English BookClub October 2026 - Agentic Artificial Intelligence

This Month’s Focus Book:  Agentic Artificial Intelligence by Pascal Bornet

Presenter: Richa Agarwal—AI/ML Transformation Leader | Project Manager | AI Service Delivery Specialist | PMI-SME | Women in Projects Network

Richa Agarwal is an AI & Digital Transformation Leader with 11+ years of experience delivering enterprise-scale AI, Generative AI, and large transformation programs across fintech, healthcare, and financial services. Currently leading AI-enabled service delivery and IBAN and ISO 20022 payment modernization initiatives in the UAE banking sector, she brings hands-on expertise in AI governance, model deployment, risk-controlled production releases, and executive performance dashboards.
She is a PMI Subject Matter Expert (SME), a contributor to PMI Standards+, and an active speaker at global AI and PMI forums. In addition, Richa is an article writer for digital magazines and professional newsletters, regularly publishing thought leadership pieces on AI integration, digital transformation, ethical AI, and the evolving role of project management in intelligent enterprises

Event Description
In this edition of the Nexus of Learning Book Club, we use Agentic Artificial Intelligence by Pascal Bornet as a springboard to explore a much bigger question: How should project leaders operate when AI systems are no longer just tools but autonomous collaborators?

Why this book for this event?
Agentic AI represents the next phase of digital transformation. Many organizations are already experimenting with generative AI, but very few are structurally prepared for systems that can reason, plan, trigger workflows, and operate with semi-autonomy. This book was selected because it shifts the conversation from AI as a capability to AI as a transformation catalyst that reshapes governance, delivery models, and leadership accountability.

For project professionals leading AI-enabled initiatives, this evolution directly impacts risk frameworks, auditability, compliance alignment, stakeholder trust, and measurable value realization. The book’s concepts strongly resonate with real-world enterprise environments—especially within regulated industries where innovation must coexist with control and oversight.

This session goes beyond summarizing the book. Instead, it translates the concept of agentic AI into practical enterprise scenarios—banking modernization, AI-driven automation, governance-heavy production environments, and cross-border transformation programs.

We will explore:

• What changes when AI systems can initiate actions, not just respond to prompts
• How accountability, auditability, and regulatory oversight evolve with autonomous AI
• The impact of AI agents on project controls, change management, and release governance
• How delivery models must adapt when AI participates in decision workflows
• The balance between innovation speed and governance maturity

Drawing from real transformation programs across US, UK, APAC, and Middle East markets, this session bridges strategic theory with operational execution—highlighting how AI autonomy intersects with compliance, executive reporting, and sustainable business value.

This is a strategic leadership conversation designed for professionals navigating AI-enabled transformation—where the project manager evolves into an orchestrator of intelligent ecosystems.

What You Will Gain
Reading the book and joining the session will help you to understand:

• The practical difference between automation, generative AI, and agentic AI in enterprise environments
• How AI autonomy reshapes governance, controls, and compliance frameworks
• Risk-managed approaches to deploying AI in regulated industries
• The evolving leadership role of project managers in AI-driven organisations
• How to align AI initiatives with measurable business outcomes
• A mindset shift required to manage human–AI collaboration responsibly

You will leave with enterprise-level insights, applied perspectives, and a clearer understanding of how to lead confidently in a world where AI is becoming increasingly autonomous.

Please address any questions to: Martin.Bertram@pmi-gc.de