I’ve spent the past 3 years as an entrepreneur in vendor management and am now looking to transition into an early-career IT Project Management role. I hold an MBA in IT, and I’m planning to complete my Scrum Master certification this month. I’m also building hands-on familiarity with Jira.
For those who have made a similar move or hire in this space — what additional skills, tools, or experiences should I focus on to strengthen my chances of landing a role?
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Mirika, Scrum Master is a good start. You can check scrum.org for those certifications. However, I suggest expanding your Agile knowledge by pursuing credentials like PMI-ACP!
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1 reply by mirika maharishi
Aug 13, 2025 1:15 PM
mirika maharishi
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Thank you for the suggestion! 😊 Yes, Scrum.org is on my list, and I’ll definitely explore PMI-ACP as well . it sounds like a great way to deepen my Agile understanding beyond Scrum.
I'd recommend continuing learning from an informal perspective using YouTube channels such as Drunk Agile and following key delivery thought leaders and their writing. In parallel, practice what you are learning in whatever method you can - volunteer, gig or full time.
Kiron
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1 reply by mirika maharishi
Aug 13, 2025 1:17 PM
mirika maharishi
...
Thank you, Kiron! I’ll definitely check out Drunk Agile and start following more delivery thought leaders. I’ll look for ways to apply what I learn, even through volunteering or short gigs. :)
Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
mirika maharishi Transitioning from entrepreneurship to IT Project Management isn’t just possible — it’s a strategic move that many organizations value, especially when backed by the mix you already have: MBA in IT, vendor management expertise, and an Agile credential on the way.
To make your profile even more compelling, focus on three fronts:
- Practical Delivery Experience — Even small volunteer or pro-bono initiatives can help you demonstrate end-to-end delivery, stakeholder engagement, and risk management.
- Complementary Frameworks & Tools — Alongside Jira, explore Confluence for documentation, MS Project or another Gantt-based tool, and at least one service management platform (e.g., ServiceNow).
- Hybrid Mindset — Many organizations operate in mixed Agile–Predictive environments.
Familiarity with PMI’s core governance practices, as highlighted in the PMI Talent Gap Report, will make you more versatile.
If you translate your entrepreneurial milestones into project deliverables, risks managed, and measurable value delivered, you’ll speak the exact language recruiters and hiring managers want to hear.
...
1 reply by mirika maharishi
Aug 13, 2025 3:00 PM
mirika maharishi
...
Thank you for this detailed guidance.it really connects the dots for me. I’ve already started mapping my entrepreneurial achievements into project deliverables and outcomes, and your points on hybrid methodology knowledge and complementary tools are exactly what I needed to focus on next. I’ll make sure to explore Confluence, MS Project, and ServiceNow alongside my Agile learning to strengthen my delivery toolkit.
Mirika, Scrum Master is a good start. You can check scrum.org for those certifications. However, I suggest expanding your Agile knowledge by pursuing credentials like PMI-ACP!
Thank you for the suggestion! 😊 Yes, Scrum.org is on my list, and I’ll definitely explore PMI-ACP as well . it sounds like a great way to deepen my Agile understanding beyond Scrum. Saving Changes...
I'd recommend continuing learning from an informal perspective using YouTube channels such as Drunk Agile and following key delivery thought leaders and their writing. In parallel, practice what you are learning in whatever method you can - volunteer, gig or full time.
Kiron
Thank you, Kiron! I’ll definitely check out Drunk Agile and start following more delivery thought leaders. I’ll look for ways to apply what I learn, even through volunteering or short gigs. :) Saving Changes...
mirika maharishi Transitioning from entrepreneurship to IT Project Management isn’t just possible — it’s a strategic move that many organizations value, especially when backed by the mix you already have: MBA in IT, vendor management expertise, and an Agile credential on the way.
To make your profile even more compelling, focus on three fronts:
- Practical Delivery Experience — Even small volunteer or pro-bono initiatives can help you demonstrate end-to-end delivery, stakeholder engagement, and risk management.
- Complementary Frameworks & Tools — Alongside Jira, explore Confluence for documentation, MS Project or another Gantt-based tool, and at least one service management platform (e.g., ServiceNow).
- Hybrid Mindset — Many organizations operate in mixed Agile–Predictive environments.
Familiarity with PMI’s core governance practices, as highlighted in the PMI Talent Gap Report, will make you more versatile.
If you translate your entrepreneurial milestones into project deliverables, risks managed, and measurable value delivered, you’ll speak the exact language recruiters and hiring managers want to hear.
Thank you for this detailed guidance.it really connects the dots for me. I’ve already started mapping my entrepreneurial achievements into project deliverables and outcomes, and your points on hybrid methodology knowledge and complementary tools are exactly what I needed to focus on next. I’ll make sure to explore Confluence, MS Project, and ServiceNow alongside my Agile learning to strengthen my delivery toolkit. Saving Changes...
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