PMI Houston The Woodlands: "The Deliberate Disruptor: Why Elite Organizations Institutionalize Skepticism."-Monthly Meeting

PMI Houston The Woodlands: "The Deliberate Disruptor: Why Elite Organizations Institutionalize Skepticism."

PMI Houston The Woodlands: "The Deliberate Disruptor: Why Elite Organizations Institutionalize Skepticism."

The Deliberate Disruptor: Why Elite Organizations Institutionalize Skepticism

 

jim benvieJim Benvie transforms historical wisdom and critical thinking techniques into powerful leadership tools for today's business professionals. With 40+ years managing multi-million-dollar projects across multiple continents, "The History PM" delivers thought-provoking presentations on pivotal historical events, structured skepticism for excellence, and the evolving nature of leadership. A recognized industry leader whose exceptional expertise earned him an L1 visa—reserved for professionals with specialized skill. Throughout his career, he was specifically recruited for key leadership positions, including the Martin Decker Totco Service Manager (Europe) role, based on his outstanding reputation. Jim served on the PMI Houston board for 6 years, maintained his PMP certification for over 20 years, and earned the Distinguished Toastmaster Award. Jim's presentations have earned enthusiastic praise from audiences at conferences nationwide: - "Should be on the History Channel" - "This was my favorite presentation of the day!" - "You made me a history lover today!" As a speaker with TyauvinOn Solutions and dedicated PMI Houston volunteer for over two decades, Jim challenges conventional thinking by connecting historical insights with contemporary challenges. His philosophy of "Some assembly required" encourages leaders to think deeply rather than seeking simplistic solutions. Invite Jim to deliver a presentation that will inspire your audience while providing actionable insights drawn from history's great leadership and decision-making lessons

Topic Synopsis:

In today's high-stakes business environment, conventional thinking may be your greatest vulnerability. While organizations value consensus and alignment, these same qualities often lead to costly blind spots, missed opportunities, and avoidable mistakes.

What if your organization's competitive edge lies in systematically challenging your own assumptions?

Join Jim Benvie, "The History PM," as he reveals why today's elite organizations are deliberately institutionalizing skepticism as a strategic advantage. Drawing from historical case studies and contemporary business examples, Jim demonstrates how structured challenge transforms decision quality and exposes hidden risks before they become costly missteps.

The "Deliberate Disruptor" methodology isn't about creating conflict—it's about implementing a disciplined framework for critical thinking that:
• Prevents groupthink and assumption-based errors that plague even the most experienced leadership teams
• Reveals blind spots in strategy that competitors are waiting to exploit
• Stress-tests critical decisions before significant resources are committed
• Creates psychological safety for authentic discussion without undermining team cohesion
• Builds organizational resilience in today's volatile business landscape

As businesses navigate increasingly complex challenges, from digital transformation to market disruption, the ability to systematically question assumptions provides an essential safeguard against failure.

Discover how historical wisdom and contemporary leadership techniques combine to create a powerful framework for superior decision-making that elite organizations already employ.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the concept of institutionalized skepticism and its proven value in high-performing organizations
• Implement critical thinking frameworks that expose dangerous assumptions while maintaining team unity
• Experience practical techniques for stress-testing important decisions before resources are committed

PDU Triangle:

1.0 Business Acumen PDU

Ways of Working Technical

Event Information

Event Date 09-15-2025 5:30 pm
Event End Date 09-15-2025 7:30 pm
Cut Off Date 09-15-2025 7:30 pm
Capacity Unlimited
Individual Price $15 Members / $30 Guests
Location The Sam Houston State University Woodlands Center

Speakers

Jim Benvie

Presenter

Jim Benvie PMP, The History PM is a project manager and speaker with TyauvinOn Solutions. His blog and presentations, combine a lifelong passion for history with four decades of project and operational management experience, to provide inspiration 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”. However, he believes that like Aesop’s Fables you will find the content both entertaining 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.