Are you a project manager seeking to improve project management practices in your organization as well as advance your career? My name is Wan How and I guide project managers to apply PM skills to their projects, programs, and portfolios within the specific context of their company and people culture. In so doing, I also help project managers to advance their careers by getting noticed by senior leaders for future opportunities. If you would like to explore how you can close the gap between knowing PM skills and expertly applying them to deliver projects and develop your career, please schedule a discovery call with me.
If you manage multiple projects with several sponsors, stakeholders, and teams; many project plans, milestones, and deadlines; multiple risks, issues, and crises; requiring communication and change management,capacity planning and resource management; testing, piloting, and rollout. Then explore the Project Doctor Masterclass and Coaching Program with 10 weeks of training and 10 months of coaching.
There is a gap between project management training and the application of acquired skills to deliver projects. The project manager already knows the best practices and what needs to be done. The challenge is how to apply that knowledge within organizations that have cultural norms, leadership styles and decision-making patterns that are not conducive to project management best practices. The flip side of this challenge is an opportunity. What if you can deliver successful projects and at the same time introduce project management best practices into a company? That will accelerate your career advancement and catapult you into leadership. An experienced coach can help you on this journey, so it takes less time and you avoid mistakes and missteps along the way.
First off, career coaching is not just about getting a better job or promotion. It’s about the long-term, even lifelong, journey of discovering one’s unique strengths and offering it to the world. From the raw ingredients of your passion and strengths, the coach guides you to build and promote your personal brand to help you stand out in a crowd. Hiring managers see more than a hundred resumes for every job posting. Your unique brand will help you get noticed.
Wan How is a career and project management coach specializing in helping project professionals advance their careers. In his project management career, Wan successfully rescued many troubled projects. These included turning around projects headed for failure within 30 days and compressing project timelines by half to deliver benefits in one year instead of two.
Wan has over twenty years of project management experience in traditional, agile and hybrid approaches. As the leader of a Project Management Office, he led a team of project managers and business analysts to deliver corporate projects tied to the organization's business plan and strategic objectives. He has worked in the information technology, government, higher education, oil and gas, and engineering sectors.
Wan is a graduate of Cambridge University. His areas of expertise include project management, IT management and facilitation. In addition to the PMP, Wan is an Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP). He has also attained the Certified Professional Facilitator with the International Association of Facilitators.
"Wan and I met during my chrysalis phase--the stage when a larva transforms into a butterfly. Many go through a similar place of knowing what you want but unsure how to get there. Wan stepped in and meticulously provided the much-needed guidance needed to mitigate my fears and unlock the hidden potential within--despite earning certifications. He took me by the hand to help me understand the true essence of project management. Moreover, Wan allowed me to crawl and naturally adjust as a project manager. It was amazing how his gentle touch impacted me so much over a short period. So many people seeing the fruit of his labor are calling me such a great project manager.
Wan didn't stop there! He pushed me out of my comfort to reach my dreams and goals. I learned the necessary skills to secure the perfect position and speak to the role that suited my expertise."
"Wan has an amiable personality and coaches from the heart. He helps you to be in tune with your best self in the most unassuming way. Wan is very dedicated to coaching. He respectfully corrects you when necessary. In challenging times and moments of despair, Wan is there to motivate you, guide you to see the positivity in the situation and then urge you to focus on your strengths to discover your 'sweet spot'. The point where you are most competitive. The point that will set you soaring to reach your highest heights. In addition to being a great coach, Wan is a mentor and leader who brings out the gem in you. He is certainly one of the finest coaches. Few as they are and far between."
"It's rare that you come across a professional coach like Wan. He is an outstanding coach for Project/Program Managers with rich Program Management experience. His coaching style is innovative, well organized, and insightful. His interactions are focused on the core principle of believing in one's strengths and harnessing them to newer heights. I have travelled an insightful and impactful journey through his guidance." Shuv landed his new position in 20 days.
"I have met several Project Management “coaches” that say they are here to help, but their actions showed otherwise. Wan How is truly a man that practices what he preaches! He has assisted me in gaining back my passion for project management, navigating complex situations, and exceeding expectations on project deliverables. Wan has a charismatic personality that does not waiver in the sight of opposition. It allows who he is to shine even more brightly! Thank you for believing in me, Wan, when I stopped believing in myself."
