Syreeta Bond

Walden University, United States

Title: Break Those Barriers and Pave the Way

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Biography

Bond, with anillustrious 20-year career, is a recognized expert in the project managementsector and published author, collaborating with giants like Apple, Inc. andBarclays Bank. Not only has she held prestigious positions with PMI in both LosAngeles and Dubai, but she was also the Chapter President for the NationalSociety of Leadership & Success.

Bond’s academic prowessincludes a Doctorate in Business Administration from Walden University and MBAin Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Bond is the driving force behind Edgy OpulenceLifestyle Branding Co, a consulting firm designed to uplift businesses withinnovative solutions. Moreover, Dr. Bond is the brain behind Lipstick KillersCollection, a fashion linechampioning fearless women. True to her principles, her brand emphasizessustainability, with a commitment to offsetting its carbon footprint. Thisdedication earned her a feature in PMI’s Hours of Impact in 2022. 

Abstract

According to the researchers of the 2023 Women in theWorkplace report, the glass ceiling is not the biggest barrier to women’sadvancement but rather the broken rung. For every 100 men promoted fromentry-level to manager, eighty-seven women were promoted; however,seventy-three women of color were promoted to manager for every 100 men, adowntrend from 2021 to 2022. Women lose the most ground at the first step asmanagers, hence the broken rung. Performance bias also affects women becausemen are hired for their future potential while women are hired based on pastaccomplishments, leading to an unfair playing field.

Women can channel project planning, projectinitiation, project monitoring and controlling, and project closing to defy theodds, set ambitious goals, seize opportunities, and inspire future generationsleaving a legacy. Based on Dr. Bond’s research and expertise, she recommendswomen conduct a SWOT and PEST analysis to set ambitious goals. Projectinitiation processes shared by PMI can help women assess their current workloadto determine whether they have the capacity to take on additional projects. Theproject management process of the monitoring and controlling phase can helpovercome backlash at work. And lastly, the project management process ofclosing will help women to evaluate outcomes and capture lessons learned. Withthe lessons learned, women can gather insights for future projects, promotecontinuous improvement, and ensure a seamless transition to the post-projectphase. With these invaluable lessons, the knowledge gained will leave a lastingimpression on our youth today.