By Judith W. Umlas
October 9, 2025
If you’ve ever been accused of wearing “rose-colored glasses,” you’ll understand me immediately! For I’ve been accused of – and probably do – wear what you might call Gratitude Glasses. Through them, I see that at the heart of great leadership, project management, and even daily life, it’s gratitude, appreciation, acknowledgment, and recognition that make everything work. I know, I know—it sounds a little sentimental—but after more than three decades of working with leaders and project managers around the world, I’ve seen the proof.
Back in 2004, our team at IIL, which had been training project managers since the company’s founding in 1991, realized that these professionals were doing work that deserved major recognition. So we created International Project Management Day (IPM Day)—a global celebration of their contributions.
This year, on Thursday, November 6, 2025, we’ll host the 21st annual International Project Management Day, a truly worldwide online conference that now draws as many as 50,000+ participants each year from every corner of the world. What began as a simple idea—setting aside one day to honor project managers—has become an international event filled with inspiration, innovation, and shared gratitude. Yes, IPM Day is about Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring, Controlling, Leadership, Innovation, Agile and much more.
But at its core, IPM Day is about some things that are timeless and deeply human that you don’t have to be a PMP to appreciate: gratitude, appreciation, acknowledgment and recognition.
Why Gratitude, Appreciation, Acknowledgment and Recognition Matter
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, project managers and their teams often operate behind the scenes. Deadlines are met, budgets are stretched, obstacles are overcome—but rarely do these efforts make headlines. Successful projects transform organizations, communities, and lives, but the people behind them are often “unsung heroes.” And yet many polls, surveys and even scientific evidence demonstrate that using these powerful practices with people at work makes a huge difference.
That is why these factors are so essential. As studies in workplace psychology confirm, people who feel acknowledged are more engaged, more resilient, and more willing to go above and beyond. Gratitude, for example, is not simply a gesture of kindness, it is a driver of performance, collaboration, and innovation. On the renowned Gallup Employee Engagement Survey, for example, one of the 12 questions asked is: “In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.” If that recognition or praise is not received, engagement has been demonstrated to be lower than if it is.
IPM Day was founded on the belief that every project professional deserves to be seen and celebrated. Whether you are leading a multinational initiative, managing a local community project, or keeping a complex portfolio moving forward, your contributions matter. And you may think I’m a bit wacky, but I believe the following and feel free to quote me: “Life is simply a series of projects. Some we finish, some we blunder, some we laugh our way through—but all of them help us grow, connect, and make a difference.”
And so this article is clearly not just for Project Managers or Project Management Professionals (PMPs). It’s for teachers attempting to inspire students in classrooms, it’s for children building lemonade stands to earn more than their allowances cover, for parents juggling family schedules, yes and for nurses coordinating patient care, small business owners doing whatever they need to do in order to keep the lights on, for volunteers organizing community events, students balancing studies and jobs, and really for anyone who’s ever had to plan, change, and see something through from start to finish. So, are you on board with me? I hope so, because this next part is critical for all!
Gratitude as a Leadership Practice
Gratitude is more than a fleeting feeling; and it’s not just a tool. It’s:
- a way of being
- a mindset
- a daily choice
- a perspective on life
- a leadership strength
- a connector of hearts
- a catalyst for change
- a superpower – my favorite!
So when leaders express genuine appreciation for their teams, the impact can surge across entire organizations. Gratitude fosters trust, reduces stress, and builds a sense of belonging that transcends titles or hierarchies.
At IIL, we call this approach which has gone global, Grateful Leadership— which helps create a culture that empowers people to say what is often left unsaid: “I see you. I value you. I am thankful for what you bring. And most of all…I’m thankful for who you are!”
Mark Nepo, in his beautiful and inspiring volume, “The Book of Awakening,” talks about the importance of being seen: “For centuries, African Bushmen have greeted each other in this way. When the one becomes aware of his brother or sister coming out of the brush, he exclaims, “I See You!” and then the other approaching rejoices, “I Am Here!”
So let’s all remember this: Each of us has the honor and the privilege of saying to every employee, “I see you,” to which each can then answer “I am here.” Give “presence” rather than “presents” to your people and see the difference that will make.
So IPM Day is an opportunity to practice gratitude “at scale” – to grant presence to tens of thousands of professionals across industries, cultures, and time zones – pausing to say “thank you.” That collective acknowledgment has the power to elevate our profession and remind us of why we do this work in the first place.
