Louise Worsley
What has been your favorite project and why?
Modularisation of courses at The University of East London, London UK. It was a transformational programme, essential to the University's survival, with a large number of agenda-based stakeholders. Many of whom, were passionately against the programme. Not because they disagreed with the goals but because of the natural tendency in a University for staff to resist any centralised authority. This programme changed me from a technical manager to a stakeholder-sensitive manager. It was also at this point that I recognized the fundamental value of having a mentor to provide, in this case, political and social and emotional support.
Why did you join The PMO Leader community?
Since the early 2020s I have been working with organisations supporting the development of PPPM capability at the individual and organisational levels. Most of my colleagues are in the PMO space and I relate more closely to this community than the PM community.
Who is someone you’d like to meet within our industry?
Gaurav Dhopper, Ahmed Battisha and many more!
When did you first know you wanted to be a PMO Leader or Project Manager?
1985 - when I realised IT was exciting but was not making a real difference to business.
What is something about you not many people know but you’d like to share with the community?
I started a PhD in Human Computer Interaction in 1980 and, among other things, was involved in looking at the use of AI in military scenarios. I did not complete the PhD but to this day am still in contact with the wonderful Dr John Long, Emeritus Professor at UCL.
Who is someone you’d like to have share their story and why?
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman -the Chief Executive of Gift of the Givers. Their aid projects make massive differences across the world. I think we have so much to learn from this stakeholder-intensive project sector.
