Palo Alto Networks

Senior Project Manager

Project Success Academy℠

Course Instructor

Velvet Vision

Founder

Raytheon Technologies

IT Project Manager

Fulcrum Technology Solutions

IT Project Coordinator

University of Houston

Program Manager

Project Manager | Helping Women Land Tech PM Roles | your PM bff

In 2024, I noticed something: most mid-career project managers weren’t underqualified. They were under-positioned. They had the skills, experience, and drive, but weren’t landing six-figure project management roles because hiring managers couldn’t see their value.

That realization led me to build the Velvet Vision framework. It helps project professionals position themselves as the obvious hire before they ever apply.

This isn’t resume tweaking or chasing certifications. It’s about clarity, strategy, and execution. My clients stop blending in, start leading with confidence, and step into roles that pay them what they’re worth.

Who I Work Best With:
I work with project managers in the U.S. and Canada who:
• Have at least 3 years of project management experience
• Are ready to step into $100K+ roles
• Want to be seen as leaders, not task managers
• Value clarity, execution, and accountability

This program is not for people who are brand new to project management, unwilling to take ownership of their growth, or looking for a quick fix.

Results so far:
• Clients have collectively secured $313K in salary increases with an average uplift of $44K per person
• On average, clients land offers in 3.3 months (fastest in 68 days)
• ROI consistently exceeds 800%, with some clients covering their investment in the first paycheck

If you’re a project manager in the U.S. or Canada ready to earn more, lead more, and finally get seen, you don’t need luck or endless hustle. You need positioning.

No fluff. No guessing. Just strategy that gets results.

👉 Apply to work with me: https://calendly.com/d/cm7j-vb9-kvr

Yonelly G.

I walked into the interview knowing I didn’t meet half the requirements.

And I could feel the room had already met candidates who "looked better" on paper.

For a moment, I wondered if I was wasting everyone’s time 
(including my own)

So I redirected the conversation.

Instead of defending my gaps, I told them how I lead when things get messy.

And that’s when the interviewer leaned in.

She wanted someone who could steady the work when the plan stopped matching reality.

It became really obvious when I stepped into the role.

The biggest problems were alignment issues and broken communication loops.

Most people lose confidence when they see a job spec they can’t fully match.

But at senior levels, you’re rarely hired for a checklist.

You’re hired for your ability to lead through uncertainty and make progress visible again.

--
If we haven’t met — I’m Yonelly Gutierrez.
I talk about the moments, setbacks, and wins that shaped my career, so you can grow with more confidence in yours.

Yonelly Gutierrez

Senior Program Manager | Helping Founders Stabilize Delivery Without Adding Headcount

Most leadership challenges happen with people who don’t report to you.

But few people are ever taught how to lead without authority.

“Can you get everyone aligned?” becomes the real test of leadership.

And many feel stuck because they’re relying on authority they don’t have.

I hear this concern from professionals across roles and seniority levels.

Here are 7 ways to lead without formal authority:

1. Lead with Clear Direction
 ↳ People follow clarity
 ↳ State the outcome before discussing tasks

2. Listen Longer Than You Speak
 ↳ Listening creates instant influence
 ↳ Ask: “What’s your view on this?” and give space

3. Remove Friction for the Team
 ↳ Support builds trust more than authority
 ↳ Spot blockers early and simplify the next step

4. Make Expectations Simple
 ↳ Confusion slows collaboration
 ↳ Keep instructions short and confirm understanding

5. Share Credit Generously
 ↳ Recognition motivates teams to work with you
 ↳ Highlight contributors in meetings and updates

6. Build Relationships Before You Need Them
 ↳ Influence grows through consistent touchpoints
 ↳ Check in without an agenda and offer help early

7. Stay Calm When Things Shift
 ↳ Composure reassures your team
 ↳ Take a breath, focus on solutions, and keep your tone steady

Leading without authority grows easiest when people trust your judgment and your consistency.

♻️ Repost to help your network
➕ Follow Yonelly Gutierrez for more leadership insights

7 Ways to Lead Without Authority

Strong PMs do not stay stuck because of skill.
They stay stuck because their system hides them.

