As the final installment in the second season of “The Mandalorian” was released on Disney+ in late 2020, countless fans took to the internet searching for information about the future of the show. We’re not going to spoil the Mandalorian season finale for those who have yet to see it. It suffices to say that a surprise guest’s appearance both resolves and further complicates the main plot. Don’t worry, though, we haven’t seen the last of beskar-clad space cowboy.

Unfortunately, it’s going to be a while before we find out where Din Djarin’s story is headed. Jon Favreau – the creator of the series – announced that production on the Mandalorian season 3 will only commence after the completion of the spin-off titled “Book of Boba Fett”, which is teased in the post credits of the second season’s finale. The series following Boba Fett’s adventures is the third Mandalorian spin-off announced by Disney, in addition to “Ahsoka” and “Rangers of the New Republic”.

The appearance of these already established characters – Anakin’s former padawan and the heroic pilots flying New Republic colors – confer the Mandalorian series consistency in the otherwise complex and twisted chronology of the Star Wars universe. Naturally, the delightfully misbehaved 50 year old baby Grogu – the only other creature from Master Yoda’s species known to exist so far – and the vitriolic, Darth Vader-like Moff Gideon help complete the picture.

The cat and mouse game between Moff Gideon and Din Djarin who ends up looking after “baby Yoda��� (we don’t learn Grogu’s real name until Chapter 13) takes place 5 years after the Empire crumbles, when Emperor Palpatine takes a deep dive down an elevator shaft. Palpatine’s demise is not the swansong of Sith, who re-emerge 25 years later in the shape of the First Order.

It’s worth noting here that the Star Wars universe has a Current Era / Before Current Era timekeeping system. Year 0 is marked by the Battle of Yavin, more commonly known as “that time when Luke made an impossible shot through the thermal exhaust port of the Deathstar and the planet-killer ship exploded”. Therefore, Din Djarin and Grogu’s journey are set in year 9 After the Battle of Yavin (ABY).

It is a time when the Rebel Alliance’s New Republic seem to hold all the cards. However, the Empire has not yet been completely defanged. Isolated pockets of Empire loyalists like Moff Gideon continue to probe for chinks in the New Republic’s armor and constantly hatch schemes that would allow tipping the scales of power. And let’s not forget about the various Mandalorian factions that have their own stakes in the conflict.

Unsurprisingly, the show also offers us various glimpses of Mandalore’s history as the main storyline’s events unfold. It is a history marked by war, foreign occupation and suffering that culminates with the eerily named event known as “The Purge”. Not a great deal is known about it, except that we’re talking about a mass extermination at the hands of the Empire that leaves most surviving Mandalorians with exile as their only option.

Some Mandalorians, however, like Bo-Katan Kryze – whom we also see in Star Wars: The Clone Wars – refuse to lay down their weapons until the shackles of the Empire are cast off and their proud warrior civilization is restored to its former glory. It’s likely that the spin-offs will shed more light on their story and personally, we can’t wait to see them!

About the Mandalorian Timelines

To celebrate the end of the second season for the multiple award winning show, we have created two timelines showing both how the story arc fits with the movies and the major events in the history of the Mandalorians using Office Timeline Pro. Office Timeline is a powerful yet easy to use PowerPoint add-in for project management that can create stellar visuals for your data in no time. Try out the free version or explore the Pro Edition, which comes with extra features for those who need more advanced applications.

Like pretty much everything else since the Coronavirus pandemic, project management conferences have been surrounded by uncertainty too. Many live events this year were postponed, some were cancelled, while others have moved online. However, we do have exciting PM conferences to look forward to in 2021, and we’ll tell you what we know about them so far.

We’ve compiled a timeline of major 2021 Project Management conferences that have been announced to date, along with a list of details to help you decide which events would suit you best.

