May Monthly Chapter Meeting (Virtual) | PM as Strategic Leader: From Project Delivery to Portfolio Value in Manufacturing & IT
May 18 | 6:00-7:30 pm
Virtual Chapter Meeting
1.5 PDUs (Business Acumen 1, Powerskills .5) Self Reporting
The first 15 minutes will be focused on chapter information / upcoming events, followed by our learning topic:
Panel Discussion - PM as Strategic Leader: From Project Delivery to Portfolio Value in Manufacturing & IT
Presented by Heather (Reed) Benson, PSM, BRMP and Mary Hladio, PMP
Session Purpose (What makes this different)
Many PMs aspire to “be strategic” but aren’t always clear on:
- What strategic leadership actually looks like in practice
- How it shows up differently in engineering‑led vs. IT‑led environments
- What behaviors, conversations, and decisions signal readiness for the next level
This panel explores how PMs evolve from execution-focused roles to enterprise value leaders, using real examples from aerospace engineering PMOs and automotive supply‑chain IT portfolios.
Panel discussion for Project Managers focused on career growth and influence
- How PMs evolve from delivery leaders to strategic partners
- Moving beyond the triple constraint to value and outcomes
- Real‑world insights from aerospace engineering PMOs and automotive supply‑chain IT portfolios
- Key skills PMs need to:
- Influence priorities and trade‑offs
- Think at program and portfolio levels
- Build executive credibility
Learning Objectives;
- Understand how strategic leadership shows up in day‑to‑day PM work
- Learn how PMs influence business direction, prioritization, and investment decisions
- Identify practical actions PMs can take to operate at a program or portfolio level
- Gain insight into how industry context (engineering vs. IT/manufacturing) shapes PM strategy
About our Speakers:
Heather Benson is a results-driven leader known for her hands-on approach to managing portfolios, programs, products, and people to drive measurable business outcomes. With a diverse background spanning portfolio, program and project management, supply chain, technology, and strategic operations, she brings a systems-level perspective that enables organizations to connect execution with enterprise vision.
Heather has built her career working across both large and small organizations, giving her the agility to navigate complexity while maintaining focus on performance, efficiency, and stakeholder alignment. She is recognized for anticipating challenges before they surface, streamlining processes, and translating business needs into actionable, scalable solutions.
A strong communicator and customer advocate, Heather excels at bridging the gap between business and technology while leading high-performing teams under demanding conditions. She is equally passionate about developing talent, with a track record of mentoring professionals who have advanced into leadership roles.
Mary Hladio is a Senior PMO Leader in the aerospace industry, where she drives innovation, operational excellence, and cross-functional alignment on mission-critical programs. With over 20 years of experience, Mary specializes in advanced systems development, strategic program execution, and applying emerging technologies to improve efficiency and outcomes. She is a certified PMP and a dynamic speaker on topics including aerospace program management, leadership, and the evolving role of technology in engineering.
Mary’s passion for innovation extends to the future of project management. She is the author of Transforming Project Management with Generative AI: A New Era of Efficiency and Innovation, and her latest children’s book, Penny’s Treehouse Triumph – A Project Management Adventure, introduces project management concepts to young readers through an engaging story. Through her work, Mary continues to inspire professionals and future leaders alike to embrace change and deliver impactful results.
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