One of the reasons we take the time to interview each incoming member
personally is that you never know the nugget of information you will find out
about that person. That’s exactly what happened with Second Shift member Amanda
Novakovic. We were deep in the painfully arduous process of becoming certified as a Women Business Enterprise when we spoke to Amanda and learned that her
expertise is sheparding companies through the process of certification. Oh the
happiness and relief we felt handing the entire job over to Amanda to project
manage! A few months later we got our certification and just like that we became officially recognized as a women-owned business.
Below Amanda shares her tips for being a successful project manager
and why Second Shift members should consider getting certified as a WBE.
You’ve worked in HR and Operations for companies like Target; how did you
shift your focus as a consultant to one specialized area?
It
takes planning and discipline to become a consultant. The key to my success in the
corporate world is exactly what helped me gain traction as a consultant. HR and
Operations for a company like Target was really all about Project Management,
and although I have helped many clients get certified as a Women Business
Enterprise (WBE), my specialty is really managing the details of a variety of
projects from the entertainment industry to the construction market.
What is WBE and why is it important?
One
of the areas I consult in is helping businesses to get certified as a WBE, a
Women Business Enterprise. This designation can be a great way to boost
business for a women-owned business that meets a defined set of requirements
set by the state or national certifying agency. Certification can open the door
to work with companies who have established diversity goals, as well as the
State and Federal Government. In many states, up to 30% of all project funding
must go to a certified WBE.
Can Second Shift
members/consultants get certified as WBE?
It is definitely possible! It is also
advantageous depending on their type of business and what their goals for their
business are. I have certified other consultants that have used the
certification for networking and access to jobs.
Why is it so incredibly difficult and complicated???
Getting
certified can be complex and that’s where the skills of a good project manager
come into play. There are so many facets to the certification that it is often
overwhelming for people to do on their own. It is a very tedious and detailed
process and can be considered very invasive to some people. That is why if you
are a new organization, it is best not to even begin the process until after
you have been in business for a year. However, I highly recommend starting a
certification application folder from day one because you will need some of
those documents. There has been so much fraud in the WBE space that the process
and application is extremely thorough to protect you and to ensure companies
that are not a true WBE do not get granted certification.
Here
are some tips for getting certified as a WBE:
- Make sure you research the right certification for
your business – not all certifications will be beneficial to every organization - Partner with a previously certified firm, who has gone
through the process to know what to expect - Take your time with your application – triple check it
before submitting - Make sure you research any and all services you wish to be
certified for fully –it’s much easier to select the correct ones up front than
to change them after you are certified.
