In January the acting President of Romania Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) – PMI Romania Chapter - celebrated one year since the instate ceremony of her capacity as chapter leader in Bucharest. A new poll is to take place by the end of the month and PMI members are called to give their vote for a new Board. It is now high time to look back one year and diagnose what Mrs. Bonghez’ tenure has represented during this period for the sake of the Chapter. Ideally placed at the crossroad of Consulting Services and Training tailored for PM and academic life, with strong insights into IT companies, the acting President has an uneasy and rocky road ahead in the current mandate. There have been a wide range of expectations displayed by local PMI members, with a heterogeneous array of IT, telecom, Banking and other industries which form the Chapter’s audience. Since her nomination and awarding as Chapter’s President, Mrs.’ Bonghez tried to play the role of strong link between several separated orientations which existed prior to her appointment among members: a unitary approach of Chapter’s role, opening to those to embrace the profession, and giving a fresh breeze to an apparently worn out atmosphere inside the Chapter. To what degree she succeeded in bringing the awaited changes, let’s find out in the following interview.  I had the pleasure of speaking with her in the beginning of January.

PMWT – What have you changed in the Chapter’s life since becoming chapter president and what are the major disappointments after failing to attain some targets?

Simona Bonghez (SB):  I believe that changes are now visible, even though one year is not enough to expect clear results. Nevertheless, in our case, I think that the number of meetings and events we had, the involvement of the PMI HQ representatives and the International Conference we have had in October proved that there is a difference.

I cannot say that I have a major disappointment. I knew from the very beginning that it would not be easy, that I would need to fight and spend a lot of my time in order to make this difference. I had the support of the board and of some of the enthusiastic members, for which I thank them once again. 

Read complete interview in English