Latest news with #projectmanagement
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
The No. 1 Skill Employers Want In 2025 And Most Job Seekers Don't List It
HR Specialist and my career counseling client, Emily, called for help, saying she was so frustrated with her employer. She had been working at the company for three years and had not received even one promotion. She had begun to look for a new job, but was struggling to find a better opportunity in the tech industry. Emily asked me, 'What can I do to make myself more appealing to new employers? What exactly do employers want? I thought about working on project management skills because I have some experience in project management, but getting the certification is a very long process. Is it worth it for me to take that on, or is there something else that might be more valuable?' My answer surprised her. She hadn't put together how AI is reshaping the workplace, what AI literacy means to employers, and how it impacts her future. Everywhere you turn, people are talking about AI. Company CEOs, recruiters, managers, and team members' conversations center around what they are, which ones are best for what, whether you should use them, and how to use them on the job appropriately. Whether you have a job or are looking for one, AI literacy is on everyone's lips. How AI Literacy Influences Hiring Managers A recent survey of 1000 hiring managers regarding the AI impact on hiring conducted by Resume Genius, found that 81% of hiring managers now consider AI-related skills a hiring priority, making them among the most sought-after capabilities in 2025. A loosely defined catch-all phrase, what does AI literacy mean? It refers to the basic understanding of how artificial intelligence works, as well as how to use AI tools effectively and ethically in the workplace. It includes having both the skill and knowing when and how to apply AI technologies like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot to enhance productivity, streamline tasks, do research, and solve problems. You must also be aware of their limitations. AI tools do not think and often have 'hallucinations,' better known as 'making stuff up' so you always need to verify their answers. Many people may want to use AI but are unsure how or which ones to select since there are more and more options. Then there is the prompt creation issue on how to ask a question or have a task performed effectively. Prompt writing can be pretty complicated to learn since your off-the-cuff questions may not get you the answers you need. You'll quickly find out that a better prompt equals a better answer. Since artificial intelligence seems to be changing the entire business world, how does that translate to the skills you need that hiring managers want to see? The hiring manager survey identified these top AI in-demand skills for 2025: As Emily and I talked, I clarified the appropriate usage for AI chatbots. We are not talking about using them to write resumes or cover letters, which has caused recruiters to throw those resumes away. Instead, it's how these tools can help you be more productive on the job. View AI as your assistance intelligence, since that's what it is: an assistant. A light bulb went on for Emily, and she quickly asked, 'How do I learn more about the AI tools that will help me be more productive in my job? There are so many options out there, so how do I know how to get a quick start on which ones to try and how to use them?' The best way to improve your AI proficiency is to take a few classes. These two introductory courses are the ones I recommend that my career counseling clients take. Both are offered through Coursera. The are two options: Recommended AI intro courses: AI For Everyone—taught by Andrew Ng, cofounder of Coursera A nontechnical beginner introduction to AI basics. Six hours in length. What you'll learn: AI Agents: From Prompts to Multi Agents—taught by UC Davis Professor Martin Hilbert Beginner class for nontechnical professionals. Nine hours in length. What you'll learn: The Bottom Line AI tools are just tools. They're not a substitute for your own judgment, creativity, decision-making, or expertise. Hiring managers want to see that you're someone who knows how to use these tools to be more productive, not someone who relies on them as a crutch. By improving your AI literacy and being able to discuss how you use them appropriately in the workplace, you'll show hiring managers you are progressive, adaptable, and know when and how to save time. You can explain how you have increased your productivity while you tackle hard things only a human can do, like thinking.
Harvard Business Review
16 hours ago
- Business
- Harvard Business Review
The Right Way to Sunset a Project
Summary. The process of sunsetting a project is a crucial but often neglected part of project management. Rather than letting projects linger—tying up capital, draining morale, and undermining performance—strategic leaders intentionally close
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Berit Tomten Named a 2025 Woman of Influence by GlobeSt.
