Chapter News

PMI Los Angeles, you’re kind of a big deal—and not just because we share this incredible city. As one of PMI’s oldest (founded in 1974!) and largest chapters, you embody strength, passion, and resilience. Named Chapter of the Year in 2024, your work sets the standard. Your community is vibrant, dedicated, and driving meaningful change both locally and globally, advancing our mission to maximize project success to elevate our world. 

Since I’m an LA local and a proud member of this chapter, I’m thrilled to celebrate the launch of the PMI Los Angeles PULSE Blog, a platform designed to keep our community informed about industry trends, practical tips, and upcoming events. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a space for sharing the stories, lessons, and insights that shape us as project professionals.

Why Stories Matter for a CMO, but Project Managers, Too

As a Chief Marketing Officer, I’ve helped develop and seen firsthand the transformative power of storytelling. Brands that effectively engage audiences and deliver value ultimately make you feel something—connected, inspired, or even jealous —so that you act. That’s the power of a well-told story.

Storytelling isn’t just for marketers. In every industry, stories turn abstract ideas into tangible lessons, making them one of the most powerful drivers of professional growth. And as members of our PMI-LA chapter, you all have the power to help tell these stories.

I still remember my first official PMI-LA chapter event – I had just joined PMI as the CMO and was excited to meet people in my local community. Within the span of just a few short hours, I was blown away by the stories I heard – I met a woman who worked on film sets to project manage more sustainable approaches to production, I met a man who was working to implement digital transformation to support healthcare workers manage workload, I met a woman who was working with the LA city government, helping to bring international students to LA and engage the African diaspora to spur economic and cultural growth.

Every event I attend, every LinkedIn conversation I have, every time I can learn more about people in our community, I find nuggets of compelling stories. Every single one of us has them, and I always wish I could tell every single one of them, because they all reflect tangible examples of our profession making tangible impact.  

Project managers (you!) know that success isn’t just about frameworks and budgets. It’s about managing stakeholder perceptions, owning project success, relentlessly reassessing project parameters, and expanding perspectives. Sound familiar? It’s our M.O.R.E. mindset!

And to help our profession grow and develop to deliver M.O.R.E. we need the power of our community. When we share our experiences, we give others a roadmap: what worked, what didn’t, and what we’d do differently next time.

What We Can Learn From LA’s Unique Project Landscape

Los Angeles is a city of contrasts and possibilities. Its diversity of industries, cultures, and ambitions creates a unique environment for project professionals. No two projects here look the same, and that’s what makes the stories behind them so rich.

And the beauty of these stories is that they don’t just describe what happened. They teach us what’s possible.

Entertainment Industry: In Hollywood, the speed of culture dictates the speed of decisions. Agile practices aren’t optional—they’re survival tools. Traditional industries can learn a lot from this mindset: how to pivot quickly, embrace creativity, and deliver under pressure without sacrificing quality.

Global Sporting Events: LA being one of the host cities for 2026 FIFA World Cup and holding LA28 Olympics are more than just putting on sporting spectacles. They’re massive undertakings that demand precision in logistics, infrastructure, security, and sustainability, which must use regenerative principles as a guiding light. These projects challenge us to think globally and act locally. What can LA learn from other cities’ successes and missteps to ensure these events leave a positive legacy?

Community Resilience: The 2025 wildfires have tested LA’s resilience, but they’ve also revealed something extraordinary: the power of community to self-organize and respond. Nonprofits and local leaders have shown that project management isn’t just for corporations, but rather, it’s a lifeline for communities. From resource allocation to volunteer coordination, structured approaches can turn chaos into capacity.

Each of these examples underscores a simple truth: our stories hold lessons we can all learn from and apply in our work. We must share our stories to equip others to navigate complexity with confidence.

The PULSE of Progress

The launch of PMI-LA’s PULSE Blog is more than a milestone—it’s an invitation. An invitation to learn from one another, to celebrate our wins, and to grow through shared experience.

As you explore the content PMI-LA publishes here, I encourage you to seek out stories that teach and inspire. And don’t stop there. Bring those lessons into your own work, your teams, and your communities.

If you’re looking for even more opportunities to learn from diverse perspectives, join us at the PMI Global Summit this November 12-15 in Phoenix. It’s a chance to connect with project professionals from around the world, all of whom bring unique experiences, cultural insights, and innovative approaches.

After all, that’s the power of PMI membership: it’s a space where knowledge-sharing becomes second nature. Where one person’s lesson learned becomes another’s breakthrough.

Together, we can ensure that the pulse of progress beats strong—not just in LA, but across the global project economy. I look forward to hearing more of your stories and connecting with you at a future PMI-LA event!