What A Project Manager At An NGO Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The International Trade And Development Industry
Alexandra, a Project/Program Manager at a small NGO, emphasizes the importance of "being able to deal with ambiguity and wear a lot of hats," a crucial skill learned early in the role that involves making independent decisions and "owning that call." This experience contrasts with larger organizations, where such ownership and leadership opportunities may not be as prevalent at junior levels.
Project Management, Decision-Making, Ambiguity, Ownership, Leadership
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. Dealing with ambiguity and wearing multiple hats is crucial in this role.
2. Early decision-making and ownership are essential, even in junior positions, especially in smaller organizations.
3. Mentorship is available, but taking initiative and owning decisions is key to success and growth.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
One of the big things is being able to deal with ambiguity and wear a lot of hats. Pretty early on, I had to learn how to make decisions on my own and feel comfortable doing so, without always needing a manager or director to sign off.
It's about understanding that people are there to help, but that you're capable of taking that step yourself. That comes with being in a small organization, which I am.
There's a lot of opportunity for ownership, which is great. Being able to really own the projects I lead and deal with uncertainty, and being okay with making a call and owning that decision as my own, is valuable. This is compared to people I know who work in larger organizations where there's a little more structure. They may not have as much ownership or leadership early in their career, especially in junior roles.