PRINCE2 Master: opening the door to big picture thinking, courage and curiosity

Vipin Bhardwaj, PRINCE2 Master and PeopleCert ambassador - consultant specializing in areas including project management, IT governance, DevOps and agile practices

I’m a firm believer that you must have working knowledge and practical experience of applying best practice frameworks and methods to both teach people effectively and help organizations achieve successful change and improvement.

If you’ve overcome challenges then you are better placed to share, with confidence, how to apply recognized methods to the business world. This is a primary reason why I became an ITIL Master and, now, a PRINCE2 Master.

My working world is highly regulated, full of compliance and continual pressure to manage risk and security. Innovations in service delivery, models such as Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS), and the introduction of AI bring newer challenges. So now, more than ever, a structured approach to collaboration, problem solving and delivery are paramount.

PRINCE2 Master builds new capability and credibility

I’ve long held the view that gaining qualifications helps you climb the career ladder. Your expertise is respected and people will turn to you for guidance. It pushes you to read the books, revisit the templates and collaborate more.

This brings great personal validation but, in my experience, it also makes you more courageous in the decisions you take and curious to learn from others - and heightens your motivation to keep learning and gaining certifications. In this way, achieving the PRINCE2 Master designation has made all the difference to me.

For many people gaining more badges, where one qualification leads to the next, is a life’s work. But, today, I think people question why they do things and the time and money they spend must be worth it.

Having been through the process, I think PRINCE2 Master is worth it. I could see the value it would bring, and that has been proven: it’s made me more versatile as a practitioner and I get more autonomy in projects as a result.

My journey through the PRINCE2 designations has been a process of continuous growth. Each certification—starting with PRINCE2 Project Manager—taught me the importance of structured delivery and stakeholder alignment. Achieving PRINCE2 Agile Expert helped me balance governance with flexibility, while PRINCE2 Programme Manager shifted my focus to managing outcomes and strategic alignment.

The PRINCE2 Portfolio Manager designation enhanced my ability to prioritize value and align projects with organizational goals. Finally, PRINCE2 PMO Manager deepened my understanding of governance, repeatability and decision-support systems.

Collectively, these qualifications equipped me with a well-rounded, strategic approach to project management, ultimately leading me to pursue the PRINCE2 Master designation. Each step of the way, I gained new skills that allowed me to take on greater autonomy and responsibility in my projects, making the PRINCE2 Master title a natural and rewarding next step.

What’s more, organizations value it too. Thinking beyond the rule book is hugely important and critical for strategic delivery. Project teams must be able to look beyond the task and have the expertise to plan according to the end goal – the value the project will deliver, the difference it will make to the organization or the customer – within the context of the project.

The community will strengthen as more Masters qualify

I would encourage anyone embarking on this journey to consider how they can apply the principles to their daily lives, so they practice at every opportunity. For example, you can also transfer the skills to planning a holiday, a wedding or a house move. It will help to hone the idea that even with small projects there’s risk and a bigger picture to manage.

Overall, I think the people who achieve Master status will be in demand because they appreciate this balance. A Master can align projects to programmes and programmes to portfolios. But more than this, where there is a mastery of methods and frameworks in the organization's skill set, there will be fewer conflicts and a greater likelihood of faster, smoother delivery.

Looking back on my working life, there’s always been a theme of learning. Being a PRINCE2 Master, sums this up perfectly. It’s a culmination of everything I have learnt and everything I believe in; when you are a master you can help guide the community and make a difference, which makes the journey all the more enjoyable.

The PRINCE2 Master designation is the ultimate designation in project, programme and portfolio management. This positions professionals as key enablers of change within their organization. It demonstrates mastery of all PRINCE2 certifications, empowering professionals to lead initiatives at all levels—projects, programmes, and portfolios—while ensuring strategic alignment, resilience, and maximum organizational value.

For more information visit the PRINCE2 official qualification scheme.