Welcome to our In Focus series, where we shine a light on our Project Managers around the country. Week 2: Stephanie Ballango, Director, Project Management.
- What is your current role and main responsibilities?
Director and team manager for the NSW Property Advisory and Development Services team. My main responsibilities are project/technical work, business development and operations, and team management working closely with the broader project management team. I also support my National Director more broadly across our office’s interstate. - How did you get into this industry?
It’s a long story that starts with me applying for what I thought was a week of unpaid work experience and ends with being offered a fulltime paid gig as a contractor working within what was then known as the Sydney Harbour Manager’s Office within the NSW Department of Planning. - Tell us a little bit about your career
A heady mix of being in the right place at the right time and putting in a lot of hours and effort. I studied coastal resource management and have spent most of my career in statutory planning roles. After a stint at the Sydney Harbour Manager’s Office, I successfully applied for a permanent position as an Environmental Planning Officer working on local environmental plans in the local regional team. From there I transferred into development assessment working on State Significant projects and was given the opportunity to be involved in the drafting of various strategic and statutory planning legislation. After 7 years at the NSW Department of Planning, I moved to the private sector as a planning consultant for 7 years before secured a role back in the NSW Government working on a major project. I found my way to Savills about 2.5 years ago. - What has been your hardest career decision?
Wrestling with myself about moving out of a traditional strategic/statutory planning role and working out what I wanted to do next. - What do you love most about your job?
The variety, whether it is the people, projects, processes, problems, solutions or a combination of those. No two hours (let alone days) are the same. - What has been your biggest challenge on a project and how did you overcome it?
Delivering a major project that ran for several years with one other person. There was a particularly intense 8 week period during that project where we worked 12-14 hour days for eight weeks straight including weekends, side by side every day to meet government deadlines. We overcame it by simply rolling our sleeves up and mapping out what we needed to do, by when, and identifying whose support we needed. Each day involved lots of open communication, mutual support, willingness to respond to constantly shifting goal posts and an acceptance early that there were times when we just needed banter, have a laugh, or grab a coffee and that was okay. We got the project done and have won awards for it, so our approach worked seemingly! - What motivates you?
Making clients’ eyes light up and watching the juniors I work with grow and get their own wins. - What makes a great (Property Advisor/Consultant)?
Two things:
a. Understanding that every project is the most important project that that client has, no matter how small or large the site, where it is located geographically or its monetary value.
b. Clearly understanding the vision, strategic objectives and the non-negotiables – everything you do should be benchmarked against them. - How can clients, consultants and contractors work together better?
Recognising that we are all on the same project because the client has confidence in us and knows we can deliver what is being asked. That means we should leverage each other’s expertise by communicating openly, proactively and frequently. And pick up the phone! - What are some of the trends you are seeing in the industry?
More consultation, engagement and the bringing forward of investigations and reporting earlier in the process. - What’s three words that describe you?
I am a firm believer that there is the way you see yourself; the way others see you; and how you want to be seen. But I would like to think strategic, pragmatic, and proactive would be common any which way. - How do you manage stakeholders?
Fearless and proactive communication – be open, be honest, listen and ask questions. - What do you do to keep learning and growing in your career?
My most valuable learning experiences have been on the job working on projects with clients and stakeholders. By pursuing different opportunities and different teams, there is always something to learn or be exposed to – it could be a construction methodology, a governance framework, the way a negotiation is handled or the way an individual carries themselves. - What advice would you give to someone starting in the industry?
Try out every aspect of your chosen field through rotations and actively seeking out different projects, people and processes. Do not specialise too early and be open to the idea that your skills and experience (once developed) are transferrable far beyond your formal training and qualifications. I have a Science and Applied Geography degree with a major in coastal resource management….and yet look where I am! And I wouldn’t have it any other way. - What do you do in your leisure time to de-stress?
Cultural pursuits – attending talks, live music, read books, view and purchase art and design related stuff. Travel. Catch up with friends and family. - What is the single most important quality you need to possess to be in this industry?
There are two of equal importance required to be able to successful de-risk projects and solve problems:
1. Emotional intelligence
2. Really strong critical thinking and cognitive skills