Empowering employee success

When Mount Maunganui native Rory arrived in Wellington in 2019 to begin his new role as a Project Coordinator at Aspeq, he didn’t expect to be leading the company’s Project Management Office only four years later.  

He had spent the last three years’ in various roles at Vodafone, ending up in the “special projects” team where he provided support for especially niggly client issues. It had been his first job after completing a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Canterbury, and he felt ready to take the next step in his career. An affinity for technology and a strong interest in project management led him to Aspeq.

“Coming from a big company where I felt like just another number, the experience of joining Aspeq was like night and day,” says Rory.

One thing that immediately stood out was the opportunities to try new things: “You aren’t pigeonholed to your job description.”

So, while on paper Rory’s role was to support his Project Manager, he was also given the opportunity to manage a few small projects on his own.

“Managing those smaller projects, I was able to prove myself and gain the confidence to take on bigger and bigger projects.”

That opportunity - combined with his aptitude and love for the work - led to Rory's promotion to Project Manager eight months later. As Aspeq’s only Project Manager, he was responsible for managing the ‘triple constraints’ (budget, timeline and scope) for all of the company’s projects. But it wasn’t long before another Project Manager joined the company, and Rory was promoted to Lead Project Manager.

At first, Rory was hesitant: “It was my first time in a leadership position and I didn’t know if I would like it.” But starting with a small team meant that Rory was able to find his footing and his nerves quickly turned to excitement. 

As Aspeq’s business grew over the following two years, Rory’s team of two transformed into a Project Management Office boasting six project managers and business analysts.

Rory credits his success in part to the supportive culture at Aspeq. “From day one, I was given a lot of trust and autonomy, and that’s typical of the management style at Aspeq. We’re empowered to try new things and make mistakes, knowing there will always be someone there to support us if we need it.”

Rory also values the “massive” focus on professional development at Aspeq. “Every team gets a training budget and leadership really encourages us to use it.”

Alongside a handful of certifications, last year Rory decided to take the plunge and enrol into the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification - an important, internationally recognised accreditation in his field. As well as covering the cost of the certification, Aspeq gave Rory time-off of work to study. “It’s huge that they supported me to do that.”

Reflecting on his time at Aspeq, Rory says he couldn’t have predicted where the role would lead him when he arrived in Wellington four years ago. “My experience at Aspeq has been fantastic and it’s really set me up for a career I know I’ll enjoy for a long time to come.”