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

The PMI Champion program helps us get access to multiple project managers working in different industries. It’s said that if you want to excel, surround yourself with people who are doing exceptional work so that their achievements also motivate you to go the extra mile in your activities. We continuously hear and see the achievements of Champions in their organizations as well as volunteering activities. This motivates others.

I led a PMI Champion initiative to identify the impact of COVID-19 in various industries, and the new skills that project professionals need to learn during this pandemic. We identified the impacts on the industries and the new skills needed through a survey. We have decided to upskill fellow Champions in the newly identified skills. Many volunteers have come forward to deliver these enhancement sessions. We have delivered multiple upskilling sessions, which were well-received.

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

We receive a lot from the society, but we do not give much value to things when they are easily available to us. There are innumerable people who put in a lot of effort for the food we eat and the clothes we wear. Hence it is our responsibility to give something back to the society. The PMI Champion program helps us give back to the community through the volunteer program.

Participating in volunteering activities without expecting anything in return gives us a sense of satisfaction. When people benefit from your service, it makes you happy and motivates you to go further.When newcomers join the Champion program, they get access to multiple project professionals across industries. Also, as they get associated with PMI, they receive first-hand information about PMI’s offers, initiatives, etc.

This platform gives an opportunity to enhance the skills required for giving an impressive presentation, a speech in college, or hosting a successful event.

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

I have been a PMI member and PMP for many years. One of the major benefits of this has been that it has allowed me to become a PMI Champion.

We receive a lot of tips when fellow Champions share theirexperiences. Customers also recognize the PMP certifications. PMI acknowledges Champions’ contributions through rewards and recognition. This creates added visibility within our own organization as well. It also enables you to create your persona outside the organization. This is appreciated and recognized by the leaders. When we face challenges and seekideas or solutions to tackle them, the inputs from fellow Champions are a great help. They are just one click away when we post a query. This also gives you an opportunity to understand that an activity that is done regularly in your organization maybe done in a different way at other places. For example, in one of the MPP knowledge-sharing sessions, the presenter gave an entirely different perspective on how MPP can be used. Similarly, Champions from other industries help us learn about know how MPP is used in their sectors.

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

I joined the Champion program in 2014, and since then it has been an enriching journey for me, professionally as well as personally. It has made it possible for me interact with Champions from other organizations and get their perspective on project management. This has also helped me help others in my organization. It became evident in 2016 when my organization entrusted me with the task of establishing and heading the PM Center of Excellence. Since then, even though I have played different roles within my organization, I continue to be treated as a subject expert in project management. Apart from this, the Champion program has also helped open other volunteering opportunities for me, such as participating in Mega Exam Development workshops, and being a part of the Translation and Review Committee for A Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) and ACP Sixth Edition (Hindi language).

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

The Champion program offers an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of project management competency through interactions with other Champions from different industries. This also enables them to advocate the cause of project management and its significance within their organization and network, which helps in establishing them as experts in this area. It also provides us an opportunity to give back to the community. Being part of the Champion family also helps in tapping the potential of collective wisdom of a group of experts when one encounters a fresh challenge.

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

PMI membership and certification has helped me in gaining a deeper understanding of the nuances of project management. They have helped me establish the processes and competencies required for project managers in my organization. They have also helped in defining a standard for project management practices within my organization.