How has the Champion program helped you as an individual? Please elaborate on how you hav e benefited as a project manager and a leader.

I have been volunteering with the PMI Champion program for more than four years. It has been a great learning experience for me. It has allowed me to grow my network not only in my company but also in my city. As a PMI Champion, I got a new identity as I started helping many aspirants for PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification in my city. It has also allowed me to work with various engineering and management colleges to help students learn management concepts. This, in turn, diffused my stage fear and helped me improve my teaching and presentation skills. It also

inspired me to continue learning new techniques and skills, and to effectively utilize my time during the lockdown after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Champion program has also enhanced my leadership skills at my workplace. After my firm was acquired by an investor, I became the company director during my tenure as PMI Champion.

Why would you recommend the Champion program to a new volunteer? What should someone expect to gain by joining it?

The PMI Champion program provides a platform and processes to people to develop their network and reach the next level in terms of learning and advocacy. It offers lessons on the latest management trends and also allows you to grow in volunteering, while unlocking your untapped potential. Watching the fellow Champions learn new things also fills you with enthusiasm to achieve bigger milestones.

How hav e PMI membership and certifications helped you and your organization or team?

I have been associated with PMI for over 10 years. During this time, I have learned new things and kept myself updated with the latest trends in the market. It has also helped me in earning professional development units (PDUs), which are required to maintain certifications. The PMI certification has also helped me to effectively manage projects and teams in my organization. When the customer gets to know that they are working with a certified professional, their trust in you and your company increases.

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Closer Connections, Wider Reach

How has the Champion Program helped you as an individual? Please elaborate on how you hav e benefited as a project manager and a leader.

As a Senior Champion, I have connected with fellow Champions from different companies across domains. It provides a great learning and sharing opportunity, and has honed my mentoring and leadership skills.The networking opportunities and new learnings have helped me drive many projects and programs in my organization. Many learnings from this forum have been shared in the Project Management Work Group in Intel, and the leadership skills have been demonstrated through projects in my organization like driving the PMP exam training and Project Management Day.

Why would you recommend the Champion program to a new volunteer? What should someone expect to gain by joining it?

The Champion program provides an avenue for networking, learning, and sharing. We also have have during our regular meetings, whether they are held virtually or offline.

It provides a lot of knowledge-sharing opportunities, and even the possibility to an individual to represent PMI in events.

How have PMI membership and certifications helped you and your organization or team?

PMI memberships and certifications help project management professionals to get connected with the external world. Project managers remain in touch with the latest happenings in the profession, and the number of certifications shows how well they manage projects, which is reflected in the organization’s results.