Perspectives of Women in PM Latin America
Interview with Angela Mendez
Former Mentor Region 13 North
Project Management Institute
By Angelica Larios
International Correspondent
Mexico City, Mexico
Introduction to Interviewee
Angela Mendez has served as a Mentor for PMI’s Northern Region 13 for three years, supporting leaders from 11 countries and 19 chapters to develop their leadership skills and the growth and development of communities. She is a service leader with strategic skills—people-focused, self-motivated, adaptable, results-oriented, and an expert in teamwork and conflict resolution.
Angela is a Latin woman highly qualified with studies and experience, such as
- D. in Education, with a specialization in Organizational and Instructional Leadership. Nova Southeastern University. 2019
- Leadership Institute Master Class. 2016 PMI USA.
- Project Management Professional (PMP). 2008
- Master in Higher Education, UNIBE. 2005
- Information System Engineer, Apec University, Santo Domingo 1992
- Mentor Region 13 North of the Project Management Institute 2019-2021
This interview is an abstract from the book “Perspective of Latin American Women in Project Management” published by Ipek Sahra Ozguler Yilmaz and Angélica María Larios Arias, available on Amazon.
Interview
Q1. What has contributed to the chapter, practice, and dissemination of Project Management?
Angela Mendez (Mendez): The most important contribution was the creation of the chapter, bringing together the leaders who had this idea for several years and putting the passion and focus that characterized me to achieve in 2011 being recognized by PMI Global. As the first President, I was responsible for leaving an open, inclusive, transparent, and accountable organization. Also, to collaborate in forming and developing leaders who would be responsible for continuing to lead.
In 2015, I expressed: “I aspire to create impact and meaning in the academic and leadership areas in my country and the region, increasing the Project Management programs, supporting the development of new leaders, and thus today, I serve the region. 13 North and all of Latin America.”
In 2016, I participated as a speaker in the PMI Tour, celebrating 20 years of this beautiful chapter, and invited my friend Mary Cárdenas, who had been living in Mexico for less than a week and had been an enthusiastic PMIRD volunteer. In addition to seeing her, I intended to introduce her to the leaders of the PMI Mexico Chapter so that she could volunteer for it. Today Mary is the President of the PMICDM, and I am the mentor of the region. Who could imagine it?
I have collaborated on global projects such as the Hybrid and Risk micro certifications and the new Regional Mentors scheme. Together with Carolina La Torre, we created the Regional Advisors pilot that became SMEs, assigning expert volunteers with specific skills to chapters that want to develop or improve a particular region.
Regarding the dissemination of Project Management since 2012, we began a crusade to bring PM to all levels in the Dominican Republic, schools, colleges, NGOs, and the Government. This has been applied in both my country and the region’s countries.
Q2. What is the status of Project Management in the Latin American Region according to your point of view?
Mendez: 2020 was a year that promoted significant changes in the working space in Latin America and the world, for some industries more than others. From my point of view, the focus on people became more human and empathetic. Gustavo Pastrana, PMP, says that leaders of Diebold Nixdorf, Mexico, now ask team members about their personal and mental health and their family lives. “It’s about seeing your people first as human beings and secondly as part of an organization that drives results.” (Pulse of Profession 2021, PMI).
More…
To read entire interview, click here
How to cite this work: Larios, A.M. (2023). Perspectives of women in PM Latin America, Interview with Angela Mendez, PMI Mentor, PM World Journal, Vol. XII, Issue VII, July. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pmwj131-Jul2023-Larios-Interview-with-Angela-Mendez.pdf
About the Author
Angelica Larios
Mexico City, Mexico
Angelica Larios, MBA, PMP, is a project manager with more than 20 years of experience in implementing software projects related to business intelligence, planning and budgeting, and financial consolidation solutions based on software applications to support the business decision process. She is the owner of ALACONTEC, an I.T. consulting company founded in Latin America. She has held several professional positions in private and public organizations, such as the Health Ministry in Mexico as I.T. director, and as a business manager for several firms in Mexico.
She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from National University of Mexico (UNAM) in addition to her studies in project management and her Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, which have helped her to consolidate her career and have a better understanding of what businesses and projects need nowadays. She is a doctoral student in strategic leadership at Regent University, VA, USA; she is a PMI volunteer since 2007 starting in the local Mexico chapter, being Past President and and currently serves on the Board Volunteer Advisory Committee (BVAC) that supports the PMI Board of Directors (2016–2018).
Angelica can be contacted at angelica.larios@gmail.com
To view other works by Angelica Larios, visit her author showcase in the PM World Library at https://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/angelica-larios/.
