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Hi Reader,

Welcome to 2025! It's going to be a great year.

Over this past year and a half, I’ve taken up kickboxing. I’ve found kicking and punching inanimate objects is a great alternative to conventional therapy. Over time, I've managed to kick not only higher but also with more strength.

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Reflecting on 2024, I’m impressed by how far Projects Pivot has come over the past year. Just like my kicking and punching, we’re continually growing stronger.

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Here's a summary of how Projects Pivot has been kickstarted over this past year.

Entrepreneurial Programs We Participated In

• Completed the Grow Now Women in Tech program with the Centre for Women in Business which helps to enhance the business acumen of tech female founders
• Attended the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) with the Toronto Region Board of Trade to learn how to expand Canadian businesses beyond borders
• ​CGLCC's Export Readiness Program to grow our business’s export readiness and increase our global network

Our First Year as a Diverse Supplier: A Journey

• Went on three trade missions to the United States (Denver and New York City) and Mexico (Mexico City) with WEConnect International, PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise, Women's Business Enterprise National Council, and CGLCC
• We were partially supported on these trade missions by PARO's BizGrowth Program, Mitacs Entrepreneurial International, Grow Now, CanExport and TCS​

Established Business Relationships

• Attended many conferences such as Collision for technology, Pivot Tech '24 for green tech, and Defy 2024 for diverse suppliers
• We were invited to join the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council due to our nuclear isotope background and project expertise
• Joined our local Hamilton Chamber of Commerce to expand networks within the business community in our own backyard
• Developed new partnerships and working relationships with companies across the US, Canada, and Mexico
• Appeared as a guest on podcasts such as The Digital Project Manager, BlueRoots and The PM Podcast to discuss topics such as the next generation of project managers, networking, project management in family run businesses, and managing difficult stakeholders
• I was named a Top Project Management Influencer with The Digital Project Manager and also a Top Project Management Creator for Canada with Favikon​

Collaborative Project Management

• We managed over $5M in client projects, including working with the CFL on a feasibility study for one of their larger technical projects
• Led 9 Seatbelt Sessions for executives to help nail down project deliverables
• Trained more than 30 project professionals within client groups over 10 months
• Mentored 5 individuals one-on-one, providing them with extra personal guidance
• Additionally, we taught over 70 students the art of engaging project stakeholders
• We practiced what we preach by bringing on Natalia Bickell, a highly skilled project professional, to speed up our own internal project execution
• Introduced our Pick Our PM Brain sessions designed to help executives break free using proven project portfolio strategies
• Started our first referral program, where anyone who refers a client to us receives a 10% referral bonus for the first month of completed services
• Launched the The PM Coffee Spot with our partner company The Digital Project Manager where aspiring project managers can ask questions, access trusted resources and network to simplify the start of their career

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We enjoyed receiving testimonials such as;

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Challenges We Faced in 2024

• Frequent starts and stops with client projects throughout the year
• Mid-year budget cuts impacting numerous clients' plans
• Significant rise in project professionals seeking employment, which has not matched client demand
• Efficient and effective project execution, which is key to achieving project success, amidst very tight budgets

How I Spent My Downtime

• I relocated to Hamilton, Ontario where I enjoy exploring the hiking trails and cycling paths
• Rekindled my passion for Latin dancing and have only stepped on a partner’s toes once (so far)
• Revisited all my unfinished artwork, as I believe a piece of art is never truly complete, and have begun adding more to each piece

Our Plans for 2025

• Continued to support our wonderful repeat clients and our newly referred clients
• Explore expansion to markets outside of Canada and the United States
• Attend additional trade missions as a diverse supplier
• Projects Pivot membership launch
• ​Projects Practice learning offerings such as Get a PM Job, Get Your Collaboration Groove On, People and Projects, and Changing Projects

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Moving forward, I will keep refining my best kicks and punches, while Projects Pivot will continue to kickstart projects for our clients.

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Here’s a big roundhouse kick to 2025!

Barbara Kephart, PMP Founder and Chief Project Officer ​Projects Pivot​

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