Teams rely on delivery.
But they do not create visibility.

No shared framework.
No consistent feedback.
No common language for outcomes.

Strong PMs do the work.
Leaders never see the impact.

That is a system problem.
Not a talent problem.

When teams build visibility into how they work, everything changes.

Work becomes easier to read.
Communication becomes lighter.
Decisions become faster.

I build those systems.
If your PM team is strong but unseen, DM me.

The first call told me everything.
People talking over each other, frustration leaking through every answer, and a customer who’d clearly had enough.

I’ve walked into tough programs before, but this one felt heavy in a different way.

I stopped taking notes halfway through.
There was no point collecting “updates.”
The issues weren’t in the tasks.
They were in how people were working around each other.

After the call, I started checking in with folks one by one.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱? 
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘤𝘬? 
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨?

It took about a day to see the pattern.
A bunch of small things pulling in different directions...

-Different definitions of done.
-Priorities that didn’t match.
-Risks everyone recognized but no one wanted to own because it would start another round of blame.

It was drift left alone too long.

I pulled the whole thing onto a single page.
Then I walked teams through it.
(to ensure we're talking about the same thing)

The customer communication needed the same reset.
The tension eased a bit once they knew what to expect from us.

The following weeks weren’t exciting.
Most of it was clearing out old decisions that never really got made.

You don’t notice progress at first.
Then suddenly the calls feel lighter.
People stop hedging.
You hear less contradiction and more “okay, that makes sense.”

Around day 41, the project finally stabilized.

Finally steady enough to move without bracing for the next hit.

Most “red” projects are teams trying to do good work inside a setup that no longer supports them.

Once you fix the setup, the work finds its rhythm.
People do too.

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Education Program Coordinator

Mind Dance Marketing, Inc.

I work with a team to promote the Chick Fil A brand in the Houston market at various community events such as Astros games, Parades, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, etc. My responsibilities require me to speak directly to consumers about new and current items on the menu as well as upcoming events and promotions held by Chick Fil A.

Handler

University of Colorado Boulder

-Utilize professional judgment and resources provided to render admission decisions that align with the University’s enrollment goals and students’ potential for success.

-Evaluate applications for admission and recommend admission decisions in accordance with guidelines set by federal, state, and institutional policies.

-Utilize professional judgment and resources provided to render admission decisions that align with the University’s enrollment goals and students’ potential for success.

-Assess academic preparedness for CU Boulder by evaluating high school and college transcripts, school profile, educational context/environment, quality of coursework, and standardized test scores.

Seasonal Application Reader

Baylor College of Medicine

Administration, coordination, and supervision of graduate medical education (GME) program for fellows and general administrative duties.
Ensure fellow compliance with established (ACGME), GME, and program policies and procedures.
Prepare, manage, and coordinate internal GME and national ACGME-conducted accreditation site visits for PHM Fellowship Program.
Maintain web-based ACGME accreditation surveys, including collecting and collating appropriate information from various sources throughout the campus.
Compile and submit reports to ACGME, ABP, AAP, AAM. Colleges, AMA, and other professional organizations
Initiate and manage fellowship program budget and coordination of pre-trip authorizations and reimbursement requests with PHM administrative staff.
Serve as a liaison and communicate with all appropriate campus offices and affiliated hospitals as well as program director and pediatric staff.
Assist with scheduling, preparation, management, and maintenance of minutes when applicable for all program meetings including the Program Evaluation Committee, Clinical Competency Committee, Individual Feedback Meetings, Group Feedback Meetings, Scholarly Oversight Committee Meetings, and Mentor Meetings.
Provide administrative support to PHM Program Directors, including scheduling of meetings, preparation of agendas, recording, maintaining meeting minutes, and managing the program directors’ calendars.
Assist in compilation of requests and complete master clinical schedule for all fellows
Assist program director in program development appropriate to fellowship program requirements.
Assist with evaluation distribution, reports, and management in MedHub.
Assist with faculty education and development including distribution of staffing policies and evaluations, dissemination of evaluation data, other support as required.
Administration, coordination, and organization of fellow recruitment, onboarding, and graduation.

