Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of serving as a Judge at the PMI APAC Student Competition 2026.
When I first received the invitation, I honestly hesitated. Giving up an entire weekend and obtaining approval from my company was not an easy decision. Looking back, however, I quickly realized that my hesitation was unnecessary.
Although I could only attend the second day of the two-day event, I had the opportunity to evaluate presentations from 11 outstanding teams. Even with the presentation materials reviewed in advance, listening carefully, asking questions, evaluating responses, and scoring each team within a limited time was both challenging and rewarding.
What impressed me most was the quality of the students’ work. Their problem definitions, solution approaches, and MVPs were remarkably well thought out. More than once, I found myself wondering, “Did students really build all of this?” Their creativity, preparation, and execution exceeded my expectations.
I was equally impressed by the professionalism of the PMI members(SoHyun Kang, Xing Ying Lee, Christine Yau, Leesun Huh, PMP®, PMO-CP) and the insightful discussions with my fellow judges(Mike Dumbroski, LaRuan Cole, MBA, PMP®, PMI-ACPSeulgi Song, PMP). The event was exceptionally well organized and created an environment where everyone—from students to judges—could fully engage and enjoy the experience.
One of the biggest lessons I took away from the event was that mentoring is never a one-way experience. While I was there to evaluate the students, I left having learned just as much from their passion, creativity, and determination. It reminded me that mentoring is not only about sharing experience, but also about continuing to learn.
Congratulations to all the winning teams on your well-deserved achievements. To every team that participated, thank you for your hard work and courage. Your future is incredibly bright.
My sincere thanks to
#PMI for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful event. I look forward to continuing to learn, connect, and contribute to the PMI community.
To everyone who participated, I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors. Good luck!
#PMI #PMIAPAC #ProjectManagement #Mentorship #Leadership #FutureLeaders #Innovation #ContinuousLearning
