After the unexpected need to relocate the event from Abu Dhabi, Lisbon was enthusiastically selected as the host city for the PMI Global Summit Series Europe (GSS) and the Leadership Institute Meeting (LIM) 2026, an exciting shift that brought new energy and opportunity to the event. While the change in venue introduced a new context and required rapid adaptation from organizers, participants, and stakeholders, Lisbon quickly proved to be an ideal choice: practical, well-connected, and perfectly positioned to support both the Global Summit Series Europe and the leadership-focused LIM program. This transition was greatly supported by the outstanding enthusiasm of the Portugal Chapter, and especially by its dynamic and energetic President, Isabelina Jorge.
These events, which took place between the 27th April and the 3rd of May, represented a significant milestone for the PMI and for the project management profession. Drawing on my long-standing participation in PMI’s evolution, both as a professional and a volunteer, it is evident to me that project management, as the discipline of change, has adapted in tandem with shifts in the professional landscape and PMI’s own strategic approach. Once limited to North America, these annual regional gatherings serve as essential forums for both practitioners and volunteers, providing a temporal snapshot of the ever-evolving project management “kaleidoscope” and enabling attendees to analyse and understand the current state of change.
Functioning as a gateway for project professionals, the Summit delivered insights, tools, and resources tailored to career stage, industry, and specific challenges. This year’s theme, “MORE, Together,” underscored the value of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation, with all presentations aligned to PMI’s strategic focus areas, equipping attendees to drive greater impact and better outcomes amid constant change.
The Leadership Institute Meeting brought chapter leaders together to unlock “MORE” across three dimensions: Connection, through building meaningful relationships with peers, PMI staff, and global leaders; Opportunity, by gaining future-ready leadership skills, emerging practices, and pathways for personal and chapter growth; and Impact, by learning to drive real change, deliver greater value, and elevate performance locally, regionally, and globally. LIM 2026 successfully equipped participating volunteers with the tools, mindsets, and strategies necessary to empower their chapters, enhance their networks, and shape the future of project management, reaffirming that collective growth enables progress unattainable by any individual or chapter alone.
At the heart of events like these lies one essential element: the connection between a speaker and an audience. Yet while speaking is important, true communication is something far greater. Speaking can be technically correct, structured, and even highly informative, but communication is the ability to bring ideas to life, to transmit meaning with such clarity and emotion that the message does not simply reach the audience, but stays with them long after the session ends.
Throughout the program, we had the privilege of listening to several accomplished speakers, highly competent professionals with deep knowledge and valuable insights. However, what truly distinguishes an exceptional leader on stage is not only what they say, but how they make people feel, how they inspire understanding, and how they create a lasting impression.
In this respect, Ike Nwankwo, Chair of the PMI Board, stood out as a true master.
The moment he steps onto the stage, he does more than deliver content, he energizes the room.
With remarkable clarity and presence, he conveys complex concepts in a way that is both accessible and compelling. His delivery captures attention instantly, but more importantly, it leaves an emotional imprint: a powerful, memorable connection that transforms ideas into something the audience can genuinely internalize.
In many ways, his skill resembles that of a seasoned barrister, someone who must think with agility in real time, constantly sensing the reactions of the room, adjusting tone and pace, and guiding the audience through an argument with precision and persuasion. Ike demonstrates that same rare ability: the capacity to read the audience, adapt naturally, and ensure that every message lands with impact.
Ultimately, Ike Nwankwo is not simply an outstanding speaker, he is a communicator in the fullest sense of the word. He does not just inform; he connects, engages, and inspires.
And that is what makes him a true Master of Communication.
Franco Guarrella
President PMI UK Chapter