Celebrating International Project Management Day
November 7, 2019 – Today is International Project Management Day and we are celebrating it at Babcock Canada by highlighting some of our talented Project Management Professionals.
We sat down with Carol Weller, Senior Project Manager, who is part of the team working on the Victoria Class In-Service Support Contract, to talk about her journey in project management.
Q: What is your background?
CW: I went to the University of Waterloo, and completed a double major in political science and English literature. Following that, I was lucky enough to be offered a scholarship to do a graduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. After finishing school I moved to Ottawa. I worked as a media monitor, which was awesome (I read several newspapers every day, for work!). I then moved to the high-tech space and managed software translation projects. I stayed in that industry until I moved to Victoria and started working for Babcock Canada.
Q: Can you describe your role within Babcock?
CW: I am the Senior Project Manager on the West Coast for the Sustainment Projects Team. I am responsible for managing the West Coast project management team. I also work on some of Babcock’s key projects on the submarine program, as well as process improvement initiatives.
Q: How long have you been with Babcock?
CW: I have been with the company for two and a half years, though it feels a lot longer!
Q: What do you think led you down the project management path?
CW: I was working for another company in Ottawa where, out of the blue I was offered a project management role. The project I was given was such a terrible mess. I think they thought that they might as well let me give it a shot – I certainly couldn’t make things worse! I learned a lot from that experience. I had been trying to figure out what my career path should be, and it fell into my lap!
Q: What is your favourite part about your job?
CW: The people! Babcock has such smart, capable, helpful and motivated people. I’ve been really proud to be a part of a team where we’ve pulled off what felt like the impossible.
Q: What motivates you?
CW: Seeing the positive results of process changes. It’s even better when the changes have data to show the impact.
Q: What do you love about project management?
CW: I love bringing organization to chaotic situations. Forming a plan, setting things in motion, and then monitoring and course correcting – it’s a process that I find really satisfying.
Q: What is the best career advice you have ever been given?
CW: Over communicate, especially if you’re in the thick of things with a complex project. I think it’s great advice; good communication is essential.
Q: What would your advice be for anyone looking to become a project manager?
CW: Ask yourself: are you a planner by nature? So many things in life can be categorized as projects, if you see them through a project management lens, then it sounds like a great fit! If this is you and your personality type, it can be a great career choice.
