Other Chapter Events - PMI Sydney - Decode Your Stakeholders

Have you ever dreaded a tough conversation, walked away from a stakeholder meeting feeling unheard, or struggled to get your clients truly aligned? You’re not alone — and you’re not without options.

In this engaging and practical session, Michael Hawkins — Business and Life Coach, Mentor, and Trainer — will guide you through a powerful communication model designed specifically for project managers and business professionals. Drawing on over four decades of leadership experience, Michael will introduce you to his three-step method for mastering stakeholder engagement.

The session will be Facilitated by Laetitia Callegari.

In this session you’ll learn how to:

Understand Yourself– Decode your own communication preferences and behaviours
Understand Others– Identify subtle cues in language, body, and environment to recognise others’ modalities
Build Rapport– Strategically match and manage your stakeholder interactions for trust, responsiveness, and results
You’ll leave equipped with tools to improve influence, alignment, and stakeholder buy-in — and drive better project outcomes with less friction and more confidence.

“Rapport is a state of trust and responsiveness where your words become your client’s thoughts. Learn how to create this state by decoding and matching what matters most.” – Michael Hawkins

Michael Hawkins is a Business and Life Coach, Mentor, and Trainer with over four decades of leadership experience in the IT profession across technical, management, and executive roles. Today, he leads MH Coaching, where he helps individuals, teams, and businesses unlock their potential through coaching, training, and professional development.

Drawing on deep expertise in communication, stakeholder engagement, and behavioural change, Michael supports clients in building the habits, skills, and mindsets required for sustainable success. His coaching has transformed siloed leadership teams into collaborative powerhouses and empowered overwhelmed business owners to become structured, energised leaders.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computing and a Master’s in Business and Technology. He is a Chartered Manager, Certified Practicing Manager, and Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, as well as an Honorary Life Member and Certified Professional of the Australian Computer Society. He is also an accredited practitioner in Meta Dynamics™, NLP, Extended DISC, and a PRINCE2 and ITIL-certified professional.

Driven by integrity, empathy, and a servant-leader mindset, Michael actively mentors emerging professionals through ACS, IML, and ICF. His current focus is expanding into group programs, training, and keynote speaking to broaden his impact and continue enabling others to grow with purpose and confidence.

Laetitia Callegari is a PMI Sydney Chapter Board Director focused on Academic Outreach and Professional Development and an Academic Lecturer at Sydney University on Project Management. Laetitia also has a robust track record of managing complex business and technical integration projects as a governance and technology professional.