The Human Advantage: Leading Projects in an AI-Augmented Future

Ways of Working

Margaret Meloni, MBA, Ph.D., PMP

President, Meloni Coaching Solutions and Lead Project Mgmt. Instructor, UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education (UCI DCE)

Meloni Coaching Solutions and UCI DCE

About the Presentation

Project management is entering a new era—where artificial intelligence is accelerating workflows, surfacing insights, and reshaping how teams operate. But in this fast-evolving landscape, one truth remains: it’s the human behind the project who makes it successful.

In this energizing and insightful session, Margaret Meloni, MBA, Ph.D., PMP, seasoned project leadership expert and instructor at the UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education, explores how human-centered leadership, supported by AI, is shaping the future of the profession.

Far from replacing project managers, AI presents an opportunity to enhance the qualities that matter most: 1) strategic thinking, 2) influence and team motivation, 3) goal setting, planning, and problem solving, and 4) analytical judgement and communication.

Learning Objectives:

1.    Understand the evolving expectations of today’s project managers

2.    Learn how AI is changing the tools—but not the core mission—of project leadership

3.    Evaluate key risks and ethical considerations of AI in project work

4.    Leverage AI to amplify—not replace—your ability to lead, inspire, and deliver

About Margaret Meloni

Margaret Meloni, MBA, Ph.D., PMP is a champion for students who want to be the best project managers they can be. In this capacity she teaches project management, leadership and oversees the project management student community. Margaret has supported project managers at organizations such as Occidental Petroleum, Northrop Grumman, Toyota Motor Credit, CalStart and arc. Her background in IT Project Management and PMO Leadership enables Margaret to understand that managing projects can be difficult. This is why her goal is to provide her community with knowledge and skills that can be applied immediately. Her wish is to see her students take on tough projects and emerge as strong and sought-after project managers. Margaret is a dynamic teacher, who uses her real-life lessons learned combined with inspiration, common sense and a dash of humor to help her students be the best project managers that they can be.