Let’s Meet Emily Luijbregts…

 

Our new Ambassadors Program is driven by a special group of community members who help fellow members discover all that ProjectManagement.com has to offer, from conversations to content. One of our first Ambassadors is Emily Luijbregts, a project manager at Siemens Digital Industries Software.

Emily, how did you get into project management? I started my career in project management. My first job was working in a PMO and it has built from there. I was very lucky to be able to work with and learn from the most amazing project managers early in my career to guide me.

What do you love most about the work? Every project is different and a challenge. That means there’s no opportunity for complacency or getting stuck in a rut as there’s always a way to test your skills or knowledge. I really like the diversity of the projects that I work in and being surrounded by like-minded individuals.

What do you find most challenging or frustrating? I think it is people misunderstanding the role of a project manager and expecting me to come in with a magic wand and resolve all of their problems—whether they are project related or not! Managing those expectations can be really challenging.

What's your proudest professional achievement? It would be speaking at the PMI EMEA Conference and being able to share knowledge with my peers. From a project perspective, it would be turning around a high-profile, at-risk project from red to green within six months.

What's the best piece of advice you've received or can share? Do not underestimate the power of listening, and try to listen more than you speak at the start of any project or engagement. For me, being an active listener is so important for me being able to perform my role and support my team.

How has ProjectManagement.com helped you? ProjectManagement.com has been a real lifeline for me. Due to the projects and locations I’ve worked, PMI chapters were never really an option for me, so I turned to the online community to get support, advice and learn from my peers. Now that I’m more experienced, I try to give back to the community that has given me so much and support others in their journeys as project managers.

What’s your hometown and where are you based now? I’m originally from a small town outside of London, but I now live and work in the Netherlands.

What interests or hobbies do you have outside work? I love photography and running. I’ve run over 100 marathons and like to run with my two Siberian Huskies.

Favorite TV show, artist and movie? The TV show Grey’s Anatomy, the movie Shawshank Redemption, and the rock band Queen.

Best vacation? Gran Canaria, Spain. 

Thank you Emily!

To connect with Emily, visit her ProjectManagement.com profile.