BHFF Senior Fellow Scholars Asja Omerović, Amna Husika and Imad Buljić Volunteer at PMI BiH Conference “Leadership in Challenging Times”

The fourth PMI BiH Chapter Conference, held on 19 September 2026 at the Ibis Styles Hotel in Sarajevo, brought together project management professionals, leaders, managers, students, and members of PMI Chapters from across the region. Under the theme “Leadership in Challenging Times,” the conference explored how effective leadership goes beyond processes and efficiency, placing people, communication, adaptability, and continuous development at its center.

Representing the BH Futures Foundation, Senior Fellow Scholars Imad Buljić, Asja Omerović, and Amna Husika joined the volunteer team supporting the organization and delivery of the conference. Their involvement gave them the opportunity not only to contribute to the event behind the scenes, but also to learn from experienced professionals and gain a broader understanding of project management and leadership.

Learning Project Management from Behind the Scenes

For Imad Buljić, the conference was particularly relevant to his growing interest in project management and leadership. As his professional experience has increasingly involved team leadership and larger projects, he has become more aware of how working with people and complex systems can be just as challenging as the technical side of a project.

His involvement began before the conference itself, as he participated in a preparation and rehearsal session approximately a week and a half before the event. This offered him an early look at the level of planning required to deliver a large professional gathering.

On the conference day, the volunteer experience provided a different perspective from that of a regular attendee. Volunteers were responsible for many logistical and technical details that may go unnoticed by the audience, while ensuring that the program ran smoothly.

For Imad, this behind-the-scenes experience was one of the most valuable aspects of the event. It allowed him to observe how careful preparation, coordination, and teamwork come together to create a successful conference.

Leadership Beyond Processes

Although Asja Omerović does not come from a project management background, volunteering at the conference allowed her to explore an entirely new professional area and step outside the boundaries of her primary field.

The conference demonstrated the versatility of project management and its relevance across different disciplines. Discussions explored leadership, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, decision-making in challenging situations, psychology, communication, and team collaboration.

One of the central messages throughout the conference was that leadership is not simply about managing processes or achieving efficiency. At its core, it involves working with people, understanding others, communicating effectively, and continuously developing oneself.

For Asja, this made the experience particularly valuable. It showed that project management is not limited to those who formally work in the field, but includes skills that can benefit professionals and students regardless of their academic or career background.

Exploring AI, Resilience, and the Future of Work

The conference program covered a broad range of topics rather than focusing exclusively on traditional project management.

Participants explored the role of artificial intelligence and LLMs, PMI certifications, real-world project experiences, professional integrity, leadership, psychological resilience, and regional cooperation between PMI communities.

These discussions highlighted the changing demands of modern professional environments, where technical knowledge increasingly needs to be combined with communication, adaptability, critical thinking, and the ability to work effectively with others.

For Amna Husika, the conference was an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals while developing her own communication and organizational skills through active participation in the volunteer team.

She described the experience as an opportunity to meet people from different fields, exchange perspectives, and contribute directly to the realization of the conference through logistical and technical responsibilities.

A Regional Professional Community

The conference also brought together members of PMI Chapters from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, creating opportunities for networking and regional exchange.

The event featured a diverse group of speakers and panelists, including Amra Sofić, Adem Muminagić, Naida Hodžić, Stanislav Strešnjak, Jasna Pleho, Damir Kapidžić, Muamer Bezdrob, Igor Berecki, Sanjin Manjo, Alisa Lingo, Samir Mahmić, Adnan Baručija, Belma Kajanija Kuko, Irina Rizvan, Selma Fuško, Radmila Kecman, Vladimir Rašović, Gordan Krčelić, Gregor Androjna, and Miran Pezer.

The range of perspectives contributed to an event that combined professional expertise with a more approachable and engaging atmosphere. As Imad noted, even the title of Igor Berecki’s session, “Projektni management u banani”, reflected the conference’s ability to address serious professional topics without becoming overly formal.

Beyond the sessions themselves, networking played an important role. Conversations during the event led to new professional contacts, with some connections continuing after the conference.

BHFF Leadership on the Conference Stage

The BHFF community was also represented on the conference stage through Samir Mahmić, Director of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Futures Foundation, who participated in the panel “Professional Value Without Compromise.”

Moderated by Sanjin Manjo, the panel brought together Alisa Lingo, Samir Mahmić, Adnan Baručija, and Adem Muminagić for a discussion focused on professional values and leadership.

His participation added another connection between the BHFF community and the broader professional network represented at the PMI BiH Chapter Conference.

From Volunteering to Professional Growth

For Amna, Asja, and Imad, volunteering offered much more than an opportunity to assist with conference logistics.

It allowed them to experience a professional event from behind the scenes, interact with people from different industries, explore project management as a transferable skill, and gain insights into leadership in a changing professional environment.

For Asja, the experience demonstrated the value of stepping outside one's primary field. For Amna, it strengthened communication and organizational skills while providing new professional connections. For Imad, it offered a closer look at a field that increasingly intersects with his own work in technology and team leadership.

Together, their experiences reflect the value of learning beyond one's immediate academic or professional discipline. By volunteering, asking questions, meeting new people, and taking on unfamiliar experiences, BHFF Senior Fellow Scholars continue to expand their skills and perspectives — both within and beyond their fields of study.