Quick Hits: Thaís Carvalho-Gomes, PMP

Thaís Carvalho-Gomes, PMP
Location: Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
Title: Offshore Operations Coordinator
Organization: TechnipFMC
Industry/Sector: Energy

What three adjectives best describe you?
Enthusiastic, communicative and objective.

What’s the best thing about being a project leader?
The holistic view. Being a project leader makes me feel like a very complete professional. I have the ability to take a step back and look at the projects I’m managing as a whole, where I can serve my entire team with important inputs, outputs and tools to integrate. As a result, everybody progresses, both in the project and as professionals.

What’s the one must-have skill for project leaders right now?
Empathy is the first and most important skill, especially after the horrible pandemic we experienced. Projects are made by people, and people have endured and suffered just like the rest of us. People have families, and people have their own lives. Project leaders must exercise their empathy with all stakeholders if they want to succeed. 

What do you now know that you wished you knew on your very first project?
Maturity brings wisdom. I discovered that people are the key to success. Try to really know each team member and learn how to deal with each person.  

What’s your project management mantra? 
Planning, planning, planning. The more time you spend planning, the less time you spend controlling the chaos.  

What advice do you have for new project managers?
Hard skills and power skills are both very important. Study and develop yourself in both paths, not only one.   

What’s a project you wish you could have worked on?
The Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. It’s amazing how one project could come to represent a whole city and even a country. The key for that project was the location, as it’s visible from the whole city. The cross-like design was certainly not a first but definitely one of the most iconic. 

What movie are you recommending these days?
Period. End of Sentence. The Oscar-winning short documentary follows a group of women in India who make affordable and biodegradable sanitary products for the local women. The project confronts the taboo of menstruation and delivers basic health needs, while also contributing to the economic future of the community. 

How do you relieve stress?
My way of relieving stress is to prioritize mental health. I spend quality time with my family and friends whenever possible outside of work. A good family trip can solve all your worries. 

_{Photo credit: Tuane Fernandes}

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