For investing in herself and others while growing the project management community in San Diego.

VP Programs & Project Manager at PMI San Diego Chapter | San Diego, California, United States of America

Ever since she can remember, Robin Datko trailed her grandmother in her volunteer efforts, helping out wherever she could. Being in the service of others is something she learned from her grandmother—and it stuck with her.

“Empowering other people lights me up. Grandma was involved with Meals on Wheels—she volunteered with retirement homes. She taught me that lighting other people up, even in small day-to-day things, can have a big impact on our lives,” says Robin. “Giving back drives me. Sometimes it’s being that smiling face, being that support to put an idea together that’s bigger than the sum of our individual parts.”

True to form, Robin began her career in child development—dating as far back as high school. By 2019, she felt she’d reached the limit of her impact in that field. It was time to make a change. “I knew I wanted more and kept hearing that I’d make a good project manager,” she says.

Motivated to explore new opportunities, she enrolled in the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® program at the UC San Diego Extended Studies. “The minute I started classes, it felt right. I’m people-centric and -oriented—it’s the lens I see things through,” says Robin “I felt there would be room for me, personally and professionally, to get involved with big projects that tied in what I had learned with my child development work and take those skills to something bigger.”

As Robin worked toward her certification, Covid hit, disrupting her work with families and reaffirming her belief that transitioning into project management was the right move for her. Around that time, she joined the PMI San Diego chapter and became extremely active in the organization.

“I joined the mentor program right away,” says Robin. “It’s an immense organization that’s taken over my life in a great way. As a student, it helped me with my class work—the pieces came together much more quickly.”

Unlike a lot of her peers who fell into the career, Robin says she’s a “purpose-built” project manager. When she volunteered to host the the mentor program’s monthly "PMO Leadership" virtual event, the chapter took notice, putting her on the programs team where she became friends with the then-vice president. “She asked if I wanted to be her deputy VP,” says Robin. “I have to thank her specifically for believing in me and seeing my potential. I had no hesitation after that point. I helped her build the team.”

Since then, Robin has played several key roles in the San Diego PMI chapter, including deputy VP of programs and marketing. She also hosts PMO leadership events and connects emerging professionals and seasoned project managers through casual coffee meetups, local beach cleanups, and even launching the chapter’s podcast.

She credits Mickey Nakamura, President of the PMI San Diego Chapter Board of Directors, for showing her what’s possible and by leading by example. “Making people feel heard, seen, supported—that’s the way I see him show up for a growing team and chapter,” says Robin. “I knew I could form trust with him and that’s the kind of leader I want to be.”

Robin’s peers call her the “glue” on the teams she helps lead, always looking to break down silos, bridge gaps, foster collaboration and empower others to grow. She sees each challenge as an opportunity to learn and contribute, regardless of career stage. “I don’t think you have to wait till later in your career to do something amazing,” she says, “I’m big on learning along the way and always asking—Is this a good path to invest in?”