Project Management Conferences 2021 – The Timeline

The Project Management Conferences 2021 timeline can help you get a quick overview of the top events of the year, when they’re scheduled, and where they will take place. The visual was created with the Office Timeline Pro add-in for PowerPoint and is free to copy, edit and share. Click the image to expand it or download the timeline as an editable PowerPoint slide and use it to plan ahead.

We will update the timeline periodically as more conferences are announced or if the dates and locations change because of the pandemic.

Project Management Conferences 2021 – The When, Where & Why

Now let’s dive into the details of the PM events you might want to attend in 2021.

ProjectSummit Business Analyst World (PMBA)

Where and when: Orlando, FL, US, Spring (Date TBA) | Washington, DC, US, May 3 – May 5 | Toronto, ON, Canada, Spring (Date TBA) | Boston, MA, US, Fall (Date TBA) | Vancouver, BC, Canada, Fall (Date TBA) | Chicago, IL, US, Fall (Date TBA)
Why: ProjectSummit Business Analyst World is one of largest training conferences for BAs and Project Managers in North America. The conference is accredited by PMI & IIMA and promises to help you acquire new skills, learn from industry experts and innovators, increase productivity, and expand your network.

New Trends in Project Management

Where and when: Gdańsk, Poland, Apr 19 – Apr 21
Why: Held by the PMI Gdańsk Branch, New Trends in Project Management brings presentations and workshops that will discuss the latest innovations and best practices in project management across various industries. Attendees are promised to gain practical and technical knowledge, interesting contacts and a strong network, while also earning PDU points to maintain their certification.

UMD VIRTUAL Project Management Symposium

Where and when: Online, April 22 – April 23
Why: The annual UMD Project Management Symposium is a blend between industry, government and academics, approaching diverse topics such as Stakeholder Management, Data Analytics, Federal Programs, Change management, Risk & Resilience, and Integrated Program Management. The 2021 edition will be held online, so you can join from anywhere for the opportunity to learn from the best and earn up to 44.25 PDUs.

AIPM 2020 National Conference

Where and when: Gold Coast, Australia, April 27 – April 28
Why: The AIPM National Conference may well be Australia’s largest event dedicated to project management professionals. Details about topics and speakers have not been released yet, but the event is certain to help broaden your knowledge whether you’re a beginner or seasoned project manager.

SPMI Regional Symposium

Where and when: Singapore, May 6 – May 7
Why: The SPMI Regional Symposium is Asia's most sought-after annual project management conference, attended by over 500 Program and Project Managers, executives, scholars and industry experts. The 2021 edition will feature over 20 top-tier speakers sharing their stories, while topics addressed will range from leadership and PM trends to latest technology, tools and techniques.

HAPPYPROJECTS 21

Where and when: Online, May 27
Why: Usually held in Vienna, Austria, HAPPY PROJECTS has been a platform for national and international PM experts and academics to exchange knowledge on the topics of project, change and process management. The 2021 edition, “It’s Spring Time”, will address topics like: spring cleaning in Project Management, how to deal with increased uncertainty, mindsets in demand in spring, and purpose-driven changes, to name just a few.

Resource Planning Summit

Where and when: St. Luis, MO, US, Jun 7 – Jun 9
Why: The Resource Planning Summit invites you to “learn, network and play” during a 3-day event that promises to make education fun. Join leading experts, practitioners and authors in the world of Resource and Portfolio Management and connect with peers on topics like resource planning optimization, capacity planning, or demand management. “What about the fun part”, you ask? Well, be prepared for special evening events such as scavenger hunts, brewery tours, and other surprises.

CHG MGMT: Global Connect 2021

Where and when: Online, Jun 8 – Jun 11
Why: Organized by the Association of Change Management Professionals, Global Connect is a virtual live event that promises engaging educational content for new and seasoned CM and PM practitioners alike. Attendees can look forward to discovering new tools, learning the latest trends in change management, networking with peers from around the world, while also earning PDU points.

