Future-proofing starts now
Between 2025 and 2034, project management jobs that combine AI skills are expected to grow at more than 33% year over year. For project managers, the message is clear: those who embrace AI will thrive, while those who don’t may find themselves left behind.
“Every project manager out there, I cannot stress enough that I want you to future-proof your job,” said René Clayton, PMP, AI strategist, author, and transformation leader, during her conversation on Wear Your Cape to Work. “If you know AI and project management combined, you will never be out of a job.”
From project plans to AI strategy
René didn’t begin her career chasing AI. She came into project management the way many do—by recognizing her natural ability to plan, coordinate, and execute. “I was sitting in IT meetings, watching this one project manager at the end of the table taking notes, and I thought—I could do that. And I could probably do it better,” she laughed. That spark led her to pursue her PMP in 2013, a credential she still calls “the hardest test ever,” and soon after she was leading programs to convert hundreds of credit unions to new digital banking platforms.
Her career shifted when she was tapped to join an innovation team. “We were looking at blockchain, enterprise authentication, and artificial intelligence. Of those pillars, I chose AI. That’s where I saw the future.”
Augmented intelligence, not hype
René is quick to remind project managers that AI is not brand new. “People think AI is just ChatGPT,” she explained. “But I prefer to call it augmented intelligence. It’s not about replacing humans, it’s about amplifying what we already do.”
She had already been working on natural language processing, robotic process automation, and even built Alexa and Google skills nearly a decade ago. “We learned that you couldn’t just throw everything into AI. Sometimes what you really needed was better automation or just a better process.”
Communication is the key
For project managers wondering where to start, René insists the most important skill is not technical—it’s communication. “If you can’t talk to people, you can’t talk to AI. Prompting is just communication. The more context you give—who you are, what the project is, what the tone should be—the better results you’ll get. It’s just like onboarding a new intern. You don’t throw them into a project without explanation.”
She encourages project managers to experiment and play. “Start with recipes, or do a SWOT analysis for your family. Just get comfortable. As soon as people start using AI, they stop being intimidated by it.”
Curiosity as a superpower
When asked about her project management superpower, René didn’t hesitate. “Be curious. Play. Stay curious. Dive in. I don’t just look at the water and watch it sparkle. I jump in, swim around, and then come back and tell everyone what it’s like.”
That spirit of curiosity has carried her from IT to program management, from program management to AI strategy, and now to helping organizations embrace AI with both vision and guardrails.
The cape every project manager can wear
For project managers looking ahead to the next decade, the path is clear. The jobs are there, the demand is rising, and the growth will belong to those who adopt AI as part of their toolkit. As René put it, “If you know AI and project management combined, you will never be out of a job.”
At Project Insight, we believe project managers are the superheroes of every organization. By embracing AI with curiosity and responsibility, you can keep your cape firmly on your shoulders—leading with insight, strategy, and the human connection no technology can replace.
leadership, insight, and human connection that no technology can replace.
Listen to the full conversation
This article only scratches the surface of René’s insights. Hear her full story—including her journey into AI, the ethical guardrails she applies, and her advice for project managers in the next decade—on the Wear Your Cape to Work podcast.