What is your role at ECMS?
I am a Project Management Officer (PMO) and my responsibilities include overseeing the entire portfolio of collective projects and programs across the organisation, analysing financial information, and collaborating with different departments to ensure all leaders understand where a project is at in the development process.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career and how have you overcome it?
It was learning how to say no. I would often feel overworked and stressed that I was not producing my best work, with the time that I had. I overcame this by shifting my mindset and focusing on aiming to produce my best work. This meant I would need more time, and resulted in me saying no to people. To be honest, it was more of a whisper when I first said it, but now I can say no, or not now with confidence.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
If you don’t understand a task that was given to you, ask follow-up questions. This has been the best piece of advice given to me because it saves me from having to repeat the work I've already done.
If you were not a PMO what would you be?
I would be a pediatrician. I love interacting with children and bringing smiles to their faces. Children are brutally honest, so it's always funny to hear their opinions on various topics.
What is the best part about what you do?
My favourite aspect of being a PMO is feeling like the glue that holds everything together. I can extrapolate information from various sources and feed it all the way to the top and I often display this information in fun, cool ways!
What is the proudest moment of your career?
When I was working with a difficult client, who had fired the two PMOs before me for not meeting standards. Initially, I was afraid to breathe too loudly. But I decided to be true to myself and speak up when I felt like he was being harsh. I assisted in bringing his visions to life and he was shouting my praises from the rooftops. I felt like I was walking on water!
How do you relax on the weekends?
I enjoy knitting and watching TV. Although all I can knit is a scarf, I can knit a pretty mean scarf.
How would you sell being a PMO to someone looking to start their career?
If you love problem-solving and find that everything in your life must have a clear structure and process in place, then being a PMO would be great. The role is vital to the success of many projects, and you tend to be the glue of the organisation.
What is one thing not many people know about you?
I'm very particular about what food I eat and how I eat it. People often tell me that I don’t eat, I dissect food.
Why did you choose ECMS?
Throughout the interview stages, everyone continuously reassured me. When I felt I could be myself and be more confident, it was at this moment that I knew ECMS was for me. This was the company in which I could grow, learn, and not be so afraid of making mistakes.