IPMA Research Conference

Where and when: Jinan, China, Jun 12 – Jun 13
Why: The 2021 edition of the IPMA Research Conference focuses on Leadership and Society, studying the interaction between project management and leadership on the one hand, and social, political and economic processes on the other. The event aims to bring together academics and practitioners in Project Management to discuss research ideas and achievements on topics such as projectification, shared leadership, change, resilience, vertical leadership, stakeholder engagement and sustainable development.

PMO Conference London

Where and when: London, UK, Jun 14 – Jun 15
Why: Join 600 like-minded professionals for UK’s largest PMO conference. Focused on project, program and portfolio offices, the 2-day event boasts expert speakers, a large exhibition, and the opportunity to learn about the latest PM trends and tools, while expand your professional network.

Project Management in Practice (PMiP 2021)

Where and when: Boston/Online (TBA), Jun 25 – Jun 26
Why: Organized by Boston University, the 2021PMiP conference has change management as main theme and will feature three tracks: Agile Project Management, Sustainability, and Project, Program and Portfolio Management. Register to meet star-studded international speakers, up your capabilities as a PM professional, and earn up to 16 PDUs. Note: because of the pandemic, it is not yet certain whether the event will take place in Boston or online.

Agile2021

Where and when: Online, Jul 19 – Jul 22
Why: Reaching its 20th edition, the annual North American conference organized by the Agile Alliance aims to further Agile principles and provide an avenue for people and ideas to flourish. Agile2021 will be held online, bringing together professionals from all around the world to discuss the latest strategies, techniques and practices in Agile software development.

32nd IPMA World Congress

Where and when: St. Petersburg, Russia, Sep 21 – Sep 23
Why: Postponed from 2020 to 2021 because of COVID-19, the 32nd IPMA World Congress expects over 900 participants from all over the world and will feature no less than 140 speakers. The global has as main theme “Project Management in the Digital Transformation Era” and is dedicated to project and program managers in private and public sectors, scientists, and teachers alike. The event program will cover topics such as managing national programs, the evolution of PM tools and approaches, or mathematical methods of project management, to name just a few.

FuturePMO

Where and when: London, UK, Oct 14
Why: The one-day event is one of UK’s most popular project management conferences, featuring inspiring and informative sessions that will push the boundaries of your PMO thinking. Besides top-notch speakers and interactive workshops, FuturePMO promises a day full of fun and surprises.

Digital PM Summit

Where and when: Online, Oct 25 – Oct 27
Why: Renowned for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere, the Digital PM Summit is a good event to attend if you haven’t been to many large project management conferences and are a bit nervous about the networking part. The summit aims to accelerate your professional development as a Project Manager and help you work through challenges, absorb different perspectives, and find lasting connections.

Global Scrum Gathering

Where and when: Lisbon, Portugal, Nov 17 – Nov 19
Why: A project management conference for all levels, the Global Scrum Gathering in Lisbon offers three days of keynotes and workshop-style sessions to help you learn the latest trends, implementation practices and creative applications of the Scrum framework. Join professionals from around the world, expand your network and get inspired to reach a new level in your agile journey.

Final Thoughts

Even though there’s still a lot of uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 looks promising. With plenty of Project Management conferences that have already been announced – and vaccines finally starting to become available – many PMs have started planning for the events they’d like to attend, either online or offline. What are your plans for 2021?

Timeline templates for PowerPoint to jump-start your planning process

If you have a project plan and want to see it through, you need to map out the steps required to achieve it, and then convey them on a timeline. An essential component of the planning process, a timeline allows you to visualize critical tasks and dates, creating an easy-to-follow roadmap for your project and helping you stay on track.

Building a timeline involves taking all the information you have about your project and turning it into a clear schedule of when everything is going to be done. But where and how to start?

The easiest way to make simple timelines is to start with a template and one of the handiest tools is Microsoft PowerPoint. As one of the most popular presentation platforms available, it helps you generate presentation-ready plans that you can easily display to your teams, executives or clients.

To guide you through the process of using timeline templates in PowerPoint, we’ve created this easy-to-follow blog post. Read on to find out the basic steps and don’t hesitate to give it a go yourself.

