Leadership often lives in the in-between — between thought and action, strategy and presence, head and heart. In the fast pace of project delivery, we rarely pause to notice how our inner state shapes how we lead.

In this restorative and practical Lunch & Learn, Deanna Davies invites project professionals to explore how breath, nervous system awareness, and emotional intelligence (EQ) can transform leadership from something we think about to something we embody.

Participants will experience a guided breath-based opening practice, learn about the link between emotional regulation and effective leadership, and leave with one embodied tool to apply immediately in their daily work.

This is an opportunity to reset mid-day — to breathe, to reflect, and to reconnect with the calm, centered presence that effective leadership requires.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the relationship between the nervous system, emotional intelligence, and leadership effectiveness
• Learn simple, practical breath and grounding techniques to apply under stress
• Recognize how embodied awareness can strengthen communication and decision-making
• Leave with one accessible practice to integrate into daily leadership routines

Deanna Davies is an experienced higher education professional, educator, project leader, and community builder with over 27 years of experience in business, project management, economic development, sustainability, and leadership. She has spent the past eight years focused on teaching and over 25 years facilitating workshops, strategic planning sessions, and community engagement initiatives.

Deanna served as Program Coordinator and Professor in the Postgraduate Project Management program at St. Lawrence College’s School of Business for six years and now serves as full-time faculty. She brings real-world experience into the classroom through a learner-centered, values-driven approach.

Her teaching philosophy emphasizes collaboration, reflection, and relevance. She creates inclusive, engaging learning environments that foster critical thinking, experiential learning, and meaningful connection—empowering students to build both competence and confidence.

Her professional specializations include project leadership, stakeholder engagement, the social economy, emotional intelligence, and community development. Passionate about the human side of projects, she emphasizes socially responsible project management and leadership for sustainable impact.

Deanna received the 2023 Academic Leader Award from St. Lawrence College, the 2024 Collaboration & Teamwork Award from PMI Ottawa Valley Outaouais, and the 2025 Spark of the North Award at the 2025 PMI North America Leadership Conference. She is also the founder of Elevate3, a professional practice focused on leadership development, facilitation, and wellness.

We look forward to seeing you at our virtual event on December 2^nd

Event Date: Tuesday, December 2^nd , 2025

Location: Online (link to be emailed to attendees prior to the event)

Agenda:

• 12:00 pm    Speaker presentation
• 1:00 pm      End of session

Fees:

• Free for Pre-Registered PMI Manitoba Members and Students
• $15 for Pre-Registered Non-Members

Event Info:  

• Registration closes Monday, December 1, 2025, at 12:00 pm 
• Event attendance is worth one (1) Power Skills Professional Development Unit (PDU) 
• No refunds. Substitutions permitted providing the substitute is eligible for the same price.

Please email if you have any questions regarding:

• This event, Director of Monthly Programs, monthlyprograms@pmimanitoba.org
• Registration, IT Director, communications@pmimanitoba.org

PMI Manitoba Chapter no longer issues invoices for monthly program events. Registration can be paid through Debit or Credit Cards. 

Register!