an effective leadership brand and how you can scale up  your brand and advance your career with best practices from Jo Miller, Founding Editor, BeLeaderly.com, CEO, Women's Leadership Coaching, Inc.

3.       Decrease Project Risk
Drive project success through active risk management and get a better understanding of the relationship between project risk management and project success. Plus, Scott Reynolds, VP Senior Technology Project Manager, Bank of America will also share how you can increase your projects probability of success.

4.       Become a Change Leader            
Project Managers will come together with Lou Russell, CEO & Learning Faciiliator, Russell Martin & Associates to experience project collaboration and competition in real time. You'll learn how to complete difficult projects with and in spite of other teams, just like in the real world.

5.       Navigate Your Own Career Journey
A career in project management can take on many paths and is dependent on an individual's goals, interests and limitations. Join Rick Radice, VP, Federal Regulatory Exam Liaison, Prudential Financial as he shares different PM career paths and how to select what's right for you.

6.       Build a Project Management Centre of Excellence
CIBC Bank's Lindsey-Ann DePeri leads you through the journey of creating a CoE for Project Management, including establishing a value proposition, aligning staff and projects into a shared services portfolio, application of best practices and more.

7.       Master Your Presentation Skills
One of last year's top rated speakers, William Greenwald, Founder & Chief Neuroleaderologist, Windsor Leadership Group, returns to the PW&WCBA with the goal of helping you construct a great story while holding mastery of the stage.

8.       Explore & Analyze Data in 3D
3D data exploration is a new and promising field. Igor Peev, Senior Program Manager, Power Map for Excel, Microsoft Corporation will talk about how interacting and animating the data gives the user additional insights which are not available in the traditional methods of exploration.

9.       Scale Agile to YOUR Organization
Forrester Research examines new roles required to make a transition to Agile, address limitations that require a hybrid approach and talk about shifts that need to be made in budgeting and planning.

10.   Manage the Rate of Change in a Digital Driven Economy
Fredrick Redd, CEO, ASSAI Management Consulting reveals leadership strategies to keep pace with the rate of change that is ideal for leading projects, programs and organizations.

Download the brochure for full session details and speaker line up: http://bit.ly/1G6UIFN

Join us next month to explore what the future of project management and business analysis will look like. As a valued reader of our blog, you get an exclusive $100 off the current rate with code PW15BL. Register today: http://bit.ly/1G6UIFN

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Women in Leadership: Jo Miller

I recently interviewed Jo Miller, CEO Women’s Leadership Coaching Inc. to talk about women in leadership. Today, women make up over 50% of the workforce, are entrepreneurs, hold key leadership positions and serve on board of directors. Miller will give us her insight into the challenges women face in the workplace, how to overcome these obstacles and become a more empowered leader.

Miller is founding editor of BeLeaderly.com, keynote speaker at the upcoming ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts 2014 conference in Seattle. She will be a keynote for session entitled, “Become a Person of Influence" and you find her website here at www.womensleadershipcoaching.com.

Check out what Miller had to say:

IIR: Jo, exciting to have you at ProjectWorld! How would you define a person of influence in today’s organization?

Jo: An influencer is someone who has a goal or a vision that they’d like to achieve that is bigger than they can accomplish alone — meaning they must engage, motivate and inspire others to collaborate and help out in order for that goal to be achieved. To be an influencer you don’t need a leadership job title or a team who report to you, in fact, I would volunteer that no-one gets promoted into leadership without first showing that they can positively influence others.

IIR: You’ve interviewed women worldwide; what do these up and coming leaders tell you are their top three leadership challenges in business? 

Jo: By far the biggest frustration that emerging leaders tell me they deal with is office politics. Most leadership books won’t tell you this, but it is one of the biggest career-killers if you don’t find a positively way to navigate it. Ignoring it is not an option, because you’ll get passed over for career opportunities if you don’t “play the game.”

Next, for women especially, making their value visible and not being the best kept secret in the organization. Women have a tendency to work hard, deliver outstanding work, then go on to the next task without pausing to make sure their work was visible to higher-ups.

