Meet Murod Seytov, Project Coordinator!
Want to know his journey? Read the full interview!
1. How would you introduce yourself to someone who has no idea what a Project Coordinator is?
I support project and service delivery management in handling new projects. This involves documentation, time tracking, spreadsheets, and preparing materials for upcoming initiatives.
2. What surprised you the most when you started working with the Ukrainian team?
Everyone was very supportive and understanding, from the team to the leadership. I can honestly say that working with a Ukrainian team is fantastic. You work alongside true professionals, people with a wealth of experience who are always ready to share it. The atmosphere is very friendly.
3. You worked in Customer Support for several years before becoming a Project Coordinator. Are there any skills or experiences from your previous position that help you now?
Definitely, that’s a huge advantage, because you learn to communicate with all kinds of people. Thanks to my experience in customer support, I’ve developed a better understanding of people and improved my problem-solving and soft skills, which are essential for management in general. The key is: be friendly, do your job, and do your best. And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, as you can’t know everything.
4. What do you do when the deadline is near, but the team isn’t on track to finish?
Oh, that’s a good one. If you didn’t anticipate all the risks and the deadline is approaching while the team is falling behind, the best step is to call a meeting with stakeholders to understand what’s wrong and identify the blockers. Not like “How did this happen”, but rather “How do we prevent this in the future?” Don’t focus too much on the problem itself; otherwise, you’ll get stuck and stressed. Instead, figure out what’s blocking progress and how to fix it.
5. Strictness or kindness — which one do you choose, and why?
Something in between, but leaning more toward kindness. Strictness alone won’t solve problems. Kindness is about understanding and finding the best solution for a specific situation. If you’re too strict, you stress yourself and your team out, which affects results. What really matters to the client is when you calmly present a plan and a solution. Strictness often means saying “No” in an agile environment, but it’s better to say, “This is possible, but we’ll need a bit more time.” That way, the client leaves with a positive impression and will likely give good feedback. Today’s world is fast-changing, especially with technology, so adaptability is key.
6. Is there “a day at work you’ll never forget”?
Yes, absolutely. I once prepared a huge final report, and the Vice President told me it was excellent work. That moment stuck with me. It took me two weeks to complete because some information was missing, which cost me a lot of nerves. But it turned out really well in the end, and we discovered two major system issues that were later fixed.
7. What’s one key piece of advice you’d give to someone who dreams of becoming a Project Coordinator?
First of all, you need to understand whether you have the mentality of a Project Coordinator. You need to enjoy organizing, be stress-resilient, because there will be a lot of stress, and know how to handle it. If someone dreams of becoming a Project Coordinator, that’s great, but it requires constant learning, gaining new knowledge, and taking courses. I can say: “Good Luck”!
