Calendar of Events

Topic: From Rejection to Results: Overcoming Systemic Resistance in Project/Program Management

Brief Abstract of the Topic:

What do you do when your manager says, “No one in this department is interested in being your project sponsor”? Moments like these test every project manager. In this keynote, I’ll share how I turned a grassroots AI initiative launched without leadership buy-in—into a company-wide success that elevated my career.

Speaker Bio:

Anna Echols is a perpetually curious problem solver who brings infectious enthusiasm and fresh ideas to project management. Throughout her 7-year journey in this field, she has realized that project leadership is not just a job - it is her calling. Known for her transformative enterprise initiatives, Anna successfully turned a grassroots AI project into a solution that unified and empowered thousands of professionals across various organizational boundaries. She has a remarkable ability to identify possibilities that others often overlook and to transform challenges into opportunities for collective success. Driven by an unwavering pursuit of better ways to work, Anna consistently seeks to make a meaningful impact through innovation.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify effective strategies to build project momentum and gain leadership support, even in the absence of a sponsor. 

• Recognize common leadership pitfalls that undermine project success and learn how to avoid them. 

• Apply PMI’s updated project success criteria to deliver strategic value that exceeds expectations. (Release date 12/10/24: https://www.pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/project-success)  

• Leverage real-world lessons to transform small initiatives into career-defining opportunities.