"I reached out to Wan at a time when I was looking to make progress in my career as a Project Manager in the digital marketing space. We had an initial conversation that held my interest and that started my coaching with him. Wan is very relatable. He listens to your story and then helps to craft your unique selling point based on all your skills. Over the course of my interactions with him, he shared valuable insights and approaches to help me achieve my goal. Mateko increased her salary by 88%."
"Ever since I started working with Wan, it feels like I have a secret weapon in my project management arsenal. Wan's experience and guidance helped me navigate through some very critical points in my early project management days. Wan goes above and beyond to help you, his passion for everyone's success just shows thru his work and dedication. I feel lucky to be one of Wan's mentee."
"Working with Wan has been an eye-opening experience with significant impact from the first 2 sessions. I have had a mindset shift and I'm grateful for all the tools and lessons. I feel more confident and knowledgeable about myself, and am able to present myself as the professional that I know I am. I also appreciate the flexibility that Wan offers with this program and his professionalism."
"Wan was my Leader while I was working in Project Management. During my time with Wan, he was a consistent influence and coach for some of my more difficult times. Wan was innovative, always finding tools and methods to help the organization be more creative and engaged in solving issues. I found Wan's style of coaching to be very effective at unlocking ideas and solutions for the challenges I was facing, and I appreciate his support during this time. I look forward to seeing what Wan do to help others with the same challenges, as he has a great set of tools to do so."
"Working with Wan was a transition point in my career. It was with his coaching that I could identify my core values and strengths, which helped me to have my presentable personal brand. Being authentically myself, I was no longer labeled with not having Canadian experience and that led to my new position in 33 days."
"I would like to recommend Wan for coaching. I needed a career change and Wan coached my transition... I would not be in my current role without Wan’s support. Wan’s coaching made the interview for my new role go very smoothly as all the answers to the interview questions had already been discussed and the answers were exactly what was required.I would not be in my current role without Wan's support."
"Upon completion of Wan's program, I was immediately greeted by the thought of 'Where would I be today if I hired him a year earlier?' The beauty of his program is not only how everything is tied together, but by the fact he makes real recommendations from what he learns about you. The interviews are so natural and it doesn't even feel like he is gathering information to help you!
Wan is a great coach who does truly care about his clients. The tools he creates with you and the content is designed to give you the upper hand. The only thing I regret is not hiring Wan sooner!"
"Wan helped me land a dream job within 30 days of coaching. He is knowledgeable, informational, and patient. He uses unique approaches when coaching you through interviews and negotiations.
At the same time, he inspires you to think bigger and deeper about your career development. He is calm and understanding the whole time, just like a friend with wisdom and experience. I think it is important because it makes you feel trusting and open to discuss any personal concerns.
I benefited greatly from his coaching and would love to recommend him to people who want a leap in their careers."
"Wan helped me understand and work through my career values to a depth I haven't explored yet. I thought I was going into our sessions with a good understanding of resumes, cover letters, marketing and brand, but Wan helped me build a strong foundation based on my genuine personality and strengths. We did not focus on the things I 'thought' I should include, but a very true and honest representation of the value I bring to others around me. I was especially impressed by how prepared Wan was for every session. He was able to pull information into our sessions that I had not remembered and helped make connections between my past experiences that were not obvious to me.
Having worked with Wan, I feel more connected to the essence of who I am and have developed a confidence to pursue much loftier aspirations than I had thought possible prior to working with Wan. "
"The program that Wan offers is incredibly unique. During the first session itself, I realized where my real strengths are who are the people and organizations that need the set of skills that I have. Further into the program, I learned the networking strategies that actually worked. He also provided unique tools and many strategies particular to the field of Project Management that are not found elsewhere.
Wan understands clients’ perspective and helps them get to the desired state by set of small attainable steps. So, they feel confident. His contents also cover the aspects of emotional intelligence required during the work as a PM and while looking for a job.
If you are ready to learn new and unexplored ways of networking, ready to do some work on yourself and find out your unique, employable set of skills, I strongly recommend Wan’s consulting service."
"Wan is a very structured guy, very organized and super flexible to adjust his program to your goals and objectives. I highly encourage you to make your goals and objectives before you start your sessions with Wan." See Video Testimonial
"Wan is a seasoned mentor who personalizes my career goals into workable plans. The practical strategies are applied immediately, and I am glad to see lasting results."