Explore how project managers use Earned Value Management and cost reporting to keep projects on schedule and within budget while maintaining professional communication with stakeholders.
Her Story
About Kemi
Dr. Kemi Olukayode is a project management professional specializing in project development, infrastructure initiatives, and organizational execution. Based in New York, she has built a career around starting, managing, and completing complex projects while helping organizations improve productivity and achieve strategic goals. With expertise in project management, construction development, stakeholder coordination, and business operations, she is recognized for her ability to bridge ideas with practical implementation. Olukayode currently serves as a Project Manager at Alliance Energy & Development Group LLC, where she oversees project operations, manages client relationships, coordinates teams, negotiates procurement and financial partnerships, and executes project agreements with vendors and stakeholders. She also serves as Master Trainer and Program Coordinator at First Hand Aid International, supporting training programs, organizational initiatives, and project implementation. Earlier in her career, she gained experience in graphic design, media production, and financial reporting through roles at AGD Media Group and Morgan Stanley, developing strong skills in presentation development, digital solutions, and business communication. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Project Management from National University, a Master of Business Administration, and professional credentials including Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and Microsoft Office Master Specialist certification. Her areas of specialization include infrastructure project management, project development, agile methodologies, construction crafts training, operations management, and strategic planning. Through her leadership, training, and commitment to successful project delivery, Olukayode continues to support organizations in transforming concepts into measurable outcomes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kemi
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the drive within me and the commitment to follow my passion. I believe that staying focused, overcoming obstacles, and doing the right thing for myself and others has guided me toward where I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to follow my passion and pursue what I truly enjoy doing. When you align your career with what inspires you, you find greater fulfillment and purpose.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to follow their passion, stay true to themselves, and believe in their abilities. Don’t let setbacks or others’ opinions discourage you from pursuing your goals and ambitions.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is securing financing, especially for large-scale infrastructure projects. Access to the right financial resources is essential to moving projects forward and creating opportunities for growth.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are honesty, dedication, and commitment to excellence. I believe in giving my best effort, paying attention to every detail, and leaving no stone unturned in everything I do.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Kemi
Emulating the key roles of a project manager for your project management
Tools for Measuring Current Schedule and Project Status for Monthly Reporting
Since one of the key roles of a project manager is to ensure that a project is completed on time and within budget, management requires the project's financial status and expenditures to be reported in relation to the project schedule. Implementing Earned Value Management (EVM), financial reporting, and cost reporting allows the project manager to compare the current schedule with the project's recent status during the monthly reporting period (Stanford University Linear Accelerator Center, 2008).
If the total cost of a project exceeds the established cost baseline during a given period, cost-control techniques should be implemented to monitor expenditures and ensure that the work is completed on time and according to the project plan. This project management response should include ensuring that only work within the approved scope is performed and that project status and potential challenges are communicated to stakeholders.
The project manager should act professionally and ethically by reporting potential challenges and determining which techniques should be implemented to mitigate or eliminate those problems in a timely manner.
To learn more about Earned Value Management (EVM), financial reporting, cost reporting, tools for reporting the current status of a project, and other project management practices, visit the Project Management Institute (PMI) or other reputable project management training resources.
Six Sigma is a statistical methodology that helps organizations improve quality, reduce waste, and increase profitability by applying disciplined processes to achieve measurable business results and competitive advantage.
Ever Came Across Six Sigma for Your Projects or Profit?
Mastering Statistical Excellence: How Six Sigma Drives Business Performance and Professional Success
Six Sigma is a business strategy that uses statistical tools within a structured methodology to acquire the knowledge needed to create products and services that are better, faster, and less costly than those offered by competitors.
Six Sigma training enables the consistent and disciplined application of this methodology to projects that are selected based on the organization's key business priorities and potential for profitability. Six Sigma was first adopted by Motorola in the early 1990s. Since then, companies such as General Electric, Sony, and AlliedSignal have also adopted the methodology, bringing it to the attention of Wall Street.
Becoming trained in Six Sigma can be highly lucrative. Professionals hired as Six Sigma experts are often well compensated, with many earning six-figure salaries in the United States. Individuals trained in the Six Sigma philosophy and methodology are typically expected to complete at least four projects per year and generate approximately $500,000 annually in measurable financial benefits for their organization.
In general, applying Six Sigma within an organization's operations helps build intellectual capital by improving processes, reducing waste, and increasing organizational knowledge. The resulting efficiencies and continuous improvements can significantly enhance an organization's bottom line (Kerzner, 2013).
To learn more about Six Sigma—whether you are interested in implementing its methodology within your organization or pursuing certification as a Six Sigma professional—you can visit the official Six Sigma Online website at www.sixsigmaonline.org.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.