How Agile Decisions Saved a Youth Entrepreneurship Program

Surya Mandapaka is an accomplished project management and operations leader with a background in mechanical engineering and business management. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing an MBA at Southern Methodist University, along with a MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management from MIT.

  Agile   PMO  

When the backbone of a major youth entrepreneurship program failed just weeks before launch, I had to make a critical decision: delay the program or adapt on the fly.

Through quick thinking, teamwork, and the establishment of a Project Management Office (PMO), I turned a potential disaster into a success story that boosted engagement, reduced costs, and delivered results beyond expectations.

The Challenge: A Software Delay Threatens the Program
In the summer of 2024, I joined a startup incubator that supported and developed underserved youth who have limited resources and opportunities.

As the Executive Director of Operations Intern, my first major assignment was overseeing their youth entrepreneur incubator program, designed to empower over 50 young entrepreneurs with mentorship and training. The curriculum was set to be delivered through a custom-built digital interface that promised seamless access to learning materials.

But just weeks before launch, it became clear that the interface would not be ready in time. This left me with two difficult options: delay the program and risk compressing months of mentorship into a shorter timeframe, or find an alternative way to deliver the curriculum on schedule.

The Decision: Adaptation Over Delay
After evaluating the risks and priorities, I chose to move forward without the interface. Delaying would have disrupted …

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