Her Story
About Steph
Steph Delfino is a Project Manager with over 20 years of experience leading HR systems implementations and 4 years focused on software project management. She currently implements the full suite of Dayforce HCM modules for multiple clients, coordinating teams ranging from 10 to 40 members and emphasizing people management, collaboration, and proactive risk mitigation over simple timeline tracking. Delfino attributes her success to persistence and creative problem-solving developed from her upbringing in poverty in Brazil. She holds PMP, PHR, and Six Sigma Black Belt certifications, along with degrees in Human Resources Management and an MBA in Project Management from Brazil, and a Business Management degree with a focus on Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. Delfino values transparency, honesty, and teamwork above all, and she advises young women entering the field to embrace their multitasking abilities without fear.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Steph
01What do you attribute your success to?
Persistence and grit. I have a mindset that I always think that I need to make it work no matter what. I'm always finding creative solutions. This stems from my background growing up very poor in Brazil where resources were scarce, so I had to learn to be creative and never accept the situation as it is.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do not internalize anything. Everything that you see at work is just work. The job itself is replaceable. Always listen to understand, not to react. Know that it's just work, tomorrow's another day.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid. We can do things better than a lot of people because we have this capacity of multitasking and doing many things at the same time. Use your skills. It's possible to do everything you want - I'm a single mom, I have a dance school, music career, and I'm a project manager full-time. Just remain focused and go for it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opportunity for expansion of the project manager role beyond tracking dates and timelines. Challenge and opportunity from artificial intelligence affecting how PM roles will be defined and leveraged in the future. It's a turning point where things will change greatly.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Transparency and honesty above all. Teamwork and collaboration - you need to be available to people as much as you want them to be available to you.
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