New PM College Practice Director Paul Ritchie Says: “I’ve Seen the Impact Learning Can Have on Organizations”

PM College leverages the insight of a former training and consulting client to optimize its learning programs.

I was thrilled when I learned that Paul Ritchie, PMP, would be coming aboard the PM College ship as captain … er, Practice Director. Thrilled, but also a little surprised because, although I had collaborated with Paul a number of times as a project and program management expert, on papers for the PMI Congress, on the foreword for the second edition of Strategic Project Office, as an interviewee for qualitative research about PMOs, and on case studies of client organizations where he was our primary contact, I did not realize that he was also thoroughly versed in PM training. I caught up with him by phone to ask him a little about his journey on the training side of project management.

Paul is unique among our leadership team in that he has a long history as a client and end-user of PM Solutions and PM College services. “I got my start in PM by taking the PM Essentials course in 2000,” he told me. “It opened my eyes to the reality of leading successful initiatives. I applied that knowledge and it became a passion and the centerpiece of my career.”

Paul and I first crossed paths when he worked for SAP and was a participant in the Benchmarking Forums that PM Solutions’ research arm, the Center for Business Practices, facilitated in 2002 – 2008. During that time, he also became a client of PM College. “I was part of building the Global PMO for SAP. Learning was a big part of that organizational change, and PM College helped us with the more advanced training. I saw that companies really need to do more than show people tools and techniques. They need training in project leadership, they need examples and simulations to show them how to apply the knowledge. We made sure the training was specific to SAP, with customized case studies – and I saw that this is an area where PM College really differentiates itself.”

Explaining a bit more about the importance of simulations and case studies, Paul noted, “team members need exposure to projects without having to break something! PM College provides that with simulations and role-playing. The focus on real-world business skills is also something unique to our programs.”

Paul brings wide experience with PMOs, organizational change, and learning and development to the table from his former roles at SAP, Mead Johnson, and Eppendorf. As Practice Director, he will have management oversight and full P&L responsibility for the PM College. He has also already begun to ramp up PM College’s social media and web presence. Follow him on Twitter @crossderry and watch for his new blog series here, coming soon.