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Comments

• #1  PM Hut said:

  I'm currently amazed by the shift in the age of Project Managers (she looks very young, and she's apparently a senior PM in Microsoft). I was wondering if people are really getting that much experience in so little time. I remember reading a post by someone the other day, claiming to be an IT Project Manager, and he's only 24. Is Project Management becoming too easy right now with all the certifications/training available?

  7.26.2008 7:40 AM
• #2  JacquelineFan said:

  Gretchen, Jacqueline is NOT a project manager which is a totally different role. She's a lead product manager and I can personally say that she just rocks at her job.

  To PM Hut I will say that what you are saying is totally unfounded and I advise you to be more careful before making such judgements. The truth is that Jacqueline has been in the industry for a long time.

  7.26.2008 1:17 PM
• #3  Joe said:

  I don't know that number of years experience necessarily translates into a greater ability to manage projects and programs.  Project management is largely a soft skill role rooted in a structured approach to organization and process.  It takes a special person who can essentially "herd cats" (in many cases brilliant business professionals whom you have no authority over, but need to accomplish the various project milestones).  The great thing about finding success in this role is that sometimes school or certifications is no substitute for a natural ability to communicate and collaborate.  Project Management is really that "everything" role that is part motivational speaker, part bookkeeper, part manager, part data controller, and part process driver (among other things).  A stay at home Mom can often be the best PM, regardless of training or certification, because they can lead a family of varying interests and motivations, control a complex environment, exercise composure during times of high pressure or emotion, have great follow-up instints with scheduling (vaccinations, school registrations, bill payments, arranging and executing trips, etc.)  On the flip side, a fresh out of college MBA graduate with no experience may have that magic mix of business savvy and communication approach that does really well in that role.  Certainly folks with a number of years under their belt in a larger company with a structured PM metholdology also bring a different set of experiences that can make them a success in this extremely challenging role.  The fact remains that the PM role is not for the faint of heart.  It is an incredibly challenging role that takes a great creative mind and superior communication skills to excel in.

  I encourage all folks of varying backgrounds to apply for the PM roles at Microsoft.  If you have the PM "spark", Microsoft's interviewing process will find you!  Microsoft certainly seems to have a great diverse pool of employees, especially in their PM roles.  I think it makes for an exciting and dynamic workforce and it shows that when it comes to being a right fit for a PM role, the term "it depends" really applies to the backgrounds and experiences that spell success.

  7.29.2008 11:47 AM
• #4  said:

  Yes, she is a Lead Product Manager, but I said Lead Project Manager b/c the video says that is her title:)  

  Here are Product Manager jobs:

  http://members.microsoft.com/careers/search/results.aspx?FromCP=Y&JobCategoryCodeID=&JobLocationCodeID=&JobProductCodeID=&JobTitleCodeID=10243&Divisions=&TargetLevels=&Keywords=&JobCode=&ManagerAlias=&Interval=10

  gretchen

  7.29.2008 6:53 PM