Insights and inspiration for project professionals

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, former Chairman of PMI and later honored as a PMI Fellow, is also a past board member and current member of PMI Belgium. He is known for introducing the concept of the Project Economy and for his contributions to how organizations connect strategy with execution through projects. His frameworks such as the Hierarchy of Purpose, the Project Manifesto, and the Project Economy have been used worldwide to navigate complex transformations.

On November 3, 2025, Antonio will speak at the Harvard Business Review Future of Business 2025, an event that brings together global leaders to discuss strategy, transformation, and the role of projects in shaping the future of business.

For our profession, this participation is a reminder that project management is gaining visibility at the highest levels of leadership. While this is not a PMI Belgium event and no special conditions apply to our members, it reflects how the language and practice of project management are increasingly shaping global conversations.

Quick Q&A with Antonio

What empowered you to start your own business and become the CEO of your life?

He explained that after nearly two decades balancing a corporate career with teaching, writing, volunteering for PMI, and advising leaders, he felt a strong drive to dedicate himself fully to the Project Economy. The opportunity for full creative freedom, the chance to focus exclusively on meaningful transformation, and the ability to bring his vision to life gave him the confidence to take the leap.

What will you speak about?

He said that at the HBR event, he will share how organizations can lead with speed, focus, and impact in the Transformation Age, drawing on insights from Powered by Projects and real-world examples of project-driven success.

What advice would you give our members?

He advised pursuing a two-track career: one that provides stability and one that feeds passion. Setting ambitious goals, even those that may feel impossible at first, can open new opportunities. For him, two such goals were becoming Global Chairman of PMI and publishing in Harvard Business Review. Both once felt like “crazy dreams” but became reality through persistence and the right mindset.

Closing Note

This presence at the HBR Future of Business 2025 highlights how project management is increasingly recognized as a driver of transformation in global leadership discussions.

Anja Vandenbergh
President, PMI Belgium Chapter