Senior Project Coordinator

Kennesaw State University

-Co-develops and implements programs and events for students in transition, with a focus on extended orientation and transfer students on both Kennesaw and Marietta campuses -- provides overall logistical support regarding program development, coordinates space reservations and set-up, schedules catering arrangements, manages student and volunteer contacts, and creates marketing materials.

-Plans and coordinates the recruitment and leadership development sessions student leaders and/or student workers. This includes but is not limited to planning weekly training sessions, accompanying students to conferences, advising student committees, and coordinating extended orientation programs.  Duties also include overseeing the maintenance of online program registration programs and applicable social media.

-Collaborates with university staff and faculty and participate in university-wide committees and events such as Welcome Week, Homecoming, First-Year Convocation, Admissions Preview Days and others as assigned.  

-Oversees Transfer Action Team and advises registered student organizations such as Tau Sigma National Honor Society for Transfer Students.  The Coordinator will oversee activities and logistics for induction ceremonies, the handling of the organization’s expenditures and funds, and coordinates student officer training and development. 
 
-Conducts research on trends for transfer student success and work with campus partners to create programming for transfer students.

Program Coordinator for Transition Programs

University of North Texas

• Redesign and teach a monthly Ethical Decision Making Workshop course
• Investigate and adjudicate alleged student misconduct cases
• Hold developmental meetings through phone with students to ensure sanction completion per UNT policies
• Manage student conduct cases utilizing Maxient database software for 80+ cases
• Advise and educate students on UNT Student Code of Conduct & University Policies
• Coordinate trainings and scheduling for 35 faculty, staff, & students on the Committee on Student 
Conduct

Graduate Assistant for Conduct 

Loyola University New Orleans

•Presented and facilitated training activities for 15 Krewe Leaders during intensive training week
• Restructured daily summer orientation processes & trainings such as duty rosters and small group sessions
• Held mid and post summer Krewe Leader evaluations
• Conducted weekly one-on-ones for Krewe Leaders
• Assessed programmatic evaluations through OrgSync for program improvements
• Benchmarked peer institutions in order to launch a new peer mentor program for first 50 days initiative

Orientation Coordinator (NODA Intern)

• Attended and coordinated trainings on Title IX, Clery Act, QPR and Bystander Intervention for student staff
• Served in an crisis response on-call rotation for a residence hall area of about 1300 students
• Assisted in creating the learning outcomes and semester schedule for spring Residence Life Training
• Developed and implemented curriculum about diversity & inclusion for newly hired RAs
• Created surveys and sorted feedback through Qualtrics for departmental improvements

Graduate Assistant for Training & Development in Residence Life at University of North Texas

Sam Houston State University

•Collected quotes, coordinated designs, and purchased team attire for a staff of 32 within a $35,000 budget
• Coordinated interviews for 28 new staff members
• Managed the office’s Instagram, 25 Twitter accounts, and Hootsuite social media platforms
• Assisted with the planning of 9 Freshmen and 2 Transfer Orientation sessions
• Answered phones, managed office email, & assisted prospective students and families
• Trained, supervised, evaluated and managed a team of 28 Orientation Leaders
• Handled sensitive student records and trained to uphold all requirements of F.E.R.P.A.

Accepted Students and Bearkat Orientation Team Leader

New Student Orientation Leader

Financial Aid Peer Counselor

I am a results driven professional with a knack for problem solving and relationship building. I also have a proven track record of successfully planning & completing projects accurately and on time. With over 5 years of experience in project/program management, I've recently decided to enhance my skillset by prepping for a PMP certification.

In my current role, I oversee a 2 year pediatric fellowship for pediatric hospitalist at Baylor College of Medicine. Some call me the "Chaos Coordinator" and I have two cups to prove it. From interviews to graduation and everything in between, I strategically work to ensure deadlines are met and compliance is in order.

In my spare time when I'm not volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House or at spin class, I like to hang with a couple of bovines that encourage people to "Eat Mor Chikin" through various events in the Houston market.

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Yonelly G.

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