#Japan #project management #Women in Tech #Shibuya #WAKE Career

Unlocking Potential: WAKE Career's Commitment to Women in PM

WAKE Career, managed by bgrass Co., Ltd., is stepping up its game by focusing on career support specifically targeting women project managers (PMs). Previously centered around women engineers, the initiative now pivots to recognize the evolving significance of PM roles in the AI era. The launch of a dedicated landing page for women PMs marks the first significant stride towards broadening career pathways in project management.

This initiative caters not only to established PMs but also to women engineers who wish to transition into project management and take on upper-level responsibilities. WAKE Career aims to help these women articulate and leverage their upper-management skills, preparing them for selective PM careers that encompass both job changes and freelance opportunities.

Addressing the Need for PM Career Support

WAKE Career's efforts stem from observing a gap in the recognition and valuation of women's contributions in project management. As AI technology rapidly changes the landscape of software development, the skills required to lead projects—specifically, defining project goals, managing stakeholder interests, and ensuring project success—are becoming increasingly crucial. Truly, project managers are now required to:

• - Clearly define project outcomes and evaluate priorities
• - Organize stakeholder interests to facilitate decision-making
• - Drive projects forward in uncertain conditions, resulting in successful outcomes

Despite these demands, it’s evident that women continue to face systemic challenges that affect their opportunities in PM roles. Recent statistics suggest emerging gender discrepancies in how AI is utilized in project management. This moment in history represents both a challenge and an opportunity: women can leverage AI to propel themselves into roles that were once elusive.

However, many women show reluctance to pursue PM roles due to concerns about:

• - Their competence in fulfilling these responsibilities
• - Disparities between increased workloads and inadequate recognition
• - Uncertainty regarding their future growth paths

These hesitations highlight a structural invisibility surrounding the upper-management functions that women often undertake without appropriate acknowledgment. WAKE Career believes that the issue stems from an inadequate framework for evaluating and recognizing upper-management roles within a career context.

Supporting Women to Thrive in PM Roles

To counteract these barriers, WAKE Career is committed to bolstering its support for women aspiring to become PMs or transitioning from engineering roles. Their goal is not merely to facilitate job placements; they aim to foster an environment where PMs can accurately articulate their experiences and gain skills that are essential for success in the AI-driven market.

WAKE Career promotes the idea that women should approach PM positions with confidence, recognizing their accumulated experiences as valuable credentials. The organization endeavors to help women realize their worth and take charge of their career trajectories.

A Comprehensive Approach to Career Development

The PM career support offered by WAKE Career features a multifaceted approach:

• - Engaging in retrospectives to articulate project management experiences and decision-making skills
• - Connecting candidates with companies that appreciate upper-management insights
• - Utilizing a long-term strategy for career progression that goes beyond immediate job changes

WAKE Career also recognizes that transitioning from traditional employment is not the only route; many aspiring PMs contemplate freelance opportunities. Therefore, they have established WAKE Freelance, which focuses on connecting project managers and leads with suitable freelance engagements. This initiative aims to provide a supportive framework allowing women to explore various career models without pressuring them into immediate decisions about independence.

Future Directions

As WAKE Career officially announces its commitment to supporting PM roles, it also plans to:

• - Enhance educational offerings around PM and AI integration
• - Strengthen collaborations for freelance PM support

Their objective is to ensure that, even in an AI-dominated landscape, women PMs can select their career paths confidently and with pride.

In conclusion, WAKE Career’s initiative is a critical step in addressing gender disparities in project management roles, providing women with the tools they need to assert their professional identities. By fostering a culture of support and recognition, WAKE Career aspires to create an environment where women are empowered to not only thrive in their careers but also redefine the future of project management.