Occupation

Self Employed Project Manager

Organisation

Scothouse Solutions Ltd

Could you give a brief potted history of your career to date?

After leaving school at 18 I started work immediately as an Administration Assistant working in an Architect's Office. Over the following 25 years I worked my way up the career ladder, in jobs ranging from Corporate Banking Secretary in the Clydesdale Bank to Programme Co-ordinator with an Edinburgh Training Organisation before joining Balfour Beatty Construction in 1999 as an IT Trainer.  After 2 years training staff throughout the UK in the use of the Microsoft Office software suite I was offered the position of Webmaster which I accepted and held for 8 years.  Latterly, I became involved in managing a number of IT-related projects and this led to me eventually becoming qualified in Prince2 Project Management Methodology at Practitioner Level.

What made you get involved in this area of work/this career?

Following a company acquisition by Balfour Beatty, I was asked to be part of the steering group responsible for integrating two company intranets as part of the process.  This was my first introduction to project management and it was a revelation.  I had always planned and organised my workload but here was a proven methodology that could be adapted for any project and it just made absolute sense to me.

What are you responsible for in your job and what do you like best about it?

I am responsible for working with the client to ensure that he/she has their expectations at least met if not exceeded in the work that I do for them.  It is important to me that all my clients receive a first-class, professional service no matter the size of the project.  I like establishing a rapport with my clients and taking time to understand exactly what they are looking for and how I can best deliver it.

What is a typical day like?

I don't really have a typical day as my work offers me lots of variety.  I always aim to have at least one day a week in the office sorting out my paperwork and checking progress against my project plans.  I also meet with my clients on a regular basis to show what progress has been made to date and to ensure that I am up to speed on any changes that may affect the project.  If I have sub-contracted any of the technical work to a website designer, I will also regularly check that they are working to time and within budget.

What is your working environment like?

I have my own office setup in a spare room at home.  I find this extremely beneficial as without it I wouldn't be able to maintain a reasonable work/life balance!

What challenges have you faced in your career and how have you overcome them?

Early on I was involved in a project where I wasn't dealing directly with the client and was dealing with a third party instead.  Although I had produced an initial project brief and had agreed to cap the price based on the number of hours it would take - the brief kept changing and the number of hours I worked far exceeded my projections and I eventually made a loss on the project.  The experience I gained from this was of enormous value and it taught me to ensure that the actual client is kept fully informed of what I can deliver and the impact any subsequent changes will have to the project timescale and cost. 

Do you ever make mistakes? How do you deal with that?

Yes, I do make mistakes and am always willing to admit them, learn from them and move on. 

What is your greatest achievement?

Going to University and setting up my own company - both within the same year!

What would you like to be doing in 5 years time?

I would like to be working as a freelancer/partner in a Communications Consultancy/Agency

Is there any advice you would give students entering your career?

Build up your experience first in whatever field is of interest to you - IT; Construction etc.  A lot of project managers don't start off their careers with project management in mind but it can be a natural progression from a technical/specialist role.  Although you don't need to know the finite details - it is extremely useful to have some knowledge of how the work should be carried out - there is less likelihood of being duped!

What do you think could be done to encourage more women to enter your field?

For organisations to understand and value the importance of managing any project whether it's building a house or preparing for an office move.

Approximately 80% of project managers are men but women have many of the necessary attributes to become a successful project manager too - it's sometimes just about realising that we do have transferable skills and how we can apply them