Award Honors Tomten's Expertise and Impact on Hamilton Zanze's Capital Projects SAN FRANCISCO, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton Zanze, a leading San Francisco-based multifamily real estate investment firm, today announced that Senior Director of Project Management Berit Tomten has been named to GlobeSt.'s Women of Influence Class of 2025 in the Corporate Real Estate Executive category. Tomten and the other honorees are profiled in a feature article on and will receive additional recognition in the publication's email newsletters and social media platforms. Additionally, the award winners were honored at the annual GlobeSt. Women of Influence dinner at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Denver on July 22. "Berit genuinely embodies the spirit of this award," said John Gilmore, a partner at the firm. "She has consistently excelled in all aspects of project management, leading by example and taking a hands-on approach. Her creativity and ability to implement strategic solutions while fostering a culture of accountability and excellence makes her a standout—not just at Hamilton Zanze, but across the industry. She's an essential member of our team and fully deserving of this recognition." Tomten is responsible for overseeing all capital projects across Hamilton Zanze's national multifamily portfolio. She ensures that renovations and construction projects align with budgetary and scheduling goals while maintaining high-quality standards. She also leads the company's design, construction and sustainability initiatives, implementing innovative solutions that improve efficiency and long-term property performance. Tomten, based in Seattle, has been with Hamilton Zanze since 2013 and was promoted to her current role in 2022. She also has an extensive athletic background, including as an All-American swimmer, competitive ski jumper, a collegiate rower at the University of Minnesota and as a near-qualifier for the 2014 USA Olympic bobsled team. "The Women of Influence program is among the most esteemed in the industry, and I'm incredibly honored to be chosen among the 2025 class," Tomten said. "I am also extremely thankful for my wonderful colleagues at Hamilton Zanze, who have created an enjoyable and forward-thinking environment that makes it easy to thrive. I look forward to helping the company in its continued pursuit of excellence as we strive to make a positive impact in the multifamily space." The 2025 Women of Influence were selected by GlobeSt.'s advisory board and senior editors based upon how well candidates achieved goals and displayed ingenuity, how impactful their work has been and other factors. This awards program has recognized a growing number of commercial real estate female professionals for their achievements since 1983. About Hamilton Zanze Hamilton Zanze is a private, San Francisco-based real estate investment company that invests with the highest standards. Since its founding in 2001, Hamilton Zanze has sponsored the acquisition of over $7.5 billion in multifamily assets primarily in the Western, Southwestern and Eastern U.S. The company's portfolio currently comprises 124 properties (22,241 units) across 16 states. For additional information, visit MEDIA CONTACT: Stephen Ursery LinnellTaylor Marketing (303) 682-3945 stephen@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hamilton Zanze & Company Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Android Authority
23-07-2025
- Android Authority
I fired ChatGPT for a week and hired a European AI instead
Nathan Drescher / Android Authority I've cut my ties to a bunch of American tech. Gmail became Fastmail, Keep turned into Obsidian, and I replaced Tasks with ToDoist. I figured AI would be the hardest one to give up. I've been using ChatGPT in an unorthodox way, not for chatting, but as a full-on project management system for scheduling, reminders, and budgeting. Then I stumbled on LeChat a few months ago. LeChat, from the company Mistral, is Europe's answer to the LLM arms race. I used it instead of ChatGPT to run my life for a full week, pushing it way beyond what it was built for. What I found was a mix of blazing speed and blunt honesty, as well as a bunch of limitations to my workflow. Would you consider switching to a non-American AI tool like LeChat? 