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.