The Aha Moment: PM Influencer Series
Here we are kicking off our new series, The Aha Moment. In this series we will chat with influencers in the project management space and get to know them better. We are asking a bunch of questions, some biz related and some not so biz related, in order to understand what makes them tick and find their aha moment.
Our first Q&A is with Moira Alexander. Moira is the founder of PMWorld 360 Magazine, which was voted the Top Project Management Magazine to Follow in 2019, 2020 & 2021. WOW! What an accomplishment.
So…let’s get started and learn more about Moira!
Q: What would surprise most people about you?
A: I’d say that most people are always surprised about my sense of humor and to know that I’m also very much a quiet introspective person.
Q: In your experience, why do projects fail or fail to meet their deadlines?
A: I think there can be many reasons or a combination of reasons such as these:
- No direct tie-in with strategic goals
- Insufficient support from leadership
- Insufficient planning involving input from all stakeholders
- Unrealistic expectations
- Overextended and excessively burdened resources
- Uninvested stakeholders
- Inexperienced project managers
- Communication gaps, especially in the early stages of course correction
Q: What’s your favorite thing about project management? Least favorite?
A:
Most favorite:
- It’s always relevant and can be applied to everything from the smallest of personal projects to enterprise-level complex multi-faceted projects.
- It never gets boring; even the same project can be planned and executed differently each time, depending on internal and external factors.
Least favorite:
The more tedious parts of the project, tracking, paperwork and such…..the things that are time consuming and necessary but not always interesting or fulfilling to do.
Q: You get to be the host of a late-night talk show. Who would be your first guest?
A: The previous talk show host. I’d love to have an hour to discuss their experiences and highlights and get their views on what they see as the future late-night talk shows—and to close out the past and bring in the future.
Q: Spring, summer, fall or winter?
A: It’s a toss-up between summer and spring, but I’d have to say spring.
Q: If you had an extra hour in your work day, what would you do with it?
A: Relax and spend time with family or spend time on a hobby, which it seems I seldom have time to do.
Q: What fictional place would you most like to live in?
A: I love the magical and mysterious so it would have to be Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…but I also love chocolate so maybe Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory would also be on my list:)
Q: Coffee or tea? Milk in first or last?
A: Tea…with milk in last.
Q: Have you read any books, articles or other resources that changed your perspective on project management?
A: Often; everyone brings a different perspective to how they view and manage projects. This is the fantastic part. Whether intentional or unintentional, people from diverse backgrounds and cultures incorporate their experiences, knowledge, and views into each project. This generates a more global space for growth and development in the project management arena—and room for continuous improvement.
Q: If you could only have three apps on a smartphone, which would you pick?
A:
- A communication/collaboration app for email/sharing/communication,
- A Calendar app to schedule important dates
- A task/project management app for planning
All said, one app to reliably and efficiently handle all of these is optimal….leaving me room for two other apps:)
Q: Spring, summer, fall or winter?
A: It’s a toss-up between summer and spring, but I’d have to say spring.
Q: What three items would you like to have if stranded on a deserted island?
A: As much as I’d be happy to have someone I love to spend time with, I wouldn’t wish that on them. Ok, there are so many necessities, but since I can only have three, it would have to be these—and yes, solar technology plays a role in my plan…even on a deserted island.
- A very very large supply of fresh water
- A crank/solar-powered radio/flashlight
- A solar-powered satellite phone
If you want to learn more about Moira or get in touch – you can find her here on LinkedIn. Thank you Moira for spending time with us.
