We have a new gator on the block!
Say hi to Megan Williams, our new Project Manager at Gatorworks. Megan brings a decade of diverse experience in social media management, web development, photography, and data analysis to our team. Let’s take a closer look at Megan’s impressive background, her motivations, and what inspires her both professionally and personally!
You have such a diverse skill set, from photography to creative writing to web development. How do these experiences shape your approach to managing projects?
Knowing a little bit about a lot of things has helped me see how different people work on all the tasks that come together for a successful project. A lot of what I have done does end up working together to make a complete picture, but the processes vary pretty wildly. When I’m in project management mode, I’m not only looking at all the pieces of the work but I’m also looking at the people responsible.
I believe a good project manager makes sure everyone has what they need so they can be the best at what they do. I like to think that because I’ve worn so many hats, I can pre-empt any issues and therefore allow our team to focus on their respective areas of expertise. A success for me is when no one has to ask any questions because they have everything they might need.
With your passion for digital marketing, what do you find most rewarding about helping businesses put their best foot forward online?
I fully believe in the information age. I grew up with computers, and I’ve been able to learn a lot of new skills because of the Internet. With this resource as incredibly powerful as it is, it’s vital that companies understand the value people place in the information they can find. If you have the wrong information, or even worse, no information out there, growing becomes a challenge.
You can have a truly superior product or service, but if people can’t find you or your online presence is unprofessional or lackluster, it can be a hit to your growth potential. It’s also ideal to have a team, like we do at Gatorworks helping to sort all of that out. With a team that has specific members focused on their areas, you know it’s truly expertise you’re getting.
You mentioned that “creating order out of chaos is soothing to your soul.” How do you apply this mindset in your everyday work?
As a project manager, oftentimes you’re getting information delivered to you from a few different areas, and you have to make sense of it all. I like to compare it to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. You get a few pieces from designers, some other pieces from developers, and some other pieces from content. Then you bring it all together to form a cohesive picture that we can all be proud of. And I thoroughly believe in creating processes, which involves a lot of recognizing patterns, processing what is happening, and determining the best route to streamline things going forward.
We’d love to hear more about your unique arts & crafts hobbies. What’s your favorite project you’ve ever worked on?
The different upcycling of glass projects is definitely my favorite of the different arts & crafts I get into. I take old pickle, spaghetti sauce, and salsa jars, paint the glass, and then add gold detailing to give them a “bohemian” look. This is my favorite because I’ve been doing it for so long, and it started through trial and error. I researched different types of glass paint to get it just right and really practiced the detailing.
I also do something similar with old lightbulbs when I turn them into little hot air balloons. That one didn’t take as much practice, but they are definitely a favorite of my friends and family. I don’t think I have a singular favorite creation, but I am certainly proud of the ongoing endeavor to evolve the quality.
Given your experience in so many areas and your love of learning new things, is there a new skill or hobby you’re hoping to tackle next?
I think bookbinding is my next aspirational hobby. I learned about recycling paper into new, textured paper at home a few years ago. I would love to put together a unique and fun journal made completely from my own recycled paper. But I would have to test it a few times to get it just right, of course!
You’ve described your work as a “Choose Your Own Adventure” flowchart. Why do you find this approach most helpful when approaching your daily tasks?
If you think about these “Choose Your Own Adventure” books, they are still a lot of fun, but it’s all about logic. If this, then that.
You can map out every possible outcome pretty easily, but it still feels like an adventure. If you’ve ever taken a “Which X character are you from [INSERT POPULAR MOVIE FRANCHISE]” quiz, my brain sees those as flowcharts as I go through them. I’m completely aware that this sounds a little nerdy, but this was a great way to get kids interested in programming!
Your hobbies are incredibly creative! How do you balance the structure of project management with your artistic side?
That is exactly why I love project management for work. I get all of the organization and structure fulfillment there. That allows me to be a bit messy and free-flowing with the artsy things at home. I think some people who only see me at work would be kind of surprised by watching me get lost in arts & crafts.