Diversity Celebrated at PMI Global Summit
From the PMI Global Insights Blog
by Cameron McGaughy,
James Turchick
Whether it’s in-person or virtual, PMI events give you the right skills to complete amazing projects. In this blog, whether it be our Virtual Experience Series, PMI Training (formerly Seminars World) or PMI® Global Summit, experienced event presenters past, present and future from the entire PMI event family share their knowledge on a wide range of issues important to project managers.
View Posts By:
Cameron McGaughy
James Turchick
Past Contributors:
Kimberly Whitby
Johanna Rusly
April Birchmeier
Nikki Evans
Dalibor Ninkovic
Dr. Deepa Bhide
Tao Chun Liu
Chris DiBella
Nic Jain
Tyler Norman
Nicholas Sonnenberg
Klaus Nielsen, MBA, PMI-ACP, PMP
Karen Chovan
Jack Duggal
Catalin Dogaru
Priya Patra
Josh Parrott
Scott Lesnick-CSP
Antonio Nieto
Dimitrios Zaires
Ahmed Zouhair
Carmine Paragano
Te Wu
Scott Bain
Katie Mcconochie
Fabiola Maisonnier
Erik Agudelo
Paul A Capello
Kiron Bondale
Jamie Champagne
Esra Tepeli
Renaldi Gondosubroto
Joseph Musiitwa
Mel Ross
Laura Lazzerini
Kim Essendrup
Geetha Gopal
David Summers
Carol Martinez
Lisa DiTullio
Tai Cochran
Fabio Rigamonti
Archana Shetty
Geneviève Bouchard
Teresa Lawrence, PhD, PMP, CSM
Randall Englund
Kristy Tan Neckowicz
Moritz Sprenger
Mike Frenette
O. Chima Okereke
David Maynard
Nancie Celini
Brantlee Underhill
Claudia Alcelay
Sandra MacGillivray
Vibha Tripathi
Sharmila Das
Michelle Brown
Gina Abudi
Greg Githens
Joy Beatty
Sarah Mersereau
Lawrence Cooper
Donna Gregorio
Seth Greenwald
Bruce Gay
Wael Ramadan
Fiona Lin
Somnath Ghosh
Yasmina Khelifi
Erik Rueter
Joe Shi
Michel Thiry
Heather van Wyk
Jennifer Donahue
Barbara Trautlein
Julie Ho
Steve Salisbury
Jill Diffendal
Yves Cavarec
Rose James
Drew Craig
Vinay Babu Tarala
Stephanie Jaeger
Diana Robertson
Zahid Khan
Benjamin C. Anyacho
Nadia Vincent
Carlos Javier Pampliega García
Norma Lynch
Heather McLarnon
Emily Luijbregts
Susan Coleman
Aneliya Chervenova
Michelle Stronach
Sydni Neptune
Louise Fournier
Quincy Wright
Nesrin Christine Aykac
Laura Samsó
Lily Woi
Jill Almaguer
Mayte Mata Sivera
Prof. Éamonn Kelly
Marcos Arias
Karthik Ramamurthy
Michelle Venezia
Yoram Solomon
Cheryl Lee
Kelly George
Dan Furlong
Kristin Jones
Jeannette Cabanis-Brewin
Olivia Montgomery
Carlene Szostak
Hilary Kinney
Annmarie Curley
Dave Davis
Recent Posts
Presentation Recap: ESG Integration and Project Management for a Greener Future
Presentation Recap: What Does the Right Kind of Leadership Look Like?
