Why Program Management?
The intersection of people, process, and technology has always fascinated me. Program Management sits right at that intersection — you're not just managing tasks, you're orchestrating how teams, timelines, and stakeholders align toward a shared outcome.
My path to this field wasn't a straight line. Coming from a background in Organic Chemistry and digital marketing operations, I realized that what I loved most in every role was the coordination work — aligning people, removing blockers, and making sure projects actually shipped.
What I Learned at Seattle City Light
During my internship with the Time-of-Use Program at Seattle City Light, I got hands-on experience redesigning RAID governance — that's Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies tracking.
The biggest lesson: data quality in program reporting is everything. We started at 70% data accuracy and got it to 95% through better process design and team training. The reporting dashboards were only as useful as the data feeding them.
Key takeaways:
- Standardization beats heroics. Consistent weekly workflows outperform one-time heroic efforts.
- Visibility reduces friction. When stakeholders can see real-time status, you get fewer status meetings and faster decisions.
- Cross-functional coordination is a skill. Managing 7 teams requires clarity, consistency, and a lot of follow-up.
Frameworks I Use Daily
- RAID Log — Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies. Essential for any multi-team program.
- RACI Matrix — Clarifies who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.
- Weekly Status Cadence — A simple template that everyone fills in the same way is worth more than a complex tool.
What's Next
I'm currently finishing my MS in Project Management (Data Analytics) at Northeastern University and actively building my portfolio. I'll be sharing more posts on PM tools, case studies, and career insights here.
If you're also breaking into PM/TPM roles, feel free to reach out!