0 votes Yes, I'm already using a non-American AI tool. NaN % I'm actively looking for alternatives. NaN % Maybe, I hadn't thought of it before. NaN % No, I'm sticking with American tech. NaN % Switching away from American AI Nathan Drescher / Android Authority I've been feeling uneasy about using ChatGPT for a while now. The leadership drama, opaque corporate structure, its close ties to some people in the US government…these already had me questioning my choice to stick with it. But worse than that was how much ChatGPT 4o feels like it is degrading recently. I don't use this LLM for chatting or writing emails. I use it to manage my day, but it was going off the rails by forgetting things I'd input like my diet, giving me randomly hallucinated events when I asked it what was next on my schedule, and other such shenanigans. LeChat felt different. It is built on Mistral's open models and adheres to Europe's strict privacy laws. It doesn't track me outside of the app like Gemini. Plus, its answers are practically instant. So I closed ChatGPT for a week and made LeChat my go-to assistant for everything I'd normally delegate to an AI. This AI is a breath of fresh air Nathan Drescher / Android Authority The first thing I noticed was how ridiculously fast LeChat is at answering. I'd get a full answer for my prompt the moment I hit enter. I thought at first it must surely be missing context or skipping details, but the responses were accurate and useful. This app is set to Ludicrous Speed all the time. It also didn't try to flatter me. During my test, I asked it to schedule a nighttime vampire hunt on my calendar. LeChat told me vampire hunting wasn't real and moved on. When I recreated the same task with ChatGPT, it played along and scheduled it for a Wednesday night. LeChat wasn't rude, just grounded, and that was refreshing. I didn't have to constantly prompt it to keep it short or just answer the question. Web search, calendar, and deep think LeChat also includes a built-in live web search, making it feel a bit like Perplexity. I didn't need to open a special chat or toggle anything. It just searched the web directly inside the thread when needed. I could also turn this off anytime. LeChat connects to Gmail and Google Calendar too, though I didn't test this since I've moved away from those tools. There are also 'Think' and 'Research' modes. The latter is supposedly aimed at summarizing and analyzing source material, possibly competing with Google's NotebookLM. These features aren't in my usual workflow, but I could see them being incredibly useful for students or researchers who need to quickly summarize and analyze large volumes of text. Here's where it couldn't keep up It wasn't all rainbows and unicorns. The biggest problem was memory. LeChat has none. There's no persistent knowledge of who I am or what I've said in other threads. ChatGPT and Gemini can both retain context, so if I ask them to schedule my son's dentist appointment, they remember who he is and even know the name of his dentist. I need to re-enter the information for each and every chat I start with LeChat. I would love to see LeChat incorporate a memory feature that retains key information across sessions. There's no persistent knowledge of who I am or what I've said in other threads. There are no push notifications either. Maybe that works if you're still using Gmail, but I use Fastmail. I couldn't get LeChat to remind me of anything unless I reopened the app and asked it what I had already told it to remember. It also couldn't create documents the way ChatGPT can. I'm talking about those in-line documents that sit outside the main context window, which are especially useful for quick to-do lists or structured notes. LeChat didn't offer anything like that. I understand these tools aren't designed to manage lives, but I've turned ChatGPT into a decent personal assistant. LeChat couldn't keep up. For one-shot answers, web searches, or brainstorming what to feed my picky daughter, it was great. But it fell short for ongoing support. I'm still glad I tried it Nathan Drescher / Android Authority There's something calming about a tool that doesn't try to be everything. Using LeChat made me realize some of what we've grown used to has grown bloated. LeChat is lean, responsive, and no-nonsense. Its speed is mind-boggling for anyone who has grown used to ChatGPT's laborious answers. It's the kind of AI that might appeal to people who don't want AI running their lives, just helping with their day. I'll probably keep using ChatGPT for the heavy lifting. I still haven't found an LLM that can manage projects like ChatGPT. But LeChat has earned a place in my app drawer. Not every tool needs to be a powerhouse. Sometimes it just needs to answer a question and move on, like LeChat.
