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Are you a woman working in a male-dominated field? If you're in project management, then newsflash, you are! Only 35% of PMs are women. If you're a woman working in technology, then the stats get even worse. Only 20% of tech professionals are women. Looking deeper into tech, you can find that an even more male-dominated field exists: IT infrastructure, for which there are no gender statistics whatsoever.

My Start in Project Management

I was a project manager for over a decade, managing everything from software development, SOX & PCI, and machine learning to infrastructure. When I worked for a non-profit, I wore many hats, and as the newest PM on the team, I often took on the projects nobody else wanted in infrastructure. It's not a glamorous job by any means!

I was not building new tech or generating revenue, and certainly, I was never in the spotlight. People typically define infrastructure roles as the people who "keep the lights on." After years of spinning up new offices, building out server rooms, migrating telephony platforms, and securing data, I realized I found my niche in the realm of technical infrastructure. The catch? I was typically the only female, not just "in the room," but in a server room.

By taking the projects nobody else wanted, I discovered the most interesting line of work that truly resonated with me. Previously, as a PM of software development, I maintained a portfolio of roughly 100 projects valued at over $1M, but they were nearly all the same. Day in and day out, I progressed work through stage gates with very little excitement.

Redefine IT Infrastructure Work

In IT infrastructure, I learned that if you do it right, you never do the same thing twice! Tech and cyber threats are constantly changing, and thus infrastructure is a world of new opportunities to learn, to be challenged, and to grow. Infrastructure is the backbone of every organization, and it keeps the environment secure, robust, consistently available, making it possible for everyone else to do their jobs.

As my role evolved, I began to redefine this under-appreciated work. Infrastructure doesn't just keep the lights on; it turns on new ones and illuminates areas of opportunity. Those of us in infrastructure light the organization ablaze with power and security. We make it possible for end-users to access our product. But you don't often see women in this field.

As women, we bring a unique skill set to our roles, whatever they may be. Even in infrastructure, I knew I brought this ability to connect people and foster a strong camaraderie. As I led projects, my teams were highly engaged and committed, and not because I had any level of authority as a PM. My project resources completed things on time for the sake of the relationships and the community that I was able to build.

We all know that PMI defines a project as a temporary endeavor with a defined scope, deliverables, timeframe, and resources. I believe women can uniquely create a temporary project family that follows through with their commitments and doesn't let any family member down.

The Golden Rule of Leadership

The Golden Rule tells us to treat others the way you want to be treated. As a people leader committed to building great teams, I practice the Golden Rule of Leadership: treating others the way they want to be treated. The Golden Rule is about me, but the Golden Rule of Leadership is about you. It is others-focused. When you put others' needs above your own, that's true servant leadership.

The Golden Rule of Leadership requires leaders to invest time in each individual.  A leader must find out what makes people tick, define their motivational drivers and reinforcers, and learn what makes someone else feel truly appreciated:

• Some people love public praise, while others want quiet recognition.
• Some people love a big celebration for a project well done; others might prefer a 1:1 lunch with you.
• Some people might like a gift card to go out with their own family to celebrate.
• Some people feel rewarded when you give them work they know by heart, an assignment in which they'll succeed with their eyes closed; others want something new every time.

It's the responsibility of the leader to identify what each team member needs, and it's this kind of leadership that drives engagement and happiness in the workplace.

Connect with Other Women

How many women do you know in infrastructure? When I first got into this field, I knew two, and one of them was me! I had to create my own organization, Women in Technical Infrastructure (WITI), just to find others like me. We're now 400+ strong, blazing a trail in these under-represented roles, helping others find jobs, connecting women to mentors, and well on our way to changing the face of tech.

If you're a rare woman in project management at your organization, the best advice I can give you is to connect with other women who do what you do. PMI Mile Hi is a great place to do this! Volunteering with PMI Mile Hi gave me the experience I needed to be seen as a leader in the tech space, even beyond project management. It helped me grow my resume, build my confidence, and show others that I actually knew what I was talking about when it came to technology.

If we want more women to stick it out in project management, we have to support each other and cultivate a space where all are welcome, can seek advice, and have the connections they need for personal and professional growth.

I was happy to meet so many women leaders on Friday, June 25th, 2021, at Regis University for PMI Mile Hi's annual Women in Project Management Leadership event. It's one of the best ways to meet other women in our field and to find the support system you need for longevity in project management.

Additional Resources

Interested in learning more about topics like this one? Check out upcoming events on our chapter calendar. Sign up for one of our upcoming meetings, roundtables, or workshops – a selection of which are virtual. Earn your PDUs through PMI Mile Hi Chapter!

About the Author

Emily Cellar, PMP, CSM, CSPO, MSM, currently volunteers as VP of Technology for PMI Mile Hi. She also volunteers with an organization she founded: Women in IT Infrastructure (WITI). Her career path has been extensive, as she documents in this blog post. She currently works as VP of IT Operations at Angi.