In the Fall 2020, the Project Management Institute [PMI] launched their newest certification program – PMI Project Management Ready. This revolutionary certification program targets high school students to immerse themselves in the project management industry and connects them with a very passionate community of professionals – the PMI membership. This entry-level certification does not require prior work experience nor previous education / training in project management. Young people will be able to fast forward their careers, as they prepare for entry level positions in project management at an early age.
Although this PMI Certification fills a critical void both nationally and globally, implementing this program within the American high school education system is a certain challenge. The program implementation will require the Project Manager to serve in a new role – Advocate for PM Ready Youth. Further, initiating this new certification program will require adept leadership of the key stakeholders, especially the HS educators who will need coaching in their new role of the executive sponsor. Exceptional opportunities for PMI Chapters and PMI members to outreach to High School Educators and their local community.
This presentation will address these challenges and opportunities. Presentation participants will gain 1) an understanding of the personal requirements to serve as an advocate for the project management profession, 2) insights from the Author’s own advocacy journey initiating the PM Ready Youth certification program in Southeastern Michigan, and 3) an exposure to the PMI Project Management Ready Certification Program content.
PMI Talent Triangle: Leadership (Power Skills)
Ever wonder what your life would have been like if you had learned project management as a kid? If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. We’ve wondered – if we learned Project Management skills as life skills early on, how would that have made an impact on our lives today?
Project management skills are more than just career skills – they are life skills and they should be taught to youth so that they can take advantage of what project management tools and techniques have to offer them at earlier ages. Taking it one step further, when we teach and learn project management skills alongside creativity and innovation skills (at any age) we are effectively adding rocket fuel to how we manage projects and get ahead.
Aimee Barbagallo, PMP, Board of Trustee member at Destination Imagination, Inc. and Program Manager at T. Rowe Price, and Andrew Whitmire, PMP, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Advancement at Destination Imagination, Inc. will first share how Destination Imagination is teaching youth project management as a life skill through the support of the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation and reflect on how working with youth allowed her to better embrace her creativity and become a more effective project manager.
Key Takeaways:
- Project management skills are life skills
- Project management is a creative process; embracing creativity will make you a more effective project manager
- Teaching project management skills to youth creates problem solvers, critical thinkers and collaborative team members in tomorrow’s work force
This presentation is based on a presentation that was originally presented to the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF) in 2019 and has been viewed 36,000 times.
PMI Talent Triangle: Leadership (Power Skills)
