PMISC Black History Month Series: Theresa Lynette Brown (Founder, ISBPM)

Why her story belongs in this series

Project management is often described as schedules, scope, and stakeholder alignment—but careers rarely move forward on frameworks alone. Careers move through access: to information, to mentorship, to opportunity, to sponsorship, and to rooms where decisions are made.

That’s the context that makes Theresa Lynette Brown a standout leader to feature during Black History Month. As the founder of the International Society of Black Project Managers (ISBPM), she didn’t just join the profession—she helped reshape the ecosystem around it, making the path less isolating and more navigable for Black professionals pursuing project management careers.

Who she is

Theresa Lynette Brown is a PMP-certified project management professional and the founder of ISBPM. Her work is rooted in a clear premise: people do not experience the profession equally, and inequities in income and opportunity can’t be solved by motivation alone—they require structure, community, and advocacy. ISBPM’s stated vision is a world where Black professionals can pursue, participate, and advance in project management “unencumbered by societal inequalities,” with a focus on decreasing income and opportunity disparities.

The impact she has made

A lot of leaders can identify a problem. Theresa built something durable to address it.

With ISBPM, she created a professional community designed to function like career infrastructure—a place where Black project managers can connect with peers, learn from one another, and gain the confidence and visibility that often comes from being part of a strong professional network. It’s the kind of impact that doesn’t always show up as a single headline accomplishment, but changes outcomes over time: who stays in the profession, who advances, who gets referred, and who is prepared when opportunity knocks.

Her influence also shows up in the broader project management community: she has been recognized externally as a PM leader/influencer for her role building and advocating for this community.

Why it matters to PMISC members

PMISC already understands a truth that many professionals learn late: your network is part of your delivery capability. The more connected you are, the faster you learn, the earlier you hear about opportunities, and the easier it becomes to move from “qualified” to “chosen.”

Theresa’s work is a reminder that communities like ours aren’t just social—they are strategic. ISBPM models what happens when project managers apply PM thinking to people-development: define the mission, build repeatable mechanisms for support, and create a culture where members don’t just “attend events,” they grow.

For Space Coast professionals—whether you’re supporting aerospace programs, IT modernization, operations, or startups—this is directly relevant. Career growth here is competitive, relationship-driven, and increasingly cross-functional. The chapter can be a multiplier when members treat it like a professional ecosystem, not a calendar of meetings.

Key takeaways you can implement in your own career

Theresa’s story becomes practical when you translate it into how you operate:

Treat networking like a program. Don’t leave your career connections to chance. Define what you’re trying to build—mentorship, certification progress, job mobility, leadership credibility—and create cadence around it. You don’t need a formal PMO to run your own career roadmap.

Build assets that compound. Credentials matter, but proof travels farther. Build a portfolio of outcomes: a one-page case study, a “how I lead” narrative, a lessons-learned story, a short talk you can deliver at a chapter event. When opportunities arise, you’ll be ready with receipts.

Move from mentorship to sponsorship. Mentorship gives advice; sponsorship creates movement. Be the person who makes introductions, shares openings, recommends others for speaking slots, and pulls someone into a room they weren’t in yesterday. Strong communities are built by members who practice sponsorship as a habit—not a favor.

Make equity actionable. You don’t have to lead a nonprofit to lead change. In your workplace and in the chapter, look for places where access can be improved: clearer pathways for new PMs, visibility for emerging leaders, and intentional development opportunities for people who are ready—but overlooked.

Close and call to action (PMISC)

Black History Month is about honoring impact—and in project management, impact often looks like building systems that outlast you. Theresa Lynette Brown’s leadership is a reminder that community is not a side benefit of career growth; it is one of the engines of it.

If you’re a PMISC member, consider this your challenge: don’t just attend. Participate with intention. Join a committee, lead a study group, mentor someone preparing for certification, or invite a new member to their first event. The strongest chapters—and the strongest careers—are built the same way: one intentional connection at a time.

References (links)

Theresa Lynette Brown LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresalynette

 

International Society of Black Project Managers (ISBPM) LinkedIn page:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/isbpm

 

“18 Project Management Influencers You Should Follow in 2025” (Visor – includes Theresa Lynette Brown):

https://www.visor.us/blog/project-management-influencers/