The Executive Challenge: Mastering Executive Stakeholder

# The Executive Challenge: Mastering Executive Stakeholder Engagement

**Session Description:**

Managing executive stakeholders is one of the most critical and high-stakes responsibilities for Project Managers. Success at the executive level requires more than sharing project updates—it requires the ability to influence decisions, align priorities, build trust, and communicate value effectively.

This interactive session is designed as a problem-solving lab where participants will explore real-world executive stakeholder scenarios, discuss common challenges, and exchange practical approaches for navigating complex stakeholder dynamics. Through guided discussions, peer insights, and collaborative learning, attendees will discover strategies to strengthen executive relationships, improve communication, and drive successful outcomes.

The session will include expert reflections, highlighting proven practices, key patterns, and actionable insights to help Project Managers confidently engage executives, create alignment, and deliver meaningful impact.

## ? Speaker: Amber McMillan

**The Feisty PM | Impact Coach | Project Management Thought Leader | Change Specialist | Executive Educator | PMI Region Mentor**

With a career spanning over 30 years across profit and non-profit sectors, Amber McMillan—widely known as **“The Feisty PM”**—is a recognized impact coach, executive educator, and project management thought leader dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to create meaningful change.

Amber specializes in the people-focused side of project management, including communication, relationship management, change leadership, and conflict resolution. Her work helps leaders and teams overcome human-centered challenges, strengthen collaboration, and achieve greater project success.

A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Amber believes diverse project teams drive stronger outcomes and more innovative solutions. Through her empathetic leadership approach, she helps individuals recognize their strengths, connect to a shared vision, and build the confidence needed to lead effectively.

Amber currently serves as the **PMI Region 1 Mentor for the Pacific Northwest of the Americas** and continues to shape future leaders as an Executive Educator with institutions including **Schulich School of Business at York University, Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria, and UBC’s Biomedical Engineering program**.

Her achievements include being recognized as **Impact Coach of the Year 2025 in Canada**, serving as a two-time Past President of **PMI Vancouver Island/Yukon**, and serving as Board Chair of the **International Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration**.

Guided by Maya Angelou’s wisdom—*“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”*—Amber continues her mission to inspire leaders, empower teams, and create lasting impact through education, coaching, and transformational leadership.