Aurora Gualtieri, CAPM
For forging connections across the project management community
"I'm not here to waste time," says Aurora Gualtieri. And she's not kidding: Just a couple of years removed from college, she's already making a name for herself in project management. While working as a business development officer at Deloitte, she was elected director of members and volunteers for the PMI Luxembourg Chapter. That makes her the chapter’s youngest elected member (and one of the youngest in all of Europe), but she’s not letting that get in her way of building a strong network across the continent—and beyond.
“I really like the role because it permits me to have great connections all around the world,” she says. “I’ve met people from Germany, Singapore, Australia. We now have a connection and relationship with the PMI Mumbai Chapter as well.”
Gualtieri’s achievements are all the more impressive given that she moved to her current home of Luxembourg not knowing French, one of the country’s official languages. (Originally from Italy, Gualtieri studied language interpretation and translation in university and speaks four languages, French now included.) She knew her affinity for thinking big and hitting deadlines would be a good fit for project management, but she struggled to break in without any real-world experience. She pushed forward by earning a master’s degree in business management and networking in the field, including at PMI chapter events.
When Gualtieri landed at Deloitte, she jumped at the chance to focus on organizing events, meetings and small projects related to the alternative investment funds industry. And she continued to boost her project management know-how by earning the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification, an achievement she says gave her a clear leg up over other job seekers.
Earlier this year, Gualtieri accepted a role within the project management office at Amexio Belgium & Luxembourg, where she focuses largely on helping client Intesa Sanpaolo Servitia SA with various IT projects. Though Gualtieri hopes to rise to the director level someday, she’s also quick to celebrate the progress she has made so far. “I couldn’t be prouder of myself and my pathway,” she says.