27 July 2026 at 01:00PM
Beyond the Hype: Practical AI Workflows for Project Managers
What does it actually take to make AI useful on a real project?
That question brought project professionals together for PMI-LA's July Flagship event at the Caltech Center for Technology and Management Education (Caltech CTME), where AI strategist Jen García shared the workflows, templates, and habits she uses with Claude and ChatGPT every day.
Before Jen took the stage, attendees heard updates from PMI-LA leadership on upcoming programs, chapter initiatives, and ways to stay engaged throughout the year. The event brought together professional development, community, and practical learning, giving members a chance to connect while looking ahead to what's next for the chapter.
Jen opened her presentation with a conversation about attention. Using the idea of a spotlight, she explained how directing attention toward the right information helps AI stay focused on what matters most. That theme carried through the rest of the session as attendees explored practical ways to organize information, create reusable project context, and build workflows that support projects from start to finish.
Building a Strong Foundation
As the session continued, Jen shared the preparation that happens before she ever begins working with AI. She walked attendees through the project context framework she spent more than seven hours developing and refining, demonstrating how organizing goals, stakeholders, project information, and supporting documentation creates a reusable foundation that can support work throughout an entire project.
Attendees also explored how thoughtful AI settings and structured documentation help create more consistent results, making it easier to build on previous work instead of starting over each time.
Practical Ideas to Bring Back to Your Projects
The session combined live demonstrations with practical examples attendees can adapt to their own work, including how to:
- Build reusable project context for Claude and ChatGPT
- Structure project documentation so AI has the information it needs from the start
- Configure AI settings to support more consistent results
- Create workflows that reduce repetitive work and support projects throughout their lifecycle
Attendees also received supporting documentation and reference materials, including Jen's project framework, giving them practical resources they can continue building on after the event.
Celebrating Our Community
The event also gave us the opportunity to recognize our Top 5 PMI-LA Super Members for the first half of 2026, celebrating members whose participation and engagement have helped strengthen our chapter.
Congratulations again to our Super Members, and thank you to everyone who continues to learn, volunteer, and participate in PMI-LA events.
Thank You
Thank you to Jen García for sharing her experience, practical frameworks, and real-world workflows, and to the Caltech Center for Technology and Management Education (Caltech CTME) for hosting another successful PMI-LA Flagship event.
Whether you joined us for this session or are planning to attend a future Flagship event, we look forward to continuing to bring the PMI-LA community together to learn from industry experts, discover practical ideas, and connect with fellow project professionals.
