The Glossary: Nicky Böhm | Senior Project Manager at Refuge Worldwide

What does a senior project manager do?
On the most fundamental level it’s about overseeing the complete lifecycle of a project to ensure that it gets delivered on time, within budget and meets its objectives. On a more granular level it’s about juggling, monitoring and evaluating various balls and trying not to drop any. It generally involves working with various internal and external departments and it can also include leading a team.  

What makes a great senior project manager?
As with most things in life I think it’s about creating genuine relationships with people and knowing when to zoom out to see the bigger picture in order to realise a common goal. Projects will often take a different, unexpected turn, so it’s good to have a solid plan b up your sleeve if needs be. It also helps if you can find your way around a budget spreadsheet, have a decent network and don’t mind deciphering contracts. 

What are the professional requirements for a successful senior project manager?
I think it helps if you’re organised, flexible, calm and open to feedback. Otherwise it’s mainly ‘learning by doing’ as you say in German :) 

What are the common misconceptions about the role of a senior project manager?
Maybe the underestimation of how important so-called ‘soft’ skills are in getting projects over the line. People are much more willing to help you out in a sticky situation if you’re nice to work with than if you’re simply driven by timelines and targets. I think there always needs to be a holistic, human approach that values seeking solutions rather than apportioning blame.

What changes would you like to see happen within your sector and the music industry in general?
I would love to see much more FLINTA representation within the event tech space and beyond that to work in an industry that’s parent friendly and inclusive of people with visible and non visible disabilities.