WOMEN IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT - MOVING …...Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our...
Transcript of WOMEN IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT - MOVING …...Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our...
WOMEN IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT - MOVING SOUTH AFRICA FORWARD
STICKY FLOORS AND GLASS CEILINGS
The joys, pains and hopes of my journey
14 August 2015
My Journey
Events and Lessons that shaped me
1988
(1st Life Lesson)
1993 (Obtained
scholarship)
1994- 1998
(High School)
1999
(Univ. Bursary)
2002 (Dropped
Out)
Events and Lessons that shaped me
2002-2005
(Intro to PM)
2007
(Diploma In PM)
2008 (Retrenched)
2010 (Unemployed)
Events and Lessons that shaped me
2010
(Obtained CAPM)
2012 (Obtained
PMP)
2014
(Became PM-PMSA)
2015
(Journey Continues)
The Joys And Pains Of Being A Female PM
The Triple Constraints
Gender
Age
Race/ Culture
Gender Stereotypes and Prejudices
• All women are emotional beings that cannot handle
criticism
• Women sleep their way to the top
• A woman cannot tell a man what to do
• Where there’s beauty, there’s no brains
• Women are not made for infrastructure projects
• You have to become “one of the boys” to get to the top
• Aggressive leaders make the best leaders
The “E” Word – Empowerment
Empowerment starts with you…
• A good work ethic, ambition and character will
attract support and create opportunities for you
• The world is hungry for talent - showcase your
abilities and willingness to learn and you’ll draw
the right people to your circle
• Determine your own growth path- know where you
want your career to go, and how to get there
• Mentors will invest in you if you are worthy, but you
need to be visible
Mentorship – A 2-Way Street
Our joint responsibility…
• A formal mentorship programme will create a good
platform for sharing of lessons and experiences
• Experienced PMs: Step-up and be a role model
• Experienced PMs: Pay it forward- inspire one project
manager at a time
• Emerging PMs: Show hunger and desire to get ahead
• Emerging PMs: Maximise on the opportunities
available to them
Survival Tips For Female Project Managers
Don’t…
• Take anything personally or “get emotional”
• Be afraid of failure – stop playing it safe
• Trivialise your capabilities and competencies by
focusing on gender at every chance you get
• Conform – develop your own leadership style
• Ever stop learning!
Do…
• Maximise on your natural ability to build good relationships
• Take an interest in your team members – recognise, acknowledge, praise and empathise
• Identify your strengths and recognise your weaknesses
• Find a balance between work life, physical, spiritual and social well-being - you are no good to anyone if you are dead or in a mental institution!
• Support other women – the more they shine, the more all women shine
Our Greatest Fear!!!
Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
Thank You.