Text by Jarkko Stenfors
Photos Olli-Pekka Latvala
Jarkko Stenfors was awarded at Project Days 2024 as Meritoriously Certified at IPMA Level A.
There are significant benefits to be gained from the active participation of business leaders in project training and events. They provide an opportunity to deepen your understanding of how projects are managed and the practical challenges they face. This helps management to understand the bigger picture, including teamwork at the heart of projects, innovation and the ability to adapt to change. A deeper understanding in turn enables better decisions to be made and contributes to the success of the organisation as a whole.
I started last year at Cimcorp, a Finnish-based automation company focused on developing in-house logistics for international customers. It has been great to see how committed Cimcorp is to developing project skills and strengthening the project culture.
I myself have always enjoyed the project training courses, the annual Project Days and even the project literature. I find it fascinating to guide and lead project organisations in line with a company’s vision, mission and strategies. Another indication of my passion is that, in addition to my day job, I have been an IPMA Project Excellence Assessor since 2019 and an IPMA Delta Assessor since 2022.
My IPMA Level A certification process started in May 2023 with the application phase. At the end of the year, I completed a summary report of the reference project, and the certification concluded with an interview in early 2024. The whole process was challenging, but writing the report in particular deepened my own understanding of the application of the different elements of the IPMA ICB competences to my own work. I have very fond memories of the certification process and I appreciate the certification I have achieved!
I encourage everyone, but especially management, to actively participate in project training, events and certifications.
