Your path to Project Controls: Hear from Dr. Alexia Nalewaik FRICS CCP her success story in Project Controls

At Project Controls Institute, we know multiple routes into the Project Controls profession. On this International Women’s Day, we have prepared a series of short stories to showcase the successful women in project controls and their stories to encourage young professionals into this profession.

“People don’t like change, they don’t like “different”, yet what we really need on most projects is a fresh perspective. Constantly, critically, question everything.”

What industry are you working in and how did you start your career in Project Controls?

I am currently working on major science projects. I started my career as an estimator, first on commercial and residential insurance claims, then in the petrochemical sector. I followed a petrochemical project from proposal to the EPC phase, where I took on a role in scheduling and project control.

What is Project Controls to you??

To me, the concept of project control is very broad, and it represents the governance side of managing projects, meaning both structure and process for decision-making, accountability, and performance optimisation. Even though my career has also included work in cost segregation, construction claims, site selection, risk modeling and management, auditing, owner agent, cost-benefit analysis, process improvement, systems, and more, I consider all of these to be elements of project control.

How has your contribution help with the delivery of projects??

My level of influence has varied over time, depending on my role. Perhaps the best and most satisfying impact has been as auditor, with the ability to really dig into the nitty gritty of projects and uncover areas for improvement. Being an independent and respected third party, especially one that writes publicly-available reports, is very different from being a regular team member.

What would your advice be for a young professional who is considering a career in Project Controls?

• Take risks while you are young, and seize unusual opportunities when they appear. That is more difficult to do, later in your career.
• Have confidence in yourself; accept you don’t have to be liked by everyone. Don’t let the turkeys get you down (there are lots of them).
• Mentors are useful early on, but the people who will make the biggest difference in your career are Champions.
• People don’t like change, they don’t like “different”, yet what we really need on most projects is a fresh perspective. Constantly, critically, question everything.
• My Mum used to say people lie, but numbers don’t. That’s true no matter your age or position.

Reach out to?Dr. Alexia Nalewaik FRICS CCP

Feel free to share, like, or comment, and more importantly, to share your success story with us to help grow the Project Controls community.