Image

Breakout Speaker


Sarah Maxwell is a passionate community engagement specialist and public speaker who leads chapter engagement efforts across North America for the Project Management Institute (PMI). With a background in theater and community outreach, she brings warmth, clarity, and connection to every conversation—whether supporting chapter leaders or speaking on international stages. Sarah founded PMI’s internal Toastmasters Club, earned her CAPM, and has represented PMI at TED 2019 and the 2023 PMI Africa Conference & Sub-Saharan LIM. Outside of work, she sings with and serves on the board of Coro da Capo, a nonprofit a cappella choir offering free, high-quality concerts to the public, and lets off steam with her cover band, Northern Lights. 


Title: Maximizing Project Success with PMI: High-Level Findings from PMI Project Success Research 

Abstract: 

What does it truly mean for a project to succeed? And who gets to decide? 

Join Sarah Maxwell, PMI Chapter Engagement Supervisor, for an engaging, interactive session that explores groundbreaking new research from PMI—the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the topic of Project Success. With input from nearly 10,000 project stakeholders across 141 countries and 10 industry sectors, this research brings forward a modern, inclusive, and actionable definition of success that reflects today’s dynamic project landscape. 

You’ll discover: 

  • How a 360-degree view from customers, executives, and project professionals reshapes traditional success criteria. 
  • What performance levers and behaviors most strongly predict success—based on hard data. 
  • Two high-impact, practical findings you can apply immediately to boost performance in your organization: the power of performance measurement and the surprising link between social good and customer satisfaction. 

We’ll also introduce the M.O.R.E. mindset—a new call to action for project professionals to Manage perceptions, Own success, Reassess continuously, and Expand their perspective. 

Whether you’re a PM, sponsor, executive, or team member, this session will challenge and inspire you to rethink how you define, deliver, and elevate project success.