Issue #25 - The PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition is here!

In This Issue

• What Changed, What Matters, and How to Use It
• Gemini Throws a Punch at ChatGPT
• Turning Data into Visuals with Gemini Pro Nano Banana
• Last Masterclass of 2025!
• New course "Project Leadership and Governance for Senior Executives"
• Changing Lives, One Scholarship at a Time

What Changed, What Matters, and How to Use It

So many things have happened since I returned from the PMI Summit 2025 in Phoenix.

At this major annual event, the latest developments in the field of project management are announced. And this year, they came out strong: they launched the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition.

For those who don’t know, the PMBOK® Guide, or Project Management Body of Knowledge, is the global standard for project management. It provides frameworks, best practices, and guidelines to help project managers deliver successful projects consistently.

It is one of the great foundations for those who want to pass the exam and obtain the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

You can't imagine how excited and happy I was!!! On the flight from Phoenix to Portugal, I read the whole book in one go, unable to put it down. As soon as I landed, the first thing I did was record an episode of my podcast, 5 Minutes Podcast, where I immediately shared my first impressions of this new release with you.

This new edition is clearer, more practical, and much more aligned with how projects are really delivered today. It’s based on nearly 48,000 global data points and two full rounds of community feedback, making it one of the most evidence-driven updates in PMI history.

One of the biggest changes in the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition that really caught my attention is how the traditional process groups — Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing — have evolved into broader performance domains. The focus is now on outcomes rather than following rigid processes. Communication has also shifted. It’s no longer a standalone knowledge area but is now part of stakeholder engagement.

At first glance, this may seem like a minor structural change, but conceptually it transforms how we think about project communication. Communication doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it exists because stakeholders do, and each stakeholder has different expectations, levels of influence, and information needs. Effective communication is no longer about broadcasting information broadly. Instead, it’s about delivering the right message, to the right person, at the right time, in the right way. Stakeholder diversity now drives communication strategy, rather than communication shaping stakeholder engagement. I also have a 5 Minutes Podcast episode talking about this, if you want to give it a listen.

After releasing these episodes, many people asked me: “There are over 40 processes — do I need to memorize all of them?”.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked this. In previous editions of the PMBOK® Guide, the same question came up repeatedly, and I’ve always had a very firm and clear opinion on this: absolutely not.

When you look closely, you’ll see that many processes follow the same logic, especially in the planning phase. The first process of “Scope” is Plan Scope Management, the first process of “Schedule” is Plan Schedule Management, then Plan Financial Management, Plan Resource Management, Plan Communications Management, Plan Stakeholder Engagement, and so on. These aren’t disconnected concepts — they’re patterns. Once you understand the logic behind them, the framework becomes intuitive and much easier to apply in real projects.

I completely understand why some people try to memorize everything, but in my experience, understanding the logic is far more practical and effective. If you want to hear my opinion in more detail, watch this episode of the 5 Minutes Podcast.

That’s why I’ve been creating resources to help all project management professionals navigate these updates.

There’s a complete PMBOK® process flow you can download for free, which visualizes all processes and domains in one clear, easy-to-follow diagram.

I also released a long video explaining this process flow step by step, making it simple to see how everything connects. I prepared this type of video for the first time in 1998 when I was studying for the PMP Exam from PMI, including how to read the ITTO for the 40 processes correctly. Since then, I decided to publish this type of video to help people overcome their fear of the thick guide and learn that you can benefit from the processes and approach in your projects.

The video is available on my YouTube Channel in English with subtitles in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and French.

The video is also available in Portuguese:

And yes, I know many of you are curious about AI. While it’s not a separate performance domain in this edition, PMI included Appendix X3, which shows how AI can support project work and connect with the performance domains. It’s just a few pages, but it’s incredibly practical and gives a clear view of how AI fits into modern project management. I have a fourth episode of the 5 Minutes Podcast talking about this as well.

I’ve put all of this together not just because it’s exciting, but because I want to help. As I always say, it’s truly a pleasure to share knowledge and guide others along their professional journey.

What I love about this edition is that it encourages us to stop thinking about project management as memorizing checklists and start seeing it as understanding patterns, adapting to reality, and learning from every challenge.

The 8th Edition isn’t about predicting everything or eliminating all problems.

It’s about responding faster, learning deeper, and strengthening your systems so projects succeed even when things go wrong.

Everything I’ve shared — the podcasts, the process flow, the videos — is designed to make this edition practical, accessible, and truly applicable to your projects today.

Good luck and happy studies, everyone!

What Has Been on My Radar Recently?

Gemini Throws a Punch at ChatGPT

Over the past weeks we’ve witnessed a shift in the AI landscape that feels almost like a plot twist.

Google’s Gemini — and more specifically its new Nano Banana Pro image‑generation/editing feature — seems to have landed a heavy blow in the ring, backing ChatGPT into a corner.

Gemini hasn’t just launched a new tool... it managed to combine advanced multimodal AI with a viral user experience that’s changing expectations overnight.

The impact is already visible. Downloads and monthly‑active‑user growth for Gemini are accelerating, while ChatGPT’s growth shows signs of slowing.

