CBO Consultant Lisa Ayres recently enjoyed a day of inspiring talks, great networking, and insightful shared best practice at the APM Women in Project Management Conference 2024. She shares with us her key takeaways from the day.
The APM Women in Project Management Conference was an excellent event, featuring a variety of speakers, from recent graduates to inspirational women in their 70s. I enjoyed the break away from day-to-day work as it provided me with a good opportunity to reflect on my current work and think about potential future endeavours. I realised that I am already using many of the tools and techniques discussed, but it was a good reminder to refresh myself on best project management practices.
The main theme of the day was the importance of having a positive mindset, which can be cascaded down to your team and colleagues to create successful projects. I was also reminded about the importance of networking and learned a few tips on how to maximise the benefits of networking events, as well as how to seek out opportunities to network during day-to-day work. A couple of useful reminders included keeping in touch with project team members after a project has concluded and researching delegate lists before attending events. If there is someone you are particularly keen to meet, it’s a good idea to make contact beforehand and then follow up in person at the event. These are all useful skills and tips I look forward to sharing with others in my role as an APM Channel Island Regional Network volunteer.
I really enjoyed listening to the keynote speakers, Natalie Campbell, the CEO of bottled water company, BELU and a recent candidate for the London mayoral campaign, and Maggie Alphonsi, an England rugby world cup winner. These women have impressive career histories and excellent stories to tell explaining their rise to the top. Whilst it’s fair to say I won’t be the next London mayor or winning a world cup medal, it is still inspiring to see what others have achieved and to adopt some of their mindset and positivity into my own work.