Presentation Recap: The Artistry of Agile Ways of Working in the BANI Era
Presentation Recap: AI-Driven Agility and Redefining Risk Management in Agile Teams
PMI Training: The Complete Project Coach
Categories
Agile,
Agility,
alignment,
Ask the Expert,
Benefits Realization,
Best Practices,
Bonding,
Business Analysis,
Calculating Project Value,
Capital Projects,
Career Development,
Change Management,
Cloud Computing,
Collaboration,
collaboration,
Communication,
Complexity,
Congress 2016 Ask an Expert,
Construction,
Curiosity,
Digital Transformation,
digital transformation,
Documentation,
Earned Value Management,
Education,
EMEA,
EMEA Congress Reflections,
Engagement,
engagement,
Ethics,
Events,
Extra Info,
Facilitation,
forecasting,
future,
Generational PM,
Global Congress 2016,
Global Congress 2016 - North America,
Global Summit,
Global Summit 2023,
Good News,
Government,
Healthcare,
Human Aspects of PM,
Human Resources,
Identity,
Innovation,
IT Project Management,
Kickoff,
Leadership,
Lessons Learned,
Mentoring,
Metrics,
Networking,
New Practitioners,
Nontraditional Project Management,
organisations,
Organizational Risk,
PM & the Economy,
PM Think About It,
PMI,
PMI Congress,
PMI Congress NA 2016,
PMI EMEA Congress 2018,
PMI Global Conference,
PMI Global Conference 2017,
PMI Global Conference 2019,
PMI Global Congress - 2016,
PMI Global Congress 2012 - North America,
PMI Global Congress 2013 - EMEA,
PMI Global Congress 2014 - North America,
Pmi global congress 2014 - North America,
PMI Global Congress 2015,
PMI Global Congress 2015 - Ask the Expert,
PMI Global Congress 2016 - EMEA,
PMI Hours for Impact,
PMI PMO Symposium 2013,
PMI Pulse of the Profession,
PMI Training,
PMI Virtual Experience Series,
PMIEMEA17,
PMIEMEA19,
PMO,
PMXPO,
Portfolio Management,
Procurement,
Professional Development,
Program Management,
Programs (PMO),
Project Delivery,
Project Failure,
project kickoff,
Project Planning,
Project Requirements,
Reflections on the PM Life,
Risk,
Risk Management,
ROI,
Roundtable,
Scheduling,
SeminarsWorld,
Social Responsibility,
SoftSkills,
Stakeholder,
Strategy,
Sustainability,
Talent Management,
Teams,
Techniques,
test,
The Moon,
Tools,
Training,
Translations,
Videos,
Virtual Experience Series,
Virtual Teams,
Volunteering,
war
Date

By: Mayte Mata-Sivera
Imagine two project managers from Utah—one of them Black and the other Spanish—sharing an Uber ride to the PMI Global Summit in Atlanta. Overhearing our conversation, the rideshare driver chuckles, assuming it's a joke that both of us live in Utah. After that awkward yet fun conversation is when I decided to pay close attention to the diversity on display at the conference.
Here is what I observed…
- Diverse attendees: There were attendees representing various industries, not only technology. We also had the opportunity to network with professionals from construction, healthcare, education, retail, banking, and more. We met people who were at different points in their careers, from people that just started their journey into project management to seasoned PMO leaders. Finally, so many countries of origin were represented. I was amazed at the people coming from Europe, Africa and LATAM. This diversity enriched networking opportunities and facilitated cross-cultural learning.
- Diverse speaker lineup: This year the lineup of speakers was from various backgrounds, including women, people of color, and individuals from different cultures.
-
Inclusive keynote addresses: The conference kicked off strong with Cassandra Worthy, who spoke about embracing change. Her keynote was incredible, but what stood out was her open admission of the challenges she faced as an executive being a Black, queer woman in leadership. It was a powerful moment, with over 3,600 people listening as she shared her journey, highlighting the difficulties she faced in her career.
On the second day, Arminda Ascano was the keynote speaker, guiding us through the nine micro-generations and their unique relationships with technology, including artificial intelligence. It became evident that the global session had attendees from different generations, and the keynote shed light on the diversity in the room.
-
Varied topics addressing inclusivity: The conference sessions covered a wide range of topics, including PMOs, AI and project management. Many of these sessions highlighted the significance of diversity and inclusivity (for instance, workshops like "What Does Equitable Stakeholder Engagement Look Like?" and "Create a Flourishing Psychologically Safe Project Team Culture Built on Effective Communication"). Additionally, the session titled "25 Million Projects by 2030? Closing the Gender Gap in Project Management" tackled gender disparities in the field.
I'd like to give special acknowledgment to Stuart Easton. During his workshop "Too Many Projects: The Serial PMO Killer," he used an example of a couple (male/female) buying a house; however, he acknowledged various types of couples and highlighted that he chose to use a traditional couple as it was easy for him to find visuals for his presentation. His comment demonstrated a commitment to diverse and respectful representations in his presentations. It serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and recognizing all individuals.
-
Inclusivity in food: A lot of vegetarian options! Based on my experience as a volunteer for PMI Northern Utah Chapters, I know how challenging the food service is—including line management, food selection and forecast quantities.
So, cheers to the organizers because every day in each of the meals was a yummy vegetarian option! There were challenges as always; however, let’s highlight the bright spots—that we had a place to sit, eat and relax (and that there was also a vegetarian option in each break).
In summary, the PMI Global Summit in Atlanta marked a significant leap in diversity and inclusivity, especially considering my attendance dating back to the Los Angeles conference in 2018.
