306: Volunteer In Order To Accelerate Your Growth and Understand Who You Are with Jana Axline

In this week's show, Phil talks to Jana Axline, the CEO and Chief Project Officer of Project Genetics where she drives ideas from initiation to implementation, achieving successful outcomes for clients. She has strong skills and a passion for project management, coupled with years of leadership experience across a variety of industries.   She is also an international speaker as well as an active PMP, ACP, CSM and Scaled Agilist.   Jana talks about the importance of volunteering in order to energise your IT career. She also discusses the importance of recognizing our unique gifts, and recognizing who we are, so that we can better identify our prospective career paths.   KEY TAKEAWAYS:   TOP CAREER TIP Volunteering for tasks that fall within your skill-set, can often increase your chances of standing out, building relationships, and securing the trust of those who can help to accelerate your career goals.   WORST CAREER MOMENT After a cultural faux pas due to her non-exposure to diversity, Jana experienced a pivotal moment in her life, where she learned that not everyone is the same, and a little effort is required in order to be as inclusive as possible.   CAREER HIGHLIGHT Jana was promoted three times during her tenure in project management, which seemed to gel perfectly with Jana's skills, and ignited her desire to do better.   THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Technology is fast-paced, and wonderful, because the skills we acquire across pursuits can be adapted and transferred into new fields.   THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Jana had a passion for project management, and found her path opening up to her naturally. What's the best career advice you received? – Get yourself a mentor! What's the worst career advice you received? – Jana was told that her career path was too varied, but they were all stepping stones to where she is now, and all helped to shape her. What would you do if you started your career now? – Jana would go through an internship, and more formal education – where relationships and networks can be built for life. What are your current career objectives? – Scaling Project Genetics in order to grow. What's your number one non-technical skill? – Problem solving abilities, which can expedite solutions and help others to understand. How do you keep your own career energized? – Constant learning and development What do you do away from technology? – Sailing and outdoor activities.   FINAL CAREER TIP Always understand exactly who you are, what you're good at, and what the opportunities ahead are like for you. Only then can you gain a clear perspective on what your future looks like.   BEST MOMENTS   (7:56) – Jana - "Volunteering within your discipline can help you gain experience you may not gain in the workplace, as well as build relationships with people" (13:56) – Jana - "Learn about the company and the marketplace and how those things connect, so that you can be a catalyst to drive the market forward" (25:37) – Jana – "If you get involved in societies, then you build a network that can create value for the rest of your life" (28:43) – Jana – "It's important to understand who you truly are" CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/_philburgess LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Instagram: https://instagram.com/_philburgess Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at [email protected] and via the podcast's website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – JANA AXLINE Jana Axline is the CEO and Chief Project Officer of Project Genetics where she drives ideas from initiation to implementation, achieving successful outcomes for clients. She has strong skills and a passion for project management, coupled with years of leadership experience across a variety of industries. She is also an international speaker as well as an active PMP, ACP, CSM and Scaled Agilist.   CONTACT THE GUEST – JANA AXLINE Jana Axline can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AxlineSolutions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janaaxline/ Website: https://projectgenetics.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz0Z2FUJsciMBXJBIy-mxsA