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Jacqueline Van Pelt, a rising star at BAE systems, recounts her experiences in a number of project management roles and shares the deep insights she’s gained along the way. Jacqueline’s insights will benefit both up-and-coming and mid-career project professionals alike. Stephen W. Maye is your host for Projectified with PMI.

Jacqueline is a young professional that has already amassed an impressive level of experience. She started as a consultant in the defence industry doing project management and business development consulting and is now employed with BAE Systems — a leading defence contractor where she has spent the last year immersed in a project management role and has gotten to see project management from a number of perspectives and angles. Jacqueline has a lot to bring to the community of project professionals, project managers, and those involved in PMOs and related work.

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Key Takeaways:

[:28] Introduction to Jacqueline and her current work

[2:24] Jacqueline’s role in reinvigorating a PMO: The challenges and mission

[5:19] The importance of mentorship

[6:18] The biggest challenge of reinvigorating a PMO

[7:42] Jacqueline’s transition from an engineer-focused mind to focusing on her interactions with people

[9:07] The switch to relationship-focused PM

[11:25] A window into how building these relationships began

[13:19] Valuing your own perspective as a project manager

[15:00] Jacqueline’s ‘backstage’ tips

[17:01] Jacqueline’s basic principles when it comes to trust and building relationships

[19:14] The key to building trust with those that you need to influence

[20:43] Learning to ask the awkward questions

[23:27] The experiences Jacqueline carried with her as a consultant into her current work

[26:35] Jacqueline’s excellent mentors

[29:13] Developing a leadership style