Rising to the Top:
Becoming a Chief Project Officer
Theme: Human-centric and strategic skills for the future and for becoming a Chief Project Officer
Event Date: January 19, 2024
Event Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM U.S. E.T.
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It’s a transformative opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and insights needed to excel in the dynamic and competitive world of project management leadership
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Rise to the top
It’s a transformative opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and insights needed to excel in the dynamic and competitive world of project management leadership
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Organizations recognize the criticality of projects to their success, and managing projects well to achieve the desirable results is often at the top of the executive agenda. For professionals, one sure path to rise in organization is through competency and success delivery. Project management offers a vibrant and exciting career path to fulfilling careers. Best of all, in the world of technological advances such as artificial intelligence, much of the project management skills can effectively tackle the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) world and resistant to technology replacement.
Yet to date, much of the focus is on the soft and hard project management skills. While these skills are important, they are not sufficient for those who are ambitious and want to rise to the top of the executive suite. This summit series strives to take an integrated approach but discussing not just the soft and hard skills but also the creative, human-centric, and strategic skills. The core is based on a published research article by our CEO, Dr. Te Wu, in the Journal of Business Strategy titled “The Chief Project Officer: A New Executive Role For Turbulent Times”. This article highlighted 20 key disciplines for those who want to rise to the top.
Until now, there is no dedicated forum for project professionals to discuss, network, and learn about these essential skills, not only to survive in the moderate age of technology but also to thrive. If you are interested to climb to the top, whether you just started the climb or more than mid-way through, the series of topics in the presentation can help you propel toward the top of the project management career ladder – becoming a Chief Project Officer.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND THIS SUMMIT?
Who should attend this Summit?
This conference is perfect for project management professionals who are interested in the portfolio management. Specifically:
- Experienced Project Managers: Seasoned project managers who have a strong foundation in project management principles and practices can benefit from this program. It’s an opportunity for them to gain the strategic insights and leadership skills needed to transition from managing individual projects to leading at an executive level.
- Project Leaders and Senior Managers: Professionals who are already leading projects or teams and want to step into more senior leadership roles within their organizations will find value in this program. It equips them with the necessary skills to navigate complex organizational dynamics and drive successful project portfolios.
- Aspiring Chief Project Officers (CPOs): Individuals who have set their sights on the role of Chief Project Officer or similar executive positions will find this program to be a vital stepping stone. It provides them with the knowledge and tools to effectively manage large-scale portfolios, influence decision-making, and align projects with overarching business strategies.
Why should you this Summit?
This summit is tailored for individuals who are looking to achieve the highest levels of success and influence in the field of project management. Here’s why YOU should attend:
- Strategic Leadership Skills: The program focuses on equipping participants with the strategic leadership skills necessary for executive-level roles. It covers areas like aligning projects with organizational goals, influencing decision-makers, and driving business value.
- Human-Centric Acumen: Projects is all about people, from fulfilling goals and benefits as dictated by people to solving complex and nuianced problems that are far beyond the capabilities of artificial intelligence and other technologies.
- Practical Insights: The program offers real-world case studies, practical scenarios, and industry best practices. Participants will gain actionable insights that can be immediately applied to their roles, helping them make a tangible impact.
- Personal and Professional Growth: The program not only enhances technical skills but also focuses on personal growth. Participants will develop their communication, negotiation, and strategic thinking abilities, all of which contribute to their holistic professional development.
Seeking Proposals
We are looking for exciting topics that are highly related to our theme. If you are interested, please think about the following before submitting your topic:
- Review the article mentioned above, specifically read the 20 key disciplines: https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1045&context=management-facpubs.
- Using the 20 key disciplines as a starting point, ask yourself these questions:
- How is your topic aligned with the over theme of Rising to the Top?
- How is your topic associated with one or more of these 20 disciplines? Note, we prefer strong association to a FEW disciplines rather than weaker association with MANY disciplines.
- If you believe there are more disciplines, we are VERY interested in learning.
- Is the topic human-centric, meaning that it concentrates on working with people and very hard to replace by technology?
- What are the keywords that you would use to describe your topic?
- Are there any tools or simple exercises you like to do?
The current summit requires six presentations, and we like to dedicate:
- One topic more focused on the entry-level
- One topic more focused on the career transitioners
- Two topics focused on mid-career project professionals
- Two strategic topics designed for more executives
When you are ready, complete this submittal form: https://projectmanagement.aidaform.com/pm-career-proposal.
