Artificial intelligence, software engineering, and digital technologies are fundamentally reshaping how organizations formulate strategy, deliver transformation, and build new capabilities. Software projects are no longer merely technical delivery vehicles. They are becoming strategic engines through which organizations innovate, transform, and create long-term value.

In the age of AI, the meaning of “software” itself is changing. Software is evolving from code, applications, and automation tools into a programmable organizational capability that connects human intention, data, models, workflows, AI agents, governance mechanisms, and organizational execution.

This webinar will explore how software projects can power organizational transformation in the age of AI, how project-driven organizations can turn strategy into action, and why project management is becoming a root capability for human-led, agent-assisted value orchestration.

  1. Welcome & Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Opening remarks, webinar objectives, introduction of IPMA SIG Software, and speaker introductions.

  1. Opening Keynote

Speaker: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
Time: 30 minutes

Topic:
Powered by Projects in the Age of AI: How Organizations Can Lead Transformation Through Software and Technology Projects

This opening keynote will explore why projects have become the primary vehicle for strategy execution, innovation, and organizational transformation. Drawing on the ideas from Powered by Projects: Leading Your Organization in the Transformation Age, Antonio will discuss how organizations can move beyond isolated initiatives and become truly project-driven. He will also reflect on the implications of AI, software, and technology projects for executives, PMOs, project professionals, and transformation leaders.

  1. Keynote Speech

Speaker: Dr. Yan Liu
Time: 20 minutes

Topic:
What Is Software in the Age of AI? T-Shaped Talent, Agentic Teams, and Project Management as Root Capability

In the age of AI, software is no longer merely code, applications, or automation tools. It is becoming a programmable capability for action: a way of connecting human intention, data, models, workflows, agents, and organizational execution. Following Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez’s reflection on organizations powered by projects, this talk asks a complementary question for the IPMA Software community: what is software in the age of AI, and what kind of project management is required to build and use it responsibly?

The talk argues that AI-era software creates value only when organizations develop T-shaped talent and agentic teams. T-shaped talent combines AI fluency with deep domain knowledge, boundary-spanning ability, and project judgment. Agentic teams include not only human members, but also AI agents that help search, generate, simulate, monitor, coordinate, and learn. Yet the most important questions remain collective and human-centered: what should be decided, what counts as value, whose interests matter, and where empathy, trust, and accountability are required.

The core message is that the future will increasingly be made by projects, and project management will become the root capability for human-led, agent-assisted value orchestration.

  1. Moderated Discussion and Q&A

Time: 15 minutes

This session will invite speakers to discuss the practical implications of AI-enabled software projects, project-driven transformation, agentic teams, governance, accountability, and value realization.

  1. Closing Remarks

Time: 5 minutes

Summary of key insights, takeaways, and future IPMA SIG Software activities.

Speakers

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

CEO & Founder, Projects & Co
Author of Powered by Projects and The HBR Project Management Handbook

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez is the CEO and Founder of Projects & Co and the author of Powered by Projects: Leading Your Organization in the Transformation Age and The HBR Project Management Handbook. Described by Harvard Business Review’s Adi Ignatius as “the father of modern project management,” he is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading thinkers in project management and transformation.

He has published 35 pieces of work in Harvard Business Review, more than any other author on the subject, and has twice appeared on the Thinkers50 ranking of the world’s most influential management thinkers. A Fellow and former Chairman of the Project Management Institute, and Vice President of the Association for Project Management, he has advised more than 80 organizations, trained over 10,000 leaders and experts worldwide, and delivered more than 600 keynote speeches.

Dr. Yan Liu

Research Professor, School of Management and Engineering, Nanjing University
Deputy Director, MEM Education Center, Nanjing University

Dr. Yan Liu is a Research Professor at the School of Management and Engineering, Nanjing University, China. He also serves as the Deputy Director of the MEM Education Center and holds several academic roles, including Associate Editor of Project Leadership and Society and Research Committee Member of the International Project Management Association.

He earned his Ph.D. from Delft University of Technology. His research interests include megaproject management, innovation management, organizational project management, and digital innovation. Dr. Liu has published over 40 academic papers in leading international journals, including the International Journal of Project Management, Project Management Journal, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, and Cities. He received the IPMA Outstanding Contribution in Young Researcher Award, and his research has been funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Project Management Institute, among others.

Moderators

Mr. Mi Zhou

IPMA SIG Software Global Head

Mr. Mi Zhou serves as the IPMA SIG Software Global Head. He has been actively promoting international knowledge exchange, professional collaboration, and community building in the field of software project management. With long-standing involvement in the IPMA professional community, he is committed to connecting software project management practitioners, researchers, and organizations across countries and regions.

As the Head of IPMA SIG Software, Mr. Zhou plays a leading role in shaping the SIG’s agenda, organizing professional events, and facilitating dialogue on emerging topics such as AI-enabled software project management, digital transformation, project governance, and competence development. Through IPMA SIG Software, he continues to support the development of a global platform for sharing knowledge, experience, and good practices in software project management.

Mr. Jeffrey Jianfeng Ma

Management Team Member, IPMA SIG Software

Mr. Jeffrey Jianfeng Ma is a Management Team Member of IPMA SIG Software. He is an experienced project, programme, portfolio, and PMO professional, educator, and consultant, with over two decades of experience in project management, programme management, organizational change, and professional competence development. Since 2019, he has served as a member of ISO/TC 258 project management technical working groups, contributing to the development of international standards in project, programme, and portfolio management.

His professional interests include AI-enabled project management, software project governance, project-driven organizations, PMO development, and international project management standards. Mr. Ma has extensive experience in applying project, programme, and portfolio management approaches across complex organizational environments. He has also been actively involved in project management education, professional training, and international knowledge exchange.

Organizer: Software
Date and time: July 6, 2026, 2pm CET
Format: webinar
Duration: 1.5h
Number of CPDs: 1.5
Mode of delivery: online
Ticket price: Free