Is there a timeline template in PowerPoint?

With a variety of features to enhance a presentation, PowerPoint does include timeline templates as well. You can create a timeline either using PowerPoint’s native templates or the more advanced ones which come with the free PowerPoint plugin called Office Timeline. Below, we’ll explain how both alternatives work.

I. How to create a timeline using PowerPoint’s native timeline templates

1. Create a new presentation or open an existing one in PowerPoint.
2. Click on the File tab on the PowerPoint ribbon and go to New.
3. Type ”timeline template” in the Search box at the top of the page and press Enter.
4. Double click to choose your preferred template from the resulted examples.
5. Start customizing your chosen model.

Although PowerPoint provides a pretty varied range of timeline templates you can choose from, you will need to update them manually whenever a change occurs. This can become not only time-consuming, but also frustrating if you want to apply some more custom updates to the visual.

II. How to create a timeline in PowerPoint using Office Timeline templates

Next, you will find out how to quickly build, customize and update your graphic using Office Timeline, an intuitive PowerPoint add-in that automates timeline creation and management. First, you need to install Office Timeline and you can get started with the 14-days trial for free. This will add a new tab to the PowerPoint ribbon.

You can make a timeline using any of Office Timeline’s built-in-app templates or by downloading one from the wide collection of examples in our timeline gallery.

II.1 Using Office Timeline’s built-in-app templates

1. Inside PowerPoint, go to the Office Timeline tab, and then click on the New icon. From the dropdown menu, choose Templates.

2. To select the preferred timeline template from the gallery that appears, double-click and then click on Use Template.

3. In the Data wizard that opens next, enter your tasks, milestones and their set dates or copy and paste an existing schedule from Excel.
4. In the same Data view, make a few styling choices such as changing the shape or color for each item.

5. In the Timeline view, use the drag&drop editor to adjust the layout and move elements around.

6. Once ready, click the green Create button.

II.2 Using a downloaded Office Timeline template

1. Go the timeline template gallery and choose your favorite template.
2. Click on the Download button under the template of your choice.
3. Once downloaded, double-click to open it in PowerPoint.
4. Follow the simple 3 steps provided on the first slide of the presentation.

Once created, the timeline can be quickly styled further or updated automatically with the help of Office Timeline. For example, you can change shapes, colors, timescale and dates on the fly, or reposition items on the timeline using the add-in’s intuitive drag & drop interface. Not only that, but Office Timeline also allows you to create and save your own custom templates that you can use for future work.

If you want to build smart timelines as native PowerPoint slides that are easily shared and on which colleagues can collaborate right from the browser, you can also try out our simple, accessible online timeline maker.

That’s it! These are the basics steps to get started with a timeline template for PowerPoint – all you need to do now is to find the one that best suits your project and customize it to fit your particular data. Good luck!

What Is a Timeline?

A timeline is a type of graphic that arranges a chain of events in chronological order. Perfect for telling stories and visualizing projects and processes, timelines are generally used to:

• Give an overview of events;
• Detail an agenda;
• Highlight critical points in time;
• Depict different temporal relations;
• Track progress over time of multiple events happening simultaneously;
• Identify specific patterns within a course of procedure in a streamlined format.

What Should a Timeline Include?

Representing an alignment in time and making a chronological statement, a timeline should include the series of events and activities (milestones and tasks) that you want to display on your graphic, along with their dates to mark their occurrence over a particular phase.

Whether you employ this type of visual content for knowledge sharing or tracking the progress of a plan, here are the two main things you need to consider in order to outline the structure of a basic timeline:

• Listing out the main steps/stages of your plan and setting clear deadlines/time reference points – break up your work into tasks with start and due dates to estimate how much time each of them will take;
• Figuring out the logical order in which your tasks will occur – determine which of your tasks need to be completed first and whether there are any that can’t start until others are completed.

