Aayaam was nominated for our career spotlight because of his excellent work ethic, strong project management capabilities, and ability to keep our teams (and clients) organized and on track! Plus, he's just a cool dude.
Check out the video below, which talks about Aayaam's role as a project manager, and then read on for our traditional career spotlight Q&A.
What made you decide to join the team at REW?
I first got to know about REW back in 2014 when I saw the episode of REW featured on Dragon's Den. I was particularly impressed by how Morgan Carey (CEO at Real Estate Webmasters) handled the questions by the dragons and held his ground. At that time, I didn't know that three years later I would be working for the same company!
Before applying for this position, I did some research and was greatly impressed by the quality of products offered by REW. For me, it was very important to have that sense of pride for the company I was going to work with. The positive client reviews and strong team profiles further affirmed my decision to apply.
Also, during the selection process, I really enjoyed my conversations with the senior management team. They were very friendly, open and honest about their expectations for this position. I could relate to their experiences and could see myself making a difference at REW. I felt aligned with company's values, work culture and the future direction of the company. By the end of it, it just felt right and everything just clicked!
What do you think makes someone successful in project management?
Some of the excellent project managers that I am currently working with (and have worked with in the past) have few qualities in common:
- All of them are good communicators and even better listeners
They are able to express their expectations effectively and give regular, constructive feedback to the team. Not only that, they are also open to receiving feedback both from their team and the client. - They are adaptable but decisive in their approach
It is not always possible to plan everything in advance and there is always some element of surprise (I call them "the unknowns") with any project that you manage. It could be an unexpected delay on the roadmap, unforeseen risk, and/or an additional client request that isn't budgeted for. I believe successful project managers can spot such unknowns from a distance and are able to consider all possible options before making an informed decision to resolve such situations. - They are not afraid to ask for help
In my opinion, the onus is not necessarily on the project manager to come up with the right solution to any given problem (wouldn't it be awesome though!) There are always other team members and colleagues with skills that are better suited to dealing with any said issue that may arise. I believe successful project managers recognize that they don't know all the answers and are able to facilitate discussions with the right group.
What advice do you have for someone considering a career in project management?
I'd say never assume anything, always communicate, and be prepared for "the unknowns"!
What do you do for fun outside of work?
I moved to Vancouver fairly recently, about 7 months back, so I am still in “tourist mode” and most of my weekends are spent exploring places in and around the city. Also, the city has some beautiful bike trails and I enjoy biking whenever I get a chance.
What are your 3 favourite places in Vancouver?
Vancouver has so many amazing places. My top 3 would be:
- Stanley Park bike trails
- Grouse Mountain
- Granville Island Market for its nice cafes, street food and occasional street performances