What’s it like being the R3 Project’s scheduler?

The goal of every project is to reach the finish line and deliver a product or service. In a complex project like ours, this means breaking down our goals into small chunks so we can have a sequence of tasks that connect to each other. That’s what I do: I help track exactly what, when, and how our team is going to get to the finish line!

Seems like a tough job to me, but you sound excited when you talk about it!

Well, yes! It has to do with my personality. I believe life is a series of puzzles we have to solve. When we solve them, we learn, we grow stronger, we become more reliable. This project is no different: each task, each activity is a puzzle to be solved and an opportunity to grow. That’s why I enjoy being a scheduler.

Love your passion! Do you have a favourite part about your job?

One of the good things about being the scheduler is that I have to interact with all of the project’s teams and discuss the time and scope of their work. I need to understand what they do, and sometimes this means going deep into their area of knowledge. That’s when I can connect the dots and gain both a holistic and detailed view of the project.

“Each task, each activity is a puzzle to be solved and an opportunity to grow. That’s why I enjoy being a scheduler.”

So, there’s an element of negotiation in your interactions with the R3 Project teams?

All the time. A good and reliable schedule enables us to do a root cause analysis and solve issues before they appear. When I meet with team leads, our task is to agree on expectations so we can identify and remove blockers. For example, we may find that a team needs more resources or more time to complete a task, so doing this work ends up serving everyone in the project.

Interesting. It’s almost like you’re a “doctor,” running diagnostics so you can find the right treatment to prevent problems.

Something like that.

Eventually, Thesis SM will go live and you’ll cross off the last item on the schedule. How does that make you feel?

One thing I know will happen to me after the project is done is that I won’t be the same person I was when I came onto the R3 Project. Working here has really changed my perspective about project management.

How so?

The thing about project management is that you need to know monitoring and controlling, you need to know the field’s practices and standards, you need a business acumen and a strategic view of the project. But you also need soft skills.

In fact, somewhere in the middle of this project, I realized that soft skills, the power of empathy and the power of collaboration and teamwork are way, way, way more important than other skills.

After three years on the R3 Project, I’ve come to realize that the most important thing is solving problems and helping others. And you can’t measure this like it’s another skill—it’s about cultivating your personality and your character. It’s about becoming a better human being.