WWTalk
Blog • • 5 minute read

From the Perspective of a Project Manager

A Project Manager reflects on trading certainty for curiosity, joining WWT's Associate Academy to finally chase a decade-long sales calling—discovering that confidence isn't a prerequisite for growth, but its reward. Sometimes the boldest career move is simply refusing to wait until you feel ready.

I've always known I had an interest in sales. My father was a salesman for almost 40 years, half of which he spent running his own company. My first job, while I was still in high school, was as a bank teller. The role came with a monthly quota for opening new checking accounts—a quota I failed miserably to hit most months. Despite that, I quickly realized that I loved the social side of the job: 

  • meeting new people
  • having conversations
  • and building relationships. 

I can assure you that almost every friend and family member of mine had a checking account at my bank—and I'm sure some of them still use it to this day.

Despite that early interest, I never pursued a career in sales. Instead, I chose what I considered the safer route. After completing my undergraduate and Master's degree in Accounting, I joined one of the Big Four accounting firms, where I worked for several years. I was eventually allowed to take on a Project Management role for a large project, and I quickly realized I had found my calling.

For the past ten years, I've been fortunate to build a fulfilling career in Project Management within Delivery Services, including the last five years at WWT. But throughout that journey, my desire—and hunger—to take on a sales role, dating back to my first job at the bank, never went away.

A Look Back on the WWT Associate Academy

In February of this year, I was nominated to fill one of the final spots in Cohort 7 of the WWT Associate Academy, becoming the first Project Manager to go through the program.

I was nervous about taking that initial step away from the world of Project Management and toward something I had always felt was a calling. But once I was accepted, I was introduced to a team of incredibly talented and motivated individuals, each with their own unique stories, experiences, and backgrounds.

Going into the program, my world revolved around project delivery. I believed delivery was the end-all, be-all of the WWT Sales Cycle. My thinking was simple:

Boy, was I wrong.

The Associate Academy fundamentally changed my perspective, understanding, and appreciation for the WWT Sales Cycle. I leave Cohort 7 with a wealth of knowledge that I could not have gained anywhere else, along with a renewed perspective and a burning desire to pursue more sales-driven opportunities.

But the value of the program went far beyond the knowledge I gained. I also leave with a rolodex of talented individuals, both within WWT and outside of the company, who I know I can rely on throughout my career.

The countless networking opportunities the program provided reinforced something I already knew but perhaps didn't fully appreciate: the ability to continuously connect with others is paramount to any career. Whether you're looking to advance in your current role, explore a new opportunity, or shift your career in an entirely different direction, the relationships you build along the way can be just as valuable as the skills you develop.

Take the Next Step

This was said to me by a colleague during our graduation week.

Looking back, I realize I spent a lot of time waiting to feel confident enough to take that next step. I had built a successful career in Project Management; I was comfortable in what I knew, and there was always a reason to stay on the path I was on. But I also knew there was something more I wanted to explore.

The Associate Academy gave me the opportunity to finally take that step. I didn't have all the answers when I started, and I certainly didn't know exactly where the journey would take me. What I did have was curiosity, a willingness to learn, and the courage to put myself in an uncomfortable position.

As Project Managers, we spend our careers planning, assessing risk, building contingencies, and trying to create as much certainty as possible before moving forward. But sometimes, there is no perfect plan. There is simply a decision to take the next step and figure things out along the way.

For anyone considering a new opportunity, a different career path, or simply a chance to stretch beyond what you already know, my advice is simple: don't wait until you feel completely ready.

Take the next step.

You may discover a new passion. You may meet people who change the trajectory of your career. You may find that you're capable of far more than you thought.

And even if the next step doesn't lead exactly where you expected, you'll be further ahead than you were standing still.

I spent years knowing I wanted to explore sales but never taking the step. The Associate Academy finally gave me the push to do it—and I'm incredibly grateful that I did.

Sometimes, confidence comes after you take the step, not before.