July 2026 Lunch & Learn "Using What-If Simulations for Executive Planning" feat. Diane Buckley-Altweis & Steve West

Abstract:
Senior leaders make decisions every day that impact timelines, capacity, and delivery risk. The challenge for project managers is not only helping leadership understand those impacts, but knowing which what-if scenarios to run to support better decisions.
In this session, you will learn how project managers can use what-if portfolio simulations to model realistic scenarios, understand portfolio-level impacts, and clearly communicate tradeoffs to senior leadership.
This is not about tools. It’s about thinking like a strategic advisor—knowing which scenarios to run, how to frame tradeoffs, and how to guide leadership toward informed, confident decisions. Whether you’re supporting a single program or managing an enterprise portfolio, this session will help you elevate your role from delivery lead to trusted partner in executive planning.
What You’ll Learn
- How to identify the right scenarios to model based on executive priorities
- How to simulate real-world changes in scope, capacity, and constraints
- How executive decisions impact delivery timelines, resource utilization, and risk
- How to communicate tradeoffs in a way leaders can quickly understand and act on
- How to confidently recommend a path forward—not just present data
Bio
Diane Buckley-Altweis, CEO, Core Concepts
Diane is a transformation and delivery leader with more than two decades of experience leading complex technology implementations and enterprise programs across wealth management, banking, mortgage lending, and insurance. She helps organizations reduce operational friction, strengthen compliance, and accelerate product delivery, and she is a co-author of the globally used Achieve PMP® Exam Success and Achieve CAPM® Exam Success study guides.
Steve West, CEO, Project Insight
Steve West is the CEO and product champion of Project Insight, a project and portfolio management (PPM) software solution designed for growing companies. In 2001, driven by an entrepreneurial vision, Steve collaborated with certified project management professionals to develop a PPM tool that aligns with PMBOK® principles while remaining intuitive and easy for teams to use. Today, Project Insight helps growing companies centralize project, program, and portfolio-level data across teams and software tools, empowering project managers with the insights they need to help stakeholders make confident, data-driven business decisions. With over two decades of experience, Steve has consulted with thousands of project management professionals, helping them deliver accurate project and portfolio data to their C-suite with clarity and confidence.
About Our Sponsor:
Project Insight is a strategic project, program, and portfolio management platform that helps growing organizations gain a complete, real-time view of work across every level of the business. By centralizing project data into one connected command center, teams can improve visibility, align priorities, and make confident, data-driven decisions. With bi-directional integrations, workflow automation, and built-in AI capabilities, Project Insight enables organizations to plan smarter, forecast outcomes, optimize resources, and proactively manage risks—supporting over 10,000 companies worldwide.
Meeting Details:
Pre-registration Expires: Day of event @10A CST. Registration is capped at 100 attendees.
Cancellation Policy: Event will be cancelled if we do not have a minimum of (6) or for other reasons out of our control. All attempts will be made to re-schedule it.
PDUs: 1 (.5 Business Acumen + .5 Ways of Working)
Meeting Agenda:
- Announcements/Business Update - 12PM-12:05PM CST
- Presentation and Q&A - 12:05P-1P CST
Note: Registrants will receive an MS Teams link via the confirmation email after registration. Those using employer issued machines at home and connecting VPN may need to use phone for audio and a Smart device (table, PC or Smartphone) to view slides and video. To increase engagement on an online event, we sincerely encourage you to enable your camera. Use a Smartphone if your PC or MacBook does not have a camera.
Substitution Policy:
Substitutions will be allowed. Alternate Attendee will need to notify us who they are replacing. Contact [email protected] for any cancellations or Substitutions.
Video/Photo Release:
With the permission of our speaker/presenter, the Chapter reserves the right to record and share this session on its official platforms (e.g., YouTube Channel) in full or in part within 4–8 weeks after the event. By registering/attending this event, I understand the PMI Central Illinois Chapter or its representatives may take video/photographs of attendees at the above-identified event. I agree that the PMI Central Illinois Chapter may use such video/photographs of me with or without my name and for any lawful purpose, including, for example, such purposes as publicity, illustration, advertising, and Web content. (Note: "If I do not wish to be photographed, I understand it is my responsibility to notify chapter representatives at the event.")
Questions?
For technical registration questions, email [email protected].
For any other questions, email [email protected] and/or [email protected].
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Tickets
$15.00 Member
$20.00 Non Member