On November 25 and 26, 2024, numerous participants from the world of project management experienced an event in Munich at the PM Summit 2024 of the PMI Germany Chapter that lived up to its principle “From practice for practice” in every respect. With exciting presentations, practical workshops and inspiring keynotes, the congress was a real highlight for all those who not only plan projects, but also implement them and are looking for new impetus for their daily work.
Focus on practical benefits
The PM Summit 2024 offered a wide-ranging program that was characterized by its high practical relevance. Whether it was about modern project methods, team leadership or the challenges in agile environments - the participants received tools and suggestions that can be directly transferred to their projects. The workshops, designed to be interactive and at eye level, offered not only knowledge, but also space for discussion and exchange. This created an atmosphere that optimally combined learning with practical experience and the opportunity to network.
The highlights: Keynotes full of inspiration
Two outstanding keynotes shaped the event and impressively demonstrated that theory alone is not enough to be successful.
Philip Keil, Germany's “most famous” pilot, took the audience metaphorically into the cockpit and spoke about trust and error culture. His presentation made it emphatically clear: you only learn to fly by doing, not by watching, and it's the same in project management. His stories from the world of aviation illustrated how changing perspectives and switching roles can not only promote learning, but also boost self-confidence and make decisions more secure. A central point of his message was that a culture of mutual trust forms the basis for respect and efficient collaboration - a principle that is indispensable in project management.
Dr. Gerhard Friedrich focused on the role of methods in project management in his profound keynote speech “Even if it's madness, there's a method to it”. His central message: methods are only as good as their application. Blind trust in tools and systems does not lead to success - only the correct handling and conscious use of context and objectives make methods a success factor. His presentation was an invitation to take a critical and reflective approach to current methods, while always keeping the benefits for the specific project in mind.
A place of exchange and learning
In addition to the presentations and workshops, the PM Summit was also a platform for exchange between like-minded people. Networking sessions and breaks offered the opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other. Especially in a world that is changing ever faster, this personal dialog is invaluable.
Conclusion: a congress that leaves its mark
The PM Summit 2024 has once again proven how important practical events are for the further development of project management professionals. The combination of inspiring keynotes, practical workshops and lively discussions among participants made the event a real success.
The insights conveyed by Philip Keil and Dr. Gerhard Friedrich resonate: project management requires not only knowledge, but above all the willingness to put this knowledge into practice, to accept mistakes and to learn from them. It's about not blindly trusting methods, but using them consciously - always with a clear view of the benefits for the team and the project goal.
With this review, it remains to be said: The PM Summit 2024 was not only insightful, but also an incentive to remain committed to the practice and to make project management a discipline of togetherness and learning. An event that not only inspired, but also inspired sustainably.
The PM Summit 2024 was organized by volunteers from the PMI Germany Chapter. Many thanks to Jutta Zilian, Thomas Pförtner, Anthony Soprano, Jens Liebold, Chanaka Perera, Erhard Lump, Madeleine Schulz, Diana Lang, Olaf Schweizer, Marc Rommelfanger, Ravinder Singh and Havva Uzun as well as Benedikt Warmke and Christoph Capellaro from our host Ernst & Young for preparing and organizing this wonderful event.
