Accidental project management is one of the most common and least talked about ways into this work. Most of us didn’t wake up one day and say, “I’d love to own every risk on this project with no formal authority.” We were good at our jobs, someone trusted us, and suddenly we were responsible for momentum, alignment, and outcomes… without a lot of instruction.
That’s where we spent our time in this month’s PM Squad Live.
I was joined by three people I respect a lot—and who all came into this work in very different ways:
- Aliyah Goode – Digital PM who moved from operations and office management into agency project management (and then into tech).
- Kelly Vega – Former publicist for Sesame Street Live turned digital PM and now program director.
- Dave Prior – Former music industry refugee, chat room moderator, and now long-time PM, agile trainer, and professional chaos translator.
Together, we dug into what it actually feels like to step into responsibility before you feel ready, how you grow into leadership in real time, and how to stay human when you’re the one naming all the hard things.
Watch the replay
PM Squad Live: Accidental project management panel
