Asya Watkins Is Redefining What It Means to Lead in Project Management
When you look at Asya Watkins' career, you are not looking at someone who chose one lane and stayed in it. You are looking at a woman who built the lane, paved it, and then went back to build more. As an MBA, Six Sigma Green Belt, and PMP-certified professional, Asya is the kind of leader the project management industry did not know it needed until she showed up. She is the founder and CEO of Women of Project Management®, a bestselling author, an internationally recognized keynote speaker, an executive coach, a board member, a LinkedIn course creator and most importantly, a proud wife and mother... all at the same time.
This post is not about how she got here. It is about everything she is doing right now and how you can plug into it.
The Many Hats of Asya Watkins
Most professionals have a title. Asya Watkins has an entire portfolio. What makes her presence in the project management space so distinct is not just what she has built; it is the intentionality behind every offering. Each hat she wears serves a specific purpose and a specific audience.
Founder and CEO of Women of Project Management®
Asya is the founder of Women of Project Management®, the only global community dedicated to supporting and amplifying the voices of women and women of color in every specialty of the project management profession worldwide. The community has grown from a vision into a fully operating ecosystem that includes a thriving membership platform, an annual project management conference, a podcast, merchandise, and more.
Women Of Project Management® Annual Conference | June 2026 — Women Of Project Management
She also serves on the board of Western Governors University, advising on academic and workforce initiatives and playing a direct role in building and scaling certificate programming into a full project management program within the School of Business.
Bestselling Author
Asya is the author of The Little Black Book of Project Management, a resource built for real practitioners navigating real careers. More on the book below.
International Keynote Speaker
She has delivered keynotes for the Project Management Institute in Beijing and at leadership conferences around the world. She has partnered with LinkedIn as both a course developer and on-screen talent, and has collaborated with PMI on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives focused on leadership pathways and systemic change.
Executive Coach
Through her coaching practice at asyawatkins.com, Asya works with professionals and leaders who are ready to move through complexity with clarity. More on this below.
The Little Black Book of Project Management... What's Inside and Why You Need It
If you have been in project management for more than five minutes, you already know how few resources actually speak to the real, unfiltered experience of being a practitioner in the field. Asya's book fills that gap directly.
The Little Black Book of Project Management is not a textbook. It is the kind of resource you keep close:
Practical advice rooted in real project management experience, not theory
Candid career insight that speaks to professionals at every stage
A voice that does not water things down ... refreshing in a field full of corporate jargon
The Special Edition comes bundled with an audiobook, so you can take it on the go
The Special Edition Book + Audiobook bundle is available now at womenofpm.com. Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned PM looking for a resource that actually resonates, this book belongs in your library.
Who This Book Is For
New and mid-career project managers looking for real-world perspective
Women and women of color navigating the profession
Leaders who want to better support their PM teams
Anyone who has ever thought "I wish someone had told me this earlier"
What It Looks Like to Work with Asya
There are two ways to bring Asya Watkins into your professional world directly... as a coaching client or as an event or organization that books her to speak.
Her Coaching Approach
Asya's coaching practice is built for people who are done playing small. Her approach is grounded in two decades of experience across entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, and ecosystem building. She does not do generic advice or one-size-fits-all frameworks.
What you can expect from coaching with Asya:
Clarity on your next move, whether that is a career transition, a business pivot, or a leadership growth moment
Strategic thinking that goes beyond what most coaches offer because her lens is built from real execution, not theory
Honest perspective from someone who has navigated complexity in multiple industries and at multiple levels
Custom, collaborative engagements designed around where you are and where you want to go
Coaching engagements are application-based because Asya works only with clients whose goals align with her expertise and values. Learn more and apply at asyawatkins.com/coaching.
Her Speaking Topics and Reach
Asya is an internationally recognized keynote speaker known for speaking candidly from the heart and using her own journey to teach and inspire. She has been described by event organizers as someone who surpasses all expectations with her transparency and dedication to her craft.
Her speaking topics include:
Retaining and Sustaining Teams ... a talk built for leaders navigating talent challenges
The Setback Staircase ... how she turned her professional "failures" into the best career opportunities of her life
How to Celebrate and Advocate for a Diverse Team ... practical strategies for leaders who want to walk the talk on inclusion
Project Management Leadership ... tailored talks for PM-specific audiences and organizations
To inquire about booking Asya for your next event, conference, or corporate program, visit asyawatkins.com/speaking.
The 2026 Women of PM Annual Conference... June 17–19
Every year, the Women of Project Management Annual Conference sells out. Every year, it gets better. And the 2026 edition is shaping up to be the most impactful one yet.
Here is what you need to know:
Dates: June 17–19, 2026
Designed for: Women and women of color in project management... and anyone who values diverse, inclusive leadership spaces
Website: womenofpm.com
What Makes This Conference Different
This is not just another professional development event. Attendees consistently describe the conference as an entire experience and celebration. Here is what sets it apart:
Curated speakers who are industry leaders, not just keynote circuit regulars
Workshops designed to produce real takeaways, not just inspiration
Community energy that you cannot replicate in a virtual setting... this is an in-person experience built for connection
A room where you belong, especially if you have spent your career being one of the few women or women of color at the table
Membership your ticket to this conference comes with access to the community; membership that gives you direct connection to the women who are shaping the industry
Who Should Attend
Project managers at every career level looking for professional development and community
Women and women of color in PM who want a room built specifically for them
Leaders and executives who want to invest in their teams' growth
Anyone who believes diversity and inclusion belong at the center of leadership conversations
Tickets are limited. Secure your spot at womenofpm.com.
The Membership Behind the Movement
The conference is one event per year. The membership is where the community lives every single day.
Women of Project Management® is a membership-based professional network built for women and women of color in the project management industry worldwide. It is the only community of its kind, globally.
What Members Get Access To
A professional network of women in PM from all over the world
Career resources and tools built specifically for the PM industry
Community conversations that are honest, supportive, and rooted in shared experience
Who the Membership Is For
The community does not restrict membership by race, job function, age, or lifestyle, but its focus is clear. If you value diversity, cultural awareness, and being in a space where Black women are centered, supported, and leading... you are welcome. If inclusion is your thing, it will feel like home.
Join the membership at womenofpm.com.
Asya Watkins at a Glance... Everything in One Place
Here is a quick reference to everything Asya Watkins offers and where to find it:
Women of PM Community + Membership ... womenofpm.com
2026 Annual Conference (June 17–19) ... womenofpm.com
The Little Black Book of PM, Special Edition + Audiobook ... womenofpm.com/products
Coaching ... asyawatkins.com/coaching
Speaking ... asyawatkins.com/speaking
Women of PM Podcast ... all major podcast platforms
Asya Watkins is not just redefining what it means to lead in project management. She is building the infrastructure that makes that redefinition possible... one community, one conference, one reader, one client at a time. Follow her journey, grab her book, join the community, and if you are serious about what is next for you, reach out.
Join.
Join the full discussion inside the Women Of Project Management Membership. Listen to part of our conversation on the Women Of Project Management Podcast.
If you're new to our community, Women Of Project Management is the only community created to support & amplify the voices of women & women of color in every specialty of the project management industry worldwide. We support women in every stage of their career, learn more at Women Of Project Management.
