How did you get into project management, and what attracts you most to this role? What is your role at Devcity?
My role at Devcity is Project Manager and Product Owner. I’m also involved in implementing ISO standards in the field of cybersecurity. The journey to this role was quite long. I’ve been working in IT for over 20 years and have held a wide range of positions — from helpdesk and consultant to database developer, product owner, and finally project manager. I’ve mainly worked with ERP and financial systems, and more recently with projects in the energy sector. What fulfills me the most is finding effective ways to achieve optimal results that satisfy our clients.
What has been your most significant project at Devcity — what was its core focus, and what challenges did you face?
I had the opportunity to lead a large-scale project in the energy industry, where I was responsible for implementing a centralized energy resource management system. From the very beginning, this included assembling a comprehensive project team, defining the key areas for implementation, and delivering the outcome within the client’s deadlines. The most challenging part was diving deep into the specifics of the domain. A major challenge was managing the project in a way that met its ambitious time demands.
How do you establish and maintain effective communication between your team, stakeholders, and the client?
For me, it’s crucial to understand the client’s initial needs and to effectively pass this information on to the project team, while also maintaining transparent communication between the team and the client. The toughest part is the continuous validation of client requirements against project deliverables to ensure alignment and prevent mismatched expectations about the final product.
Do you use any specific methodology (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Waterfall)? How and why?
I most often use Agile methodologies — mainly Scrum and Kanban — but also Waterfall. Sometimes I combine methodologies depending on the nature of the project. I personally prefer Agile and Scrum, as their dynamic approach allows for more frequent client feedback and faster delivery of product increments to the client’s environment.
How do you approach task prioritization when facing limited resources or changing requirements during a project?
First, after creating the product backlog, I clearly prioritize individual areas and define the project roadmap along with its timeline. The result is a clearly defined development strategy and approach.
What do you see as the advantage of the fact that at Devcity, you’re not working on one-off projects, but rather on long-term collaborations?
I get exposure to many different industries and broaden my knowledge, which helps me deepen my expertise across various sectors. Long-term collaboration also allows me to build stronger relationships with clients and better understand their evolving needs over time.