Category: Project Management Reviews

Introduction

I have always been driven by challenges, inspired by creativity, and deeply focused on people. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations and communities, turning their visions into reality. Whether it was organizing events like the Taste of Ethnic Boston, corporate conferences, or community-driven initiatives, I’ve aimed to deliver every project with precision—ensuring timelines, budgets, and details were carefully managed. Currently, I hold the position of Community Engagement & Event Manager at the Israeli-American Council (IAC) and live in Natick, Massachusetts. I am also proud to be the co-founder and director of the Massachusetts Israeli Women Organization, which supports 1,700 women in the greater Boston area. My academic background includes an M.A. in French Language and Literature, alongside a B.A. in Theater and French Literature from the University of Haifa.

Enrollment Decision and Career Goals

As someone who has always sought continuous improvement, I realized that while I had the experience, I needed a more structured approach to handle larger and more complex projects in the field of event organization. It was this realization that led me to enroll in the Professional Certificate Program in Project Management, facilitated by Simplilearn. My goal was clear: I wanted to enhance my ability to manage high-stakes events, refine my project management skills, and elevate the scope of my work. I saw this program as a necessary step in my career to ensure I could not only meet the increasing demands of my current role but also grow my private clients in the future.

Introduction

I’m Samantha Lyons, a Project Management Professional with over seven years of experience in the field, known for driving optimal results, improving processes, and leading by example. My career journey has taken me through renowned organizations like IBM, where I worked in the Project Management Office, and I currently serve as a Contract Manager at Pillar Innovations. I’ve always been passionate about organization, prioritization, and executing key project tasks to make a significant impact on business outcomes. My role at Pillar Innovations allows me to collaborate with key stakeholders, customers, thought leaders, and contractors, giving me the opportunity to exercise my leadership and communication skills.

Enrollment Decision and Career Goals

A year ago, I realized that to advance in my career and take on higher roles within my organization, I needed to further sharpen my project management skills. Although I had substantial experience, I knew formal training could give me the extra edge I needed to seek promotion opportunities. That’s when I decided to enroll in the Professional Certificate Program in Project Management at UMass through Simplilearn. I had my sights set on taking on more significant responsibilities, including managing higher-stake projects and ultimately aiming for a long-term goal of becoming a PMO Director.

Introduction

I am Lisa Lucchesi, currently serving as a Senior Manager in Test Engineering at Nike, where I lead a team dedicated to material and mechanical testing for new manufacturing capabilities. My journey at Nike spans over 8 years, during which I’ve eagerly embraced opportunities for growth and development. Before joining Nike, I spent 15 years in the medical device industry as a product developer, navigating products from conception to commercialization, a journey that honed my skills and shaped my approach to innovation.

Motivation for Upskilling

My decision to enroll in the University of Massachusetts Amherst Post Graduate Program in Program Management, facilitated by Simplilearn, stemmed from a desire to enhance my skills both for my current role and for future career prospects. The comprehensive curriculum, coupled with the esteemed association with UMass, convinced me that this program was the right fit for my professional aspirations.

Embarking on this journey, I was met with a structured and enriching learning experience. The four-month certificate program delved into various facets of program management, including PMP, Agile Scrum Master, Microsoft Project 2019, implementing a PMO, and a project management capstone course. Each course was meticulously designed, offering a blend of live-online sessions, on-demand resources, project-based learning, and interactive labs.

As documented by Myriam Taylor

I am Myriam Taylor, a Lead Project Manager at GE Vernova with over 20+ years of experience in various fields of business management. Seeking to enhance my skills and knowledge in project management, I enrolled in the Postgraduate Program in Project Management offered by Simplilearn. In this journey, I aimed to develop expertise in the field and pave the way for a successful career in project management.

Enrollment Decision and Career Goals

After reflecting on my professional journey, I discovered my passion for project management and recognized the need to upskill in this domain. With a desire to excel in my career and achieve higher managerial positions, I made the decision to enroll in the Simplilearn program. My goal was to deepen my understanding of project management principles, acquire industry-relevant skills, and position myself as an expert in the field.

My Experience with Simplilearn

My experience with Simplilearn surpassed my expectations. The program offered a well-structured curriculum that covered a wide range of project management topics. The instructors were highly knowledgeable, and their expertise made the learning process engaging and insightful. I greatly appreciated the self-learning videos provided by Simplilearn, as they expanded my knowledge beyond the live lectures. The blended learning environment, combining live and recorded lectures, allowed me to maintain a balanced approach to my studies. Overall, Simplilearn provided a supportive and enriching learning experience.

As documented by Praveen

I’m Praveen, and I have more than 10 years of experience in Business Analytics. I am a Scrum Master at Aarchiz Technology and Consulting Inc. in Toronto, Canada. I hold a Master of Business Administration Degree from Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad. Recently, I decided to move up the career ladder and become a project manager. My organization agreed to promote me if I completed the PMP certification. So, I enrolled in Simplilearn’s Professional Certificate Program in Project Management to enhance my skills and increase my chances of promotion.

Enrollment Decision and Career Goals

After working as a business analyst for over 10 years, I felt that my career growth was slowing down. I realized that I needed to upgrade my skills to progress further. That’s why I chose to take the PMP course from Simplilearn. My main goal was to get promoted and transition into the field of project management, which aligns with my long-term career aspirations.

