Most Active Speaker

Pamela Paterson

Pamela Paterson

International Best-Selling Author, Senior IT Business Analyst Consultant, Project Manager

Ottawa, Canada

Pamela Paterson, MS, CBAP, PMP, is an international best-selling author and a senior IT consultant in business analysis and project management. She has worked with +50 organizations, presented at +200 events, and written 10 books, two of them international best-sellers: Creating Requirements for Software Projects and Get the Job. She is an award-winning speaker with an engaging teaching style drawn from her years of teaching project management in Toronto, Canada. Pamela is one of the most active speakers in 2023 on Sessionize.

Awards

  • Most Active Speaker 2023

Area of Expertise

  • Information & Communications Technology
  • Government, Social Sector & Education
  • Business & Management
  • Law & Regulation
  • Media & Information

Topics

  • Requirements Analysis
  • Requirements Management
  • Requirements Engineering
  • User Requirements
  • Eliciting Requirements
  • Communication
  • Agile Requirements Engineering
  • agile
  • Agile software development
  • Business Agility
  • communications
  • Business Communications
  • Team Communication
  • Effective Communication
  • communication skills
  • process
  • Business Process Automation
  • Business Process Management
  • Process Improvement
  • Business Process Optimization
  • Process Development
  • RFP
  • Documentation
  • stakeholder
  • Stakeholder Management
  • elicitation
  • Collaboration
  • Visual Communication
  • Interviewing
  • Software
  • systems thinking
  • systems
  • Business Analyst
  • Business Analysis
  • Women in Business
  • Business & Innovation
  • Project Management
  • Agile project management
  • Project Management Institute

Remote Stakeholder Collaboration: Navigate Your Way to Success

Excellent stakeholder collaboration has been cited as one of the key success factors in optimizing and managing projects. It is critical to our success that we understand and navigate stakeholder collaboration effectively. The problem is, how do we do it? How do we overcome inherent problems such as zoomed-out, stressed out stakeholders who don’t participate? What are the different types of stakeholders and how do we deal with each of them? What are the best techniques for each stakeholder type? Join us to learn the top techniques for effective stakeholder collaboration from Pamela Paterson, an expert and international best-selling author in business analysis.

Requirements Elicitation Like a Pro!

Widespread research tells us that effective requirements is the most critical factor in the success of an IT project, yet it's also the most significant failure point. Why can't we create effective requirements, when we know what a requirement is? Because of problems in elicitation, including dealing with stakeholders who don't know what they want. Effective requirements elicitation is both an art and a science requiring specific communication techniques. Join us to learn the top strategies for effective requirements elicitation from Pamela Paterson, an expert and international best-selling author in business analysis.

Beyond Q&A: Plan and Conduct Stakeholder Interviews Like a Pro

Interviewing is a key technique to elicit information from stakeholders on IT projects. Whether a single stakeholder or a group, knowing how to conduct a professional interview will get us the information and data we need to create requirements, develop processes, and do our other work. The more our stakeholders can trust in our skills, the more information they will contribute. We all know of excellent interviewers, but how do we do it ourselves? What kinds of questions do we ask and when, and for which stakeholder and scenario? Are there some question types that are better used with individuals than with groups? At the same time, how do we document responses accurately and efficiently? Join us to learn the answers from Pamela Paterson, an IT business analyst and best-selling author.

60 min talk that can be adjusted by event

How to Get Through the HR Robot from the Best-Selling Author of Get the Job

IT experts are known to be strategic and analytical thinkers, adept at analyzing current state and defining future state, but how do we do that with our careers? How do we move from where we are, to where we can be? Just as we do for our stakeholders, we need to be able to assess risks and define our change strategy but for our own careers. We need to understand the job market and the skills needed by employers. We also need to get through the dreaded HR robot known as the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Join Pamela Paterson, international best-selling author of Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search, to learn how you can apply strategy analysis to your own career and bring it to an entirely new level.

