This June, our chapter hit a major milestone: we hosted our very first Women in Project Management Conference; The Future Forward Forum at Boston University!
Our half-day forum brought together women from all walks of life, united by a shared eagerness to celebrate innovation and exchange real experiences in the project management field. Throughout the morning, attendees dove into discussions built around bringing an innovation-driven mindset to their work, navigating emerging technologies, building problem-solving frameworks, and sharpening leadership skills. Here’s a closer look at how the day unfolded.
Following breakfast, attendees jumped into four high-impact discussion sessions that set the tone for the rest of the morning.
We kicked things off with keynote speaker Diane Coles, Director of PM at Slalom, who opened the conversation with The Future of Project Management, a reimagining of the PM role and what it means to stay ahead as technology continues to evolve. Diane explored how integrating AI can free project managers from managing schedules and redirect their focus toward high-impact decision making, leaving participants with a concrete action plan for scaling and leading as a PM in the future.
Next up, Truti Sanikop, Senior VP of AI & Emerging Technology at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, took us into Modern Delivery in the Age of AI. Drawing on the principles of the Product Delivery Lifecycle, Truti took the room through a practical journey: from understanding foundational AI use cases, to actively leveraging AI, to measuring real business impact, always tying it back to the core qualities that make a great project manager.
Mariia Yelizarova, Head of Operational Excellence at RWS Train AI, tackled the question on everyone’s mind: “If AI can do the work, then what is the role of the PM?” By weighing the capabilities of AI against the uniquely human qualities that make us exceptional at our jobs, Mariia reframed the fear of AI replacing us into an opportunity for growth. She walked through the common pitfalls of AI adoption and offered a clear path forward — a 30-day framework for evaluating your own AI use, followed by a phase of exploring, and ultimately leading workflow improvements and redesign.
To bring it all back to our theme of staying Future Forward, Diane returned for her workshop, From Idea to Impact: Building a Culture of Innovation. She highlighted the strengths PMs already bring to the table and helped participants spot opportunities for innovation in their own careers. She also tackled one of the most common roadblocks: stakeholder resistance that can stall innovation in favor of deadlines, and introduced practical tactics for pushing through it. The session introduced frameworks for applying innovation at every scale, and perhaps best captured the spirit of the day with this standout quote:
“You don’t have to choose between delivering results and driving innovation. Now go do both.”
The forum wrapped up with a networking event at Shy Bird in Fenway, where the energy carried right on through. Participants were able to connect, reflect, and swap their biggest takeaways from the day. Here’s a little bit from our attendees:
“The forum creates an open space where both speakers and audiences feel comfortable sharing knowledge, as well as concerns about uncertainty and change. The sessions are especially valuable in helping participants quickly adopt an AI mindset and gain practical tools, offering perspectives that range from technical approaches to broader strategic thinking. At the same time, AI is reshaping administrative and entry-level roles, adding an important dimension to the ongoing conversation about workforce transitions.” – Ruojing
“The Women in Project Management event was a great experience. Beyond the beautiful venue and city views, I really enjoyed learning about the practical ways AI is being used to solve real problems. My biggest takeaways were how AI can support business planning, help evaluate ideas and opportunities, analyze competitors, and streamline decision-making. It was fascinating to see how these tools can be applied throughout the entire innovation process, from developing an initial concept to creating a strategic plan. Overall, the event left me feeling inspired about the future of project management and the growing role technology will play in helping teams work smarter and more effectively.” – Svetlana
“Our Women in Project Management Forum grew from the strong community we began building through our monthly roundtable discussions two years ago. The passion, shared experiences, and conversations around topics such as breaking the glass ceiling and building our personal brands have made these events our most highly attended to date. I look forward to continuing this journey and expanding our annual Women’s Forum in the years ahead.” – Donna, event organizer
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible event organizers who make moments like this possible. We also want to extend a special thank you to Donna Gregorio and Diane Coles, the founders of PMI Mass Bay’s Women in PM roundtable discussions! This event wouldn’t exist without their vision. Finally, a big thank you for all who attended and brought the energy to make this event as successful as can be!
If you missed this one, don’t worry — stay tuned for future events and keep an eye on our LinkedIn for what’s coming next!