Synopsis:

The project had everything going for it. An experienced team. A clear scope. Executive support. And then, somewhere between kickoff and the crisis, something went wrong. The project didn’t fail because of bad process but because of how the human brain behaves under pressure, uncertainty and competing demands.

This session is about that gap between the methodology we follow and the neuroscience we ignore. Drawing on brain science and real-world delivery experience, you will uncover the hidden cognitive forces shaping every decision your team makes, every conflict your stakeholders create, and every risk that goes unspoken in your status meetings. More importantly, you will leave with a new lens for understanding human behaviour on projects and practical science-backed tools for leading with more clarity, influence and calm.

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain how the brain’s threat response impacts project decision-making
• Identify the four key cognitive biases most likely to derail project outcomes
• Apply a Neuroscience Framework to diagnose and de-escalate stakeholder resistance
• Apply at least one nervous system regulation strategy to high-pressure project moments

PDUs:

1.5 (Power Skills)

Agenda:

7:00 PM - Welcome and Opening
7:05 PM - Presentation
8:00 PM - Q&A
8:20 PM - Closing Remarks
8:30 PM - Conclude

Registration Deadline:

Registration closes on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 6:59 p.m.

Fees:

(Subject to HST)

PMI Toronto Members (login prior to registering): $5.00

Non-Members and Guests: $20.00

Presenter:

Madhu Sri:

Madhu Sri is a neuroscience-based executive coach and former Fortune 500 VP of Delivery who has led complex, multimillion-dollar programs across global enterprises. She understands a hard truth most project managers eventually face: projects rarely fail because of intelligence or methodology; they fail because of human behaviour.

With a background in psychology and behaviour modification, and over a decade in senior technology leadership, Madhu has operated at the intersection of strategy, delivery, and executive decision-making. She has sat in the rooms where projects derailed not due to a lack of capability, but because of cognitive bias, stakeholder misalignment, emotional reactivity, and invisible leadership blind spots.

Madhu is the Founder of Neuro Elevate Solutions and has been recognized in Forbes 40 Under 40 and Force Magazine. She is known for her direct, data-driven approach and her ability to translate brain science into practical leadership shifts that improve outcomes.