Why women in project management need mentors

I had been a Project Support Officer for nearly three years when I got my first promotion into a project implementation role. Suddenly, the safety net was gone. This time, I wasn’t just assisting a project — I was delivering one. And I was absolutely “deer in headlights” level terrified.

At the time, I felt like I was completely on my own but in reality, I wasn’t. I was given a guide, someone in my corner — my mentor. She really did guide me every step of the way. When I felt overwhelmed, she helped me see the wood for the trees. When I panicked about not knowing something, she reminded me that I didn’t have to have all of the answers.

But she didn’t just offer reassurance — she pushed me. She challenged me to step outside my comfort zone because she knew that’s where growth happens. When I hesitated, she asked the difficult questions. When I second-guessed myself and wanted to play it safe, she made sure I didn’t (which could be painfully annoying at times).

Her support wasn’t about making things easier; it was about making me better. This is what real mentorship looks like.

When I came across this APM article stating that unequal pay is still a major barrier for women in project management, I was shocked. In the teams I’d worked in, women were well represented. It hadn’t really occurred to me that gender equality could be a barrier in my profession. In the sector? Maybe. But in project management itself? Surely not.

But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I’ve held myself back so many times. I’ve second-guessed whether I was really ready, talked myself out of opportunities, convinced myself that I needed to take three thousand different training courses before I could even think about career progression. Imposter syndrome doesn’t always show up loudly — it creeps in quietly, making you doubt your abilities without you even realising it. Before you know it, you’re playing it safe, staying in your comfort zone and waiting until you feel ‘ready’— which, of course, never really happens.

That’s why mentorship matters. A mentor doesn’t just give advice — they invest. When self-doubt clouds your vision, they see your potential and help you push through it. They remind you that you do belong, that you are good enough and that the only way to grow is to take the leap. My mentor did that for me, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am without her. Indeed, people that knew ‘me then’ have told me they barely recognise the ‘me now’ because of the confidence she helped build in me (likely also that I no longer look absolutely terrified in meetings).

If you’re a woman in project management, get a mentor. Find someone who will guide you, challenge you and push you beyond what you think you’re capable of.

It doesn’t have to be formal, and it won’t be perfect or even easy. We need someone in our corner because, truly, we are capable of so much more than we think — even when we’re too busy overthinking, quietly panicking, or Googling ‘how to be more confident at work.’