Globe and Mail
22-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Accelo Expands Leadership Position in Professional Services Automation with Acquisition of Forecast, an AI-Enabled SaaS Platform Headquartered in the UK
DENVER , July 22, 2025 /CNW/ -- Accelo, a cloud-based platform for Professional Services Automation (PSA), announced today its acquisition of UK-based PSA firm, Forecast, a global provider of AI-powered project and resource management software. This strategic acquisition further strengthens Accelo's leadership in the PSA market and expands its capabilities in predictive planning, resource optimization, and intelligent automation. The merged company's global headquarters is in Denver, CO with offices in Wollongong, Australia and the UK. The combined entity will offer an even more powerful and comprehensive PSA solution, enabling professional services businesses to: Improve Project Profitability: Gain real-time insights into project costs, revenue, and margins, allowing for proactive adjustments and optimized financial outcomes. Enhance Resource Optimization: Utilize AI-powered forecasting and scheduling to allocate the right resources to the right projects at the right time, maximizing utilization and minimizing bench time alongside accurate and seamless timekeeping. Streamline Operations: Automate workflows from sales and project delivery to billing and reporting, reducing administrative overhead and accelerating the quote-to-cash cycle. Drive Data-Driven Decisions: Access unified data and advanced analytics to make informed strategic decisions and identify areas for growth and improvement. Expand Global Reach: Strengthen Accelo's presence in the UK and European markets, providing enhanced support and localized solutions to a broader client base. Karen Sawyer , CEO of Accelo, states, "We're extremely enthusiastic about Forecast's people, products, and most importantly, their customers; this compelling merger of strengths combines Forecast's AI-powered insights with Accelo's unified Professional Services Automation platform." Sawyer then says, "We are building a smarter, more agile solution that provides global enterprise clients the critical insights and comprehensive controls required for high-quality, profitable project delivery." Dennis Kayser , Founder and CEO of Forecast, added, "From inception, we envisioned building a market-leading, native AI-enabled PSA system to support the world's best run consultancies regardless of size and unique business model requirements." Kayser further stated, "With significant growth capital from Bow River Capital, and this combination with Accelo, we have capabilities to significantly enhance product roadmap innovations and will double-down on strategic client success investments and services." Maitlan Cramer, Lead Accelo board member with Bow River Capital's Software Growth Equity Team, said, "We're thrilled to announce the acquisition of Forecast; this strategic combination and incremental growth capital creates a much larger cohort of high-quality, enterprise clients across Europe , North America , and Asia-Pac. The combined entity will significantly enhance acceleration of our product roadmap and scale." Charles Chen , an Accelo Board member and Partner at Level Equity, stated, "We have strong conviction in the Professional Services Automation industry, and are thrilled with the value creation progress since the recapitalization with our partners at Bow River Capital." The Forecast team will join Accelo to accelerate innovation across both platforms, with a shared vision to eliminate operational blind spots and empower teams to do their best work. Customers of both platforms can expect continued support and improvements, with future product enhancements driven by collaborative innovation and customer feedback. This acquisition comes at a time when demand for unified, insight-driven operations continues to rise among professional services organizations. As teams face increasing pressure to optimize resources, control margins, and deliver exceptional client outcomes, the combination of Accelo and Forecast offers an unmatched solution that connects work, people, and financials in real time. About Accelo Accelo is a cloud-based Professional Services Automation (PSA) platform that helps professional services-based businesses streamline operations, improve efficiency, and scale profitably. Designed for industries such as consulting, accounting, engineering, architecture, IT services, and marketing agencies, Accelo replaces fragmented tools with a single, integrated system for managing clients, projects, resources, and finances. By unifying the quote-to-cash lifecycle, Accelo enables businesses to automate workflows, track projects, optimize resource allocation, and gain real-time visibility into operations. With built-in CRM, project tracking, scheduling, invoicing, and analytics, Accelo empowers professional services firms to improve productivity, enhance team collaboration, and drive sustainable growth. About Forecast The Forecast AI-native platform is a system of intelligence that represents the most advanced technology ever applied to managing finances, resources and projects. Forecast is the ultimate upgrade for any project team and organization. Our platform automates busywork, surfaces best practices, predicts outcomes, guides projects to success, and most importantly empowers every team member to do their best work. Technology doing what it does best, so humans can do what they do best. For more information about the acquisition and what it means for Accelo and Forecast customers, visit
