Project management has evolved significantly over the past few decades. With the growth of technology and globalization, projects have become more complex. Project managers are required to lead diverse and distributed teams to achieve project goals within constraints. This rapid evolution has led to the rise of project management influencers who shape the discourse on best practices.
Influencers in any field are individuals who have strong expertise and thought leadership. Their opinions and insights drive conversations in their domain. In project management context, influencers are practitioners, consultants, authors and speakers who actively share their knowledge. They inform project managers of new methodologies, techniques and leadership skills needed to succeed.
How do project management influencers spread their message?
Typical channels used by influencers are:
- Authoring books which become reference guides for practitioners
- Writing blogs sharing their project experiences and advice
- Creating YouTube videos and podcasts to disseminate tips
- Speaking at conferences and symposiums
- Conducting webinars and online training programs
- Active on social networks like Twitter and LinkedIn
The rise of social media has enabled influencers to dramatically amplify their reach. Earlier influencers would publish books and speak at events. Now they actively leverage digital channels to share bite-sized insights on a daily basis. Their followers number in the tens or hundreds of thousands on Twitter and LinkedIn.
What criteria defines project management influencers?
There are no standard criteria to identify influencers. However, some key attributes distinguish them:
- Experience: They have extensive experience managing projects and programs in different industries. Some are CEOs and heads of PMOs in major corporations.
- Expertise: They have deep expertise in project methodologies like Agile, Six Sigma, PRINCE2 etc. Many hold certifications and graduate degrees.
- Network: They are well connected with a large network of project professionals who follow them.
- Reach: They have a massive audience across digital channels like Twitter, LinkedIn, podcasts and YouTube.
- Engagement: They regularly create engaging content – books, blogs, videos which gets widely shared.
- Impact: Their work shapes debates and influences project management practices adopted by organizations.
Beyond technical expertise, great communication and storytelling skills enable them to explain concepts clearly. They blend anecdotes with data to render practical advice.
Top 10 Project Management Influencers
Based on the above criteria, here are 10 leading influencers in project management:
Name | Key Credentials | Area of Expertise |
---|---|---|
Elizabeth Harrin | – Director, Otobek Communications – Author of bestselling books like ‘Project Management in the Real World’ |
Project communications, Stakeholder engagement |
Mike Clayton | – Founder, OnlinePMCourses.com – Author of ‘How to Learn Project Management’ |
Project management training and development |
Cornelius Fichtner | – President, OSP International LLC – Hosts ‘The Project Management Podcast’ |
Project management methodologies and processes |
Jeff Furman | – VP of Project Management, CPrime – Expert on Agile management |
Agile project management |
Susanne Madsen | – International project leadership coach – Author of ‘The Power of Project Leadership’ |
Project leadership skills development |
Dave Prior | – Founder, Management of Portfolios Ltd. – Expert on portfolio and program management |
Portfolio and program management |
Jennifer Bridges | – Founder, Project Management Coaching – Global authority on PMP certification |
Project management training and certification |
Harry Hall | – CEO, Project Risk Coach – Leading risk management expert |
Project risk management |
Melanie Franklin | – Agile transformation strategist – Leads ‘Project Management for Humans’ |
Agile adoption and transformation |
Pawel Brodzinski | – Founder, Projectified.net blog – Global speaker and consultant |
Project management best practices |
This list covers influencers with expertise across a range of topics like Agile, leadership, certification etc. Many have authored definitive books and host popular podcasts or YouTube channels. Their diverse backgrounds and communication styles appeal to broad project management audiences globally.
Why are project management influencers important?
Influencers provide tremendous value to the project management community. Here are some key benefits:
- They consolidate the latest insights and best practices from across the industry. Project managers can leverage this curated knowledge rather than reinvent the wheel.
- Their advice helps project managers master new skills needed to lead complex 21st century projects.
- Learning from their experience shortcuts years of effort in developing expertise.
- Their storytelling presents project management concepts in simple, engaging ways. This helps build wide interest in the discipline.
- They guide project managers early in their careers by clarifying misconceptions.
- Their diverse perspectives on similar issues encourages critical thinking.
- They shape the public discourse on project management and influence adoption of new methodologies like Agile.
- Conferences featuring these influencers provide great networking and professional development opportunities.
Project management influencers act as trusted advisors and mentors for practitioners globally. They inspire people to build passion for the discipline and guide them throughout their careers. Their impact has helped raise the profile of project management as a strategic capability within organizations.
Who are leading global influencers in project management?
Some of the leading global influencers in project management are:
Dr. Harold Kerzner
With a career spanning 6 decades, Kerzner is widely recognized as a thought leader in project management. His books on project management are considered canonical texts for the field. He is a pioneering contributor who helped establish project management as a distinct discipline.
Peter Taylor
Taylor is a prominent authority on projects and project leadership. As “The Lazy Project Manager”, he provides insights on work-life balance and leading happier teams. He is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant working with organizations worldwide.
Mike Clayton
Clayton is well known for his innovative online project management training resources. As the founder of OnlinePMCourses.com, he has helped over 60,000 learners get ahead. He is also an author of multiple books including ‘How to Learn Project Management’.
Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
Nieto-Rodriguez is one of the global experts on project management offices (PMOs) and strategy implementation. He is the creator of concepts like the Project Economy and Project Manifesto. His book ‘The Project Revolution’ showcases how projects are shaping all aspects of business and society.
Lindsay Scott
Based in the UK, Scott has a vast global audience who follow her blogs, podcasts and online training. She is the founder of PMO Flashmob, an association of PMO leaders. She is also the author of over a dozen books read by hundreds of thousands of practitioners worldwide.
Jennifer Bridges
As the founder of Project Management Coaching, Bridges has established herself as a leading trainer and authority on PMP certification. Her website, podcast and PMP exam prep training resources are hugely popular in the project management education space.
Cornelius Fichtner
Fichtner is an acclaimed host of ‘The Project Management Podcast’ which has over a million monthly downloads. As a PMP coach, he has helped thousands of project managers in their certification goals. His firm OSP International LLC is a leader in project management training resources.
Elizabeth Harrin
Harrin is the founder and director of PRINCE2 consultancy Otobek Communications. She has authored multiple books including ‘Project Management in the Real World’ which provides practical insights on running projects. Her blog is one of the most influential in the field.
Susanne Madsen
With an international career as a project leadership coach, Madsen has helped project managers and executives globally. Her books like ‘The Power of Project Leadership’ provide key insights on developing leadership skills. She is also a renowned speaker at industry conferences.
This global list covers influencers who are prolific authors, leading podcasters, sought-after speakers and prominent coaches. They actively engage with the community through modern digital channels to mentor the next generation of project leaders.
Conclusion
Project management influencers play a vital role in sharing knowledge, setting trends and inspiring practitioners. They provide guidance through every stage of a project manager’s career from a novice to an executive. The profession has evolved rapidly over the past few decades. Influencers have enabled this transformation through their teachings and advocacy. Their impact on the field will continue to grow as projects become more strategic and complex.