Tech Career Insights: Spotlight on Project Management

Tech Career Insights: Spotlight on Project Management

We spoke with Senior Consulting Project Manager, Regina Vlasak, PMP, CSM, to gain insight into the world of technology project and program management and its current demand in the marketplace.

With over 17 years’ experience and a specialization in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, Regina shares what she loves about her role, her views on the current market for tech-informed project managers, and what it takes to be successful in the tech project management space. Whether you’re currently working in project management or considering it as a potential career path, Regina’s perspective sheds light on this in-demand skill.

Can you give us a high-level overview of what a project manager does?

A project manager is generally responsible for keeping the project team working on the highest priority tasks, removing risks and impediments, maintaining on track financials, and leading communications with stakeholders and the end customer.

They’ll also act as a trusted advisor to the customers, providing guidance, coaching, and project leadership, and forecasting and monitoring project health.

You’re passionate about technology and project management and you’ve had a lot of success in your career – what do you love the most about your position?

I like working with people and helping them grow, and I really appreciate that my role puts me in a position to elevate people. I want my client or customer to be successful, and for that to happen the team must be successful. That’s the foundation of successful project management. Ultimately, I need the team more than they need me – I want them to want to work with me, so I support them by building a strong relationship, building confidence among project team members, and enabling everyone to do their best and continually advance their development.

For instance, I’m currently working on a project that requires a very specific, hard to find skillset. So I’ve brought on a couple of architects that don’t have this particular skill matured yet, but they’re working with the team, collaborating, complementing each other’s skills and learning as they go – a great example of growth mindset, which is paramount in the industry. This kind of win-win approach is one of the things I enjoy the most.

What particular skills or strengths do you think are integral to success in project management?

There are a few qualities that are necessary for someone to succeed in and enjoy/have fun in project management. Communication skills are the most important, followed closely by organizational skills.

I’m naturally very organized, it’s just part of my DNA, so that combined with the people/relationship aspect is why project management is such a sweet spot for me. I enjoy communicating, and the fact that I’m multilingual has allowed me to manage global projects and work in cross-cultural environments.

Project management has been one of the most in-demand skills in 2022. Have you found that demand for tech industry project managers exceeds the supply?

Yes, there’s a lot of opportunity for tech project managers right now, and I think there are a few factors contributing to the shortage. Project management is a skill that takes a few years to mature, and you need significant experience to operate at the top level. Working in the tech space you also need time to hone your understanding of continually evolving technology. The waterfall theory might be challenging  to implement in technology and modernization related projects – technology and market demands change so fast, you don’t want to realize at the end that what you and your team just implemented is no longer relevant, or no longer makes sense. That’s when Agile Project Management can help. Customers want to see things getting done, iterations are a great asset for that. Besides, I am big fan of “fail faster”, shift-left, make the adjustments needed and move on!

Technology won’t necessarily bridge the skills gap either. Even with the evolution of automation, software, and AI, we still need the human aspect of project management interactions. We’re frequently dealing with ambiguity and managing multiple stakeholders (often high-level, influential stakeholders) who have conflicting interests. The project manager needs to be able to mediate, manage conflict, provide input, and push for decisions. Managing ambiguity is often a required skill.

How important is it for a project manager working in tech to understand technology specializations?

Knowing the industry will definitely give you some competitive advantage. Ten years ago, it maybe wouldn’t have mattered as much, but now having a tech background is a fast track to be more successful, more valuable and attractive to the employers/hiring companies, and will allow you to communicate with more confidence.

Customers don’t just want a project manager; they want a trusted advisor who can provide guidance and direction on solutions to their pain points. They need someone who can translate highly technical requirements from architects and tech specialists and facilitate that communication among the project team, from all the project stakeholders to the executive sponsors.

What advice would you give someone who is mid career, ready to transition into something new, and interested in exploring tech project management?

I recommend you start by learning about project management technology and the different project implementation methodologies available (low and medium complexity project vs. high complexity projects) so you can understand what works best for certain projects and why. There isn’t really a “one-size-fits-all” in project management. Read, join communities on LinkedIn, and gain an understanding of current technology terminologies and how to use them. For example, learn cloud computing terms and use them with potential employers. Also keep in mind you’re not expected to know everything. Be someone who reaches out for help when you don’t know the answer or solution. Issues don’t arise because you don’t have all the answers – but they can become a problem if you get stuck and are afraid to ask for help when you need it.

The ability to demonstrate that you have remote working skills is critical. Since the pandemic, we’ve seen that not everyone enjoys working remotely or has the discipline to do it effectively. The people not being seen and still delivering are the ones that stand out. This is especially true in project management where the capacity to self-manage is very important.

Finally, learn to deal with different people; develop the emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills to pivot as needed. Managing ambiguity, different stakeholders, and competing priorities will be part of your project management routine. Be clear and direct in your communication, and always keep in mind that your audience’s perspective will be, “what’s in this for me?”. 

Are you interested in exploring a career in tech project management? If you’d like to learn more about how Millenilink can support your established or transitioning career, get in touch at info@millenilink.ca. We’d love to hear from you even if you’re not quite ready for your next opportunity.