My Experience with Simplilearn

My experience with Simplilearn was truly enlightening. I loved their blended learning approach, which included live classes conducted by industry professionals. These classes were not only informative but also interesting. Interacting with learners from different backgrounds made the learning process interactive and enjoyable.

As documented by Asong Abelt Leke.

My name is Asong Leke, and I am currently working as a Risk Advisor at the Canadian Red Cross in the Emergency Management domain. With a background in Social Work and experience in various fields such as program management, child protection, and international relations, I decided to pursue a Master’s in Development Studies & Diplomacy at the University for Peace, United Nations. However, to further enhance my skills in humanitarian project management and drive my career growth in the right direction, I enrolled myself in the Project Management program in collaboration with UMass Amherst from Simplilearn.

Enrollment Decision and Career Goals:

The decision to take this course was driven by my belief that project management expertise would be instrumental in my role and enable me to contribute more effectively to humanitarian projects. After completing the program, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work on new projects within my organization. I found the course content to be well-structured and comprehensive, and the live projects provided valuable hands-on experience. The practice labs were particularly insightful, allowing me to apply my knowledge in real-world scenarios. The faculty members were knowledgeable and provided diverse perspectives and insights, enriching my learning experience. In terms of my long-term career goal, I aspire to advance to a leadership position and take on greater responsibilities to make a meaningful contribution to the welfare of the world.

My overall professional journey has been centered around project management, child protection, and international relations. Over the past 2 years and 5 months, I have worked with esteemed organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and McMan Youth Family, Community Services Association, among others. In addition to managing projects and programs, I also handle various aspects including risk management, refugee protection, diplomacy, conflict management, climate change, peace and social justice, strategic planning, and capacity building.

As documented by Nitin Sharma

With over two decades of solid experience under my belt, I currently hold the position of Associate Vice President at Celebal Technologies. Throughout my career, I have worked with esteemed multinational corporations such as HCL Technologies, Tata Communications, Airtel, and more. I firmly believe in the power of upskilling and learning as a continuous journey. Despite my extensive 20-year background, I made a decision to enhance my skill set by enrolling in Simplilearn’s Prince 2 Foundation Training Course. 

Enrollment Decision and Career Goals:

My primary motivation for pursuing this certification was to transition into a new career path, and I am proud to say that I accomplished this feat with remarkable success, securing a substantial 20% salary hike in the process.

Certification Provided a Career Boost

The course exceeded my expectations in every aspect. The meticulously crafted curriculum and engaging live projects gave me a practical sense of the industry and concepts. The knowledgeable faculty offered invaluable insights and diverse perspectives that truly aligned with the current market landscape. The high-quality content, coupled with Simplilearn’s blended learning approach, comprehensive curriculum, round-the-clock learning support, and impeccable course design, all instrumentalized my learning journey and ultimate success. I firmly believe that continuous growth and an unwavering commitment to learning are the keys to achieving professional success. With this mindset, I am determined to continue excelling in my career and explore new horizons across various industries.

Over two decades, I have strategically acquired a wealth of multidisciplinary experience, driving success within organizations and contributing to their growth metrics. On a personal level, I am deeply passionate about actively participating in social causes, supporting non-profit initiatives, and providing pro-bono assistance to startups.

As documented by Arun Sharma 

A successful upskilling journey filled with 3 Simplilearn programs led me to change my career domains multiple times, and I got a massive 80% salary increment.

My Career Journey So Far

With over a decade’s work experience, I have worked at Reliance Retail, Flipkart, FabIndia, and Airtel in different capacities and roles. I am currently working as Senior Ops Manager at Plus Health Tech. I am also a trainer with The Knowledge Academy as a freelancer on Project Management, Scrum, and Agile. 

The Challenge

My first program from Simplilearn was the Project Management Professional when I wanted to get certified. As I worked with Reliance Industries Limited, I realized I needed to understand business analytics better. I had already taken up two courses from Simplilearn before and knew where to go. To pass the CBAP exam, one must get into a training course usually provided by a well-known professional e-learning platform. Thus, I researched thoroughly and zeroed in on the Certified in Business Analytics Professional Course from Simplilearn as the perfect stepping stone.

The Simplilearn Solution

The first thing that caught my attention was that Simplilearn is an authorized training partner of the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the PMP training is aligned with PMBOK 7th Edition. Simplilearn’s courses were top-notch with high-quality study material. These courses were taught in an extremely engaging manner. Not only this, but I also reviewed my learning with the help of quizzes and course-end exams. 

Simplilearn offered both instructor-led and self-paced training options for most of its courses. The syllabus first covered the basics and then gradually moved to the intermediate and advanced concepts so that I could have a step-by-step understanding. Overall, my experience was amazing.

As documented by Rajendra Harsh

With 30+ years of working experience in project management, I currently work as an Agile Scrum Lead at the Mississippi Department of Human Resources. In 2006, I pursued my MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. My upskilling journey with Simplilearn was amazing and I am glad that I can contribute to providing knowledge to other learners by  being a coach myself. 

Professional Journey

I have an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. I also have 30+ years of experience in management, out of which 20 years were at top management level in various industries like manufacturing, metro rail projects, infrastructure projects, hospitality projects, and IT projects. I am also empaneled on Simplilearn as a coach for PMP and Agile Scrum Master with a rating of 4-4.7

The Decision to Upskill

Learning is growing and growing never stops for me, even after 30+ years of working experience. My main motive to upskill myself in the Digital Project Manager Master’s course was to upgrade and brush up on my skills with advancing technologies.