PMI Chapter of Mauritius Re-skilling for the Future: My Experience at the PMI Mauritius Conference 2025

I had the privilege of joining a panel discussion organized by the Project Management Institute (PMI) Chapter of Mauritius as part of their annual conference. The theme this year was “Re-skilling for the Future.”

The event took place on 8th October 2025 at the beautiful Maritim Resort.

I was honored to share the stage with some great panelists:

• Prof. (Dr.) Kiran Bhujun, Director of Tertiary Education & Scientific Research
• Shalini Bunwaree Nagdan, Founder of Unlock Synergies, Strategy Consultant, Corporate Trainer
• Yogesh Jankee, Vice President – Services, Dayforce

The discussion was moderated by Sareeta Nundloll Goundan, President of the PMI Mauritius Chapter and Managing Director of SSL Consulting Services. Sareeta also serves as a Board Director at ABC Banking.

During the panel, I was asked about whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) is replacing people and the fear of losing jobs. I explained that there are two ways to look at it. On one hand, AI can write code, so it’s easy to assume we no longer need developers but that’s not entirely true. AI isn’t replacing developers; it’s enhancing their productivity. Yes, a team that once needed ten developers for twenty projects might now manage with five, which can make it seem like AI is taking jobs. However, that same team of ten could now deliver five or more additional projects thanks to increased efficiency. My main point was that people need to learn how to learn, and learn fast in order to stay relevant in this evolving landscape. As Sareeta added, it’s equally important to be able to unlearn and relearn when the world changes.

A first PMI Conference Experience

I joined the PMI Chapter earlier this year and have attended a few of their meetups, but this was my first experience participating in the PMI Mauritius Conference. I’m glad I accepted the invitation as it was both insightful and energizing.

The conference gathered professionals from a variety of industries, creating a unique opportunity to exchange ideas beyond the traditional IT sphere. Engaging with people who approach challenges through different lenses was a refreshing experience indeed.

One of the attendees, Ashwini G. Surnam, Senior Manager – Talent Acquisition at Dayforce, shared her reflections on LinkedIn and highlighted key lessons from the panel discussion.

I am grateful to Sareeta for the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful dialogue and to my colleague and mentor, Eddy Lareine, for inspiring me to step out of the tech bubble and explore the world of Project Management.

At the close of the event, I had an engaging conversation with Billy S. Mwape, CIO of FNB Zambia and a mentor for the PMI Sub-Saharan Africa region.

We spoke about Africans building for Africa in Africa, a topic that resonates with both of us. I shared my own journey and the challenges I’ve faced setting up Linux mirrors across the African continent, an effort driven by the belief that local infrastructure empowers local innovation. Naturally, the conversation took a technical turn at times. Billy passionately advocates for putting Africans on the global stage, a vision I wholeheartedly share. We also reflected on our experiences at international conferences, and the rich contrasts we’ve observed while traveling abroad and exploring different cultures.

Putting together a conference like this, which is attended by hundreds of professionals is not an easy feat. I can imagine the countless volunteer hours that must have been put to make it happen. Therefore, kudos to the organising team and all volunteers involved, and the sponsors for backing such an event financially.