![\"Melanie](\"https:\/\/svapm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/melanie-ebojo.thumbnail.jpg\")
While Genentech<\/strong> sponsored a risk management initiative a couple years ago to improve risk identification, analysis, and planning, the results still appeared spotty in terms of widespread application by its project teams,.\u00a0 But that didn’t stop senior project manager Melanie Ebojo.\u00a0 With her experience in managing cross-functional project teams and global collaborations from late stage research through early stage clinical trials, Melanie applied the concepts.\u00a0 Along the way she developed strategies for success and leads a discussion about elements of risk management that are universal vs. those that are unique to the biotech\/pharma industry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n These managers and their case studies…and more…were specially selected to stimulate learning from each other at the PMI NorCal Symposium 2008<\/a> at Stanford University on September 4th.<\/p>\n![\"Darin](\"https:\/\/svapm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/darinmd5.thumbnail.jpg\")
With a new CIO and several key managers coming into the organization over the last several years, the time appeared right for Symantec<\/strong> to address challenges to support its phenomenal growth.\u00a0 Darin Danforth and his global team created a Center of Excellence for Project Management, an organization focused on maximizing the return on project investment through delivery execution of the IT portfolio.\u00a0 Being on a fast path to mature project management resources, practices, controls and processes, they place a focused effort on increasing PM skills, enhancing project initiation activities, and driving the importance of portfolio performance.\u00a0 Learn how these efforts contribute to significant operational and financial improvement in project performance.<\/p>\n![\"Esteri](\"https:\/\/svapm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/esterihinman1.thumbnail.jpg\")
As a Capability Owner in Intel’s Corporate Platform Office, Esteri Hinman is helping to make great Intel <\/strong>platforms…better!\u00a0 She is one of a team of change agents charting a path towards higher maturity, including disciplines around portfolio management, decision support, product life cycle management, and traditional program management functions such as resources, risk, and schedule.\u00a0 The team primarily uses a bottoms-up approach to lead changes based on adding business value.\u00a0 Esteri addresses not only the mechanics of how these changes are being moved into the Intel environment, but also the team’s biggest challenge: the cultural transformation: and requisite patience: required to get adoption of improved practices to meet ever evolving business needs across geographically dispersed virtual teams.<\/p>\n