And finally, in a world where promotions are increasingly rare and everyone needs to collaborate cross-functionally to get stuff done, I would say that influencing without authority is a big challenge many up and coming leaders need to figure out.

IIR: What was the impetus for you to start your coaching business and focus specifically on women leaders?

Jo:   Coming from the corporate world, where I had tried unsuccessfully to find a roadmap or guide on how to advance up the corporate ladder, I knew there was a need. I also met too many women with leadership potential that outshone their current positions, and saw the talent pool that was not being tapped. I realized that companies would be better off if they had a way to connect with that untapped potential, so I started creating coaching programs and workshops that gave women a roadmap to break into management and leadership positions.

IIR: Tell us about your new book “She’s Got Clout; How to Become a Rising Woman of Influence. How can we get a copy of your book?

Jo: I’m still working on it! The book will focus on the topics I teach in my one-day Poised for Leadership workshop. It’s a set of core competencies for employees who want to break out and establish themselves as emerging leaders in their organizations. Topics include how to gain visibility and reward for your accomplishments, navigate organizational politics with savvy, and build a reputation as a leader or expert.

IIR: Project Managers are making the shift to become project leaders leading global teams. What are your top three leadership tips for these project leaders?

Jo: 1. Don’t wait for positional authority: look for opportunities to act, identify leadership gaps, and take the lead. 

2. If you want to increase your influence, start by building a network of relationships with people that support you in your career and leadership goals. When people know you and trust you, you don’t need to cajole or persuade them to help you out: they are happy to collaborate and help out a friend.

3. Enlist senior-level sponsors inside and outside your direct management chain. Sometimes all it takes to influence something is having a highly influential individual give it their blessing.

IIR: Projects and politics are like oil and water; they don’t always mix. Give us a little insight on your workshop you’re facilitating at ProjectWorld about Office Politics. 

Jo: In my workshop, we will talk about why you should not ignore office politics (even though most people really, really don’t like it). There are some compelling career advantages enjoyed by people who have the skill of being “positively politically savvy”, like being more promotable and less likely to derail. I will define that skill, and share some very practical tools that help participants build their political savvy, from understanding the dynamics of power and influence in their organization to understanding the unwritten ‘rules of the game.’

IIR: Women have the skill sets, integrity, character and experience to lead; what is holding some women back from breaking through the glass ceiling? 

Jo: That’s a big question! And perhaps one not answerable in a short blog post, but we are lucky to live in a time when a lot of research is being done. Why aren’t women breaking into leadership in larger numbers? For one, our corporate workplaces are rife with unconscious bias that sets women at a disadvantage. And our workplaces are not always female-friendly at that critical point when employees start getting promoted into management ranks, meanwhile their home lives become very complex. Thirdly, there are some simple, practical skills that don’t always come naturally, but that women can develop in order to make their value visible for consideration for higher-level assignments.

IIR: What is the AHA moment for women after they take your training and use your leadership coaching system? 

Jo: One such aha moment is not to let their management make career choices for them! That they can be the driver of their career, and take charge of their career trajectory.

IIR: What advice would you give to women who are looking to take the next step to advance in their careers? Are there networks or associations you would recommend women join to network and help gain an advantage to move forward in their careers?

Jo: I recommend not just joining the relevant associations in your professional area, but being an active participant. Take a leadership role! You will get to meet and speak with the movers and shakers in your industry, and if you play your cards right, they will become your mentors, sponsors. You will develop a world-class personal board of directors.

Want to learn more about this topic and network with PM and BA professionals like yourself? Don’t miss ProjectWorld and World Congress for Business Analysts 2014 in Seattle this fall. For more information about this event, click here: http://www.iirusa.com/projectworld/pricing-info.xml

Identify and Manage Project Risk with Insights from Bank of America

Many organizations face significant challenges in finding the right balance between project risk management and delivering project results quickly. Bank of America has developed an environment that supports risk management, and processes to identify and manage risk within their organization. Find out how at ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts. Join Scott Reynolds, PMP, PMI-RMP, Vice President, Senior Project Manager, Bank of America as he reveals the tools and strategies for creating a risk management culture, and how you can do it in your organization. 

