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What is it that you do at Xylotek?
I am a Project Manager – At Xylotek that means I am the caretaker of the project. I navigate the project through all the different departments.
What about your job do you like best?
I enjoy having contact with all the departments. You get involved with everything from looking at lots of historic drawings to large, involved discussions about the best type of screw.
Describe Xylotek in 3 words.
Innovative, forward-thinking, a disruptor.
What is something people don't know about you?
I once completed a stage of the Tour de France.
Which has been your favourite project to work on so far and why?
We’re working on an internal refurbishment for Exeter College, Oxford at the moment – I am enjoying the close communication between the install and design departments. I also love that it’s a refurb and is breathing life back into an older building.
What skills do you use most from your journey into project management?
I would say my skills as a translator – as a PM you speak to architects, engineers, clients, contractors and many other stakeholders. An aspect of project management is balancing the viewpoints of the different disciplines involved in the project. There is such a wide variety of disciplinary languages to understand and if you can mediate between them, that contributes to the success of the project.
As a woman in the construction industry, what unique insight do you have that others may not? Do you find yourself navigating the industry in a certain way?
The industry has its challenges. However, working at Xylotek is more supportive than other workplaces I have been in because of the diversity of the team. Having the support of your team enables everyone to have the confidence to drive change among the companies we work with.
What advice would you give to someone pursuing project management as a career?
It’s important to get the breadth of knowledge in the industry. For example, gaining experience working within other roles can open doors. In a nutshell, the more you can relate to other disciplines, the more effective you will be as a construction project manager.
What's the most unusual aspect of working at Xylotek?
The range of projects. The variety of challenges that the projects present keeps everything interesting and sparks a continuous learning process.
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