TEACHER TO PROJECT MANAGER
Why I Pivoted and How I Prepared
I absolutely love teaching. Impacting the lives of my students, and seeing them head out into the world with confidence, and motivation was the ultimate joy of what I did.
However, after 20+ years in the classroom, it became clear that I wasn't experiencing the same type of personal growth as my students. Nor was I experiencing professional growth I so desired.
Why am I stepping away from the classroom? Throughout the years, I would find myself keeping busy on small projects within my school, and community. I found joy in executing projects that helped students excel outside of the classroom. In the process, I was developing skills that I would soon come to use as a project manager.
Though, many years ago, I had no idea that I would become a full-time project manager. I've come to enjoy project management because it lets me engage with interesting professionals, tackle complex challenges, and develop new technical skills—a path I enjoy.
"Asking probing questions before acting, considering course corrections, assessing potential risks, and persevering until tasks are completed resonates with me. It's everything I enjoy about taking on a project. "
How do I know project management is right for me? I promptly delved into researching the role and was surprised to discover that I already embody many aspects of a Project Manager. My approach to life and daily decision-making is inherently agile, outcome-oriented, and well-organized.
My experiences in youth athletics taught me the value of teamwork, while my time as a teacher honed my organizational and leadership skills. Volunteering further equipped me with the ability to set milestones and efficiently delegate tasks to bring programs to life.
While completing the Google Project Management Certificate, it became evident that I possess a rich reservoir of transferable skills. This course will serve as the preamble to preparation for the PMI-PMP exam. (Have you read my blog post about the 8 Transferrable Skills from Teacher to Project Manager or My Review of the Google Project Management Certificate?)
How am I preparing for the PMP exam?
My project management Upskill & Pivot plan is a blend of free online courses, YouTube videos, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and Coursera.
My focus has not solely been on obtaining certificates but on building a solid knowledge foundation and honing skills that will give me the confidence to transition into the role of a project manager.
Throughout the process, I intend on journaling and providing reviews on the resources I've used to gain project management skills.
What steps have I taken to organize my upskill journey?
I've adopted a project-oriented approach to my preparation. I've put together a project charter that outlines my estimated budget, available time, and scope, with the ultimate goal of achieving PMP certification.
In alignment with my personal OKRs, I used Jira to create a project schedule with clear milestones, tasks and subtasks.
As you see, my journey from a passionate teacher to a prospective project manager has been a remarkable one, driven by a thirst for personal and professional growth.
While my years in the classroom provided me with valuable skills and a deep appreciation for education, I realized that my true calling lay elsewhere.
The transition towards project management was not something I had initially foreseen, but it has been a natural progression, guided by a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to continual improvement.
