The Global Project Management Talent Gap
Interview with Dave Garrett
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
Project Management Institute
Pennsylvania, USA
Interviewed by Ipek Sahra Ozguler
International Correspondent, PM World Journal
Istanbul, Turkey
Introduction to the interviewee
Dave Garrett, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, drives PMI’s growth strategy by working across the organization to define, test, and deliver solutions that enable individuals and organizations to create impact and propel change. Dave was the co-founder, President and CEO of ProjectManagement.com (formerly Gantthead.com), an online community for project professionals, established in 2000 and acquired by PMI in 2014. Since joining PMI, he has held several leadership roles, including dual role as Director of Digital Presence and CEO of ProjectManagement.com.
Dave’s passion for project management led him to serve in multiple volunteer positions for PMI prior to becoming employed by the organization. Earlier in Dave’s career, he also created Project Pain Reliever, a just-in-time handbook for managing projects; he has published and bylined dozens of articles related to project management, technology trends, and more.
Interview
Ipek Sahra Ozguler (Ozguler): First of all, thank you for accepting another interview request from PMWJ. Careers in project management are hotter than ever, driven by a new “never normal” working environment. In order to understand the growth of project management as a profession and skill, Project Management Institute (PMI) analyzed industries that rely heavily on project management skills and published a report on the ten-year outlook for project management-oriented employment (PMOE) last year. Could you please provide more details on the Talent Gap report and how we are seeing this trend noted in the report take shape?
Dave Garrett (Garrett): Thank you for having me. PMI releases our Talent Gap Report every four years, which provides a 10-year outlook of project management-oriented employment (PMOE). Our 2021 Talent Gap report covers projectized industries that will see an increased demand for project management skills, the need for global talent growth, and how organizations and professionals can help fill that need. The report found that the global economy will need 25 million new project professionals by 2030 to fill crucial roles across construction, manufacturing, finance, insurance, and others.
The report paints a picture that there are many new job opportunities in PMOE for project professionals and all changemakers — those who, regardless of their role, are inspired and equipped to drive change and turn ideas into reality. The report gives further insight into specific job sectors, regional trends, financial opportunities, and tips for how employers can help fill the talent gap. This trend is taking shape by the increased demand for project professionals around the world, in addition to the rapid growth of projectized industries due to digital transformation and evolving business needs.
Ozguler: In the report, some industries are referred to as “projectized industries.” What does the term mean?
Garrett: Projectized industries are industries in which many or most activities are being managed through projects. This is where work is more modular, with discrete outcomes expected from group efforts. Many industries, such as publishing and professional services, are becoming increasingly project oriented. The growth rate of PMOE within projectized industries is expected to be higher than overall employment in these industries, indicating a higher demand for vital roles and qualified people to fill them. For example, we expect the global PMOE demand in the information and publishing sector to increase by 15.2% over the next 10 years, with finance and insurance seeing a 14.9% change
Simply put, projectized industries are those that are fueled by project work, and thus, project managers. This is why the surge in project management for both organizations and professionals are so prevalent right now.
Ozguler: It is stated that “a career in project management means you’re less likely to get stuck.” Could you please elaborate on this? How are roles evolving in project management and what does this mean for professionals and organizations?
More…
To read entire interview, click here
Editor’s note: This is the second interview with Mr. Garrett published in the PM World Journal this year. Because of his position at PMI, the world’s largest and most influential project management professional body, his perspective and knowledge on various topics should be of high interest to PM practitioners around the world. To view Ipek’s previous interview with Dave Garrett on the topic of PM Trends for 2022, go to https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/pmwj115-Mar2022-Ozguler-Interview-with-Dave-Garrett-pmi.pdf
How to cite this work: Ozguler, I. S. (2022). The Global Project Management Talent Gap, Interview with Dave Garrett, PMI; PM World Journal, Vol. XI, Issue X, October. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/pmwj122-Oct2022-Ozguler-global-talent-gap-Interview-with-Dave-Garrett.pdf
About the Interviewer
Ipek Sahra Ozguler
Istanbul, Turkey
Ipek Sahra Ozguler graduated from the Istanbul University, Turkey with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering and from Middle East Technical University, Turkey with an MSc degree in Software Management. As a project manager, she has more than 13 years of experience in various areas such as portfolio management, program management, project management, software management, business analysis. She became a certified PMP in 2012 and a certified SCRUM Master in 2014.
She has gained broader insights in a variety of projects across manufacturing, defence, FMCG (Cola Cola), insurance (Euler Hermes), audit (Deloitte), telecommunication, aviation and finance sectors. In addition, she has been working as an international correspondent for the PM World Journal since 2014.
Ipek is the creator and editor of the highly acclaimed book, The Perspective of Women Project Management Professionals, interviews with leading female PM experts and professionals around the world. The book was published in March 2020 and is available here.
Ipek is based in Istanbul,Turkey and can be contacted at ipeksahra@gmail.com. Her portfolio is published at the http://ipeksahra.strikingly.com/ and https://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/ipek-sahra-ozguler/.
