PMI CTT's Events

Navigating the New Normal

In an era defined by rapid technological shifts and the rise of Artificial Intelligence, the ability to pivot is no longer just an advantage—it is a survival skill. Whether you are a senior leader navigating complex portfolios, an early-career professional looking to stand out in a competitive market, or a student preparing to enter a transforming workforce, this Professional Development Day is for you. We have designed this experience to bridge the gap between foundational project management and the visionary strategies required to thrive in the Waterloo and Wellington technology corridor.

Keynote Speakers:

Kevin Scott McGowan, PMP

Kevin McGowan is a Senior Project Management and program leader renowned for delivering complex, large-scale initiatives across the public, non-profit and technology sectors by bringing leadership and clarity to uncertain delivery environments. His professional journey saw him transition from an "accidental project manager" in technical writing and educational development into a strategic leader capable of directing national-scale programs and navigating the high-intensity world of Web3 startups. 

A prolific writer and speaker, Kevin is a recognized thought leader at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Project Management, where he explores how organizations can leverage AI for efficiency while preserving the essential human element of implementation. His commitment to the field extends into education and community advocacy; he has designed and taught project management curricula for local colleges and remains deeply connected to the Ottawa and Waterloo regions, where he actively curates career opportunities and champions professional development for the next generation of project leaders.

Bola Adesope, PMP, CBAP, ITIL, CSM, SAFe SPC

Bola Adesope is a visionary consultant and transformation specialist renowned for driving high-impact Agile, Business, and Digital Transformations across North America, Europe, and Africa. With over a decade of elite consulting experience at global firms like Deloitte and Accenture, he has guided organizations through complex business challenges to significantly enhance stakeholder value. Currently, Bola balances his roles as the Founder and Practice Lead at SixDots.io and Vice President of Business Transformation at Stacey & Lloyd Advisory, where he directs the Strategy Transformation and Advisory practice.

A prestigious educator as well as a practitioner, Bola is a PMI Authorized PMP Instructor with a comprehensive array of accreditations spanning IIBA (CBAP), ITIL, SAFe, and Lean Six Sigma. To date, he has empowered over 5,000 professionals through his dynamic presentation style and his deep-seated passion for "reshaping the future of work." By fostering transformative mindset shifts, Bola continues to lead the way in helping organizations and individuals become more effective, adaptive, and value-driven in an ever-changing professional landscape.

Session Overview:

• Kevin McGowan

In this opening keynote, Kevin McGowan challenges one of the most common assumptions in project management: that success comes from eliminating chaos.

Drawing on decades of experience leading projects in government, technology, startups, and rapidly changing organizations, Kevin argues that chaos is not something to be feared or hidden. It's information. It's often the first signal that assumptions are wrong, priorities have shifted, or opportunities are emerging that nobody saw coming.

Through real-world stories and practical examples, Kevin explores how leaders can identify productive chaos, distinguish it from dysfunction, and use uncertainty as a strategic advantage. He examines why organizations struggle to acknowledge reality when plans begin to break down, and how teams can build the trust, adaptability, and situational awareness needed to respond effectively.

Whether you're leading projects, managing teams, or navigating your own career, this session will offer a fresh perspective on what it means to succeed in environments where change is constant and certainty is temporary.

• Bola Adesope:

In this high-impact workshop, transformation specialist Bola, will guide participants through a practical journey to "Reshape the Future of Work" by focusing on the mechanics of adaptability. Attendees will move beyond theory to apply at least one agile framework or tool, such as Scrum or Kanban, to solve a real or simulated change challenge, gaining hands-on experience in navigating professional pivots.

To ensure these skills translate to long-term success, Bola will help participants identify specific barriers to agility within their own life, study, or early-career contexts, uncovering the "fixed mindset" traps that often hinder growth. Participants will then build a personalized action plan for developing adaptive habits and practices, creating a structured 90-day roadmap for their own professional evolution.

The session concludes with an interactive environment where attendees share and learn from their peers through collaborative activities, fostering a supportive community of practice where early-career professionals and seasoned leaders alike can exchange insights on mastering change.

Event Agenda:

Please email questions about registration concerns to events@pmi-ctt.org.