This year’s PMI Congress again was under the banner of education improvement and networking. During the three days from Monday 22nd to Wednesday 24th of April this time roundabout 600 project management colleagues from EMEA region met in Istanbul, Turkey, for interesting presentations and exchange of experiences. That is less than in the previous year, but on the other hand the participation of people from the Middle East and Africa was significantly higher. Actually it was a super opportunity to learn a lot about PM culture and the projects in the region, and to socialize with precious contacts here.
As always orchestrated perfectly by PMI the congress days flew by. The PMI obviously is very much interested in the emerging markets in MEA as many presenters came from here, and also the slide decks’ contents often dealed with PM basics – from PMPs for for PMPs and those who want to earn the credentials. Thus unfortunately the more sophisticated topics like programme and portfolio management were underrepresented to my liking. Nevertheless I had the oportunity in discussions at the spreaches and in dialogues with more senior colleagues to intensify the topics a little more “academic” several times.
Anyway this congress was for me rather a basar of multilateral learning to know people, opinions and approaches. Somehow missing this year the big, overarching theme by PMI, our hosts and the participants substituted that with an “oriental”, almost overwhelming multitude of impressions and insights. Cultural Diversity, outstandingly addressed in one keynote, was lived and experienced here in practice. The hosting PMI Turkey Chapter’s members’ hospitality and cordiality, the openness and eagerness for knowledge of my counterparts, and a perfect location in the midst of a fascinating city made this congress to a networking event of the extra class.
I’m extraordinarily pleased that, after the excellent start at the Project Zone Congress of the PMI Frankfurt Chapter in March, we managed to arrange another meeting of the very few European PgMPs on the sidelines of the EMEA Congress. Together we discussed how we could make our profession and especially our higher skill set more transparent to the executives in the industry, and how to better explain the business value of strategic and operative project, programme and portfolio management. an idea was born, and we hope for support from PMI as the key promoter for our business – let’s see what we can achieve.
Anyway I’m already looking forward to the next PMI EMEA Congress on 5th to 7th May 2014 in Dubai.