Introduction
It feels like yesterday since I first stepped into my role as a program manager at Zindua School. The excitement coupled with anxiety and first-day jitters all feel foreign to me now. We all know how starting something new can be scary sometimes, it’s like starting an adventure without any knowledge of how things will turn out or what the future holds. Sometimes the anticipation either drives us toward the end goal or simply drives us mad(laughs). My anxiety was having a field day from the moment I got that call confirming me for the role to my first onboarding, I had so many questions in my head but the only question that took up space was: What if they realize they made a mistake in hiring me? I remember calling my mentor and telling them I didn’t think I was ready two days before I reported for work and he calmly told me “Mimah, get out of your head, You are going to do great, have some faith in yourself. Now as I write this the only question taking up space in my head is, “Girl, why did you ever doubt yourself?”
Expectation vs Reality
I had initially applied for a different role as a community manager at the same institution, now with the numerous failures I had gotten from previous applications, I definitely knew this was going to be another flop, I mean what was going to be different this time, so imagine my shock when I got the email inviting me to my first interview. I was excited but also scared shitless, this was going to be my first interview but even with the doubts, I still managed to kill it and was called for a second interview. I remember promising myself that I was not going to self-sabotage ever again because of imposter syndrome as I had done before.
A few weeks later, I got the call to let me know that, sadly, they had decided to move forward with someone else for the community manager position. However, they had another offer for me: a program manager position that they had initially planned to launch later. My answer was a definite yes. Even though I had never worked as a program manager before, I knew that this was an opportunity I couldn’t let go of. I’d learn from the job(laughs).
Before getting into the role, I had a vision of what my work would be like, managing timelines, planning events, overseeing projects and helping students succeed. But in just the first month, I’ve learned that being a program manager is so much more than that. It’s about navigating uncharted territory, making quick decisions and building meaningful connections with your students.
I Remember my manager telling me that I would sometimes need to make decisions without necessarily having to seek his approval, take the reigns and spearhead some projects on my own. That he was entrusting me with the responsibility of managing the students and making sure that they get the best experience at Zindua and that might have been the scariest moment for me, but then again, there was and never will be room for self-doubt to win.
Key Responsibilities and Tasks
As a program manager, my first month has involved wearing many hats. Here are some of the core responsibilities and tasks I’ve been handling
Student Support
One of my top priorities has been providing ongoing support to students. This involves being able to listen to their concerns, helping them navigate challenges and ensuring they have enough support from their technical mentors as well as resources needed to succeed. I’ve also worked on gathering feedback through weekly check-ins to understand their progress which has allowed me to address any emerging issues
Data Handling and Management
Managing data has been another crucial part of my role. From tracking student attendance and performance to handling feedback and enrollment data, I ensure that accurate records are kept and insights are drawn to improve program outcomes. This data not only helps us refine our structure but also allows for more personalized student support.
Planning Sessions
I’ve been responsible for organizing impactful sessions for the students, including our guest speakers series which focuses more on career development. Each session requires careful planning from coordinating with speakers to preparing students for active participation. These sessions are designed to give students practical insights they can apply in their job search and professional growth.
Collaboration and Teamwork
In my role, collaboration has really been key. Working closely with the technical mentors, the administrative team, and the growth team to ensure that our programs run smoothly, whether it’s in planning events or ensuring seamless communication across departments, teamwork has been really essential to achieving goals and providing students with a supportive learning environment.
Personal Growth and Key Take-Aways
This past month as a program manager has been a very transformative experience, both in personal growth and professional development. I had to open my mind to learning and imagine myself in the shoes of different people that I have had to help. I have also learned to look at different perspectives before coming to a decision.
Here are some of the key lessons and takeaways from this journey so far:
Adaptability is key
I have learned the importance of being adaptable, no two days are the same in this role. Whether it’s handling last-minute changes for a particular arrangement or addressing unexpected challenges with students, I’ve had to stay flexible and think on my feet. This has pushed me out of my comfort zone but it’s also taught me to be more resourceful and solution-oriented.
Communication is Everything
As a program manager, communication has become one of my most valuable skills. From keeping students informed to ensuring smooth collaboration with the team, I’ve realized how essential clear and effective communication is. I’ve learned to listen more attentively to students’ concerns and coordinate across teams more efficiently.
Balancing Strategy with Empathy
A key takeaway from this experience has been finding the balance between strategic planning and empathy. While my role involves managing programs and executing projects, I’ve come to understand that building relationships and showing genuine care for students while maintaining certain boundaries is just as important. I have underlined boundaries because I have come to realize that it’s easy for students to take advantage when you become too lenient which could lead to them not taking communication seriously. One of my fears was coming across as too strict when passing information, I had a situation where some students had yet to submit their projects and do presentations and had still not communicated with their TMs. I had to strictly let them know of the consequences of failure to do what was required and the TMs were impressed with how fast the students reached out to submit their projects and schedule time for presentations. Sometimes strictness is important in making sure boundaries are enforced.
Proud Moments
One way of scaling through imposter syndrome is celebrating your wins, no matter how small, so I always take so much pleasure in the little things, could be a “good job” or “great thinking ” from my manager. These moments make me proud of myself and make me strive to do better.
However, my proudest moment this past month was being able to MC for the sip and code event we hosted. Being something I had never done before even outside of work, I was really proud that I was able to get over my anxiety which always has a field day when it comes to addressing big crowds, and do the task at hand and totally kill it! I am looking forward to having more of these proud moments and challenging myself more in this role.
Looking Ahead
I think what I look forward to the most is Learning and growing in my career, A few months ago, this wasn’t something I thought I could do, but now, a month in, I am so glad Zindua School took a chance with me as I absolutely love what I do. I have so many plans for the future of Zindua and I hope with time, I’ll be able to execute them and give our students an even better experience at Zindua.
Let’s see what the future has in store for us!