2025 Breakout Discussions

Back by popular demand, the value of these interactive sessions cannot be overstated. These lively exchanges not only enhance learning, but they also create a vibrant networking environment, fostering community and inspiring future collaborations.

We have three Interactive Roundtable Discussion sessions planned.

Tuesday, September 30

4:45 pm Lifecycle of a Decision—Managing the Continuum of Risk through Key Principles and Structured Decision-Making
Kundini Amin, Head, Portfolio Leadership, Analytics & Insights (PLAI), Biogen
The drug development continuum of risk, time, and leadership interaction needs to be managed but does not always fit a standard governance rubric. In addition, the risk management process falls apart without quality inputs and processes. Good organizations manage the risk through informed decisions at any point through traits such as being mindful of their decision quality, interpreting decisions with fluency, including appropriate stakeholders in decisions, and employing the right processes and tools to support the decision making. The main traits to be discussed are:

Structured decision making
Organization capability and maturity
Stakeholder engagement
Core tools and processes

Breakout groups will each tackle one of these pillars and converge on pros and cons of solutions, and techniques to serve these traits. Each will then share a brief readout of their takeaways, giving everyone a broader view of how different companies are advancing decision discipline in the face of risk and uncertainty.

Wednesday, October 1

8:30 am Growth Pathways and Talent Development in PPM
Kundini Amin, Head, Portfolio Leadership, Analytics & Insights (PLAI), Biogen
Michael Myers, PhD, Associate Vice President, LRL Project Management—Due Diligence, Eli Lilly and Company
Joel Ott, Executive Director, Portfolio and Project Management, Eli Lilly & Company
What does career growth look like in PPM today—and how can organizations build intentional talent pipelines that match the evolving demands of innovation, agility, and cross-functional leadership? Join this highly interactive session designed to spark conversation, surface best practices, and drive actionable insights around professional development and team capability-building in project, program, and portfolio management. We’ll kick off with a brief 15-20 minute overview exploring the current state of career pathways and skill development in PPM—covering themes like role evolution, leadership readiness, and the future competencies that matter most. Then, we’ll move into breakout discussions led by experienced facilitators, each table focused on a specific facet of talent development, such as:

Designing sustainable career ladders in PPM
Developing high-potential PPM leaders
Balancing technical, strategic, and leadership skills
Building cross-functional influence and stakeholder engagement
Retaining top talent in a hybrid/remote world

Each group will dive deep into their chosen topic for 30 minutes, sharing challenges, ideas, and experiences. We’ll wrap up with a rapid-fire readout from each table, capturing key takeaways and new ideas participants can bring back to their teams. Whether you're a seasoned leader looking to shape your team or a rising PPM professional mapping your next steps, this session offers a collaborative space to learn, reflect, and grow.

2:50 pm Driving Operational Excellence and Strategic Agility in PPM
Caroline Dewing, Executive Director, Head of Portfolio Planning, Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Jennifer Kang, Director, Program Management, Formation Bio
Joe Stalder, Vice President, Program Management, Zentalis Pharmaceuticals
As biopharma portfolios become more complex and resource constraints more pressing, organizations must continuously evolve how they govern, prioritize, and measure success. Operational excellence in PPM today means striking the right balance between structure and flexibility—ensuring rigor without sacrificing responsiveness. In this interactive session, participants will explore how their peers are tackling some of the most pressing questions in modern portfolio and project management: Topics include:

Making portfolio governance more agile: Balancing structure with speed
How are you measuring PPM success? Creative KPIs beyond timelines and budgets
Project prioritization frameworks for investment decision making and allocating resources
Strategies to manage risk across the portfolio

Breakout groups will focus on one of these challenges, surfacing practical examples, lessons learned, and innovative approaches. After breaking out for focused discussion, each group will report back their key insights and takeaways, enabling the full audience to compare strategies, benchmark thinking, and gather new ideas to bring back to their organizations.