Articles
Reflections from the Regional Conference
Did you know the SNEC chapter belongs to a PMI Regional Conference? To help PMI chapters share ideas and solve mutual challenges, each chapter is part of a regional organization based on its geographic area. The SNEC chapter is part of Region 3, which includes 18 chapters from New England, New York, Atlantic Canada, and Eastern Ontario/Quebec. Nearby Region 2 includes 21 chapters from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Recently, the Region 2 and Region 3 chapters gathered for a joint regional conference in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, for three days of networking, collaboration, and leadership development.
SNEC Board Member Elise Pié attended the conference as our representative. Here she shares her takeaways from the energizing and informative event:
Day 1
Kicked off with incredible energy! We started with an inspiring opening keynote by Saby Waraich, who broke down his powerful CARES framework to inspire us to lead with purpose and empathy in today's evolving landscape.
From there, we dove straight into the future, exploring actionable AI strategies to enhance how we approach the 4 Rs (Recruitment | Retention | Recognition | Relationships) of chapter success:
💫 Attracting the next generation of project professionals.
♞ Delivering continuous value to keep our communities engaged.
🎉 Celebrating the milestones and impacts of our members.
🤝 Building deeper, more meaningful professional networks.
But the biggest takeaway of the day? None of these innovative strategies or advanced tools matter without the heartbeat of our chapters: our volunteers. Their dedication, time, and passion are the ultimate drivers of everything we achieve.
Looking forward to Day 2 as we continue exploring topics that elevate our project management community!
Day 2
TL;DR: If you want to test your leadership skills, try leading people who don't have to listen to you.
Days 2 and 3 at the Project Management Institute Region 2/3 Conference completely shifted my perspective on what it means to guide a team. When you strip away the traditional corporate structure—like salaries and performance reviews—what are you left with? You're left with pure purpose.
So how do we apply corporate leadership best practices to a volunteer structure? Sarah Wilson highlighted that the answer isn't about management—it's about movement. It's about creating an inclusive culture where people feel seen, valued, and motivated to give their time simply because they believe in the mission.
This weekend was a massive moment of reflection for me. It forced me to look at leadership through a completely different lens. In the corporate world, authority is built into your title. But leading volunteers requires a different kind of leadership. You can't rely on hierarchy; you have to rely on connection, influence, and inspiration. True leadership isn't about holding power—it's about fostering reciprocity.
Stepping into this new way of leading has been both challenging and incredibly fulfilling. It's pushing me to grow in ways I didn't expect, showing me how to build bridges across borders and industries, and find common ground with those who share a common purpose. When you connect on that level, geographic boundaries and industry silos simply melt away.
Thank you to PMI Regina South Sask Chapter for hosting us! I genuinely appreciate everyone I crossed paths with this weekend. Special recognition to the New England chapters for coming together to brainstorm opportunities for collaborative development.
Day 1 LinkedIn Post:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7466016315728916481/
Day 2 LinkedIn Post:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7466545029034180608/
