After years of working in banking and finance, Lauro Laureta sought a new challenge. That’s when he found the Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) at Lewis University, a programme which he felt would better prepare him for today’s changing business environment.
“This programme became more than academics; it became part of my personal and professional growth journey,” he says.
The MSPM at Lewis is accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Centre, which had a large influence on Laureta’s decision to study here. He was confident that he was stepping into a globally recognised environment that would offer wide-ranging support.
To earn this degree, you must complete at least 30 graduate credits. Courses are designed to foster leadership as well as strategic and technical management skills, integrating local and global business functions to students gain holistic perspectives.
“It helped me improve my leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, while connecting my banking and finance background with modern project management practices,” says Laureta.
Today, Laureta is completing his CPT as a Manager Trainee at the Hertz Corporation, a leading car rental and mobility solutions provider. On a daily basis, he navigates teamwork, customer relations, planning, and decision-making — all facets covered in the MSPM. In future, the international student aims to move into a role where he can lead and strategise projects.
Pursuing the MSPM at Lewis University allows you to fast-track your career. Source: Lewis University
Top-notch instruction and professional development
The MSPM is designed to help you build competencies that employers actively seek. The curriculum is aligned with the standards of the Project Management Institute (PMI), the organisation behind the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. You can even apply your classroom hours towards PMI certification requirements for work experience, which fast-tracks your career progress by an entire 12 months.
Real-world experience is guaranteed. You’ll be taught by highly skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds, with wide access to resources like Agile certifications, training in Generative AI, and mentorship. You’ll expand your professional connections too, gaining new opportunities through the university’s global alumni network.
Those who already hold the PMP certification have the option to turn their real-world professional experience and certifications into up to nine credits of coursework as part of their Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) portfolios — as a result, saving plenty of time and thousands of dollars in tuition.
Laureto himself received CPT and career planning guidance from the College of Business, the Office of International Student and Global Scholar Services (ISGSS), and his academic advisors. “The university also encouraged me to become involved professionally, which helped me become part of the prestigious PMI Chicagoland Chapter,” he says.
For Gnanesh Gongalla, a 2024 graduate, it was the Project Management Club at Lewis that gave him opportunities to practise his leadership and organise events. Through his efforts, he would become the only student from the PMI Chicagoland Chapter selected to attend the PMI Global Summit 2024 in Los Angeles, where he built relationships with global project management leaders.
“My leadership experience strengthened my ability to influence and build relationships,” he says. “The degree has enhanced my strategic thinking and ability to deliver value through effective project execution.”
The MSPM at Lewis gave Gongalla the experience and confidence boost he needed to become a full-fledged leader. Source: Lewis University
How the MSPM shapes leaders who create impact
Leadership has always been one of Gongalla’s strongest passions. With the MSPM’s GAC-accreditation and PMI Chicagoland connection, he knew Lewis would be the right fit. “I enjoy working with and empowering people to achieve common goals,” he says.
The programme became the exact confidence boost Gongalla needed to accomplish just that. He found it rewarding to learn from professors who applied theory to real-world case studies. “Bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical application made me more industry-ready,” he says. “As a result, I feel more confident, competitive, and well-prepared to succeed in today’s job market.”
Today, Gongalla’s position fuses business processes with data and technology to support decision-making and drive operational improvements. From leading initiatives, to managing stakeholders, to cross-functional team collaboration — the principles that he’d mastered through the MSPM at Lewis allow him to work effectively as a leader.
Seek that same skill and career growth? Check out the MSPM at Lewis University today.
