Tom, project manager at PHPro: "If it goes well, the team did it"
Published by Rianne Sels
4' reading time
There are some people you only notice when they are not there. Tom is such person. As web project manager at PHPro, he is the silent engine behind every project, always present, rarely in the spotlight. And that's just the way he likes it.
From digital marketing to e-commerce project management
Tom has been on board at PHPro for five years. He started in digital marketing operations, a role in which he quickly discovered that his heart beat faster for measurable results and direct impact. That quest led him to e-commerce project management, and more specifically to the role of project manager.
"E-commerce has something specific," Tom explains. "Everything is measurable. You can see immediately what your work delivers, and that gives energy." Those first years were a period of searching, for structure, for an approach that works, for the right way to move teams and customers forward together. Meanwhile, that structure is in place, and Tom is right in the middle of it.
What does a project manager at PHPro actually do?
Explain it to someone outside IT, and Tom keeps it simple. PHPro builds web shops, and he is responsible for the team that does it. He guards the helicopter view, while the product owner dives into the details. Together, they form the bridge to the customer.
But that simple description does not fully cover the load. Because at PHPro, the PM role is indeed explicitly defined, something that is certainly not a given in the industry. "At many other companies, the most senior person is simply referred to as project manager, without it being a separate function," Tom explains. "With us, it's different. The PM role and the PO role are deliberately split up, so that you can fully focus on your own responsibilities."
This ensures clarity, both internally and towards the customer. Tom takes on multiple projects, monitors planning, budget and risks, and is always the first point of contact. Is something not going well? Then he is the one to start the conversation. Is everything running smoothly? Then the credit goes to the team.
The triangle that keeps everything moving
The collaboration between project manager, product owner and technical lead is at the heart of how PHPro works. Tom describes the division of labour as surprisingly clear. The PO gathers wishes from the customer and translates them into functional requirements. The technical lead assesses feasibility and bears technical responsibility. Tom monitors that everything stays within scope, planning and budget and intervenes when necessary.
"As PM, you are also an account manager," he says."You discuss with the customer what goes well and what goes less well. You delegate internally, but you remain the face to the outside world." That combination of roles requires transparency, speed and courage. Dare to deliver difficult messages early, instead of putting them in front of you.
That, by the way, is something PHPro consciously cultivates. "We don't fear the hard truth," says Tom. "And that is precisely why we are appreciated as a partner. Clients know where they stand."
The trickiest thing about his job? Planning.
Ask Tom what keeps him awake, and the answer is surprisingly honest. Not technical complexity, not customer relations, but planning. "Within e-commerce, there is always priority. Everything impacts conversion, everything is urgent. And then you have to align internal planning with external customer planning, when you have limited control over that."
It is a constant balancing act, where managing expectations is as important as the work itself. Explaining budget to a customer is still possible. But understanding why a schedule shifts, and why that is sometimes unavoidable, requires patience and good communication.
Energy he gets from somewhere completely different
Facing that challenge is something that motivates him every time. ➜
Tom strongly believes in processes over people. It is not he who should shine, but the system he helps build.
That system is well anchored at PHPro. There is the internal structure, the so-called bible, which provides guidance even when projects become complex or challenging. And there are the initiatives set up by the team itself, such as the AI applications or the demo shop in Hyvä."We evolve with the market. We regularly review whether our approach is still up-to-date, and where necessary we adjust."
"Seeing that a customer is happy, and knowing that the team managed that independently, with little or no intervention from me, that's the best part."
Working at PHPro as a project manager in IT
To those considering getting into IT as a project manager, Tom gives short but powerful advice. "Just do it." At PHPro, you are given immediate responsibility, but you are not alone. Onboarding, coaching, a team that helps, it's all there. And if you make mistakes? Then there is room to learn from them.
"There's a we mentality," says Tom. "There is always someone who is going to help you. And you can really grow." You can see that this culture works by the numbers. 1 in 6 colleagues have been working at PHPro for more than 10 years. More than half stay for 5 years or more. In an industry where job-hopping is the norm, that's a statement in itself.
Three words Tom would use to describe PHPro to a friend? He doesn't have to think long. "Structure, trust and schwung."
Ready for a new step as Project Manager?
Are you looking for project manager jobs in Belgium where you can really make a difference? At PHPro, you work on challenging e-commerce projects for top clients, with a team that stands behind you and offers room to grow. Whatever your background in project management, we look at your potential and your drive.
View our open project manager vacancies or contact us directly for a no-obligation interview. We will be happy to tell you more about how you can boost your career as a project manager in Belgium.
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