Chapter News

Ever felt like the projects you are managing could deliver more; more value, more alignment, more impact? It is not just about managing the budget, scope, or schedule anymore. Business acumen has become the key differentiator for project professionals aiming to deliver beyond traditional success metrics.

The Pulse of the Profession® 2025: Boosting Business Acumen report by PMI reveals a significant shift in how successful project managers are measuring success. Professionals with strong business acumen assess performance across multiple factors, from customer satisfaction to strategic alignment. They are nearly twice as likely to evaluate projects on these broader criteria compared to their peers. These project leaders understand that a project’s true success lies in its impact on the business, not just in ticking off boxes on a checklist.

There is a clear gap in the current hiring landscape. While senior leaders excel in business acumen, their hiring priorities often fail to reflect this. The findings show that senior leaders prioritize competencies like stakeholder management, communication, and past project success when selecting new talent. In contrast, business acumen and financial knowledge are less emphasized. This creates an opportunity for organizations to better support younger professionals and offer them the mentorship and exposure needed to grow their business acumen early in their careers.

The solution lies in how we approach professional development. PMI’s research highlights that project professionals with higher business acumen actively pursue learning opportunities 30% more than their peers. Whether it is through coaching, formal training, or engaging in communities of practice, these professionals take charge of their development. Organizations that invest in business acumen growth; both individually and within teams, can unlock greater value from their projects. Structured mentorship programs are one way to ensure that senior leaders’ knowledge and strategic insight flow to those who need it most, creating a more capable and business-minded workforce.

Whether you are looking to exchange business ideas, explore new opportunities, or simply unwind after work, check out our PMI-NL Chapter events for May 2025 and book your seat!