PMI Houston Energy Corridor: "Leadership Styles"

Pre-Dinner Presentation: "General Slim and the 14th Army. A Master Class in Agile Resilience"

Jim Benvie

Jim “The History PM” Benvie PMP, DTM, is a project manager and speaker with TyauvinOn Solutions. A lifelong student of history, he has four decades of project & operations management experience. Jim is the creator of “The History PM” blog and YouTube channel. His blog and presentations, provide inspiration and examples from history for project managers and leaders. The concept is not simply to copy historical precedents, but to use them to expand your awareness, develop your thinking, and stimulate your curiosity. Do not expect, “Five simple steps to becoming a stellar project manager”, instead expect “Some assembly required”. He believes that—like Aesop’s Fables—you will find his presentations engaging and informative. A long-term volunteer with PMI Houston, he lives with his wife Juliet in the Tomball area and his interests are reading, studying history, and cycling.

Topic Synopsis:

December 7th, a day that will live in infamy, is best known for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. What is less well known is that the Japanese launched attacks throughout the Pacific and were victorious everywhere. European colonial powers were temporarily driven out of Asia. Out fought both physically and mentally, the British Empire forces were driven from Burma. (Modern day Myanmar) This presentation is the story of General William Slim who took this defeated and demoralized, multi racial force, and molded it into the confident and competent 14th Army. He achieved this against a backdrop of continuing Japanese success and the rising aspirations for Indian independence. The enemy was not just the Japanese, but the jungle, the monsoon, and disease. By coupling meticulous strategic planning and Agile tactical implementation the 14th Army first halted the Japanese, in the bloody fights on the Imphal plain, then drove them from Burma in a series of mobile offensives. The presentation will examine General Slim’s conduct of the Burma campaign with reference to the PMBOK 7th Edition’s 12 Principles.

Learning Objectives:

1. How to weld together a multi-ethnic team

2. How to build resilience and confidence

3. Combining traditional and Agile techniques

PDU Triangle: 

     

Dinner Presentation: "Leadership Styles"

Katy Doan

Katy Doan is an experienced executive and CFO with a proven track record of success in executing strategic vision and driving organizational performance across various departments. She has over 20 years of experience in building world-class corporations and developing departments such as accounting, finance, project management, IT and HR. She is a regular commentator on international financial markets and investment strategy, with experience in private equity, international investment banking, global financial markets, and portfolio management at major firms. Katy is also the founder and CEO of her own CPA firm, where she helped build the middle-market firm's infrastructure, define the brand, and drive business growth. She is a singer, model, MC, and ping-pong player, with many professional awards in both Vietnam and the US.

Topic Synopsis:

A. Case study

B. Leadership styles: some different styles:
Visionary
Democratic
Transformational
Coaching
Autocratic
Servant
Laisser-faire
Transactional

C. Leadership styles in Project Management

D. Conclusion

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand some Leadership styles.

2. Leadership styles in project management.

3. Understand a real life example.

PDU Triangle: