Stepping into leadership: Reflections from the WiPM conference

I recently attended the Women in Project Management (WIPM) Conference, themed Transform Tomorrow. As an international student aspiring to grow in project management, I joined to learn from professionals, gain industry insights and connect with inspiring peers and mentors who motivate me to lead, adapt and make a positive impact in the field.

Be AI ready: How to utilise AI tools for strategic advantage

Nermeen Latif and Sarah Boutle

The session explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can enhance productivity and support smarter strategic decisions. The speakers highlighted that effective prompting could unlock AI’s potential but stressed the need to maintain human intuition and critical thinking. They discussed key aspects such as trust, scalability, timing and experimentation, along with important ethical considerations like bias, data sensitivity and overreliance on technology.

As an international student, these insights truly resonated with me. In academic and professional settings, using AI responsibly is essential and should only be used to enhance learning while ensuring no ethical boundaries are crossed or risk plagiarising. The session reminded me that AI should be a partner in growth, not a replacement for originality. It was an empowering experience that encouraged thoughtful, ethical and confident use of AI.

How to maintain emotional agility during constant change

Holly Sorce

The session focused on understanding the emotional side of modern project work, where increasing complexity demands strong emotional agility - the ability to notice, pause and choose our responses intentionally. Holly Sorce explained how a lack of this skill can lead to burnout or emotional suppression, which deeply resonated with me.

As a student, I’ve experienced similar pressure while balancing studies and adapting to new environments. She described emotional agility as a blend of resilience, clarity and progress, using the method: Notice, Pause, Choose. Recognise emotions as data, pause before reacting and act with purpose. My biggest takeaway was embracing progress over perfection, setting realistic expectations for myself, my studies and future teams. This session was both grounding and eye-opening.

Turning resistance into partnership: What if your toughest stakeholders became your strongest allies?

Jeanette Pope

The session explored how to turn challenging relationships into collaborative partnerships. Jeanette Pope encouraged us to reflect on our stakeholders and introduced the power-influence grid, which I’m currently applying in my university projects. It was reassuring to see how classroom theories have real-world applications.

She also discussed the importance of becoming a trusted advisor- a strategic thinker who looks beyond immediate goals, challenges assumptions and builds meaningful relationships. Jeanette explained that resistance often stems from fear, trust gaps, or perceived difficulty and shared tools like project context and pre-mortems to manage it.

As a student, I found this session invaluable. It provided practical ways to build trust, listen actively and transform differences into opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

Redefining success for women in project management

Caroline Freathy, Chibuzo Ikeh, Lynne Kenworthy, Dr Mehtab Khan

The session explored what success truly means for women in project management. Chibuzo Ikeh shared that success isn’t defined by promotions but by clarity, understanding what you want and aligning goals with personal values. She reminded us that success is a continuous journey, constantly redefined throughout life.

Lynne Kenworthy emphasised starting with small, intentional actions, staying curious and learning from others’ experiences, while Caroline Freathy highlighted the importance of being grounded and planning for a secure future.

I was deeply inspired by Chibuzo’s story- especially since she was once an international student herself. Her authenticity encouraged me to reflect on my own path and realise that success is about growth, learning and embracing change with confidence.

The art of influence

Audrey Sipos

The session, led by Audrey Sipos, explored what true influence really means. She emphasised that influence isn’t manipulation but about building meaningful relationships. Leadership is about impact, not authority, and starts with self-awareness and authenticity, as people respond to genuine connection.

Audrey highlighted the importance of developing a personal brand, especially when leading without formal authority, as it reflects values, trust and reliability. She also discussed the power of networks, encouraging us to listen actively, build trust and pursue shared goals to foster collaboration.

As a student, this session was insightful. Entering new environments and diverse teams, learning to influence authentically will help me build trust, communicate effectively across cultures, and make a meaningful impact. This skill will strengthen my leadership potential and prepare me to contribute confidently to my future career.

The culture code: Leading global teams with meaning and impact

Niamh Mullan, Rosella Taylor, and Rebecca Showler, Maria Loreto Flores

The session focused on working with diverse cultures and global teams. Rebecca Showler highlighted the importance of cultural training and understanding individuals rather than generalising by country, noting that respect takes different forms and that humour can help navigate difficult situations.

Rosella Taylor discussed delivering projects across cultures using a change management approach, balancing stakeholder experience and tailoring communication to individual preferences.

Niamh Mullan reflected on the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, particularly as a non-technical PM transitioning quickly into project management.

As a student entering the project management field, this session was crucial. It reinforced that empathy, adaptability and cultural awareness are as important as technical skills. These lessons will help me build connections, communicate effectively and make a positive impact in diverse global teams.

“Feel the fear and do it anyway”

Jo Salter

The conference concluded with an inspiring session by Jo Salter, leaving the room energised despite a long day. She reminded us, “You don’t get in if you don’t apply,” emphasising that growth happens at the edge of panic. Jo encouraged stepping out of comfort zones, shedding others’ expectations and meeting people where they are. She also highlighted the importance of decision-making under pressure and avoiding constant comparison with others. As an international student, her words resonated deeply. Moving to a new country has challenged me daily, pushing me to grow, learn and become someone I can truly be proud of.

Attending this conference has been incredibly inspiring, transformative and eye-opening, and I'm seeking new opportunities to explore my potential and make an impact in this growing field.

With International Women’s Day coming up on 3rd and 6th March, WIPM is hosting events, and I highly encourage everyone to join.
APM WiPM x London Branch - 6/03/2026 - In person
APM WiPM x Scotland Branch - 3/03/2026 - Online webinar

It’s a unique chance to experience a community that supports and uplifts each other while gaining valuable insights, inspiration and connections. I’m excited to continue this journey, embracing every opportunity and challenge along the way, and growing both personally and professionally.