The PMI Inspiring Leaders Program draws inspiration from art, industry, sports, history, and other fields to help PMI members become stronger leaders, innovators and collaborators. Delivered in a small-group setting ideal for connecting with colleagues, the program continually evolves as members weigh in on topics important to developing their careers and leadership skills.

The program consists of an annual, day-long, in-person workshop at the PMI Manufacturing Success Conference and three virtual 60- to 90-minute workshops held throughout the year. Members can participate in as many workshops as they like.

Attendees of the annual workshop have explored the four-acre flight deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego; been surrounded by beautiful works of art at the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg; toured Louisville’s Muhammad Ali Center where they learned a visualization technique Ali used to become “The Greatest” boxer of all time; were inspired by aircraft and spacecraft innovations at Seattle’s Museum of Flight; explored the peaceful and hopeful legacy of the nation’s 39th president at the Carter Center in Atlanta, and tapped into the creativity and playfulness of Chicago’s Catalyst Ranch.

Here’s what a few attendees have to say:

Jeff Baldwin, director of engineering with T&S Brass & Bronze Works, has participated in the program several times and describes his first experience as “eye-opening.” At the time, he was focused on adjusting his mindset to be more proactive to new and innovative product ideas. “This program helped me to leave my comfort zone from a ‘black and white’ engineer, and it helped give me some tools to utilize—listen more and talk less,” he said.

Timo Kopka, Roca Group head of product certification and standards, Laufen Bathrooms, said he has enjoyed the program for several years and collects “small bits of information from this program and other places to build up to bigger improvements. . . It’s helpful to have these brief trainings to learn something new, and the topics are a good connection to my work,” Kopka stated. “There were some points where I was thinking, ‘Oh yes, this is something I want to use directly—maybe next week’. . . You get to know some new people that you have never met or spoken with before and then you get several days during the conference to build on these new relationships,” he added.