Attendees hailed from diverse backgrounds and industries, fostering cross-cultural connections. Notably, speakers and workshop leaders addressed critical topics, emphasizing the importance of inclusion. The commitment to representation was demonstrated by speakers like Stuart Easton. Inclusivity extended to food options. These improvements are promising, and I hope to see further enhancements in the coming years—including gender-neutral bathrooms, mother lounges, and more diverse dietary choices as halal or kosher.
Posted
by
Mayte Mata Sivera
on: November 15, 2023 02:35 PM |
Permalink
Comments (11)
Please login or join to subscribe to this item
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
Community Champion
Financial Management Specialist | US Peace Corps / Cameroon
Yaounde, Centre, Cameroon
Wow.... Hope to live this experience someday
Interesting read.
Thanks for sharing the info on diversity & inclusion at PMI Global Summit in Atlanta.
Thank you Mayte for this insightful article about diversity...I think it would be good also to have presentations in Spanish or in French (at least one) one day. And I was so glad to meet you!!!
Luis Branco
CEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, Ldª
Carcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear Mayte
Your perspective on the PMI Conference is very interesting.
It may be interesting to pay attention to the woke movement to include the latest fashions
Luis,
Thank you for your comment. As an immigrant in the USA, I've come to understand that navigating cultural nuances and embracing new environments can present challenges. Regarding the term 'woke,' it often carries a diverse range of connotations and interpretations, sometimes being used in a pejorative or dismissive manner towards social justice movements. I hope that your mention of the 'woke movement' wasn't intended in that way.
It's essential to approach discussions on social change and inclusivity with openness and understanding, fostering constructive dialogue for positive progress.
Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong, from my point of view PMI global is an amazing experience and this year was outstanding, I really loved meeting and learning from people from different cultures and backgraounds. Hope to meet you next year in Los Angeles!
Yasmina,
That's a great point! I've met people who speak various languages, and as an event planner for the PMI Northern Utah chapter, accommodating sessions for such a diverse group will be a significant challenge.
On a positive note, this time, nobody mentioned, "You have a strong accent." There were so many people with different English accents that I felt very comfortable speaking English!
Markus Kopko
Principal Project Management Consultant| Karer Consulting AG
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Dear Mayte,
Your experience at the PMI Global Summit in Atlanta offers a vibrant snapshot of diversity and inclusion in action. It's heartening to hear how the event embraced a wide array of perspectives, industries, and cultures, creating a rich tapestry of professional knowledge and experience.
The diversity of attendees, representing various industries and career stages, from different parts of the world, is a testament to the global nature of project management. This melting pot of professionals not only enriches networking opportunities but also fosters invaluable cross-cultural learning and understanding.
The speaker lineup, reflecting varied backgrounds and experiences, brought depth and breadth to the discussions. The powerful keynote addresses, particularly Cassandra Worthy's candid sharing of her journey as a Black, queer woman in leadership, and Arminda Ascano's insights into micro-generations, underscored the importance of recognizing and embracing diverse perspectives in every sphere of professional life.
The varied topics addressing inclusivity, such as equitable stakeholder engagement and creating psychologically safe project team cultures, highlight the evolving nature of project management. It's not just about timelines and deliverables; it's about people, their experiences, and how they contribute to a project's success.
Stuart Easton's workshop and his acknowledgment of the need for diverse representations in presentations show a growing awareness and commitment to inclusivity in the field. It's a small but significant step toward broader recognition and respect for all forms of diversity in professional settings.
The inclusivity in food options, like the availability of vegetarian meals, is another thoughtful touch, showing that inclusivity goes beyond just the professional aspects to also encompass personal needs and preferences.
Your reflections paint a picture of a conference that not only talks about diversity and inclusion but actively demonstrates it in various aspects. These efforts lay the groundwork for more inclusive practices in the future, like gender-neutral bathrooms and a wider range of dietary choices.
To build on this discussion: How do you think these inclusive practices at the summit will influence the project management profession in the long run? And, what other areas do you feel need attention to further enhance diversity and inclusivity in professional conferences and gatherings?
BR,
Markus
Thank you for your comment, Markus.
From my point of view the diversity within conferences plays an important role in collective learning and growth. When we embrace diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, we create an environment of mutual learning, that help us to improve collaboration, learn from different point of views, be exposed to different ways of working…and more and more benefits.
I’m lately very passioned about integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into our daily work.
Related your second question, here are a few things that as VP of Programs at PMINUC, I’m trying to incorporate, however note that our events aren’t as big and for sure challenging as global PMI to organize, however is always nice to have that in mind:
1. Speaker Diversity
2. Inclusive Programming
3. Safe and Welcoming Spaces
Markus Kopko
Principal Project Management Consultant| Karer Consulting AG
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Please Login/Register to leave a comment.
"There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself."
- Johann Sebastian Bach
|