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Andreas, Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios: Advize Career Interview
A Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios reveals a dynamic career path built on communication, problem-solving, and adaptability within the fast-paced e-commerce industry.
The role involves managing large IT teams, facilitating daily standups, and navigating complex stakeholder relationships.
Success hinges on mastering diverse communication styles, utilizing readily available tools like Google Sheets and draw.io, and embracing a proactive, solution-oriented approach even when facing unexpected setbacks such as server outages or shifting priorities.
Entry-level individuals should consider coordinator roles to gain foundational experience in project planning and execution.
A strong foundation in accounting and business terminology, coupled with a willingness to adapt to diverse cultural contexts, are highlighted as key attributes for success, especially for those navigating international career transitions.
The interviewee's experience underscores the value of continuous learning, creative problem-solving, and a relentless pursuit of growth in a highly competitive environment.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Andreas Lopez
Project Manager
Vaelynn Studios
Western Governor's University (WGU)
WGU Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Engineering, IT, Math & Data
Gaming
Cyber Security and IT
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios
Andreas, a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios, manages a large IT department supporting a massive, global organization, acting as both project manager and scrum master. Their role focuses on enabling development teams to "build the right thing, build it the right way, and build it efficiently," preventing unnecessary "gold plating" and ensuring timely project delivery.
Main Responsibilities of a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios
A Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios spends their day facilitating communication and problem-solving within the team, participating in daily standups ("Hey, what have you accomplished yesterday? And what are you working on today?") and addressing roadblocks, such as assisting a developer with automating the uploading of thousands of files by "working out a formula to name these thumbnails." This highlights the role's focus on enabling developers' success and ensuring project clarity through collaboration and removing ambiguity.
A Day in the Life of a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios
Andreas, a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios, emphasizes that "communication is the most important thing," requiring the ability to adapt messaging for different audiences, from executives to team members. This involves not only clear communication but also cultivating empathy to understand team members' perspectives and manage expectations effectively, sometimes requiring "private, more closer level" conversations beyond formal team settings.
Most Important Skills for a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios
Andreas, a project manager at Vaelynn Studios, thrives on the variety inherent in the role, stating that "not every day is the same," a stark contrast to earlier monotonous internships. This variety stems from enabling developers to focus on "coding" and "problem-solving" while Andreas manages business aspects and stakeholder communication, ensuring each project presents "something new."
Favorite Parts of Being a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios
Andreas, a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios, identifies "people" as the biggest challenge, citing unexpected events like developer absences and shifting stakeholder priorities as major disruptions. Effective communication is key to mitigating these issues, as it allows for proactive adjustments and prevents situations where "the development team has spent two, three months developing something" only to have it rejected due to unforeseen changes.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios
Andreas, a project manager with experience across diverse industries including FinTech and manufacturing, finds the competitive landscape of e-commerce most engaging. The "pursuit of growth" in a niche market, with its "competition against others and competition against yourself," provides a stimulating challenge, focusing on improving website performance, customer service, and anticipating customer needs to drive sales and outpace rivals.
Favorite Parts of Working in the E-commerce Industry as a Project Manager
Andreas, a project manager at Vaelynn Studios, emphasizes that success in the e-commerce industry hinges on "creative problem-solving" and "thinking outside the box," citing examples like warehouse staff improving inventory systems and developers prioritizing deliverables over strict architecture. This adaptability, evident across all departments, from warehouse optimization to software development, is crucial for navigating the ever-changing landscape of online retail.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Project Management Industry, According To A Project Manager At Vaelynn Studios
Andreas, a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios, emphasizes that most project managers "fell into that role," highlighting the importance of readily available resources like Coursera's affordable project management course. The interviewee also stresses the value of versatile tools like Google Sheets and draw.io for visual project planning, advising aspiring project managers to "never neglect a tool" and explore their functionalities before dismissing them.
What a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios Wishes They Knew Before Entering Project Management
Andreas, a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios, advises that entry-level roles for aspiring project managers often include "coordinator" titles, such as "marketing coordinator" or "digital project coordinator," with responsibilities encompassing "making flowcharts, making the calendar, sending out communications, and updating tickets," before advancing to team leadership. The choice of a specific coordinator role depends on career interests, ranging from marketing and IT to event planning.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Project Managers
Andreas, a project manager at Vaelynn Studios, shared a crucial lesson learned: "sometimes you can play the perfect game and still lose," due to factors outside their control, like server outages or unforeseen technical issues. The key takeaway is to shift from blame to problem-solving, focusing on "the root cause and fix that," rather than dwelling on individual mistakes.
College Experiences That Helped a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios Succeed
Andreas, a Project Manager at Vaelynn Studios, learned that even with perfect execution, projects can fail due to external factors like "AWS server outages" or internal oversights. The most significant takeaway is shifting from blame—"playing the blame game"—to focusing on problem-solving and implementing changes to prevent recurrence, emphasizing a team mentality where "we need to focus on the problem, on the root cause and fix that".
How Identity Has Influenced a Project Manager's Career at Vaelynn Studios
Andreas, a project manager with eight to nine years of prior work experience, completed their undergraduate degree while working, focusing on strengthening areas lacking from their prior experience. This included mastering "the accounting side of things," such as "cost optimization" and financial terminology, which proved invaluable in their current role managing budgets and improving profitability at Vaelynn Studios.
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