SPEAKER UPDATE - PMI Houston Galleria: "The Leadership Side of Stakeholder Engagement"
Pre-Dinner Presentation "How AI is affecting Stakeholder Engagement"
Dr. Elwanda Bennett has over three decades of experience providing high-level consulting services to both small businesses and Fortune 500 companies, she brings a wealth of expertise in technical strategy, software development, and enterprise solutions.
A seasoned technologist and expert in adult learning, Dr. Bennett has dedicated over 30,000 hours to classroom instruction, utilizing innovative techniques to drive exceptional learning outcomes. Her specialties span Master Data Management, SAP Configuration and Consulting, Software Development, Technical Writing, and Technical Solution Implementation.
With an in-depth understanding of the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and extensive experience in SAP modules such as MII, PLM, CAMS, and HANA Data Modeling, Dr. Bennett consistently delivers transformative solutions across industries. Her dynamic approach and technical acumen make her an invaluable voice in project management and enterprise technology.
Don’t miss the opportunity to gain insights from one of the industry’s leading experts!
Topic Synopsis:
AI will not replace stakeholder engagement — it will redefine the speed, precision, and emotional intelligence required to do it well. Over the next 18 months, project leaders will move from manual stakeholder tracking and generic communication plans to AI-assisted engagement models that analyze sentiment, surface resistance early, personalize messages, summarize feedback, and support faster decision-making across complex teams.
This talk explores how generative AI and agentic AI will reshape stakeholder engagement through predictive insights, real-time communication intelligence, automated meeting synthesis, and risk-aware decision support. McKinsey reports that AI use is now widespread, but most organizations are still working to embed it deeply into workflows; Gartner projects rapid growth in task-specific AI agents inside enterprise applications by the end of 2026.
The core message: the future belongs to leaders who can blend AI-powered intelligence with human trust, listening, ethics, and judgment. Attendees will leave understanding how to use AI to hear stakeholders sooner, respond smarter, reduce resistance, and protect the human side of transformation. PMI’s research also reinforces that GenAI value depends on organizational support, clear success metrics, collaboration, and workflow integration.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain how AI will reshape stakeholder engagement over the next 18 months by improving listening, sentiment analysis, communication personalization, meeting synthesis, and early resistance detection.
- Apply an AI-enabled stakeholder engagement checklist to assess whether project teams are identifying the right stakeholders, asking better questions, communicating clearly, and protecting trust.
- Evaluate where human judgment must remain central by distinguishing between AI-assisted engagement and truly human-centered leadership that preserves ethics, empathy, transparency, and accountability.
PDU Triangle:
0.5 Power Skills and 0.5 Business Acumen PDU
Dinner Presentation "The Leadership Side of Stakeholder Engagement"
Gabriela Gutierrez is a Project Management and Leadership professional with over a decade of experience across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Europe. She currently serves in the PMO of a major student transportation company in the U.S. In 2025, she was recognized as the # 6 Project Management Creator on LinkedIn in the United States.
She holds an MBA from a European business school and top industry credentials, including the Project Management Professional (PMP®), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and Prosci® Change Management certifications.
As a Certified Coach and Speaker, Gabriela is enthusiastic about bringing fresh perspectives and valuable insights, drawn from her project management experience and from the teachings of her mentor, John C. Maxwell, a globally recognized leadership expert.
Recognized in the corporate world, on LinkedIn, and in her community for her engaging and uplifting presence, Gabriela delivers inspiring, practical insights. She is ready to equip you as a professional and leader, so you can engage in ways that not only achieve results but also positively impact the people who bring your projects to life.
Topic Synopsis:
What if Stakeholder Engagement were more than a process?
What if it were one of your best opportunities to lead (and to lead well)?
Too often, Stakeholder Engagement is reduced to updates and checklists. But projects don’t succeed because boxes are ticked. They succeed because people are engaged, aligned, and inspired to contribute.
In this session, Gabriela Gutierrez, PMP®, MBA, and Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach & Speaker, shares practical ways to approach Stakeholder Engagement through the lens of leadership. The valuable insights from this session are drawn from Gabriela’s Project Management experience and timeless leadership principles from the influential author, John C. Maxwell.
Join this session ready to leave equipped and inspired to effectively engage the people who impact your projects most.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how Stakeholder Engagement is a form of leadership.
- Learn how leadership traits make Stakeholder Engagement more effective.
- Gain practical insights to engage the people who impact your projects most.
PDU Triangle:
1.0 Power Skills PDU
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Event Information
| Event Date | 05-13-2026 5:00 pm |
| Event End Date | 05-13-2026 8:00 pm |
| Cut Off Date | 05-13-2026 8:00 pm |
| Capacity | Unlimited |
| Individual Price | $30 Members / $40 Guests / $20 Student/Unemployed |
| Location | Home2 Suites by Hilton at the Galleria |