MSc Project Management students welcome guest speaker Kimberley Ravazzolo
MSc Project Management students were pleased to welcome guest speaker Kimberley Ravazzolo, Senior Manager at NatWest, to the Management School who spoke to students about her successful career path which includes various project and operations management roles.
Not only did Kimberley provide a wealth of practical insights for students, but she also shared real-life examples of project milestones she had achieved. Examples include scaling up operations, ramping up operational output, designing and delivering payment processes, and expanding new teams and processes.
Kimberley also explored project management in practice with students by discussing various aspects of managing projects in a real-world context such as meeting performance requirements, managing people and HR issues plus managing stakeholders, budgets, risk, incidents and more.
MSc Project Management students gave their feedback on the session:
Esra Kayir:
- The session with Kimberley provided invaluable insights into both the work culture of NatWest and the working conditions in the banking sector. Furthermore, I gained a profound understanding of distinct projects within the banking sector, encompassing crucial aspects such as project pacing, milestones, and the associated challenges.
Linda Elsa Baby:
- The session with Kimberely was definitely value-added. Her talk was very encouraging, personally, because she talked about her growth from a graduate role, after doing an undergraduate degree in chemistry, to being a senior manager who manages several teams in different parts of the world. Her approach to change and how to manage rapid change in a fast-paced environment was very insightful.
Linob Mohan:
- I was truly inspired when Kimberley shared her career journey when she was a young woman and leader in a group dominated by more experienced professionals. Her courage and determination to challenge the status quo and implement change management strategies truly resonated with me. Her story highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership roles, showing us that age and gender should not be barriers to making a meaningful impact. It was incredible to hear how her innovative ideas and change management efforts played a pivotal role in driving the success and growth of the company.
Midhu Mohan:
- The guest speaker session with Kimberley from NatWest was truly insightful. The way she explains their professional achievements, skills, expertise, work ethic, leadership qualities, and contributions to the organization is inspirable. It was an excellent learning experience, and I genuinely enjoyed the session.
Dr Jennifer Davies, Deputy Director of Studies for MSc Project Management, commented: "We are deeply grateful to Kimberley Ravazzolo for taking the time to share her insights with our students, especially during such a turbulent period for NatWest.
“Both Dr Laura Menzies, Director of Studies, and I greatly appreciated the candid nature of her discussion. Kimberley's ability to navigate complex projects and deliver significant outcomes in a fast-paced environment is truly inspiring. Her strong leadership and commitment to her team shone through in her talk, providing our students with a real-world example of effective project management."
This guest speaker session marks a fitting end to an academic year enriched by a diverse range of industry speakers. Students have had the privilege to hear from a host of representatives from various sectors and firms of all sizes, many of which are based in the North-West.
These include Logistex and Ocado, Senate Group, and CDL, the UK's largest Insuretech provider. We also had an enlightening field trip to Airbus. Each of these experiences has provided students with unique insights into the practical aspects of project management across different industries.