Project Managers Embrace Sustainability!

At the PMI Global Congress in Barcelona, sustainability was a hot topic with several presenters including our own, Kristina Kohl presenting on the topic. Kris’ session “Closing the Gap Between Sustainable Strategy and Implementation” focused on the impact that project managers can have in driving organizations toward sustainable strategy benefit realization. Topics discussed included identifying drivers of sustainability as well as barriers creating misalignment between sustainability vision and organizational adoption. The session focused on solutions to drive sustainability in people, process, and policy through the project management process. Leveraging project management professionals’ expertise and skills around driving and managing change within organizations has a significant impact. In order for organizations to address global challenges and to create new opportunities, projects that drive innovation and new solutions must be prioritized. In order successfully transform, leadership must create a culture that promotes incorporating triple bottom line (people, planets, and profit) criteria and requirements into all projects. Sustainable strategy requires taking a long-term view to create organizational value.

Kristina is the author of  Becoming a Sustainable Organization: A Project and Portfolio Management Approach. Conference attendees were the first to see the recently released title. Their response to both the book and presentation was overwhelmingly positive. For a brief glimpse at their reactions, checkout the #PMICongress Twitter feed for information sharing and comments.

Interestingly, many of the messages that I shared in my session were echoed in the remarks of Mark Stevenson, the Closing Keynote Speaker. Mark is an author, speaker, and advisor; He is an expert on global trends and innovation. He sits on the advisory boards of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Earth Challenge, future-literacy hub Atlas of the Future, and a start-up incubator Mass Challenge UK.  Through his advisory role, he meets many wealth individuals who understand the value of moral leadership. In the age of the millennial, philanthropy is social capital. Having the most “stuff” doesn’t give one influence and power anymore. These leaders are interested in engaging employees on ways to make a better future for all of us. Developing solutions to global challenges such as air quality, water shortages, resource limitations, poverty, and social inequity requires an optimistic outlook.  Leaders need to undertake ambitious projects that allow for mistakes. We learn from our mistakes. Take a long-term view that allows for innovation, new ideas, and engagement. In order to meet current and future challenges we need to be willing to adapt and change. Mark says, “Companies are brave or dead.” Which do you want to be?

As leaders and project management professionals, I challenge all of you to take up the mantle to drive sustainable change within all of our organizations.