From research notes to Gantt charts: My leap into project management

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be swapping out citations and academic journals for stand-up meetings and project dashboards, I might’ve offered you a sympathetic smile and suggested you needed coffee or therapy. Yet here I am: no longer knee-deep in literature reviews, but happily buried under risk logs, RAID registers and stakeholder updates. My biggest thrill these days? A colour-coded project plan that actually sticks. (Yes, I’m fun at parties.)

The great career pivot (a.k.a. the plot twist I didn’t see coming)  

My career began in research - a land of rigor, footnotes and the eternal hunt for funding. A place where your best friend is EndNote, and your nemesis is Reviewer No. 2. I genuinely loved the intellectual stimulation. But somewhere between my 12th policy brief and 47th citation, I started craving something more fast-paced, more collaborative and frankly… a bit more chaotic (the kind that doesn’t involve reformatting references for the 10th time).

Enter project management (PM): the beautiful intersection of structure, adaptability and the daily gamble of “What could possibly go wrong today?” Spoiler alert: everything. But also? It’s worth it.

Was my transition a neat career ladder climb? Oh no. It was more like an obstacle course with blindfolds, complete with 3 a.m. Googling ("Is project management right for me?"), motivational TED Talks, and existential spreadsheets titled "Plan B."

But eventually, I made the leap. And here’s what helped me stop panicking and start pivoting like a pro (or at least a very determined amateur).

Tips that helped me (and might help you too)  

Treat your career like a project  

If you're thinking of switching lanes, don’t wing it. Plan it. I made a personal project plan, complete with goals, timelines and review points. I even threw in a risk register (because why not fully commit to the bit?). I listed what I wanted (collaboration, strategy, fewer footnotes), assessed the gaps (I had no clue what a scrum master was), and mapped out how to close them.

Tip: You don’t need to build a literal Gantt chart. But you could and it’ll feel oddly satisfying.

 

Upskill without overkill  

I flirted briefly with the idea of collecting every PM certification like Pokémon. Then reality (and my bank account) stepped in. I chose strategically. PRINCE2® Practitioner was my first stop because structure is my love language. Then I added Agile frameworks and hands-on experience through volunteering, shadowing and simulations. Learn enough to hold your own in a daily stand-up. Practice until you can spot scope creep from a mile away.

 

Say yes before you feel ready  

Imposter syndrome showed up early and loudly, like an uninvited plus-one at every opportunity. But I said “yes” anyway. YES, to joining project teams. YES, to leading mini-initiatives. YES, to volunteering. (Also, yes to crying once or twice, but growth is messy.) Confidence didn’t magically appear one day. It followed action. Every time I said “YES,” I grew a little louder than the doubt.

 

Translate—don’t erase—your past  

For a while, I struggled to explain my research background in project terms. But the lightbulb moment came when I realised: research is project management in disguise. Writing grant proposals? That’s scoping and planning. Managing fieldwork? That’s resource coordination. Publishing timelines? Hello, critical path! Instead of reinventing my story, I just reworded it in PM-speak. And it worked.

 

Network like a human (not just a job title)  

One of my best decisions was connecting with real people, especially through communities like WiPM. I asked for advice, shared my awkward pivots and found encouragement in unexpected places. Networking became less about “What job can you give me?” and more about “What can we learn from each other?” And let me tell you, project managers have some “wild” stories.

Now that I’m here…  

Do I miss research? Sometimes. Especially the quiet satisfaction of finishing a paper at 2 a.m. with a strong cup of tea and a document named “FINAL\_FINAL\_v3\_REALLY\_FINAL.docx.”. 

But now, I get to see ideas become real. I work with dynamic teams, solve complex problems and deliver outcomes that impact actual people, not just journal reviewers. Plus, any meeting that ends on time and with clear action points? That’s what I call “project magic”. 

And if you’re reading this, wondering whether you can make the switch too, here’s your answer: Yes. Absolutely yes.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need the courage to start. Your past experience is valid. Your story has weight. And your best project yet? It might just be… you. 

Let’s connect, especially if your pivot involved caffeine, confusion, courage and a crash course in stakeholder management.

Oh, and before you go plotting your next project pivot or color-coding your RAID log for fun (just me?), mark your calendar for 2nd October 2025—the Women in Project Management (WiPM) Conference is coming, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it.

It’s a day packed with collaboration, inspiration and just the right amount of professional caffeine. Think: learning, laughter, leadership and possibly someone crying happy tears over a beautifully managed risk register.

Ready to join the party (the very structured, well-facilitated party)? Register here.

See you there with your badge, notebook and that unstoppable “let’s keep this meeting on track” energy.

 

You may also be interested in:

• APM Women in Project Management Conference

• APM Women in Project Management Interest Network

• Network with your fellow project managers at the Community