PM in the AM Chapter Event, 7 – 8 AM

July 16^th, 2025

A link to the meeting will be emailed with your registration confirmation.

Speaker Name:  Syed Suhail Ahmad

Title: Partnering for Success: How Project Managers Can Leverage Enterprise Architecture to Deliver Strategic Value

Speaker Bio:

Syed Suhail Ahmad is a visionary leader in enterprise architecture and digital transformation, with over 25 years of experience bridging the gap between technology and business strategy. As a Strategic IT Advisor, Chief Architect, and trusted consultant to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and startups, Syed has dedicated his career to empowering organizations to turn complexity into clarity and innovation into measurable outcomes.

A champion of democratizing enterprise architecture, Syed created Enterprise Evolver—a user friendly mobile app that simplifies complex architectural modeling for professionals and non-experts alike. His recent book ‘De-mystifying Enterprise Architecture: A Guide for Non-Architects’ distills Syed’s decades of experience into a practical guide for non-technical decision-makers. It reflects his core belief: Technology succeeds only when it serves people, processes, and purpose.

Presentation Description:

Target Audience:

• Project Managers
• Program Managers
• PMO Directors
• Portfolio Managers

Key Topics Covered:

1. Why EA Matters for Project Managers
• From tactical execution to strategic alignment
• Avoiding duplication, rework, and compliance risks
2. Lifecycle Collaboration Model
• How EA supports each stage: Idea → Demand → Delivery → Operations
• Use cases & examples
3. Critical Questions PMs Should Ask EAs
• Throughout demand management, solution reviews, and governance gates
4. EA Deliverables That PMs Can Use
• Capability maps, target architectures, standards, dashboards
5. Case Study
• A real-world example of EA + PMO collaboration resulting in cost savings and faster delivery
6. Live Q&A
• Interactive session to address real challenges PMs face

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the Role of Enterprise Architecture (EA)
   Explain how EA aligns projects with enterprise strategy and reduces risks across the lifecycle.
2. Engage Effectively with Enterprise Architects
   Identify when and how to involve EA during idea validation, demand intake, delivery planning, and solution reviews.
3. Ask the Right Questions
   Use a structured set of questions to assess alignment, feasibility, compliance, and reuse opportunities with EA.
4. Leverage EA Deliverables to Improve Project Success
   Recognize the value of EA artifacts like capability maps, blueprints, roadmaps, and architecture principles in decision-making.
5. Avoid Common Pitfalls
   Identify risks such as duplication, shadow IT, and misaligned initiatives—and how to mitigate them through EA collaboration.
6. Measure What Matters
   Use EA-supported KPIs and dashboards to track project value, technical health, and strategic alignment.

Key Benefits for Participants

• Gain clarity on how EA supports faster, more predictable delivery.
• Learn how to reduce project risk by avoiding non-compliance and redundant efforts.
• Discover how to collaborate with EA to maximize reuse and control costs.
• Leave with practical tools (e.g., checklist, templates) to immediately apply in your current projects.
• Increase the strategic influence of PMOs by integrating with EA functions.