For many users, the shift isn’t only about “better AI.” It’s about what feels more useful, more engaging, more intuitive.

What seemed like a friendly rivalry a few months ago now looks more like a serious fight for dominance. And for the first time in a long while, the underdog might be taking the lead.

What I expect to see in the coming months is a real battle: more improvements, sharper AI tools, and possibly a redefinition of what “AI assistant” means. Will ChatGPT respond with something equally disruptive? Will Gemini keep evolving and expand this advantage?

Either way, the competition will push both platforms — and us as users — to demand more from AI.

It’s fascinating. A little unsettling maybe, but absolutely worth watching.

Turning Data into Visuals with Gemini Pro Nano Banana

Naturally, I explored the Gemini Pro Nano Banana and its incredible ability to create infographics based on real information.

Today, this tool can take complex data and turn it into clear, visual content almost instantly.

I actually used it to produce a PMBOK infographic based on a talk I gave in São Paulo, and seeing the results was fascinating. It transforms what could be dense, hard-to-digest information into something intuitive and engaging:

What excites me most is how tools like this are changing the way we communicate and share knowledge.

It’s not just automation — it’s about enhancing understanding, making insights more accessible, and helping people connect with information visually.

The potential for project management, training, and professional development is huge, and I’ll be keeping a close eye on how this evolves over the coming months.

Quick Announcements

Last Masterclass of 2025!

I just want to remind you that the last Masterclass of the year is coming up!

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez and I are thrilled to invite you to the 9th Edition Masterclass — Embracing AI in Project Management, happening December 15–16, 2025.

AI is reshaping how projects are imagined, planned, and delivered. Leaders who understand how to harness it will set themselves — and their teams — apart in the future of work.

That’s exactly why we designed this Masterclass: two dynamic sessions packed with hands-on exercises, real-world case studies, and practical techniques you can start applying right away.

You’ll learn how AI can be applied across the full project life cycle, optimize outcomes, and address the unique challenges of AI-driven projects.

If you’ve been thinking about leveling up your skills before the new year, this is truly one of the best opportunities to do it.

This will be our final Masterclass of 2025, and we’re putting everything into making it a transformational experience.

If you’re ready to lead with confidence in an AI-driven world, we’d love to have you join us:

Save your spot today.

New course "Project Leadership and Governance for Senior Executives"

I am thrilled to share that a personal dream of mine has become a reality

My new course, Project Leadership and Governance for Senior Executives, has officially launched.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen brilliant strategies fail not because of a lack of talent, but because leaders were not fully prepared to sponsor and guide projects. No one had ever taught them how to lead in a project-driven environment.

This course was created to fill that gap. It’s not about building schedules or managing change requests — it’s about the executive’s role in making strategy real: providing clarity, removing obstacles, making decisions, and enabling teams to succeed.

It became my most comprehensive course yet, featuring 55 lessons, more than 6 hours of content, and insights drawn from real experiences leading complex global initiatives.

Participants can learn to understand the foundations of successful projects, recognize why so many fail, and apply methodologies like Agile, PMBOK®️ Guide, PRINCE2®️, FEL, Scrum, and Kanban in practice.

They will explore governance, sponsorship, stakeholder influence, PMOs, compliance, ethics, and navigating global and virtual delivery challenges. They also will learn to define and use KPIs and OKRs, track performance with dashboards, and integrate ESG and sustainability into project environments.

To celebrate the course launch, I shared 4 preview lessons on LinkedIn and YouTube, giving professionals a taste of what the full course offers:

If you are a senior executive, board member, or preparing for these responsibilities, this course was designed for you. It’s all about strengthening project leadership where it matters most: at the top.

Together, we worked to turn strategy into reality — and I couldn’t be prouder of what participants achieved through this journey.

Enroll or explore the course here.

Changing Lives, One Scholarship at a Time

Those who have been following me for a while know this is one of my favorite updates of the year, because it comes straight from the heart.

I’m thrilled to share that 216 scholarships have been awarded through our Scholarship and Financial Aid Program, reaching talented professionals across 57 countries.

Among them are 56 women and 160 men, each carrying their own story of courage, persistence, and a desire to build a better future.

The largest communities this year came from Brazil, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria — countries full of ambitious and determined learners who inspire me every day.

These numbers represent dreams rekindled, opportunities unlocked, and lives moving one step closer to their goals.

None of this would be possible without those who believe in my work, enroll in my courses, and support the mission of making education accessible. Thank you, truly.

And now, an important reminder: This is the last time this year that I’ll be posting about the scholarship program. Your last opportunity in 2025 to apply is now.

If you’ve been thinking about it, don’t wait. Take this step for yourself. Opportunities like this don’t come often, and this is your moment.

Apply here.

Let’s continue changing lives through education. Together.

Your Voice Matters!

You can also read the previous issues here.

If you have any suggestions, comments, or anything else that will help me make it better, please send a note to [email protected] with your suggestions. I would love to hear from you.

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends, colleagues, and other people you may find will benefit from it.

They can also subscribe to receive it here.

Thanks for your support, and I hope it was helpful to you.

Cheers,

Ricardo Vargas