March is Women’s History Month, and there’s no better time to shine a light on one of our most vibrant and fast-growing communities: Women in Project Management. What began as a grassroots roundtable has evolved into something much bigger, and this June, it’s reaching a new milestone with a half-day forum that members won’t want to miss. Let’s get to know this amazing community!
At the heart of our professional development efforts is Donna Gregorio, a PMP of over 20 years, professor at Northeastern University, and published author who has been presenting at conferences for over a decade. Donna and her team work to organize monthly roundtable events, PMP bootcamps, and other professional learning and development programs for the chapter. Among their most successful events is the Women in Project Management Roundtable, which has been one of our most popular programs over the last year.
We spoke with Donna to learn how this vibrant community came to be, and how it continues to blossom.
It started when Donna approached Diane Coles, a dynamic leader and speaker, about hosting a women’s roundtable. Drawing on her experience as Director of Project Management at Slalom Consulting and her time leading a PMI learning community in Seattle, Diane brought both vision and intention to the idea from the very beginning.
The topics explored in these sessions speak directly to what women in project management navigate every day: negotiating for what you’re worth, advocating for yourself, building your personal brand, balancing the intersection of professional and personal life, and learning to lead with confidence.
These aren’t just lectures—these candid, interactive events are designed to tackle real challenges. The roundtable format creates space for women to share experiences, exchange solutions, and offer hard-won advice, while building meaningful connections. What began as a monthly online meeting has steadily evolved into something more: a vibrant, supportive community.
In the past year, since Diane joined the team, her monthly events have consistently drawn around 90 attendees—with many returning month after month.
What makes the Women in PM community truly stand out is the people in it. Walk into one of Diane’s roundtables and you’ll find a wide range of women. Some are early in their careers, quietly absorbing everything they can, and others who have spent decades in the field come ready to share and inspire. Some are vocal advocates who believe passionately in elevating women in the profession; others show up simply to listen, recharge, and feel less alone in their challenges. What unites them isn’t a job title or a career stage, it’s a shared desire to keep getting better. Donna draws a comparison to the Massachusetts Conference for Women, one of Boston’s most well-attended professional gatherings, noting that the same energy is present in this community: everyone in the room is there because they want to be, and that makes all the difference.
Donna reflects on the value of women sharing experiences with each other in a professional environment, “When women see successful women and say, ‘I can be like her,’ that changes everything. And we are seeing more women in high-level roles who are willing to talk about changes and struggles and overcoming them.” In many professional environments, leadership still skews male — which makes it all the more powerful when women at the top show up to share their stories. From those stepping into their first PM role to veterans with decades of experience, the community brings together women of all backgrounds united by a shared drive to learn and grow.
That momentum is what inspired Donna, Diane, and their team to take the next step in growing this wonderful community. On June 5th, Mass Bay PMI will host its first Women in PM half-day forum at Boston University. The event will feature Diane Coles as the keynote speaker as well as other dynamic speakers.
Through immersive sessions from industry leaders across these areas, you’ll discover:
- How to unlock innovation and inspire creative problem solving
- How AI and moderization are transforming delivery and how you can leverge them
- How collaborative leadership drives influence, alignment, and meaningful connections
Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned project manager, this is a chance to connect, learn, and be part of a community that’s growing in both size and impact!
Interested in attending? Sign up today — spots are limited!