Program Manager, PPM&PMO Specialist.| Coppel, Mexico.Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
We all know the standard PMI certs (PMP, CAPM, etc.) are solid gold, but I'm curious: what extra certs have you found genuinely useful in your PM career, beyond the obvious industry-specific ones? I've got a finance background myself, and randomly picked up a Toastmasters leadership/communication cert ages ago –surprisingly useful! Been eyeing some strategic planning certs lately too... What's been your experience? Any hidden certificacion gems you'd recommend?" Saving Changes...
Any certification can be useful, as it provides valuable knowledge along the journey. However, not all certifications are equally beneficial if we cannot apply the knowledge in real-life situations. Nevertheless, there is no harm in learning and exploring more. The broader our perspective, the larger our world becomes.
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1 reply by Francisco Herrera
Feb 28, 2025 7:32 PM
Francisco Herrera
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Danny I agree that the practical application of knowledge is key. Certifications are valuable, but their true worth lies in how we leverage them to solve real-world challenges and broaden our perspectives.Thanks! Francisco.
If I say none, please understand that I'm talking about the piece of paper, not the knowledge that, once practiced and applied, can have a positive affect on your capabilities and career. Self-improvement is valuable when there is practical application. Certifications are limited in how they can add value. It's not that they can't add value - having the right certification(s) combined with the right attitude and experience can make a significant difference in your career.
I'll get off my soapbox, now, and list a few topics that I've pursued that I've found beneficial in working on IT and business transformation projects:
- Organizational Change Management - Organizational Transformation/Digital Transformation - Enterprise Risk Management - Portfolio Management - Strategic Planning - Lean/LSS, Kanban, DevOps, and various flavors of agile and scaling agile - Theory of Constraints - Value Stream Management - Coaching & Mentoring - KPIs and OKRs
Another important consideration is timing. You usually want knowledge before you need it, but it was almost 10 years after I got my CSM before I was a formal scrum master. That also meant that I had 10 years of personal study and adapting agile principles to my projects, so it wasn't like I was fresh out of training, but it's important to be selective - your time is valuable and there is more to life than your career.
To be honest, before I give recommendations on certifications, I usually try to understand what people want to accomplish - what problems they're trying to solve, and what their short- and long-term objectives are. The topics I listed are areas that have helped me not just be a better project manager, but understand business better and be better able to contribute to organizational growth. Almost 10 years ago, I realized that, while I enjoyed project management, I didn't want to be "just" a PM until I retired. The skillset I've built reflects my efforts in that direction.
While I did not go into depth on the specific value I found in each topic I listed (I don't want to hijack the first page of responses any more than I already have), hopefully others who respond can also include how the certification helped them, to provide more context to people who read their responses. Saving Changes...
I'd say my original DA certifications (pre-PMI acquisition) were the only others which were truly useful both from a knowledge perspective but also enabling me to teach hundreds of folks about a more flexible, pragmatic approach to delivery.
Program Manager, PPM&PMO Specialist.| Coppel, Mexico.Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Feb 26, 2025 10:24 PM
Replying to Danny PMP, PgMP
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Any certification can be useful, as it provides valuable knowledge along the journey. However, not all certifications are equally beneficial if we cannot apply the knowledge in real-life situations. Nevertheless, there is no harm in learning and exploring more. The broader our perspective, the larger our world becomes.
Danny I agree that the practical application of knowledge is key. Certifications are valuable, but their true worth lies in how we leverage them to solve real-world challenges and broaden our perspectives.Thanks! Francisco. Saving Changes...
Program Manager, PPM&PMO Specialist.| Coppel, Mexico.Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Feb 27, 2025 7:10 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Francisco -
I'd say my original DA certifications (pre-PMI acquisition) were the only others which were truly useful both from a knowledge perspective but also enabling me to teach hundreds of folks about a more flexible, pragmatic approach to delivery.
Kiron
Thanks for your answer Kiron, Regards! Saving Changes...
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