Welcome to episode 16 of The Everyday PM Podcast where we introduce a new segment called "Retrospective." Retrospective episodes will look back at recent project project management hot topics. For the inaugural retrospective, I am looking back at Citizen Development.

What is Citizen Development? Simply put, it's taking non-IT trained employees and training them to become software developers. I first caught onto this idea when I came across an article published on Wired in July 2019 that stated Amazon, the tech giant, pledged $700 million to teach its' workers to code. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when Yad Senapathy, Founder and CEO of PMTI, a company that specializes in helping you pass various exams including the PMP®, posted his quick thoughts on the potential of Citizen Development. Listen in as I discuss the positives and negatives of this emerging trend. Only time will tell if this investment will pay dividends for companies like Amazon, who cannot seem to keep up with the speed at which they need to hire a highly-skilled and capable workforce.

What are your thoughts on the emerging trend of Citizen Development? Are these large companies doing the right thing by investing within? I would love to hear your thoughts!

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Ann Campea, MSPM, MPH, PMP

Worldwide Readiness Program Manager, Apple, Inc.

Program/Project management professional with 10 years of experience in product development, physical retail launches, and health care industries.