This reminds me of what leadership guru Douglas Conant did when he was CEO at Campbell Soup Company. “In Fast Company, the article “How Campbell’s Soup’s Former CEO Turned the Company Around” notes that Conant “hand wrote up to 20 (thank you) notes a day to employees … over 10 years, it amounted to more than 30,000 notes … in employee cubicles you’d find his handwritten notes posted on their bulletin boards.”
Appreciation in Action
Appreciation goes a step further than gratitude. It is not only about being thankful—it is about recognizing the unique strengths and qualities each person brings. For project managers, this often means acknowledging the quiet dedication of a team member, the creative spark of a colleague, the steady resilience of a leader who keeps everyone grounded when things get tough, or the courage of someone brave enough to appreciate the psychological safety they hope they have, and to tell the truth to corporate leaders, even if it isn’t “pretty.”
During IPM Day 2025, our keynote speakers, panelists, and thought leaders will highlight real stories of appreciation in action. From innovative global projects to grassroots community efforts, attendees will hear firsthand how recognition transformed challenges into opportunities and setbacks into breakthroughs.
By appreciating the human side of project work, we elevate not just outcomes, but also the people who make those outcomes possible.
Looking Ahead to IPM Day 2025
This year’s event will feature a remarkable lineup of speakers—visionaries, practitioners, and innovators who will share not only technical insights but also human stories of resilience, creativity, and acknowledgment. Topics will span the cutting edge of project management and leadership—from the latest innovations in AI and sustainability, to practices that nurture gratitude, recognition, and resilience in complex environments. Highlights include the inspiring father-daughter team of Krista White and James D. White on Culture Design: How to Build a High-Performing, Resilient Organization With Purpose, and the powerful session Project Management for Youth Changemakers: Turning Passion into Global Impact, proving that young people are boldly tackling today’s greatest challenges—from climate change to social inequality. These sessions, and many more, bring forward critical, timely conversations that every professional (and every human!) can learn from—and they’re as engaging as they are essential.
Participants will have access to 26 hours of content, networking opportunities, and a chance to connect with peers from around the world. Whether you are seeking professional development credits, new tools and strategies, or simply the inspiration that comes from being part of a global community, IPM Day has something for you.
Most importantly, you will be part of a collective moment of gratitude, appreciation, and recognition and acknowledgment —a reminder that your work matters, that you matter, and that the project management profession is stronger when we lift one another up.
Join Us in Celebration
By registering for IPM Day 2025, you are not only investing in your own growth—you are also participating in a movement that celebrates what is best in all of us: the ability to acknowledge one another, to work together with gratitude, and to recognize the difference we all can and do make.
Save the Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Register now at https://www.iil.com/international-project-management-day/
Because when gratitude becomes practice, appreciation becomes culture, and recognition becomes a movement, extraordinary things happen—not only in our projects but in our lives.
🌟 Special Gift for IPM Day 2025 Attendees! 🌟
At IIL, we believe leadership starts with heartfelt acknowledgment and appreciation of those we lead. That’s why every person who registers for IPM Day 2025 will receive a complimentary e-version on my book, The Power of Acknowledgment. This powerful book has inspired leaders around the globe—and now it’s our gift to you, to help strengthen your leadership journey as well as transform your personal and professional relationships for the better!
(And anyone who uses code POA while registering online will save $12 from the $89 cost).
Judith W. Umlas is Senior Executive Director, author and trainer at International Institute for Learning, Inc. (IIL), a global corporate training company. She is the publisher of IIL Publishing, New York. She is also the author of the ground-breaking book, The Power of Acknowledgment ©2006, IIL Publishing, New York, which has been credited with changing workplaces and lives by making use of the 7 Principles of Acknowledgment she developed. Her book on Grateful Leadership, Using the Power of Acknowledgment to Engage All Your People and Achieve Superior Results was published by McGraw-Hill Professional in association with IIL in early 2013 and You’re Totally Awesome! The Power of Acknowledgment for Kids was published in late 2013 by IIL Publishing.
Judith delivers inspiring, motivational, and transformational keynote addresses on Grateful Leadership and The Power of Acknowledgment all over the world. She also leads webinars and teaches full day virtual and traditional courses to organizations such as Volvo, the U.S. Army, Prudential, JMP Engineering, the World Bank, Fannie Mae, IBM, AT&T, Google, Amway, CCL Industries, the New York Police Department, and many others. She has trained over 100,000 people through her leading edge, highly interactive and engaging courses, and keynotes – with outstanding and long-lasting results. She heads up the Center for Grateful Leadership, a division of IIL, whose members from around the world are committed to practicing and implementing the Grateful Leadership initiative in their organizations.
