What type of person thrives in the International Development industry, according to a Project Program Manager at a Nonprofit Organization
Alexandra, a Project/Program Manager in the NGO/International Trade and Development sector, identifies a key balance for success: "rigid organizational skills" coupled with curiosity and strong interpersonal abilities, since the work is "so much of the business, um, involves people". This blend allows professionals to be creative, meet deadlines, and manage budgets effectively within the demanding environment.
Project Management, Communication, Organization, Curiosity, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alexandra Banning
Project/Program Manager
NGO/International Trade and Development Office
UC Santa Barbara
N/A
Communications
Government & Public Sector, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Strong organizational skills are essential for success in this field.
2. Curiosity and a willingness to learn are highly valued.
3. The ability to balance creativity and structure is crucial for excelling as a project/program manager in international trade and development.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
I think people who typically thrive in this industry have a balance between rigid organizational skills and being curious. It's also important to be a people person, because so much of the business involves people.
So, people who are curious and looking to learn new things, and also have a good level of organization and structure in the way that they work, tend to do well.
This involves balancing creativity with trying new things and new ways to get deliverables, but also being able to meet deadlines and stay within budget. Those are the traits of somebody who excels in this area.