Nikola Ivanov

Presentation: Managing in the Time of Crisis

Abstract: PMI defines project management as “the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements.” (https://www.pmi.org/about/learn-about-pmi/what-is-project-management). A good Project Manager then follows the five groups of processes and ten knowledge areas to meet the project requirements and accomplish the goal of delivering a project successfully. But what happens when there is a failure along the way? Or when there is a collection of failures that derails the project completely?

Effectively managing in crisis is what sets a great Project Manager from a good Project Manager.

Crisis management requires focus, poise, and true leadership. This session will explore approaches to effectively deal with crisis and inspire others in face of a challenge. But we will not shy away from raising the question of why a great Project Manager would allow crisis to occur in the first place.

PMI Talent Triangle: Leadership


Biography: Nikola Ivanov serves as the Director of Operations at the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology Laboratory (CATT Lab) where he manages operations and technical development, and oversees every aspect of software implementation from conception to deployment.

Nikola has extensive experience with big data and information visualization, focusing on translation of data into actionable information. Over the last 15 years, Nikola has worked with state and federal agencies to build situational awareness tools for transportation operations and safety, emergency management, and security applications, using big data.

Nikola received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering, Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Engineering Management from the University of Maryland.