As part of our board transition series, we spoke with Arjun Petapermal to reflect on his journey with the PMI San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, his contributions, and the lessons learned through leadership, governance, and collaboration.

A Journey Rooted in Community

Arjun’s journey with PMI San Francisco began in 2022 while pursuing his MBA at Hult. With a background in civil engineering and program management, he joined the NextGen Leaders (NGL) program as a volunteer.

His motivation was simple but powerful—connection.

“I wanted to connect with peers in project management and build something meaningful.”

That intention quickly turned into action as he played a key role in launching the first Lead Jam event—an initiative designed to bring innovation and engagement to the community.

Building Impact Through Action

Following the success of Lead Jam, Arjun was invited to join the Board of Directors as the NGL representative.

Among his proudest contributions are:

Advancing the NextGen Leaders program

Supporting foundational work in governance, IT processes, and documentation

Driving efforts to break down silos across the chapter

He describes this work as helping bring the chapter into a “new era” of collaboration and structure.

Leadership Means Doing the Work

One of Arjun’s strongest reflections challenges a common misconception about leadership.

“Leadership is not about directing others—it’s about doing the work. You have to get your hands dirty and get things done.”

He emphasized that communication, collaboration, and commitment are not optional—they are essential.

This mindset has shaped a culture where leaders are not removed from execution, but actively engaged in it.

Bridging Strategy and Operations

Arjun highlighted the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between board-level strategy and operational execution—while ensuring strong alignment between the two.

“The board sets direction, but it must stay connected enough to understand the reality on the ground.”

Creating a shared language between strategy and operations, he noted, is critical for effectiveness.

Challenges: Engagement and Alignment

Like many leadership environments, the board experience came with challenges.

Arjun highlighted varying levels of engagement as a key area to navigate—where different levels of involvement can impact collaboration and progress. This experience strengthened his approach to communication, accountability, and setting clear expectations.

He also emphasized the importance of intentional alignment:

“Alignment should never be assumed. It needs to be built through clear, consistent communication.”

Even when teams agree on the vision, clarity around execution—such as roles, timing, and ownership—is essential for success

The Path Forward: Unsiloing the Organization

Looking ahead, Arjun sees one critical priority:

Unsiloing the organization.

To achieve this, he stressed the need to strengthen:

Governance discipline

Documentation and processes

Onboarding and offboarding practices

Succession planning

By improving internal structure, volunteers can focus more effectively on delivering value to members through learning, networking, and professional growth.

A Culture of Dedication

Arjun expressed deep respect for the volunteer community, highlighting the scale and impact of the chapter:

A small group of dedicated volunteers supporting thousands of members across numerous programs.

He also shared appreciation for individuals who supported his journey, especially Carin, who played a key role in bringing him into the community and supporting his growth.

Advice to Future Leaders

Arjun’s message to incoming board members is clear and direct:

Be all-in

Communicate clearly and intentionally

Don’t hesitate to step in and improve things

Recognize and respect the work of others

“Leadership is not symbolic. It requires real commitment.”

He also reminded future leaders that the chapter operates as a collective:

“Successes, failures, and challenges are shared—we move forward together.”

Looking Ahead

As Arjun transitions from his board role, he remains committed to supporting ongoing initiatives, particularly in IT governance and foundational improvements.

Thank You, Arjun

We thank Arjun for his dedication, leadership, and commitment to strengthening the PMI San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.

His contributions—especially in governance, structure, and collaboration—have laid important groundwork for the chapter’s future.

PMI will continue to benefit from leaders like Arjun, and our doors remain open for his continued involvement—whether through initiatives, events, or future leadership roles.

We wish him continued success and look forward to staying connected.