How to Create a Timeline

Now that we’ve covered what a timeline is and should include, you can create one from scratch or starting from a template. There are a variety of purpose-built tools to help you achieve this goal, and one of most accessible ones is our online timeline maker, that you can try for free right from your browser.

If drafting a timeline from start to finish is too time-consuming, opting for a template might be the better alternative. Below, we’ve put together a varied collection of 10 timeline examples that you can customize depending on your needs to effectively convey project plans, team schedules or workflows, and other similar chronologies. These are:

All of them have been designed natively in PowerPoint so that you and any team member who uses the presentation platform can contribute, edit and share them with ease.

Each of the templates can be customized in PowerPoint either:

• by manually replacing the placeholder texts with your own data and restyling any colors, shapes, and positions;
• or automatically, by using a PowerPoint add-in called Office Timeline.

If you opt for the second option, you need to install Office Timeline, which will add a new tab to the PowerPoint ribbon.

Once the plugin is installed, follow these steps to quickly build, customize and update any of the timeline examples presented below:

1. Click on the Download button under the template of your choice.
2. Once downloaded, double-click to open it in PowerPoint.
3. Select the Office Timeline tab on the PowerPoint ribbon, and then Click the Data Edit button.
4. Edit the data with your own milestones and tasks.
5. Click Save to instantly update the template.

Timeline Examples to Bring Your Plans into Action

1. Project Implementation Plan Timeline

Designed to help project managers and team leaders create clear tactical plans effortlessly, the project implementation plan template provides the much needed bird’s eye view of an entire project. By turning strategic goals into actionable steps, it enables all team members to quickly see what they are expected to deliver, when, and what tasks they need to complete. The easy-to-follow format makes this graphic a good tool not only for internal communication, but also for presenting the overall picture to management, clients and other non-project audiences.

Since effective planning lies at the heart of successful project management and delivery, this template can also be used to show relationships between activities, track individual task progress as the project moves forward, or identify at-risk tasks.

2. Gantt Chart Template

Including a timeline with editable milestones to highlight key events, this free Gantt chart template outlines a project schedule at a high level in a simple and user-friendly manner. Unlike most Gantt charts that are complicated and difficult for other people to read and understand, this timeline template maps out the essential and can be easily included in communications such as project reviews, proposals, plans, scorecards and status meetings.

3. Marketing Plan Timeline

Any good business initiative relies on a solid marketing plan which usually takes pages of documents to be detailed. This timeline example offers an effective reference point to support the delivery of your marketing plan and assess its progress. Use this free marketing timeline template to present important marketing strategies and communicate with clients, management and other high level audiences that need to be briefed in a clear, easy-to-understand way.

4. Sales Plan Timeline

Having a good sales plan is essential to achieving sales and marketing goals. This timeline template enables sales leaders, marketers and account executives to illustrate theirs with clear objectives laid out monthly, quarterly or annually and present it to staff, sales teams and management. Used as a visual aid in important meetings, it helps align organizations and management behind the key targets and deadlines of sales campaigns. Alternatively, it can serve as a scorecard to present a plan’s progress against its objectives.

5. Year Timeline

Since many business initiatives, campaigns, marketing programs, and personal projects are created over a 12-month term, the year timeline example is ideal to plan and outline your objectives before embarking on the actual venture. It gives you the visual aid to share and present your plan to stakeholders in a familiar graphical way to obtain the buy-in, state your intentions or update others on the progress that has been made.

6. Event Planning Timeline

Illustrating all the major deadlines on a single summary slide, the event planning timeline was designed to give planners, their teams and partners the ability to keep track of what items need to be done and when. Easily accessible and shareable, this template helps you never lose sight of pending milestones and is a resourceful tool to manage teams and vendors.

7. Crime Timeline

Providing a linear outline for events, this timeline template will help attorneys lay out the key facts and circumstances of their case in a way that is simple for any audience to understand. Use this timeline example to better structure arguments, analyze events, and prepare for trial with a chronological, visual exhibit that increases the jury’s understanding of your oral discourse.

