Beyond the Paycheque: The Business and Leadership of Going Independent

Beyond the Paycheque: The Business and Leadership of Going Independent

Thinking about becoming an independent consultant? There’s more to consider than simply leaving a salary behind.

Making the move from employment to independent consulting involves more than changing how you get paid. It requires a shift in mindset, responsibilities, and how you approach your career.

Drawing on his own experiences, Dylan Boudreau explores the practical realities of independent consulting, from finding work and building professional relationships to managing a business and creating lasting client value. Through personal stories and lessons learned, the session offers practical insights for project professionals considering independence or looking to strengthen their existing consulting practice.

💡Key Discussion Topics

From Delivering Work to Finding Work: Building professional relationships, developing a reputation, and generating consulting opportunities.
From Earning a Salary to Running a Business: Understanding the financial, commercial, and operational realities of independent consulting.
From Selling Skills to Creating Lasting Value: Developing credibility, professional judgment, influence, and trusted client relationships.
Lessons Learned and Reflections: Practical insights, challenges, and lessons from Dylan’s consulting career.

🎯Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, participants should be able to:

Navigate the transition to independent consulting: Understand the shift from delivering work to finding opportunities, including the importance of networking, relationships, and contracting models.
Recognize the realities of running a consulting business: Identify key financial, operational, and professional considerations involved in establishing and sustaining an independent practice.
Build long-term value and professional sustainability: Explore how trust, reputation, leadership, and continuous professional development contribute to a successful independent consulting career.

🧩 Speaker Biography

Dylan Boudreau is a seasoned project, program, and PMO leader with more than 25 years of experience delivering complex initiatives and leading organizational change. His career has taken him to more than 20 countries, working with global corporations, government agencies, and organizations across a wide range of industries.

Having held leadership roles in project delivery, professional services, and executive management, Dylan brings a broad perspective on both the business and leadership sides of consulting. Today, he combines his independent consulting work with executive leadership coaching, helping leaders and organizations navigate challenges, develop their capabilities, and achieve meaningful results.

Dylan holds an MBA and credentials including PMP, PMI-ACP, CPCC, and ACC. A former President of PMI Nova Scotia, he continues to contribute to the profession through active involvement in PMI initiatives and leadership activities at the global level.

📅Event Details

Title: Beyond the Paycheque: The Business and Leadership of Going Independent
Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
Time: 12:00–1:00 p.m. AST
Format: Virtual – Zoom
Speaker: Dylan Boudreau, CPCC, ACC, PMP, PMI-ACP, MBA
Fee: Free

PDU: Pending approval

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Cancellation

Please let us know if you can no longer attend by sending an email to events@pmins.ca. See pmins.ca/chapter-info/about-us for Cancellation Policy.

Information

Type of category: Lunch and Learn

Date: 23 November 2026

Hour: 12:00 to 13:00

Registration close date: 22 November 2026 at 11:59

# of PDUs: 0.0

Price

Students: Free

Members: Free

Non members and Guests: Free

Location

Event Listings