We have so many talented team members here at GimmeMore, and today, it’s our pleasure to introduce Mariia—our multitasking PM!
Mariia joined our company almost two years ago, and since then, she has been an invaluable part of our business projects. With incredible skill, she juggles incoming and outgoing. Recently, after 3.5 months of intense preparation, she earned her well-deserved PMI - PMP Certificate—a huge achievement for her and a moment of pride for all of us!
We recently had the chance to sit down with Mariia and ask her about the challenges hidden within the world of Project Management.
Hi Mariia!
What inspired you to become an IT Project Manager, and what do you love most about your role?
I started as a developer, and after several years, I realized I love the big picture—connecting people, solving problems, and making things happen. The best part? Seeing an idea turn into a real product and knowing I helped steer the ship!
You are still the only woman in your department, even though your team would love to welcome more female professionals: why do you believe the field remains male-dominated? Have you noticed any shifts in the IT world when it comes to diversity and inclusion in the past 5 years?
IT still has the stereotype of being a 'guy's field,' but things are changing—slowly. When I started eight years ago, I often got the 'Wait, you’re a developer?' look, but that’s happening less with the younger generation. More companies are actively pushing for diversity, and I see more women in tech meetups, leadership roles, and mentorship programs. There’s still a long way to go, but the more we normalize seeing women in tech, the easier it’ll be for the next wave to step in with confidence!
For our Quiz Hero project, you tried on the Product Manager hat - what was that experience like? What were the biggest challenges and proudest moments?
It was a challenging but rewarding experience, and I was lucky to have an amazing team supporting me every step of the way. Balancing user needs, business goals, and tech constraints wasn’t always easy, but together, we made it work. My proudest moment? Seeing the first version go live and imagining all the exciting evolutions we’ll bring to make it one of GimmeMore’s greatest products yet.
Project management requires juggling multiple tasks -what’s your secret to staying organised and keeping things on track? Any go-to strategies?
I didn’t reinvent the wheel here—just a few simple rules that work:
Weekly to-do lists with clear priorities (urgent vs. important).
If something takes less than five minutes, I tackle it right away instead of postponing.
Most importantly, I do my best to solve problems before they turn into fires—proactive always beats reactive."
What advice would you give to someone - especially young women - who are just starting their journey in IT project management?
Be curious and have the courage to ask questions whenever you don’t understand something—at the beginning of any journey, we all need additional insights. Growth comes from embracing the ‘rookie’ phase, not avoiding it. And don’t get stuck for too long on small feature implementations; look for opportunities to implement an entire project from initiation to completion, preferably under the supervision of an experienced mentor who is ready to invest time in your growth.
Be curious and have the courage to ask questions whenever you don’t understand something—at the beginning of any journey, we all need additional insights. Growth comes from embracing the ‘rookie’ phase, not avoiding it.
………..
What can we say? Those are some really great tips! Hopefully, they’ll reach many aspiring PMs looking for guidance ;)
Thanks for the inspiration and for such an open and honest chat! It’s amazing to see how you’re always ready to take on new challenges and bring the team together. We’re really lucky to have you, and we can’t wait to see what’s next on your journey! Keep us posted!
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