Certified: Meet Stasia Miodushevska, CAPM

There’s no second take when millions are watching. At live events like Eurovision and the UEFA European Football Championship, every moment must be meticulously planned. For Stasia Miodushevska, CAPM, project management is the difference between flawless execution and chaos.

From Eurovision to Euro Football: The power of project management

How did project management methodologies help you execute high-profile events like Eurovision and the Euro Football Competition?

For events like Eurovision and the Euro Football Competition, agile methodologies were essential. These projects required constant adaptation and replanning, sometimes even multiple times in one day. While not everyone involved needed to understand agile deeply, having a structured approach was critical for me and the key team members. It ensured we didn’t miss any steps, stakeholders, or potential risks.

A previous company I worked for was the main sponsor for both events, and I was responsible for managing the sponsorship from the company’s side. Sponsorship isn’t just about placing a logo somewhere; it involves a wide range of responsibilities, including advertising, on-site presence, voting mechanisms, public relations, and much more. I worked with a large team to ensure everything ran smoothly. Expectations were high, especially considering the significant financial investment the company made in these sponsorships. We had to focus on delivering a solid return on investment and meeting specific business goals.

What were some of the most exciting or unexpected challenges you faced working on Eurovision or the Euro Football Competition?

The most exciting was that both events were happening live and being watched by tens of millions of people. There was no way to rewind the film and do something better or correct a mistake. Any live event is about the here and now, so everything must be thought out and planned down to the smallest detail. This is where project management skills come in.

Was there a particular moment during Eurovision or the Euro Football Competition that stood out as especially rewarding or memorable for you?

These projects are hard work. We started our day at 7 in the morning and finished at midnight. It was quite a unique experience, and it was rewarding to be part of the magic.

The role of project management in creative industries

What aspects of project management do you find most crucial for these types of projects, and how did your certification support them?

Stakeholder communication and risk management are the most critical aspects of large projects. Certification has helped me approach these areas more systematically.

For example, we now create a list of all stakeholders at the beginning of a project and analyze potential risks early on. This prevents surprises later. After the project, lessons learned have also become a key part of our process. These records allow future teams to quickly access insights and avoid repeating mistakes.

How do you balance creativity with structured project management methodologies?

My strength lies in being both creative and structured. When working with highly creative individuals, I avoid overwhelming them with too much structure. Instead, I handle the detailed planning myself. This balance allows creativity to thrive while ensuring the project stays on track. And agile methodologies help us revise and adapt, which is particularly effective for large, creative projects.

Mastering project management

How did you first get into project management, and what led you to pursue certification?

I started my career in advertising as an account manager, and much of what I know about project management, I learned on my own. I was already managing projects and handling scope, cost, and timing.

Eventually, I realized it was time to take the next step, get certified. Earning the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® certification not only confirmed what I was doing right but also helped me improve and refine my skills.

I pursued the CAPM certification because I wanted to better manage big teams and large-scale projects. To do so you need to be certified. While I was already doing many things correctly, I felt there were gaps in my knowledge that I wanted to fill. Now it’s not intuition, it’s correct according to project management best-practices.

The certification helped me regroup and organize my existing knowledge while also teaching me new approaches. It gave me confidence in my methods and allowed me to approach projects with a more structured, business-oriented mindset.

How has becoming certified enhanced your ability to manage multichannel campaigns and multicultural teams?

Certification has been a great tool for gaining respect and trust when working with new teams. When you walk into your first meeting with a team, it’s important to establish credibility. Using the correct terminology and organizing the process from start to finish are crucial for building that trust.

Certification is not just about the title—it’s about the knowledge that comes with it. It has helped me develop clear processes, timelines, and budgets while working with stakeholders and team members.

How do you adapt your project management style to accommodate the multicultural teams or audiences involved in these events?

The language of project management is international. That's why everyone understands who stakeholders are and what a timeline is. That's a huge advantage.

Cultural differences do exist. For example, a deadline for some means three days before everything has to be absolutely ready, and the remaining time is to test the nuances. For others, deadlines may mean everything is ready three seconds before the audience starts to gather. So, we have to align expectations and workflows.

What have you learned about effective communication and collaboration from working with multicultural teams?

Multiculturalism is our future. It is our real strength. The synergy of different cultures doubles and triples the results. We use different approaches and learn from each other.

Advice for aspiring creative project managers

What would you say is a benefit of being certified?

Certification has been a massive confidence booster. It’s the best thing you can have. Passing the exam was incredibly validating. It reinforced my belief in my abilities and gave me the assurance that I’m on the right track.

What advice would you give to aspiring creative project managers considering certification?

My advice is to go for it as early as possible. Certification is valuable in every industry, including creative fields. It helps you plan and manage projects the correct way.

Don’t be intimidated by the terminology or the process. Certification will not only improve your skills but also open doors for new opportunities and career growth.

What lights you up about the work you do?

Right now, I’m a Digital Marketing Project Manager at Proximus, managing digital campaigns and client communications. My projects involve everything from initial communication to developing landing pages and mechanisms to improve services. It’s rewarding to create meaningful experiences that show appreciation for our long-term clients.

Seeing a project succeed is the best part of my job. When everything comes together as planned it’s an incredible feeling. I also love the teamwork involved. Overcoming challenges with my team creates strong bonds and a shared sense of accomplishment.

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