As 2021 comes to an end, PMI Toronto would like to thank its members and volunteers for another great year. We started our fiscal year celebrating our fellow members and volunteers with our Member of the Month blog series. We have featured a stellar group of project management professionals thus far, and in 2022 we will continue to feature members for their contributions not only to our Chapter but the project management profession. 

For December we want to call out the extraordinary work and commitment our recognized member has been making for the Chapter and for shining a light on future project management professionals. PMI Toronto is happy to recognize Victoria Lee for her dedication to the Chapter and her work for the Ontario Project Management Competition (OPMC). Victoria was also celebrated during our volunteer award ceremony in June for her volunteer leadership and she continues to work to lead two important competitions that will enrich the lives of students entering the profession. Congratulations Victoria for your continued commitment.

A Growing Career in Project Management

Victoria currently works as a Senior Change Management Consultant for Sun Life. She has a degree in Kinesiology and worked in rehabilitation for about 5 years where her passion for managing projects began. As Victoria explains she “enjoyed projects so much that I decided to get my graduate certificate in project management.” She is now expanding her competencies to include change management.

All project managers experience change, and some may be uncomfortable with change or the shifting of scope. Victoria believes project managers should consider change as lessons learned:

Do not fear the constant change in project constraints. These elements are bound to flux and flow as your project evolves. The key is to look ahead, anticipate, and closely track the risks, assumptions, impacts, and decisions along the way.

As a current Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Victoria strongly feels that the accreditation has increased her credibility and confidence especially during her initial job search. Her next goal is to achieve her PMP. As she explains obtaining her PMP would be “a personal goal that would solidify not only my credibility but show that I am an active project professional.”

A Volunteer Gives Back to the Community

Victoria is the Project Lead for the Ontario Project Management Competition (OPMC) and Youth Conference (OPMYC). These are both conferences and competitions that encourage college and university students to go beyond their academic classrooms and deliver passion projects of their own. Student teams who apply for these competitions have a chance to win cash and prizes targeted to support them to increase their professional development. Also, the conferences “are designed to create enriching experiences for students and attendees by forming partnerships with unique sponsors, project industry professionals, and keynotes.” Victoria is quite dedicated to building more impactful student opportunities every year.  After two years of volunteer work, she continues to showcase the importance of OPMC and OPMYC. Both are prominent and exciting opportunities for future project management professionals. What was her inspiration to become a volunteer?

I was inspired by the incredible work done by PMI to promote project management to students and the many opportunities it creates for their members.

Victoria also volunteers as an Event Lead for PMI Toronto’s Healthcare branch. She describes the community as a team, that brings project professionals in the healthcare industry in to speak of their successes, challenges, and learnings while working on major healthcare projects. It is an opportunity for those interested in healthcare and project management to come together to network and learn from one another. 

More About Victoria Lee

Victoria is passionate about being a volunteer and encouraging students to explore their project management professions by creating and executing their project ideas that will enrich the lives of others. She is both resourceful and ambitious and we wish her the best of success on her PMP exam. 

What does success mean to you: Success is knowing your core values and having the freedom to choose and make decisions that align with your heart and mind.

Work Passions: Knowing that the work I do makes the lives of those around me a little easier and brighter. I am proud to take part in projects that allow our community to access resources to live healthier, longer, and more meaningful lives.

Personal Passions: Spending time with family and friends. I also love to exercise such as cycling, Pilates, and yoga.

Favourite quote: “I am not young enough to know everything.” ― Oscar Wilde

Nominate a Fellow PMIT Member

We are always looking for ways to showcase our dedicated and invaluable members and volunteers. Take some time and nominate a fellow PMI Toronto Chapter member to be featured in our Member of the Month series. Please send your nomination suggestions to communications@pmitoronto.ca and tell us why the member should be featured.