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The PMP exam had been on my radar for several years, but my journey truly began when I landed a project management role somewhat unexpectedly. I quickly realised that, although I was managing projects, I lacked a clear framework to guide me. It was actually my former manager who encouraged me to explore the PMP path, and that gave me the push to begin.

While experience teaches you a lot, the PMP adds a shared language, a structured mindset, and a way of navigating complexity that elevates both you and the teams around you. I wanted that added discipline and confidence.

How I Prepared

I followed a one‑week on‑site training in Brussels, led by a fantastic trainer who brought concepts to life with real‑world examples. That made it much easier to connect the theory to my own work.

Alongside the training, I relied heavily on Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Exam Prep. I appreciated how clearly everything was summarised without unnecessary complexity. I set a rhythm that felt sustainable: reading one to two chapters per week so I wouldn’t overwhelm myself.

In terms of practice, I did one full mock exam, but I focused more on shorter question sets because a full mock is 4 hours of deep concentration. This lighter, continuous approach suited me much better.

My Biggest Challenge

Balancing study with everyday life and a mentally demanding job was definitely the hardest part. Some days, my head felt full already. What helped enormously was talking to colleagues who were also considering the PMP. There was someone in another team planning to start, and, in a healthy, funny way, that peer pressure motivated me to keep going. You want to have passed before they do!

Tips for Future Candidates

 

• Live in the practice questions.

 

I learned more from questions than from the content itself. You start to recognize the structure of PMP questions, common traps, and how PMI expects you to think.

 

• Focus on your weaker domain.

 

For me, People felt more intuitive, so I didn’t prioritize it as heavily. I invested more time in the domains where my confidence was lower, and that paid off.

 

• Don’t overload your brain right before the exam.

 

The day before the exam, I asked AI for a short summary of key concepts, read it once, and then closed my books for the evening. Giving my mind space was the best decision I made.

Impact on My Work

It’s not necessarily the certification itself, but everything around it; the training, the learning, the reflection, that immediately impacted my day‑to‑day work. I started recognizing patterns, behaviors, and decision points in my projects that connected directly back to what I had studied. Being able to apply the concepts in real time strengthened my work long before exam day.

Author Bio

Ashley Kallenbach is a Transformation Manager with a European scope at Danone, working across organizational change, HR system implementations, and cross-functional transformation projects. She recently earned her PMP certification and integrates project management principles into her daily work.

Newsletter Editor’s Note: Preparing for a certification can feel both exciting and overwhelming - and who better to learn from than colleagues who have just gone through the process? In this new Q&A series, we highlight recently certified team members who share their personal journeys, study approaches, challenges, and tips for success. Their real-world experiences aim to inspire and support anyone preparing for their next exam, offering practical insights and honest reflections from those who’ve been right where you are. At the end of each feature, you’ll also find a short author bio to help you get to know the voices behind the stories.