By Membership Selection Committee
Devdeep Aikath brings an enthusiasm to the volunteer community of the PMI Portland Chapter that is hard to beat. His willingness to take on challenges, coordinate efforts, and engage with those around him has improved the Chapter.
With a doctorate in neuroscience and an MBA, he currently teaches Business Analytics at Portland State University as part of the newly established undergraduate Business Intelligence and Analytics program. He brings a strong background in predictive analytics. When paired with his project management skills, he can drive outcomes for any organization. PMI Portland is lucky to have Devdeep as a volunteer!
Devdeep discovered project management during his postdoctoral work in neuroscience when the postdoc association president earned her PMP and shared the value of project management. The research that postdocs complete have a scope, timeline, budget, stakeholder management, etc., all of which are the foundations of project management. Having those skills enables more successful research. Devdeep took that advice to heart and earned his PMP, and incorporated project management into his career.
He moved away from Oregon for a few years. Upon his return, he volunteered for the PMI Portland! As a volunteer, he has been impactful on the marketing team. Devdeep initially volunteered with the Chapter as a creative outlet, an opportunity to develop his graphic design skills. He started as a writer, became the Director of Content Strategy, and recently took over the role of Assistant VP of Marketing. If you would like a peek into his ideas for PMI Portland, follow this link to check out the marketing team’s Brady Bunch video that Devdeep created.
He enjoys playing with his 1-year old puppy, Leo, and dabbling in furniture making in his spare time. He also manages his photography business and is working on his certification to become a professional coach.
To those thinking of volunteering, Devdeep urges all to get involved and find a position that would allow you to explore or develop a new skill. So, next time you see him at a chapter meeting or PMI Portland event, be sure to say hi, thank him for his contributions to the organization, and ask how you can get involved!