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Jenn, Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc.: Advize Career Interview
A fascinating career journey, beginning with a classics major and retail experience, led to a senior project management role at Delve, Inc.
The path showcased adaptability, highlighting the value of diverse experiences in shaping a successful career.
The work involves planning projects, managing budgets and resources, and prioritizing clear communication with internal teams and clients. A typical day includes meetings, updates, and navigating varied communication styles.
Key skills include flexible communication, strong organizational abilities, and the capacity to adapt to diverse projects and people.
While client management presents challenges, the variety of projects and industries—from healthcare to bicycle accessories—is highly rewarding. Entry-level opportunities include internships and project coordinator roles.
A key lesson learned is the importance of flexibility and adapting established processes to meet unique client and team needs.
Personal experiences, including a self-directed college education and a deliberate choice regarding family, have significantly impacted their career trajectory.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Jenn Knaus
Senior Project Manager
Delve, Inc.
University of California, Santa Barbara - 2004
N/A
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
History, Art History
Professional Services
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path of a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc.
Jenn's career path showcases a fascinating evolution, beginning with a classics major that transitioned into Italian cultural studies, then unexpectedly leading to a retail job that opened doors to the apparel industry. The early experience in a small clothing company, where Jenn "was sitting next to the account manager, ...designer, ...marketing manager," provided a broad understanding of business operations, setting the stage for roles in logistics, product management, and ultimately, project management in the biotechnology and creative consultancy sectors.
Main Responsibilities of a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc.
Jenn's main responsibilities as a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc. include "plan[ning] projects, meaning budget, scheduling and resources," and ensuring project delivery within those constraints. The most crucial aspect of the role, however, is communication—maintaining consistent contact with the team and clients to manage expectations, coordinate reviews, and build trust, ultimately ensuring project success.
A Day in the Life of a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc.
A senior project manager's day involves consistent communication via Microsoft Teams and email with internal teams and clients, including "at least one, if not two regular meetings with clients" each week, and updating project management platforms. However, the significant variability in client communication styles, company cultures, and project specifics makes each day unique, even when working on similar products.
Most Important Skills For A Senior Project Manager At Delve, Inc.
Jenn, a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc., emphasizes the importance of "clear and flexible communication," adapting to various communication preferences as needed in client services. Their organizational approach, using a calendar to schedule even individual tasks like "expense reports," highlights a practical method for maintaining focus and ensuring timely completion of both personal and team responsibilities.
Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc.
Jenn, a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc., enjoys the "variety of projects" and "variety of people" she works with, allowing for diverse skill development and exposure to different disciplines. This variety, coupled with the widely applicable nature of project management skills, makes the career path both engaging and adaptable to various industries.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Project Manager At Delve Inc
Jenn's biggest challenge as a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc., centers on "client management and stakeholder management," particularly with large corporations who view their relationship as solely transactional rather than collaborative. This often manifests as internal communication silos within client organizations, forcing the project team to mediate internal disagreements, hindering project timelines, and highlighting a need for improved client-side collaboration.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Client Services Industry As A Senior Project Manager
Jenn, a Senior Project Manager, enjoys the "variety" inherent in client services, citing work with diverse clients ranging from the healthcare and medical device sectors to a bicycle accessory manufacturer and a bidet company. This highlights the broad industry exposure afforded by a career in client services.
What A Senior Project Manager At Delve Inc Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Client Services Industry
Jenn, a Senior Project Manager at Delve, Inc., thrives in the variety offered by client services, highlighting the diverse projects undertaken by colleagues—from "working with a bicycle manufacturer" to "a company making new, like revolutionary bidets"—demonstrating the broad industry exposure within their role. This variety, Jenn explains, is what they most enjoy about their career.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Project Managers at Delve Inc
Jenn, a senior project manager, reflects on the PMP certification, noting that its value depends on one's experience; they found their unconventional path through operations more beneficial than pursuing the costly and potentially unnecessary certification. This unconventional approach, combined with a proactive attitude of "learning as much as I can from as many different people as I can," led to a fulfilling career trajectory.
Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Project Manager at Delve Inc
Entry-level project management opportunities for undergraduates include paid internships, where a project manager "pair[s] interns...to shadow a project," and project coordinator roles; these often serve as stepping stones to senior project management positions and beyond. Many companies with project management functions offer such positions.
College Experiences That Helped A Senior Project Manager At Delve, Inc. Succeed
Jenn, a Senior Project Manager, identifies flexibility as a crucial career lesson, emphasizing the need to adapt to varying project requirements and client needs. The ability to use established processes as guidelines while "listening to the client, listening to the team," and crafting tailored plans is key to success in project management.
How Identity Influenced a Senior Project Manager at Delve Inc's Career
Jenn's parents provided structure—requiring a four-year California college degree—but also crucial flexibility in major choice, enabling Jenn to "take courses that felt right," fostering a valuable ability to trust intuition in career decisions. This self-directed approach, coupled with the responsibility of self-sufficiency through part-time work, directly contributed to Jenn's success as a Senior Project Manager by instilling adaptability and a strong sense of self-awareness.
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