Presenter: Brett Sheffield, PMP | CSPO | DASSM | SMC | Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

As organizations shift toward product-led growth and digital transformation, understanding the collaboration between project management and product management has become a key to delivering sustainable value. Join us for an essential session that explores similarities and differences between these disciplines.  

Program Overview:

Brett will speak on December 2, 2025, about the intersection of Product and Project Management, drawing from PMI's groundbreaking research of almost 1,400 practitioners and 37 in-depth interviews with industry experts.

While project and product professionals often speak the same language, understanding their differences is crucial for effective collaboration and project success. Learn why 79% of product managers had some experience in project management, and why 92% agreed that project management skills were useful in their profession (https://www.pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/product-and-project-management).  Even so, these roles remain fundamentally different in focus, accountability, and approach.

In today's rapidly changing environment, adding value and taking responsibility for project success beyond execution is essential. This session will equip you with practical strategies to recognize key differences, work effectively across both disciplines, manage common tensions, and elevate project and product outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will:Understand the differences between project and product management approaches, mindsets, and success metrics

Format:

Interactive presentation (60m) Engaging talk with visual slides, real-world case studies from Brett's project portfolio experience with agile transformation initiatives, plus live Q&A to explore specific questions about the distinctions between these roles

Ideal Audience:

• PMP/CAPM candidates and certified project management professional
• Students and Faculty
• Product managers seeking to strengthen execution capabilities
• Project managers transitioning to product-focused roles or organizations
• Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Agile practitioners
• Business Analysts and Program Managers
• Community members looking to network

Outcome for Participants:

• Attendees will walk away with more clarity of the key differences and similarities between project and product management, how to leverage shared skills and competencies to build mutual understanding across roles, practical strategies for overcoming common obstacles, and actionable insights for positioning themselves as versatile leaders who add value beyond execution.

Location:

• The Center for Community Partnerships, Vinegar Hill Conference Room 
• 201 W. Main Street
  Charlottesville, VA 22902
• Parking information will be sent to registrants

• Time: 6 - 8 pm
• Capacity: 30 
• PMI Talent Triangle Categories:  Business Acumen
• Light snacks and drinks
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Cost -

• $5 PMICVC Members and Students
• $10 Non Members

Schedule

• 6 - 6:30 Networking

• 6:30​ - 6:45 Announcements
• 6:45-7:45 -  Presentation and Q&A
• 7:45-8 - Door prizes and wrap-up

Payment Information:

• To Pay By Credit or Debit Card, please click the Yellow PayPal button at Check Out.  Then choose the Pay By Credit Card Link.  You must be signed out of your PayPal account. 
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