Get Rid of the Waste! How to Lean Six Sigma Your Stakeholder Communication

Did you know that 80% of meeting attendees are doing something else? How many times have you found yourself sitting in a meeting and tuning out part way through, hoping for the end? There is a better way to prepare and run meetings by capitalizing on Lean Six Sigma techniques applied to a communication context. Learn how to run effective meetings that result in better outcomes with less time wasted. Get rid of the communication waste that weighs you down, and join Pamela Paterson, a senior IT business analyst consultant, who has designed unique communication methods that work with stakeholders on IT projects.

Cognitive Science Techniques for Presentations to Increase Stakeholder Success

Have you ever sat through a boring presentation, and mentally "checked out" before the end? It's likely the presenter was unaware of the latest research in cognitive studies and how to engage stakeholders visually. Given that workshops and presentations are very key to our IT work in requirements, process development, and other deliverables, it is critical that IT workers are able to incorporate cognitive theory strategies into the planning, design, and delivery of presentations for effective stakeholder engagement. Building this capability as a visual presenter is guaranteed to lead to increased stakeholder engagement and effectiveness in elicitation and collaboration, which ultimately leads to project success.

Write a Request for Proposal (RFP) the Smart Way for Your Project

Learning how to write procurement documents such as RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs is not easy, especially if you're new to writing these documents or the project is very complex. There are so many approaches and challenges that need to be considered, including strategy, requirements, and evaluation methodology. How can we collaborate with our stakeholders in the best way to get this job done? How can we avoid the pitfalls and risks of this major endeavor that could represent millions or billions of dollars to an organization? Join Pamela Paterson, senior IT business analyst and expert in procurement documents who has written +100 RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs for large federal government projects.

Improve Quality in Requirements Using Business Analysis Techniques

Poor requirements are the number one reason IT projects fail, yet how do we create high-quality requirements when stakeholders don't know what they want? Through proven business analysis strategies. Business analysts are specialists in requirements and have well-honed strategies to improve quality at the requirements stage, creating efficiencies throughout the entire SDLC. Not only will stakeholders be more pleased with the requirements, but they will also be more satisfied with the end solution.

Business Analysis 101: BA Strategies for IT Team Members

Business analysts are the requirements experts on IT projects, but what do you do when there is no BA? In this session, you will learn the fundamental International Institute of Business Analysis methodologies to communicate with stakeholders, elicit high-quality requirements, and validate stakeholders' needs. You will learn how to elicit meaningful information from various stakeholder types and "translate" it for the requirements management tool. Need to be the BA on the project but don't have time to take an entire certification? Join this session.

Working with Other Cultures: Jump Over the Barriers to Project Success

Technology has created global work environments, and working with other cultures is essential for personal and professional success. Conquering cultural clashes and embracing diverse perspectives can drive innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. This session offers valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your cross-cultural competence needed in today's diverse work environments. We explore the concept of culture, and how it shapes our values, beliefs, and behaviors. We will also explore communication styles and managing conflict that will assist you in cultivating an inclusive and thriving work environment and project success.

Co-presented with business leader Tarek Hussein.

Essential Communication Skills for Successful Stakeholder Engagement

In the dynamic world of information technology, effective communication skills are indispensable for IT professionals seeking to thrive in their roles. Whether collaborating with colleagues, presenting technical solutions, or interacting with clients, the ability to communicate clearly and convincingly can significantly influence project outcomes and career advancement. This presentation is tailored for IT professionals and explores the essential elements of communication skills that can empower them to excel in their field.

Unleashing the Power of Positive Stakeholder Management

Managing difficult stakeholders is a critical skill for tech workers. Stakeholders can have competing interests, priorities, and expectations. Navigating these relationships can be challenging, especially if our stakeholders need to be more engaged and are continually multi-tasking in our workshops. In this session, we will explore practical strategies for managing difficult stakeholders and discuss the importance of building strong relationships, establishing clear communication channels, and addressing stakeholders' concerns. We will also discuss how to tailor your communication style to the stakeholder's needs. Join us to learn how to overcome the challenges of managing difficult stakeholders with Pamela Paterson, CBAP, PMP, an international best-selling author in business analysis and project management.

