On August 9th, 2025, history was made on a baseball diamond in Miami. Jen Pawol took the field to umpire a doubleheader between the Braves and the Marlins, becoming the first woman to do so in Major League Baseball’s modern era.
Her debut was the culmination of a journey of over two decades through the minor leagues—a story of resilience, dedication, and mastery of her craft. But look closer, and you’ll see her story is not just about breaking barriers in sports; it’s a masterclass in the core competencies of elite Project Management.
An umpire, at their core, is the project manager of the game. They manage stakeholders (players, managers), adhere to a strict rulebook (project scope), make real-time decisions under immense pressure, and communicate with authority and clarity. Jen Pawol’s success is built on the same pillars that support the most successful leaders in business.
Here are the key parallels:
1. Mastering the Rulebook (Managing Scope & Requirements)
An umpire must have an encyclopedic knowledge of MLB rules. A PM must have an ironclad grasp of the project scope, budget, and timeline. Both must interpret these rules fairly and consistently, preventing “scope creep” on the field or in the boardroom.
2. Making the Tough Calls (Decisive Leadership)
Is it a ball or a strike? Safe or out? These are split-second, high-stakes decisions. Throughout her debut weekend, Pawol was praised for her confidence and decisiveness. Similarly, a PM must make critical decisions about resources, risks, and strategic pivots, often with incomplete information. Hesitation can derail a project.
3. Unflappable Communication (Stakeholder Management)
An umpire must de-escalate confrontations with passionate managers while communicating clearly and concisely. A great PM does the same, navigating competing demands from executives, clients, and team members with diplomacy and confidence. They listen, but they maintain control of the project’s integrity.
4. Resilience and Grit (Seeing the Project Through)ect Management
On August 9th, 2025, history was made on a baseball diamond in Miami. Jen Pawol took the field to umpire a doubleheader between the Braves and the Marlins, becoming the first woman to do so in Major League Baseball’s modern era.
Her debut was the culmination of a journey of over two decades through the minor leagues—a story of resilience, dedication, and mastery of her craft. But look closer, and you’ll see her story is not just about breaking barriers in sports; it’s a masterclass in the core competencies of elite Project Management.
An umpire, at their core, is the project manager of the game. They manage stakeholders (players, managers), adhere to a strict rulebook (project scope), make real-time decisions under immense pressure, and communicate with authority and clarity. Jen Pawol’s success is built on the same pillars that support the most successful leaders in business.
From the Apollo Program to the Ballpark Grandstand
Jen Pawol’s journey reminds us of other trailblazing women who have managed some of the most complex “projects” imaginable. Their success proves that elite leadership is a portable skill set, essential in every industry.
Margaret Hamilton | Director, Software Engineering, MIT (Aerospace)
She led the team that developed the on-board flight software for NASA’s Apollo missions. Her meticulous work and leadership under unimaginable pressure prevented an abort of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Her “stakeholders” were the astronauts whose lives depended on her team’s flawless execution.
Gwynne Shotwell | President & COO, SpaceX (Technology & Aerospace)
As President and COO of SpaceX, she is responsible for the day-to-day execution of some of the most ambitious engineering projects in human history. From overseeing Falcon 9 launches to managing the global rollout of the Starlink satellite constellation, her job is to turn audacious vision into reliable reality, managing timelines in years and risks that are literally astronomical.
Deryl McKissack & Sherri Privitera (Construction & Venue Development)
The arenas of success aren’t just metaphorical. As President & CEO of McKissack & McKissack, Deryl McKissack has overseen monumental projects like the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Her leadership is essential in a field defined by massive budgets and complex logistics.
Bringing the theme full circle, leaders like Sherri Privitera, a director at the global sports architecture firm Populous, command the creation of the very venues where sports history is made. As the Principal-in-Charge for the award-winning McLane Stadium at Baylor University, her role required orchestrating hundreds of stakeholders to deliver a world-class facility—proving that the skills of a master project manager are just as vital in the director’s box as they are on the field.
Whether on the diamond, launching rockets, or building the stadiums themselves, the principles are the same. Success is about preparation, decisive leadership, clear communication, and the sheer will to see it through.
As we celebrate Jen Pawol’s historic achievement, let’s recognize the powerful project management excellence she embodies.
Here are just a few I have collaborated with or worked alongside this year: Emy Aninzo-Wong, PMP® Gabriela Gutierrez, MBA, PMP® Tanya Boyd, PMP®, PMI-ACP® Yonelly Gutierrez Danielle Tabachnick, LEED AP, AIA, PMP, PSP, CPTED CPD TaJuana Antwine, Prosci, SPC, PMP (she/her) Tia Dang, PMP, CSM Dr. Elwanda Bennett, MEDP, PMP Iwona Wilson CPF Amanda Palmer, PMP Christine Aboud
Which female leaders have inspired your career path?
#ProjectManagement #WomenInProjects #LeadershipLessons #MLB #BreakingBarriers
