Senior Project Manager at AKF Group
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in:
After graduation from Rutgers with my BSME I initially worked in the nuclear industry. I did that for almost three years until I moved to a position at an Engineering/Architecture firm working on HVAC projects for buildings.
What is your current position?
I’m a Senior Project Manager at AKF.
Why did you choose the field/profession you are in today?
Growing up, I was fascinated by buildings and thought it was the coolest thing to take an empty spot of land and create something lasting there in the form of a building. I initially wanted to become an Architect, but life led me to Rutgers and Engineering where I became very interested in energy use in buildings.
How do you manage the work/life balance?
At this point in my life and career maintaining work life balance is much simpler than earlier in my career when I had a growing family. I started my own engineering consulting firm when my two oldest children were 1 and 3 to allow me to have more control over my time. I eventually had a third child and having my own firm allowed me to schedule my time around the children’s school days – often doing engineering after they went off to bed until well into the early hours.
What were some of your early goals and did anything happen in your career /profession to enhance or change them?
Two of my early goals were to have my own business and obtain my MBA. I ran my own consulting firm for 14 years when I had the opportunity to join Rowan University as a Project Manager. Although it meant giving up my consulting business it made it possible for me to obtain my MBA and to experience being an “Owner”. I was promoted to Director of Planning and Construction and enjoyed being part of the exponential growth at Rowan. I really enjoyed the development aspect of my job there and being involved in the entire building process from the environmental impact statement to move in.
Do you feel being a woman is an advantage, disadvantage or no advantage in today’s business world? Why? Why not?
I wouldn’t characterize being a woman as an advantage, disadvantage or no advantage. I would characterize it as a challenge. Many times a woman has to prove she can actually do the job to gain credibility despite years of experience and multiple credentials, whereas a man is typically assumed competent until he proves himself otherwise.
What unique qualities and or personality do you feel makes you most successful in your profession?
I tend to see the forest first as opposed to the trees. This is especially important as a project manager because you have to understand how your piece of the project interacts with all the other pieces. The optimal solution for a challenge in your piece of the project may not be the best solution for the project as a whole. You may need to go with the next best solution for your piece.
What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today?
I feel the biggest challenge was building credibility. As one of very few women in the engineering field when I entered it in 1979, I always had to prove I knew what I was doing. It was important to me to gain appropriate credentials – my professional engineering (PE) license, my Certified Energy Manager (CEM) credential, my Certified Green Building Engineer (GBE) credential and my MBA.
What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young woman about to go into the field of commercial real estate or your allied field?
I would advise her to always speak up. Women are sometimes overlooked for opportunities, and they need to let people know they are capable and interested in professional growth and opportunities.