Creating Requirements with Stakeholders in a Remote World: Overcoming Barriers and Finding Success

Working with stakeholders and creating requirements for IT projects is one of the biggest challenges we have in a remote environment. What do we do, when we can’t rely on “hallway” networking and face-to-face interpersonal skills? A completely remote or hybrid environment can block the flow of communication with our stakeholders. There is a need for us to have a sense of personal agility, whether their workplace culture is agile or not. So, how can we, whether remote or not, continue to deliver the value expected in requirements creation and maintenance amid this constant change? Join us and learn the answers.

Building Business Capability (International Institute of Business Analysis Global Conference) Upcoming

Largest business analysis conference in the world.

April 2024 Orlando, Florida, United States

Project Management Institute Ottawa

Cognitive Science Techniques to Improve Presentation Success

March 2024

International Institute of Business Analysis Saskatchewan

Interviewing is a vital technique for business analysts to gather information from stakeholders. Whether it's a single stakeholder or a group, conducting intelligent interviews is key to obtaining the data needed for creating requirements and developing processes. The more stakeholders trust in this process, the more valuable information they contribute. This calls for intelligent interviewing skills that foster trust and collaboration. But how do we become excellent interviewers ourselves? What questions do we ask, and when and for whom? Join us to explore these questions and more with Pamela Paterson, CBAP, a seasoned business analyst and communications professional who specializes in preparing stakeholders for media interviews.

March 2024

Project Management Institute (PMI Global)

Project managers know that effective stakeholder management is the cornerstone of project success. However, in our ever-evolving field, traditional approaches to stakeholder engagement may no longer suffice. Join us in this thought-provoking webinar where we'll delve into the intricacies of stakeholder interviews.

In this dynamic presentation, we will explore how stakeholder interviews, when done right, can transform your project management game. You'll gain insights into advanced techniques and strategies that extend beyond the usual Q&A sessions. Learn how to extract valuable perspectives, foster deeper connections, and unlock the full potential of your stakeholders’ expertise.

Pamela Paterson, MS, CBAP, PMP will draw from real-world experiences, offering practical advice and sharing impactful case studies that showcase the true potential of stakeholder interviews. Whether you're a seasoned project manager or just starting out, this webinar will provide you with a fresh perspective on stakeholder interviews.

Join us for an enlightening journey into the realm of stakeholder interviews and equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to reimagine your project management approach. Don't miss this opportunity to distinguish yourself in your profession and lead your projects with renewed confidence and success.

March 2024

International Institute of Business Analysis (London)

Career Strategies to Beat the HR Bots

March 2024

Project Management Institute Global Webinar

4500 registrants for this online webinar about stakeholder interviewing

February 2024

Update Conference Prague

Session about interviewing stakeholders, and how to optimize the interview process to obtain good requirements.

November 2023 Prague, Czechia

Engaging Virtual Meetings Podcast

Where do virtual and hybrid conferences, like yours, go for engagement that will blow your attendees away? Pamela Paterson is interviewed by John Chen, one of the top 3 digital event strategists in the world.

October 2023

Azure Back to School 2023 Sessionize Event

September 2023

Business Analysis Connection Day Annual Conference

August 2023 Birmingham, Alabama, United States

International Institute of Business Analysis (Global) Essential Communication Skills

About 1500 registered attendees for this global session about essential communication skills for successful stakeholder engagement.

July 2023

DeveloperWeek Latin America 2023 Sessionize Event

June 2023

Agile & Beyond 2023 Sessionize Event

June 2023 Detroit, Michigan, United States

George Brown College (Guest Speaker)

Guest speaker at George Brown College in Toronto regarding #1 international best-selling book Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search

March 2023 Toronto, Canada

International Institute of Business Analysis Global

Interviewing Stakeholders: How to Get the Most (and Best) Requirements. 850 registered attendees.