8. Daily Schedule Timeline

Graphically displayed as an hourly Gantt chart rather than as a spreadsheet, this downloadable timeline template can be easily be printed in full color, shared in emails or included in presentations. Unlike most list-based daily schedules which don’t accommodate schedule overlapping, this graphic comes with a simpler, easy-to-read layout that lets viewers check the calendar at a glance.

9. Pharmaceutical Product Discovery Timeline

This timeline template was designed to help pharma professionals involved in the development of a new drug to stay on track in this complex, multi-staged process. Covering the key phases of the discovery of pharmaceutical products, along with major milestones such as drug selection or approval, it documents the journey from research to commercialization and lays out a clear roadmap for a project of this magnitude.

10. Generic Timeline

With a basic structure that displays a series of milestones and an elapsed time indicator on the timeband, this visual is suitable for historical presentations, project reviews, status reports, plan presentations, scorecards, or for any other effort that requires a simple project schedule or the illustration of a plan.

Check out more templates

For more examples to get inspired in building stylish timelines, visit our timeline gallery or explore the free, simple-to-use built-in-app templates offered by our online timeline maker.

Eddie Van Halen, legendary guitar virtuoso and co-founder of iconic rock group Van Halen, passed away on October 6, 2020 after a decade-long battle with cancer. While he might have shed his mortal coil to Jump with the angels, his legacy lives on: Eddie’s son Wolfgang took up his father’s – and uncle’s - mantle. The youngest Van Halen joined the hard rock quartet back in 2006 as bass player after the departure of Michael Anthony, and he’s already very popular with the fans. In Eddie’s own words, “To have my son follow in my footsteps on his own, without me pushing him into it, is the greatest feeling in the world".

One might say that talent runs in the family, since Eddie’s father - Jan van Halen was also an accomplished clarinet, saxophone and piano player. The fact of the matter is that, while the passion for music tends to be genetic for the Van Halens, it didn’t get the band to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alone. Eddie and his brother Alex began studying the piano from the age of 6, then gave other instruments a pat-down before settling on the guitar and respectively, drums.

As a teen, Eddie would recall in an interview, he practiced the guitar everywhere, whenever he got the chance, sometimes while he was walking around with the instrument strapped to his chest. On the other hand, he also “confessed” to never being able to read music, and picking up songs near-perfectly be ear alone. Nature? Nurture?

Or perhaps it’s sheer ingenuity, considering Eddie did invent a new fingering technique based on a concept introduced by Jimmy Page AND a flip-out support device for the guitar that facilitates playing it like a piano. He even held a patent for the latter until 2005, when it expired. Let’s also remember that perseverance is a defining trait for the immigrant family who came to America in the 60s with a piano and 50 bucks to their name; they’re a prime example of living the American dream.

Van Halen albums timeline

Van Halen’s big break came in 1977 when Kiss frontman Gene Simmons watched their performance in a local club and immediately saw their potential. What followed was a contract with Warner Records and several multi-platinum albums including Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Diver Down and Fair Warning. 1984 and the album with the same name would elevate them to genuine superstar status.

Eddie’s journey was not without trouble. Alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, a few band breakups and cancer marred his ascension to the top of the charts, but he never stopped fighting his demons. Eddie got sober in 2008 and would never again fall off the wagon. He stayed friends with Valerie Bertinelli after the divorce, with his ex-wife and son even attending the ceremony of the star’s second marriage to Janie Liszewski. Eddie would continue his battle against cancer until the very end, regularly flying to Germany for his radiation therapy.

Eddie Van Halen’s story arc speaks volumes about finding your passion and following through in spite of hardships, making mistakes and atoning for them, but most importantly never backing down in the face of adversity.

We have created the Eddie Van Halen timeline and the Van Halen albums timeline as a tribute to the rock legends using the Office Timeline PowerPoint add-in. You can download them free of charge as editable PowerPoint slides and add other major milestones that you feel we might have missed.