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The Bad Old Days
Women are increasingly finding success in project management careers in industries from engineering to technology to construction. Along with being accepted on the job, many are finding ways to balance demanding project management jobs with the task of raising young children.
But it wasn't always like this.
Before "project manager" was even a recognized job title, some of today's leading women in project management were pioneers in information technology and finance. Since the 1970s, they faced daunting obstacles, stereotypes and disrespect from their male colleagues. While some quit in frustration or switched to more traditional "female careers," others persevered. These are a few of their stories.
"I think I was born a project manager," says Helen Cooke, an author, program officer for Chicago-based OPM Mentors, and pending PMI Fellow. She has run more than 50 projects during a career that has included stints in both private industry and government. "I ran science fairs for my grade school, and when I got into college I realized every job I liked and wanted to do was project management — though they didn't have a word for it yet. I was a math whiz and good with anything technical, although women weren't allowed to do that in those days."
Cooke's parents had …
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