PMI Houston Galleria: "Will AI Take Your Job—or Join Your Standup?"
Pre-Dinner Presentation "Building the Business Case for AI Investments"
As a Digital Business Transformation Leader with over 15 years of experience, Mahesh Karnik has a proven ability to drive impactful results through Digital Transformation, Program Delivery, and M&A initiatives. He possesses deep expertise in project, program, portfolio management, and governance, consistently delivering complex, multi-million dollar technology solutions. His experience includes leading Global deployments of Cloud Applications, ERP, Custom Development, Data Analytics platforms, AI/ML solutions, and real-time monitoring systems. Mahesh is passionate about building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Topic Synopsis:
As organizations increasingly explore AI to drive innovation and efficiency, traditional project valuation models often fail to capture the full spectrum of value created by these initiatives. This session takes through a new approach that goes beyond simple ROI. This framework helps connect the dots between business goals and the potential of AI. It shows how to prove value by looking at both the hard numbers and the less obvious but equally important benefits. Ultimately, guiding any leader who wants to move AI from a cool idea to a core part of their company's strategy.
Learning Objectives:
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New approach to project valuation
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Connect the dots between business goals and the potential of AI.
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Guidance to move AI from a cool idea to a core part of your strategy.
PDU Triangle:
1.0 Power Skills PDU
Dinner Presentation "Will AI Take Your Job—or Join Your Standup?"
Claudio Lassala is a Technical Director at Improving, as well as a software developer, consultant, and speaker with over 30 years of experience helping teams deliver valuable software. Claudio specializes in bridging the gap between developers, business stakeholders, and end-users. He has coached teams across various industries in Agile practices, user-centered design, and modern engineering techniques—while exploring how AI can become a practical teammate rather than a passing fad.
Claudio has spoken at conferences and user groups across the U.S. and internationally, sharing insights on Agile, software craftsmanship, and the human side of technology. He’s also the author of 20 Lessons from 20 Years of Blogging, and publishes regular reflections on leadership, learning, and technology at lassala.net.
Topic Synopsis:
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how Agile teams discover needs, design solutions, and deliver value—but it’s not here to replace you. In this interactive session, Claudio Lassala will share real-world, team-ready methods for integrating AI into your software development process. You’ll see how AI can support every step—from refining user stories and facilitating discovery workshops to prototyping, testing, and presenting results that matter to stakeholders.
Regardless of your role or title, you’ll learn how to partner with AI to sharpen focus, speed up feedback loops, and unlock your best problem-solving skills. You’ll walk away knowing where AI can help, where it can’t, and how to start experimenting in a way that elevates your team’s performance and impact.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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Integrate AI into project practices – Apply AI tools to support planning, discovery sessions, prototyping, and testing in ways that enhance—not replace—team collaboration.
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Facilitate clearer stakeholder alignment – Use AI to translate complex stakeholder needs into actionable, testable requirements and acceptance criteria.
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Accelerate learning and feedback loops – Leverage AI to design prototypes, run experiments, and capture insights earlier, reducing waste and increasing delivered value.
PDU Triangle:
0.5 Ways of Working; 0.5 Power Skills PDU
Event Information
| Event Date | 03-11-2026 5:00 pm |
| Event End Date | 03-11-2026 8:00 pm |
| Cut Off Date | 03-11-2026 8:00 pm |
| Capacity | Unlimited |
| Registered | 0 |
| Individual Price | $30 Members / $40 Guests |
| Location | Tanishq Jewelers |