Influential Woman · Consultant
Marvette Cofield
PMP
Licensed Associate Broker/Realtor, Samson Properties
Dumfries, VA
Her Story
About Marvette
Marvette Cofield is a consultant and the founder of Ventura Align Business Solutions in Dumfries, Virginia. With more than 20 years of experience in project management, contract management, and consulting, she has worked with federal agencies including NASA, EPA, Department of Justice, NOAA, and Department of Homeland Security, as well as high-profile government contractors and management consulting firms such as MITRE Corporation. After being laid off from MITRE in January, she launched her own company to help service-type businesses, including real estate brokerages and agents, streamline processes and integrate AI tools for efficiency while preserving the human element. Cofield holds a BS in Industrial Management from Mercer University and an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology. Her credentials include PMP certification, an AI business consultant certification, AWS AI Foundational certificate, and ProSci Change Practitioner certification obtained in 2005. She is also a licensed real estate agent and has received awards such as the Baya Technology Award in 2019, a Lifetime Top Producer Award in Real Estate, and a NASA award for contractors. Cofield serves as board treasurer for the Realtist Network of Northern Virginia and is a member of organizations including the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Caliber Global Leadership Network, National Coalition of 100 Black Women Prince William County Chapter, Top Ladies of Distinction Dale City chapter, and the Project Management Institute. She is passionate about mentoring young women, providing home buyer and financial literacy training, and supporting community initiatives through faith-based and women's organizations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marvette
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was to learn how to network and build authentic relationships. My boss at Booz Allen Hamilton told me that networking is about developing relationships and focusing on what you can do for others, not what you can get from them. Once I learned to network authentically, people sponsored me because of the relationships we built, and I realized that relationships are critical for moving forward in any career.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Stay true to yourself, understand your goals, and have a strategic plan with written goals that include professional, educational, giving back, and fun goals. Set goals instead of resolutions, track your progress, and use them to stay grounded and encouraged even when pivoting. This helps you manifest what you want in life.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opportunities include AI transforming project management with hybrid approaches combining waterfall and agile, and the critical need for change management to ensure stakeholder buy-in and focus on the people side of projects. Project managers should continue studying, get PDUs, learn generative AI and automation tools like those in Asana and Smartsheets, and seek positions that strengthen their skills.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My faith is my foundation and keeps me positive and optimistic with joy from my relationship with Christ. Important values include having ethics that are inclusive, knowing who you are authentically, loyalty to your own values, and surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you so everyone learns from each other. Do not circumvent who you are to fit in.
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