Kayla's Unconventional Path into Project Management

Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Kayla Quijas, founder of Kayla Q Career Coaching. Kayla's journey from cake decorator to Senior Project Manager at a global law firm is anything but conventional, and it's that transformation that fuels her work helping others break into and thrive in project management.

At the heart of the discussion is Kayla's signature framework, the PM Readiness Iron Triangle, which focuses on three key pillars: credentials, experience, and network. You'll hear how to assess your readiness for a PM role, even if you don't come from a traditional background, and what to do if one leg of your triangle feels weak.

In this conversation, Kayla shares practical ways to reframe your experience into project management language, advice for overcoming fear and imposter syndrome, and how to network without feeling sleazy or self-promotional. If you're looking for insights on how to grow your project management career—even if you're already PMP-certified—this episode is for you!

Sound Bites

• "With this triangle, you need to be strong in at least two and then figure out where you're weak and shore that one up."
• "Before that, I was not getting any interviews. And then after that, I landed a project management job pretty quickly."
• "It is selfish not to share your thoughts because you're afraid people will judge you."
• "Networking doesn't have to be sleazy. Come at it from a give first perspective."
• "I got put on a PIP once for a project management job. That was one of the most sinking feelings that I had ever had."
• "Studying for the PMP, even if you don't take the test, can be a game-changer for your confidence and credibility."
• "Most of what you're doing in your current role is already project management. You just haven't labeled it that way yet."
• "You don't need a perfect resume to get hired. You need to tell a better story about your experience."

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:32 Start of Interview
• 02:00 Kayla's Journey from Cake Decorator to Senior PM
• 03:20 Pivotal Career Decisions
• 04:20 What Kayla Did After Quitting Her Job
• 06:00 Introducing the PM Readiness Iron Triangle
• 07:40 How Kayla Came Up With the Triangle
• 09:00 A Real-Life Success Story Using the Triangle
• 11:00 Is the PMP Worth It?
• 13:00 Benefits Beyond the Certification
• 17:00 What If You Don't Have Enough Experience?
• 18:25 Examples of Overlooked Project Experience
• 20:00 How to Translate Experience into PM Language
• 24:10 Turning a Project Into a Resume Story
• 26:00 Reframing Networking So It Feels Authentic
• 30:20 Kayla's Mastermind Group Strategy
• 35:10 Giving Value Without Chasing Metrics
• 36:24 About the PM Readiness Assessment
• 37:14 End of Interview
• 37:50 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 42:55 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Kayla and her work at KaylaQCareerCoaching.com.

Take the PM Readiness Assessment here: PM Readiness Assessment

Connect with Kayla on LinkedIn: Kayla's LinkedIn Profile

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 474 with Stuart Taylor. It's a candid discussion about LinkedIn, our careers, and the role of AI.
• Episode 465 with Kari Mirabal. You'll get practical strategies for building professional relationships.
• Episode 258, also with Kari Mirabal. She shares even more insights on networking and career growth.
• Episode 39 with Devora Zack about her book Networking for People Who Hate Networking.

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Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year!

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Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Business Acumen

Topics: Project Management, Career Growth, PMP Certification, Networking, Leadership, Resume Writing, Personal Branding, Professional Development, Coaching, Confidence Building, Interviewing, Career Transitions

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Quantum Sparks Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license