.gif)
Meet HLabs' Project Managers
.jpg)
To celebrate International Project Management Day, we’re shining the spotlight on the women who keep our projects (and our sanity) on track.
Inspired by Vogue’s famous “45 Questions” (because these ladies deserve a cover), we asked some rapid-fire ones to get the inside scoop.
Mornings, Mantras & Managing Mayhem
What's the first thing you do when you log on?
- Leti: Check Slack, emails, and work on our allocation schedule
- Maryanne: My day starts at 4AM (yes, by choice.) Do I have to slap myself awake at this ungodly hour? Thankfully, no. 😂 First, I drink water (because apparently, that’s what responsible adults do), then coffee, which my husband, bless him, preps beforehand.
- Megan: Coffee in hand: scan my emails and Slack, and update the day’s allocations for the team.
- Danka: I grab my coffee and check my calendar to see what’s on for the day
Mantras that keep them sane:
“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” – Leti
“No one is dying.” – Maryanne
“Focus on what you can control.” – Megan
“One thing at a time” – Danka
Tools of the trade:
Lists, calendars, and coffee. Lots of coffee. ☕ While everyone has their own rhythm (some swear by digital tools, others keep it old-school) they say the secret is keeping it simple: focus on how long it takes, who it impacts, and how urgent it really is.
.jpg)
Projects, Pressure & Pride
When asked about the most memorable project, their faces light up.
- Leti beams over California Beef with Hearst Story Studio — “We’re in year 5 and it still excites me!”
- Maryanne recalls The New Yorker x Visit Charleston — “A great mix of teamwork and creative energy.”
- Megan flexes her WWF Living Planet Report 2025 milestone — “Biggest project, biggest reward.”
- Danka smiles about her first Hilton Grand Vacations game: “Fun, creative, and full of surprises.”
Their dream projects? Rainforest Alliance projects, BBC collaborations, education-driven community work and building dream homes.
Under pressure? They stay calm with tea breaks, playlists, and perspective. As Maryanne says: “I’ve made enough mistakes to know panic never fixes anything.”
.jpg)
.png)
Behind the Screens
What’s your go-to Slack emoji?
- Leti: :cowboy-cool-cry-mild-panic: (same energy as her spreadsheet tabs)
- Maryanne :breakdown:
- Megan: A :bird_fly: Pokémon reference that’s taken on a life of its own.
- Danka: :barbie_gasp:, obviously.
When asked what their desktops look like, the consensus was clear: clean, calm, and absolutely no stray files in sight.
When the chaos clears, you’ll find:
- Leti meditating or napping
- Maryanne gaming or movie-marathoning
- Megan swimming or volunteering in the Royal Park
- Danka planning trips like a full-time travel agent
Because balance is also part of the job description. 🧘
What’s a Rich Text element?
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
Static and dynamic content editing
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
How to customize formatting for each rich text
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
The Final Word
Are Project Managers born or made? All agree — made.
“You don’t pop out of the womb knowing how to run a kickoff call,” laughs Maryanne. “You get there one lesson at a time.”
And when asked for advice?
“Things take time” says Leti.
“Scope creeps need to be paid extra,” adds Maryanne.
“Anticipate challenges before they happen,” says Megan.
"Stay calm, flexible & proactive." says Danka
Because behind every successful HLabs project isn’t just organisation, it’s empathy, grit, and a little bit of magic. ✨
If your next project needs the precision of a spreadsheet ninja and the flair of a creative dream team, you’re in the right place.
We’ll show ours if you share yours.
Share your details so we can stay in touch and directly show you premium HLabs content!