Also, please also consider joining the Core Team for planning of this event. You can see the details here: https://projectmanagement.aidaform.com/rising-to-the-top-2024-core-team-application.
Evaluation will be based on a combination of topic interest, speaker qualifications, and the thoroughness of the proposal.
PROPOSED AGENDA
As of August 3, 2023: We are currently in the process of finalizing the program guide and agenda.
| Time | Topic | Presenter |
| 10:00 -10:15 am | Welcome & Introduction | Te Wu |
| 10:15 – 11:15 am | Topic 1 | |
| 11:15 – 12:15 pm | Topic 2 | |
| 12:15 – 13:15 pm | Topic 3 | |
| 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm |
Lunch and Break Special Topic: About PMI’s Certifications |
TBD |
| 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Topic 4 | |
| 3:00 – 4:00 pm | Topic 5 | |
| 4:00 – 5:00 pm | Topic 6 | |
| 5:00 – 6:00 pm | Panel Q&A and Conclusion | TBD |
PRICING AND REGISTRATION
Pre-Registration
50% off on all professionals and students with .org and .edu on their e-mail addresses upon registration.- Starts on Aug 23, 2023
- Inclusions:
- Virtual Conference Seat
- Verifiable Certificate
- PDUs (TBA)
- Recording Access of the Event
VERY-EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
50% off on all professionals and students with .org and .edu on their e-mail addresses upon registration.- Starts on Sept 17, 2023
- Inclusions:
- Virtual Conference Seat
- Verifiable Certificate
- PDUs (TBA)
- Recording Access of the Event
Early-Bird Special
50% off on all professionals and students with .org and .edu on their e-mail addresses upon registration.- Starts on October 20, 2023
- Inclusions:
- Virtual Conference Seat
- Verifiable Certificate
- PDUs (TBA)
- Recording Access of the Event
SPEAKERS AND TOPIC
The Chief Project Officer: A New Executive Role
Presenter: Te Wu, CEO & CPO of PMO Advisory
Abstract:
The idea of the Chief Project Officer (CPO) has been around for over 20 years, but few organizations have implemented this role in their top management team. CPOs are not only accountable for project results but also accountable to shift the culture and structure of the organizations to be more execution ready. This involves establishing the governance and capabilities for leading projects, programs, and portfolios, working with human resources to identify and adopt the right culture and human-centric processes that guide human behavior. Within the boardroom, CPOs act as a “voice of the projects”, take part in strategic goal development, influence critical decision-making that impacts current and future projects, programs, and portfolios, and instilling a sense of realism during implementation.
Detailed Description
Personal observation: As I have now worked in project management for over 30 days, “growing up” within this field from working at the shop floor level and gradually rising to the top, I am not convinced that the world needs another c-level executive. There is already too many “Cs” around. However, that does not reduce the need for an executive responsible not just for project implementation, but also for the culture and environment of project management. In short, while the title of “chief project officer” may be too idealized for some companies, there is an imminent need for project executives setting the tone at very top.
In this session, we will take a closer look at the role of the CPO (or equivalent). Besides establishing the importance of this role, we will also discuss the specific responsibilities and primary activities, criteria for becoming CPOs, and the top 20 disciplines that serve as essential skills for this important role.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that circumstances can change, and sometimes cancellations are unavoidable. Please review our cancellation policy for the “Rise To The Top: Becoming a Chief Project Officer Summit” below:
- Cancellation Requests: Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email to training[@]pmoadvisory.com. Please provide your full name, registration details, and the reason for the cancellation.
- Refund Schedule:
- Cancellations made 5 to 6 weeks before the summit will be eligible for a full refund of the registration fee.
- Cancellations made between 3 to 4 weeks before the summit will be eligible for a 50% refund of the registration fee.
- Cancellations made two weeks or less before the summit will not be eligible for a refund.
- Substitutions: If you are unable to attend the summit, you have the option to substitute another individual in your place. Please inform us of the substitution at least two weeks before the summit.
- Non-Attendance: If you do not attend the summit without prior cancellation or substitution, no refunds will be issued but we will send you the recording of the event.
- Processing Time: Refunds will be processed within 5 business days after the summit concludes.
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