A new job thanks to an internal move

From rental management to project management in Digital Business

July 2023

Cristina draws on her technical background and affinity for complex topics to run business and IT projects at Livit. These projects generate added value for our customers, employees and, in turn, the company. A trained computer scientist, her journey to project management led her from rental management to Digital Business, where she is now able to perfectly combine her two strengths – networked thinking and organisational skills.

Cristina has always had a knack for complex issues. Analytical approaches, networked thinking and an interest in how things work on a technical level are all right up her street – so it was self-evident that she would complete an apprenticeship in IT after finishing her schooling. However, her career took her in other directions after this. An ambitious Swiss native with Portuguese roots, she joined an e-commerce start-up and put her leadership skills to the test at a young age: ‘I was leading a research team of up to 16 people at the tender age of 21. The fact that the company placed so much trust in me despite being so young at the time was really lovely.’ She also gained basic Salesforce skills while at the start-up, which she is now able to put to good use at Livit.

Taking charge of her own career

After another stint at Bouygues as Head of Administration, Scheduling and Access, Cristina decided to join Livit in 2019. Once again, this wasn’t a typical tech job to start with. ‘I switched to rental management and became a team leader in that field.’ In addition to managing employees, her time at Livit also saw her work on projects time and again – which led to her realising how much she liked project management. ‘I enjoyed thinking outside the box, understanding how a process works and making it more effective. And not just in one area, but for everyone.’ She told her superiors and HR that she would be interested in managing projects, not least because of her background. No sooner said than done: shortly afterwards, she was offered an opportunity to move internally to Digital Business, which she gratefully accepted.

Project management: much more than just organisation and processes

Cristina has been a Digital Business Project Manager since March 2022, where she plays a essential role as a link between Livit’s operations and developers. Her job is to plan and run a project from start to finish. ‘It’s about getting the right people on board, planning enough time and staffing resources, collaboratively defining processes and work packages, and setting a budget that fits the project,’ Cristina explains the challenging task, adding: ‘As a project manager, I’m not only responsible for the end result, but also for the dynamics of the team. After all, if the team doesn’t work well together, the project is at risk, too.’

In other words, project managers need to have a good deal of tact – and this is where Cristina benefits from her management experience. She was also helped by the in-depth understanding of the business that she gained in her previous role as Team Leader for Re-Letting. When an issue crops up, she knows exactly where the problem lies and which solutions will actually offer assistance and added value. Nevertheless, as she emphasises: ‘Understanding the operational side of things is a huge help, but it’s not a prerequisite for success as a project manager.’ It’s much more important to be curious, to listen and to develop an understanding of the various areas, their challenges and requirements, to leave your own comfort zone and be part of the change yourself, she says. With that attitude, there’ll be nothing stopping a project from being a roaring success!