What is a Project Manager? And What Do They Do??

Project manager and team members celebrating a challenging milestone.

In order to understand what a project manager does, one must first understand what project management is then understand who a project manager is.

There is a separation from what project management is versus what operations management is. While they are similar, they are totally different.

In nutshell, project managers are responsible for ensuring a client’s requests are met on time and on budget. Easy to say, much harder to execute.

Project Managers are organized, goal-oriented professionals who use innovation, creativity, and collaboration to lead projects that make an impact.

“Project Managers equip their teams with the tools to succeed and evolve through projects. And they use various project management skills to do so, including:

• Leadership and adaptability

• Organization and time management

• Creative problem-solving

• Effective communication

• Motivation and team management” (What is a Project Manager?, 2025)

Figure 1 - The PMI Talent Triangle

It is a meticulous, sometimes tedious, time-consuming, critical thinking, stressful, financially rewarding profession.

References

Gray, E. W. (2014). Project Management: The Managerial Process, Sixth Edition. New York City: McGraw-Hill Education.

Project Management Offices: A Practice Guide. (2025). Newtown Square: Project Management Institute, Inc.

The Standard for Project Management and A Guide To The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide). Eighth Edition. (2025). Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: Project Management Institute.

What is a Project Manager? (2025, December 31). Retrieved from Project Management Institute: https://www.pmi.org/about/what-is-a-project-manager

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Meet Nikia Smith, the Director of Project Management Office (PMO), driving success at Business and Wealth Generations. With over a decade of advisory expertise, Nikia orchestrates strategy and operations, spearheading growth and innovation. Beyond his professional endeavors, Nikia actively participates in his community, having served on the Board of Directors at the Project Management Institute Florida Suncoast Chapter in different roles for several years. Recognized for his contributions, he received the PMI Florida Suncoast Chapter Award in 2018 for significantly boosting membership and retention and was also selected to attend the 2019 PMI North America Leadership Institute Meeting in Philadelphia. Nikia holds a bachelor’s degree in management and organizational leadership with a focus on Project Management, alongside several business certificates from St. Petersburg College. He is also certified in CAPM and PMP by the prestigious Project Management Institute. For collaboration opportunities, reach out to Nikia at info@thebusinesswg.com.