Meet Djevaire, our project manager

Today, we introduce you to Djevaire, our project manager whose professional experience helped establish her love of cross-border collaboration. She strongly believes that innovative ideas with a social impact should be shared and discussed through collaborative partnerships. Djevaire speaks Albanian, Macedonian, Croatian and English.

What is the most challenging part of your job and what tasks do you enjoy most?

The most challenging aspect of managing Horizon Europe projects is navigating the complexities of international collaboration and compliance with funding requirements. Leading and motivating diverse teams, fostering collaboration, and resolving conflicts are essential for project success but can be challenging due to differing personalities, work styles, and perspectives. Nonetheless, I find great satisfaction in fostering cross-disciplinary teamwork, that is driving innovation, and contributing to impactful advancements in science and society. Moreover, I value the opportunity to collaborate with outstanding scientists, admiring both their modesty and ambitious pursuits.

How do you prioritize tasks and allocate resources to ensure project deadlines are met?

I prioritize tasks by assessing their importance and urgency. Firstly, I identify which tasks are crucial for meeting project goals and deadlines. Then, I evaluate their urgency, considering time constraints. Once prioritized, I ensure that critical tasks receive the necessary attention. However, sometimes there might be several tasks which have similar importance and can be difficult to decide with which one to go on.

Communication is crucial in project management. How do you ensure effective communication among team members, stakeholders, and clients throughout the project lifecycle?

While I recognize that effective communication is crucial in project management, it's an area I'm actively working on improving. To compensate for any shortcomings, I make sure to double-check messages for clarity, actively listen to understand others' perspectives, and seek feedback to continuously improve.

How do you manage different consortia? Is it hard to adapt to consortia and make sure that all sides are satisfied and everyone’s needs met?

Getting acquainted with each partner's working style may require some time and practice. By creating a supportive and inclusive environment, I try to facilitate collaboration and ensure that all parties feel valued and respected. Drawing from my experience, sometimes intuition, and common sense guides me in decision-making regarding consortium management.

Continuous improvement is key in project management. How do you evaluate project performance and implement lessons learned for future projects?

To evaluate project performance, I oversee day-to-day management, ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently, deadlines are met, milestones are achieved, and project outputs are generated. Additionally, I closely monitor KPIs to track progress and identify areas for improvement. I also try to document lessons learned, including areas for improvement, and use them for future projects.

Can you provide an example of a successful project you managed or are currently managing? What do you attribute to the success of that project?

I'm currently involved in two projects, InnoCART and EMPHASIS. Their success is largely attributed to the strong collaboration and alignment among all partners involved. Every team member is dedicated to our shared goals. It highlights the importance of teamwork and partner contribution in achieving project success.