FWPMI Leaders Bring Project Management Insights to TCU Students

             

Networking opens doors to new opportunities. Our very own Director of Academic Outreach Kevin Bast and VP of Professional Development Dionne Beer can attest to that. After connecting with staff from Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business at a recent nonprofit roundtable, they secured an invitation to present project management concepts to business students on November 16.

 

Kevin and Dionne tag-teamed an engaging session covering numerous PM-related topics:

- The benefits of membership with the Project Management Institute, our global parent organization

- Core project management principles and methods, including waterfall versus agile approaches

- Critical skills like risk management and adapting PM strategies in a post-COVID age

- Diverse career paths for those pursuing project leadership roles

With over 15 students attending in person and virtually, the event sparked great discussion. Students asked thoughtful questions about dealing with conflict on teams, the most in-demand project management certifications, and how industries outside tech implement agile frameworks.

Our presenters fielded these inquiries and more with flying colors. Dionne explained how her enterprise risk management background helps quantify threats to timelines and budgets. Kevin outlined smart strategies for adapting workflows to distributed teams while maintaining accountability.

Collaborations like this achieve multiple goals. They increase FWPMI’s visibility with soon-to-graduate talent. They educate students on how project management concepts apply across sectors. And they strengthen our relationships with local colleges for future initiatives.

We aim to continue engaging with universities across the DFW metro area in 2024. Are you connected with a college program aligned to PM or leadership skills? Consider reaching out about having an FWPMI representative speak to students. Our experts can cover introductory PM methods or niche topics like AI and automation.

We also encourage student members and recent graduates to join FWPMI for access to our career development resources. From exam study groups to virtual networking events, we offer affordable options to equip the next generation of project professionals.

To get involved with academic outreach in any capacity, contact Kevin Bast at outreach.academic@fwpmi.org. Here’s to more fruitful connections in 2024!