2026 PM Symposium Xavier Billingsley

Bio

Xavier Billingsley, PMP, is the Founder and CEO of PPM University, a PMI Authorized Training Partner and strategic project management consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations strengthen project delivery, PMO capability, and business alignment. With more than 20 years of experience leading complex initiatives across the healthcare, construction, and technology sectors, Xavier helps project professionals move beyond project execution to become strategic business leaders.

A former Army veteran and Program Manager, Xavier has led enterprise programs, coached project professionals at every level, and advised organizations on improving governance, project outcomes, and value realization. She is also the creator of the ALIGN360-AI Framework, an innovative approach that equips project managers to confidently evaluate, lead, and govern AI initiatives while ensuring measurable business value.

Topic

The PM's Decision Framework for AI: How to Evaluate, Challenge, and Greenlight AI Initiatives with Confidence

Description

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape organizations, project managers are increasingly expected to lead AI initiatives—often without the tools to determine whether those initiatives are the right investment. Many AI project failures are not caused by technology, but by decisions made long before development begins.

In this session, Xavier Billingsley introduces a practical decision framework that empowers project managers to confidently evaluate, challenge, and validate AI initiatives before significant resources are committed. Without requiring a technical or data science background, attendees will learn how to assess AI opportunities, identify the right solutions for business problems, and build stronger business cases that support measurable outcomes. Participants will leave equipped with practical tools to help their organizations make smarter AI investments while positioning themselves as strategic leaders in AI-driven transformation.

Key Takeaways

• Apply value stream mapping to identify where AI can deliver the greatest business value.
• Identify and classify business problems using the 7 AI Patterns framework.
• Recognize and challenge AI proposals before funding decisions are made.
• Build a defensible ROI model that supports informed, value-driven AI investments.