PW&WCBA is 100% focused on arming you with the skills, knowledge and tools you need to improve your performance. The 2013 program has been designed to accelerate best practice and become more valuable to your entire organization in just 3 days.

Don't Miss Financial Services Leaders Taking the Stage:

• Successful Projects Across Borders: How to Achieve Team Unity, Thomson Reuters
• BA 20/20 – Creating a Discrete Vision and Goals to Transform Your Practice, SunTrust Bank
• Soft Skills for Effective Collaboration, FedEx
• 14 Project Leadership Skills to Boost Your Career, ESI International
• Retooling Leadership (through the lens of Neuroscience), Humana

Plus, more than 35 additional cross industry speakers addressing YOUR project pain points. Download the brochure for the full agenda: http://bit.ly/10kQrww

PW&WCBA

September 9-11, 2013

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Orlando, FL

Mention code PW13LINK & Save 15% off the standard rate.

Register today: http://bit.ly/10kQrww

 Join us and know that you are investing in yourself and your career. We hope to see you in Orlando!

Best,

The PW&WCBA Team

@Project_World

pwwbca.blogspot.com

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• The Complex Task of Project Management
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Is it Time to Renew Your CBAP or PMP Certifications? Earn 36 CDUs/PDUs at PW&WCBA 2013

The roles of the project manager and business analyst are constantly evolving. Borderless teams have become the new normal, the need for collaboration and engagement within teams is increasing and new methodologies are continually emerging.

Are you prepared for the future? 

ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts gives you the tools and techniques you need for success - best practices and actionable insights that you can implement at your organization. Plus, in just three days you will earn more than half of the PDUs/CDUs (up to 36 for the full conference!) necessary to maintain your certification.

Sessions designed for the PM professional include:

• Successful Projects Across Borders: How to Achieve Team Unity, Thomson Reuters
• Global Project Portfolio Management (PPM) – Borderless Delivery, Deloitte Touche
• Is a PMP Needed, or is it Simply an Option?, Scottrade
• Best Practices to Get a Huge Global Enterprise Program Back on Track, Cisco Systems

Sessions designed for the BA professional include:

• Global Collaboration: Working Successfully in a Global Business Analyst Community, AXA Equitable
• Coming Attractions: BABOK Take 3, Seilevel
• BA 20/20 - Creating a Discrete Vision and Goals to Transform Your Practice, SunTrust Bank
• Building a Successful Requirements Re-Use Program, AutoTrader.com

PW&WCBA 2013 also features sessions designed for collaboration between PM and BA teams, as well as the newest tools and methodologies. Download the brochure for the full agenda and speaking roster: http://bit.ly/17X5odK

Plus, don't miss these keynotes:

• The Delivery of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and Legacy - Ralph Luck, former Property Director, UK Olympic Delivery Authority (London 2012 Olympics)
• Lessons in Leadership and Creating High Performing Teams - Carey Lohrenz, First Female F-14 Fighter Pilot, U.S. Navy, Team Building, Leadership and Strategy Expert
• 20 Neuroleadership Insights in 60 Minutes - William Greenwald, Director, Performance Coaching and Advisory Practice, Humana Inc.
• Embracing Change: Transforming Ideas and Challenges into Opportunities - Naomi Karten, Author, Presentation Skills for Technical Professionals, Changing How You Communicate Change, Gaps and How to Close Them and Managing Expectations 

PW&WCBA

September 9-11, 2013

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Orlando, FL

Mention code PW13LINK & Save 15% off the standard rate.

Register today: http://bit.ly/17X5odK

Join us and know that you are investing in yourself and your career. We hope to see you in Orlando!

Best,

The PW&WCBA Team

@Project_World

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Dr. Firas Abouzaki talks about project management

In a recent interview at Business Today, Dr. Firas Abouzaki talks about his role in project management and how it has grown. He also looks at how it has changed over the years. For the complete article, read here.

When asked what was the future in project management, he responded:
I envisage a growth in demand. There will probably be such a great demand that as a standard requirement - every professional in the industry will be required to be certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), or similar.