March 2023 Ottawa, Canada

SQLBits 2023 - General Sessions Sessionize Event

March 2023 Newport, United Kingdom

Power BI Summit 2023 Sessionize Event

March 2023

Update Conference Prague 2022 Sessionize Event

November 2022 Prague, Czechia

International Institute of Business Analysis (Kentucky)

Speaker re: elicitation and collaboration with stakeholders -- top strategies for success

October 2022 Lexington, Kentucky, United States

dataMinds Connect 2022 Sessionize Event

October 2022 Mechelen, Belgium

Iowa Business Analysis Development Day (iBADD Conference)

Business analysis conference re: stakeholder management and collaboration, eliciting software requirements, and remote working strategies

October 2022 Iowa City, Iowa, United States

International Institute of Business Analysis (London)

Keynote speaker: Where Do I Go From Here?

October 2022 London, Canada

Business Analysis Magnified 2022 (Puerto Rico and Birmingham)

Keynote speaker for this annual conference

October 2022 San Juan, Puerto Rico

International Institute of Business Analysis (New Zealand)

Speaker re: best practices for requirements

October 2022 Auckland, New Zealand

International Institute of Business Analysis (Albany, New York)

Speaker re: requirements in a remote world

October 2022 Albany, New York, United States

International Institute of Business Analysis (Ireland)

Speaker re: removing remote communication blockers and managing stakeholders in a remote environment

September 2022

International Institute of Business Analysis (Hawaii)

Speaker: creating requirements during constant change

September 2022 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

International Institute of Business Analysis (San Francisco Bay Area)

Speaker re: creating requirements in a remote world

September 2022 San Francisco, California, United States

Teammate Live Conference (Phoenix)

TeamMate Live connects you to industry thought leaders, TeamMate's deep-domain experts, and peers from your industry and similar organizations. In 2022, we'll be meeting in person in Scottsdale, Arizona. Join us and earn dozens of CPE credits while learning best practices and techniques that will drive efficiency in your day-to-day audit work.

September 2022 Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

International Institute of Business Analysis (Edmonton)

Speaker re: creating requirements in a remote world

September 2022 Edmonton, Canada

International Institute of Business Analysis (North Carolina)

Topic: Dealing with Difficult Stakeholders

August 2022 Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Annual Festival of Business Analysis (Australia)

Speaker re: creating requirements remotely

March 2022 Melbourne, Australia

International Institute of Business Analysis (Philippines and Kentucky)

Speaker regarding requirements and remote working

November 2021 Manila, Philippines

Toastmasters International (Guest Speaker)

Guest speaker

November 2020 Kingston, Canada

Society for Technical Communication (Toronto)

Keynote speaker on several occasions for various topics

April 2017 Toronto, Canada

HRPA (Human Resources Professional Association) Seminar (Toronto)

Speaker for international best-seller Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search

April 2015 Toronto, Canada

IEEE Seminar (Toronto)

Speaker for international best-seller Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search

March 2015 Toronto, Canada

Cannexus 2015

Speaker providing information on international best-selling book, Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search

January 2015 Toronto, Canada

Editors Association of Canada National Annual Conference (Toronto)

Speaker for international best-seller Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search

June 2014 Toronto, Canada

SIPO Conference (Toronto)

Speaker for +300 attendees for SIPO (Spreading Ideas, Providing Opportunities)

May 2014 Toronto, Canada

SIPO Conference (Toronto)

Speaker for SIPO (Spreading Ideas, Providing Opportunities) along with other speakers such as Bob Proctor.

May 2014 Toronto, Canada

University of Guelph Interuniversity Day

Keynote speaker to career development specialists regarding best strategies for resume and career development

April 2014 Guelph, Canada

City of Toronto Professional Development Seminar

Speaker for international best-seller Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search

February 2014 Toronto, Canada

Toastmasters Annual Conference District 60 (Toronto)

Speaker for international best-seller Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search

November 2013 Toronto, Canada

Society for Technical Communication Conference (Rochester, New York)

Keynote speaker for international best-seller Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search

September 2012 Rochester, New York, United States

Pamela Paterson

International Best-Selling Author, Senior IT Business Analyst Consultant, Project Manager

Ottawa, Canada