Let’s Meet Juanita Woods…

 

As an associate professor at the University of North Georgia, Juanita Woods, is educating the next generation of project leaders. With a PMP, PgMP and 20-plus years of experience managing projects, she loves introducing students to a fulfilling, lucrative career choice. 

Juanita, how did you get into project management? My undergraduate degree was in science education. I wanted to work in a planetarium or science museum after graduation since I didn't qualify as an astronaut. I started working as a high school science teacher but only made it one year. After that experience, I started doing data entry for a company converting from a mainframe to a server-based software system. I became friends with the project manager, and she mentored me through several years of quality assurance/software testing, project administration and project management. 

I eventually earned my master's degree in IT, earned the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential, and became a program manager and project management office (PMO) manager for a technology company. After teaching as an adjunct instructor at a local college, I decided to retire as a PMO manager and pursue my doctorate in business. 

What do you love most about the work? What I loved most about being a project manager were the diverse activities and the opportunity to learn new things. I enjoyed the challenge of learning about new projects and finding ways to deliver value to our customers best. 

What I love most about being a college professor is helping the next generation explore project management as an exciting and profitable profession. Most students do not realize that project management exists as a career, and often they will tell me how happy they were in learning about the career because of the variety of work it entails.

What do you find most challenging? In higher education, it is difficult to pivot and respond to market demands quickly. Public universities must follow rigid policies and procedures, and changes may take up to a year or more, depending on the effect it will have on programs, students and funding. 

Does your approach change depending on the country or organization where you work? Absolutely, project management is situational, just like leadership is situational. You must consider the project's outcomes, the characteristics of your team, the strategic objectives and structure of the organization, and the local norms and culture as you plan and monitor project work. It's never a "one-size-fits-all" situation, as there are nuances to every project that makes them unique and challenging.

What's your proudest professional achievement? In 1993, I published a children's educational program for the Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill, NC, where I interviewed a retired astronaut and led a team to produce the program. This was the first time I managed a project, but I didn't realize it then. 

I am also very proud of earning my doctorate in 2016. Completing a dissertation is a time-consuming project where you are the project manager and the only team member. Advisors are available to guide you, but you do the work yourself. Completing my doctorate while having a family was a challenge that I am happy to say I overcame. I love my current job and am glad I went through this process. And earning my PMP and PgMP credentials are special, too!

What's the best piece of advice you've received or can share? Don't feel that every decision you make locks you into a career path. For example, I started on the path to being an astronaut and ended up as a college professor, with many twists and hops along the way. Hopefully, where you start is not where you end up, as you should spend your life growing, learning, and exploring life and work. 

How has ProjectManagement.com helped you in your career? I've been part of PM.com since its early days. I often refer to it for inspiration and templates and direct my students to the website for examples of best practices and webinars on different topics. 

What interests do you have outside work? I love to quilt, a hobby I started during the pandemic. It is relaxing, and a good counterpoint to all the brain work and thinking I must do in my work. 

To connect with Juanita, visit her ProjectManagement.com profile here.