Why Women Should Consider a Career in Project Management

With International Women’s Day approaching, it is a good time to reflect on what has been previously seen as male-dominated roles and why more women should consider them. With over 15 years of project management experience, Emma Daly, Global Head of Business Operations at Aspira, the Irish consulting and technology company, shares her insights on what makes a career in project management an exciting and flexible choice – for everyone. 

Why don’t more women enter fields like project management? 

As a woman who started out as an engineer before moving into IT project management, I have worked in traditionally male-dominated industries for most of my career. Research would suggest that despite societal efforts to open doors for women to these roles, concerns about balancing a career and family are still prevalent. Statistics available from the Project Management Institute (PMI) estimate that fewer than 30% of Project Managers working today are women.

A potential barrier to more women taking on roles in project management may be the perception that the role of a project manager, and support from prospective employers,  doesn’t necessarily align with social and home life commitments.

However, based on my own experience, project management can be an ideal career choice for women, or indeed anyone seeking a flexible and challenging but satisfying career. A career in project management can be as varied and diverse as you make it and can be adapted to achieve the often elusive goal of a work-life balance.

A flexible, varied career 

The very definition of a project is that it is unique – no two projects are the same, so it stands to reason that the job of a project manager will be an interesting one, or at the very least varied!

The range of projects I have worked on over the last few years has made for a varied and fulfilling job – from delivering portfolio management enhancements in the pharma industry to the establishment of a PMO for an airline client.

Project management as a career can provide great diversity. Skills such as planning, leadership and communication are hugely transferrable enabling project managers to move easily between sectors, industries and roles.

The project manager role is continuing to be recognised as one with greater influence within organisations and its skillset is becoming more and more valued. For women in project management, there are now more tangible opportunities to progress into more senior roles within an organisation.

In 2020, returning from maternity leave, I moved from Aspira’s Advisory Service into a new role as Head of Business Operations. My project management background and experience has enhanced my ability to add value in the short-term by delivering continuous improvements for the company. I am now in a position to work flexibly and as a recent new mum, looking after a toddler during a pandemic, my project management skills are certainly being put to the test!

How technology can enable a project management career 

Technology has always been important; however, the rate of change in technology is such that it is now critical for project managers to have a strong foundational knowledge in order to survive.

From portfolio and project management to collaboration and analytics & reporting tools, the adoption of technology that improves visibility reduces risk and enhances the collaboration across project teams is really changing the project experience. Looking to the future, technology will continue to be key, so it is important for any budding project manager to ensure they are upskilling in this space.

Advice for new Project Managers

It is sometimes asked whether project management is an art or a science; I believe it’s a craft. As a craft it is honed by experience – and it is the tough experiences that have the most impact. Never is it more true than in project management that you learn from your mistakes.

My advice to junior project managers would be that no project is without challenges. You will have to deal with tricky stakeholders and make difficult decisions, but it is precisely these situations that will help you to become a better project manager. These scenarios may be uncomfortable, but try to face these challenges head-on and you will undoubtedly reap the benefits on future projects.

If you are considering a career in project management, ask yourself are you a natural communicator and a people person, with a passion for getting things done. If so, a career in project management might just be for you.