Meet Madison

First, we’re thrilled to welcome another Canadian expert to our team! As a Montreal-based project management expert at Open Eye, you play a vital role in achieving our clients’ goals by keeping all collaborators aligned and engaged on the path to success. What is a personal goal that you’ve set for yourself and successfully achieved—one that you’re most proud of?

Madison: Running the Toronto Marathon! I leveraged my project management skills to design a training plan, manage my nutrition, and coordinate my schedule. All that preparation paid off, and marathon day was incredibly fun. The experience remains one of my proudest achievements.

Your career so far has included a mix of project management, marketing, and communications roles. How have these experiences prepared you to support our clients at Open Eye?

Madison: My background in communications taught me to always consider the audience’s perspective and tailor my messaging accordingly—an approach that is crucial when managing projects with multiple stakeholders, as we do at Open Eye. Marketing plays less of a role in my day-to-day project management work, but it’s fast-paced nature and the joy of bringing people together to achieve a common goal are elements I try to embody when supporting our clients.

At Open Eye, cross-functional collaboration and efficiency are key to our success. What’s your formula for ensuring a successful collaboration?

Madison: I’ll keep this one simple: transparency and open lines of communication. Letting others know where you’re at in your work allows them to support you more easily. Setting proper expectations ensures everyone is on the same page, and frequent communication is key to eliminating surprises.

Is there a person or experience that has profoundly influenced the way you approach your work?

Madison: Absolutely! One of my early bosses exemplified “working without ego.” She consistently shared credit, freely offered opportunities, and was always available for support. Her approach to achieving the best results was highly collaborative—if there was someone we could learn from, they were brought in to make projects better. Having had the joy of working for her during my formative years shaped many aspects of how I work today.

Let’s shake things up with a quick, playful speed round! Share as much or as little as you’d like: What’s your go-to podcast?

Madison: Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara (a running podcast!)

What inspirational quote would you benefit from being reminded of daily?

Madison: “Progress over perfection.” A daily reminder to keep moving forward and that perfection is rare!

What’s your favorite snack?

Madison: A Greek yogurt bowl with granola, fruit, and honey. I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

What’s a personal breakthrough you experienced in 2024?

Madison: Taking a French course and overcoming my fear of speaking to others in French.

What practice or tool helps you re-center most effectively?

Madison: Daily movement. I keep my goal simple—30 minutes a day. I find that setting an easy-to-accomplish goal removes my instinct to procrastinate and gives me intentional time to connect with myself.

Thank you for sharing! Now, let’s move on to our final questions before we let you get back to work.

If you were to advise another project manager on practical tools or methods for managing day-to-day project priorities, what would you recommend?

Madison: I believe that effective tools and methods are unique to each team. Understanding your team’s diverse working styles—whether they prefer pen and paper, visual documents, or collaborative meetings—is essential. With new tools emerging constantly, I recommend setting aside an afternoon every few months to explore options that might enhance your workflow. Personally, I rely on Notion for personal organization and Asana for managing team projects.

In your opinion, what is the most underrated quality of a successful project manager—something essential for success that often goes unrecognized? How have you cultivated this quality in yourself?

Madison: Empathy and adaptability. By actively listening and understanding the diverse perspectives of team members and stakeholders, I can preempt challenges and foster a more collaborative environment. I try to cultivate these qualities by maintaining open communication, seeking regular feedback, and investing time in building genuine connections with my colleagues.

To wrap up, which city in the world—whether you’ve visited or aspire to visit—do you feel best represents your personality, and why?

Madison: London. I’ve been lucky enough to visit multiple times, and without fail, I immediately feel at home. There’s a strong undercurrent of positive energy that runs through the city—whether it’s the vast cultural opportunities (music, museums, etc.) or the sense of community that flows through the neighborhoods. I return home feeling reinvigorated and inspired after every visit. I’m not sure it represents my personality, but I do love it!

Thank you so much for your time and insights, Madison! We’re thrilled to have you on the team!