Assembling my own avengers: Mentorship, visibility and opportunity in project management

During a recent keynote, speaker Karen Blackett spoke about building your own “Avengers” — the people who support your growth, challenge your thinking and encourage you to step forward when opportunities arise.

That idea stayed with me.

Looking back at my own journey in the project profession, I realised that I have assembled my own Avengers too. They are mentors, peers and leaders who created access, gave me visibility and encouraged me to take opportunities I might not have pursued on my own.

Those moments shaped my career far more than any single methodology or certification.

And that is why this year, through the APM Women in Project Management (WiPM) International Women’s Day events, we are focusing on mentorship, partnership, access and visibility.

Because careers rarely grow in isolation. They grow through community and support.

The legacy question 

I remember once asking my line manager a simple but powerful question: “What do you want to be remembered for?”

Not just the projects delivered or the targets achieved, but the impact on people.

What if the answer to that question became something like: 

• You advocated for a woman stepping into leadership.
• You supported someone from an ethnic minority background to grow in their career.
• You created opportunities for people who might otherwise have been overlooked. 

Sometimes the legacy of our careers is not just what we deliver, but who we help along the way.

That is the spirit behind mentorship, partnership and community.

Support creates opportunity

If we want a stronger project profession, we need to think intentionally about how opportunities are created and shared.

Talent alone is not always enough. Progress often happens when three things come together:

• support from others
• visibility of ideas and expertise
• access to opportunities and networks.

The good news is that every one of us can contribute to this — at every stage of our career.

If you are a new project professional or aspiring

Early in your career, the focus is often on learning the technical aspects of project delivery. But building confidence, networks and visibility is just as important.

You can:

• Seek mentorship early - it is never too soon to learn from someone with more experience.
• Ask questions and stay curious about how projects are delivered.
• Volunteer for learning opportunities, even if they feel slightly outside your comfort zone.
• Speak up in meetings and share ideas or observations.
• Build your professional network through events, communities like WiPM, or platforms like LinkedIn. 

Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready before applying for opportunities. Confidence grows through action.

If you are mid-carer  

Mid-career professionals are often balancing delivery with growing leadership responsibilities. This is a powerful stage to expand your influence.

You might:

• Increase your visibility by sharing lessons learned from projects.
• Host lunch-and-learn sessions where teams can discuss project insights.
• Volunteer for complex or high-impact projects that build leadership capability.
• Mentor someone earlier in their career, which often strengthens your own leadership perspective.
• Seek roles that increase exposure to senior stakeholders. 

This stage is about stepping forward, being comfortable with ambition and taking ownership of your career direction.

If you are a senior project professional

At a senior level, leadership becomes less about individual delivery and more about creating environments where others succeed.

You can make a powerful difference by: 

• Advocating for emerging talent, particularly those who may not always be visible.
• Opening doors to opportunities and networks.
• Hosting town halls or open discussions where teams can share insights and ideas.
• Encouraging diverse voices in leadership conversations.
• Creating a culture where mentorship and learning are part of everyday work.

Your legacy will not only be the projects you delivered, but the people you helped grow.

Visibility and courage matter

One lesson I have learned is that visibility and courage often go hand in hand. 

Speak up confidently and share your ideas.

Take on stretch assignments and leadership roles.

Be courageous when making career decisions or accepting new challenges. 

Growth often happens when we step into opportunities that feel slightly uncomfortable.

Lead with authenticity rather than trying to fit a particular stereotype of leadership.

Powered by support, backed by access

When I reflect on the people who supported my journey my own Avengers it becomes clear how important community is in shaping careers.

They created visibility.

They opened doors.

They encouraged me to step forward.

And that is exactly what the WiPM community represents. 

Mentorship builds confidence.

Partnership strengthens collaboration.

Visibility ensures talent is recognised.

Access creates pathways for future leaders.

And the most powerful part is that every one of us can contribute to that whether we are just starting our careers or leading major programmes.

When we support one another and intentionally create opportunities, we build a profession where more women can contribute, lead and thrive.

And that is the real spirit behind Give to Gain. 

 

You may also be interested in:

• Join the APM Women in Project Management Conference
• Join the APM Women in Project Management Interest Network
• Listen to the APM podcast today: Arts and science: how to manage projects in any sector