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PMI’s annual Future 50 shines the spotlight on rising project leaders who are creating a better future for all. Projectifiedâ spoke with three 2022 honorees: 

Kathy Johnston, chief chocolate officer, Mirzam Chocolate Makers, Dubai: Johnston discusses tackling challenges to build the company’s second chocolate factory with hybrid teams, how she’s learned to be a change-ready and flexible leader, and how she’s become more comfortable with her leadership style—and how that’s helped her take more risks.

Christian Leke Achaleke, executive director, Local Youth Corner Cameroon, Yaoundé: Achaleke shares how his teams turn policy into real-world change in Cameroon, how his work in peacebuilding and conflict resolution has influenced his leadership style, and how rising leaders are changing how projects are run with technology and daring approaches.

Lovy Bhatia, PMP, program lead for product and strategy, Amazon, London: Bhatia discusses how she keeps cross-functional teams and stakeholders aligned to a unified goal, her experience helping Airbnb build its operations and hone its vision in India, and how becoming a problem solver can help project leaders be successful—no matter the industry.

Key themes

[01:45] Leadership lessons learned: Be change-ready and flexible

[06:19] How failure can help project leaders grow

[08:48] How teams are turning policy into groundbreaking projects in Cameroon

[13:48] Using conflict prevention skills in project leadership

[17:30] Aligning stakeholders and team members to a unified goal

[19:53] Embracing new opportunities and solving problems as Airbnb developed operations in India