As the proud sponsors of both the ‘Empowering Self’ stream, and drinks reception at the 2018 APM National Conference for Women in Project Management, Hyde Park Solutions would like to highlight the profiles of our very own exceptional women working within the Project & Portfolio Management Field.

This week, meet Laura Smith – one of our OPPM experts.

Laura is an OPPM Consultant at Hyde Park Solutions, with over four years experience in implementing OPPM solutions. Laura came from an administrative background after a year of being involved in a number of OPPM Projects with mentoring from the Hyde Park Solutions team.

In particular I had a great woman mentor in Senior Portfolio Management Consultant Daleen Strydom. The mentorship and guidance I received from the HPS team was important in helping me pass my OPPM Implementation Specialist examinations.

Laura joined Hyde Park Solutions in 2014, after taking a career break to give birth to her two children. 

‘I was eager to follow a new path and Portfolio Management gave me that. Administration and the strict organisation of the field ran deep in me so it was a new but exciting challenge. I enjoyed learning Portfolio Management as it took the organisation I had from administration and added the extra elements of design and implementation that I enjoy.’

Along with communicating with clients to achieve the implementation they require, Laura enjoys travelling and meeting new and interesting people. 

‘Getting to travel as part of my work with HPS has been an added bonus. Having the chance to meet so many different and interesting individuals from all walks of life has been amazing.’

Laura lives in London with her husband and two children – and their ménage of animals.

‘I am a typical football mum and love spending my Sundays on the side-lines cheering on my son, come rain or shine or snow, (but mostly rain!). I have a very active role in our local youth team and am always organising some sort of event or fundraiser. Outside of work and football I love nothing more than being with my family and friends, and reading a good book. I am also a bit of a gin fanatic too.’