Biggest Challenges Faced By A Project Program Manager At UCLA
Kate's biggest challenge as a Project/Program Manager at UCLA is the increasing workload due to "additional programs and offerings" without a corresponding increase in staff. This has led Kate to focus on "automat[ing] and streamlin[ing] processes" to mitigate the impact of the growing demands.
Project Management, Overcoming Challenges, Workplace Challenges, Process Improvement, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kate McAllister
Project/Program Manager
UCLA
UCLA
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Ethnic & Related Studies
Education
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Balancing workload with limited resources is a significant challenge in project/program management.
2. Successfully managing growth requires finding efficiencies and automating processes.
3. Initiative and proactive problem-solving are crucial for career success in this field.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
The biggest challenge in my current role is needing more support as our center's operations grow. Over the past few years, we've added additional programs and offerings to our roster, but our headcount hasn't grown.
I find myself absorbing more work. Sometimes I end up creating more work for myself when I spearhead a new project or initiative. At the same time, I'm finding opportunities to automate and streamline processes to increase productivity, which has helped offset this challenge.