Ever wondered what it really takes to keep complex tech projects on track? Who even is a Delivery Manager? Meet Aga Rasińska, one of our Delivery Managers at Appsilon, who does just that every day.

What can you expect from a project collaboration with Appsilon? Learn more about how we deliver impactful products. 

I recently had the chance to sit down with Aga and talk about her work and what delivery managers do. If you’re up for a conversation about juggling multiple projects, keeping stakeholders happy, and blending life science with tech skills, this is the coffee chat for you.

So grab a cup of coffee and explore a day in the life of a Delivery Manager (especially one at Appsilon 💙). Trust me, after watching (or reading) this interview, you'll never look at delivery management the same way again.

Watch the Full Interview 

Introduction to the Delivery Manager Role

Gigi: So, my first question is, what does a delivery manager do?

Aga: We act as a bridge between project teams and stakeholders, providing leadership and direction throughout the entire project lifecycle to bring innovative solutions to market effectively and efficiently. That means we are responsible for the successful delivery of projects or services. My primary role is to ensure that they are delivered on time, within scope, within budget, while maintaining high-quality standards and stakeholder satisfaction. We ensure that projects meet their objectives and deliver the expected value.

A Typical Day as a Delivery Manager

Gigi: That sounds pretty complicated! What does a typical day look like for you as a delivery manager?

Aga: It’s a great question because a typical day can be quite dynamic and involves coordination, stakeholder communication, strategic planning, and problem-solving. I handle multiple projects and responsibilities, so time management skills are key here.

For example, I start early in the morning by reviewing and responding to emails and Slack messages from different people. Then, I proceed with reviewing my to-do list and reading some industry news. Throughout the day, I have several regular meetings to attend, as well as ad-hoc ones when unexpected issues arise. I provide support and guidance to team members and stakeholders. I also have meetings with clients to discuss any project and business-related matters.

Apart from that, I block out time for specific core activities related to project and product management. This includes progress tracking, reviewing strategies, and action plans to ensure that everything is on track. Additionally, I’m a direct manager for a few individual contributors, so I lead regular one-on-one meetings with developers to ensure ongoing progress on their tasks.

Moreover, there’s time for strategic planning and working on aspects related to both project and company initiatives. This might include identifying opportunities for improvements, initiatives, or implementing best practices. It’s quite a busy day, which I finish with another round of checking emails and messages, responding to any pending ones, and updating documentation, reports, logs, and notes. This way, I wrap up the day with everything up-to-date before moving on to other activities.

Current Projects and Top Priorities

Gigi: That sounds like a lot to fit into one day! What are you currently working on? What’s your top priority right now?

Aga: Currently, I oversee two different projects for two big pharmaceutical companies. One is related to the development of Shiny applications, while the other is focused on pipeline development. This involves various project-related activities, but I’m also actively involved in several strategic initiatives that are either company-wide or unit-wide.

For example, this week, I’m preparing for a business trip to our clients, which will include product-related workshops that I will be facilitating.

Most Interesting Projects in Life Sciences

Gigi: Wow, that’s impressive! What has been your most interesting project so far as a delivery manager at Appsilon?

Aga: I find every project interesting, even though that might sound cliché. I really enjoy diving deeper into all the challenges and business aspects. Considering my background, I especially love the field of life sciences, which is inherently diverse and fascinating. For example, in one project, you might be working on data visualization for omics data, while in the next one, you’re involved in clinical submissions, clinical studies, or developing a package for statistical analysis and modeling.

There’s so much more—the possibilities are almost endless. It’s both fascinating and challenging at the same time, and you’re never bored. What I really love is knowing that whatever I’m working on is part of something bigger and meaningful, regardless of the industry.

Time Management and Prioritization Strategies

Gigi: That’s so interesting! So, how do you manage your time and prioritize tasks?

Aga: That’s a good question. In terms of priorities, I use a standard matrix: must-have, should-have, nice-to-have, and can-be-delegated. I have to be honest with myself about my capacity and time. For time management, as you noticed, I do some day theming—a technique where each day is focused on one part of my activities, such as team management or project reviews, as well as time blocking. I group tasks related to one of those core activities into blocks and secure the time and focus needed to complete them.

This approach helps me survive the variety of tasks, responsibilities, and changes that arise during the week and the day.

Gigi: That makes sense. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in ensuring the successful delivery of your projects?

Aga: Especially in life science projects, the complexity and managing stakeholder expectations are major challenges. Aligning the diverse and sometimes conflicting expectations of different stakeholders—clients, regulatory bodies, team members, and many more—can be difficult. Misaligned expectations can lead to dissatisfaction and project delays. That’s why setting realistic and transparent goals and timelines is very important, along with ensuring clear and effective communication among all project stakeholders.

This is even more important as the projects are complex and often face changes in requirements or are impacted by external factors. Adapting to these changes without derailing the project is challenging. Balancing between priorities, strategic importance, expectations, technical limitations, and dependencies is not a piece of cake.

Gigi: Definitely not a piece of cake, but you do it so well!

Career Journey from Life Sciences to Delivery Management

Gigi: Could you share your personal career journey and how it led you to the role of a delivery manager? I believe you have a bachelor’s in biotechnology and a master’s in biotechnology, right? How did you weave that experience into your delivery manager role?

Aga: Yes, that’s right. I graduated in biotechnology, and my background is also in bioinformatics, so I have both wet and computational experience. My career includes scientific and data analytics positions, collaborating with different sizes of companies, both biotech and pharma.

I’ve got a good grip on data analysis and visualization challenges that I mastered in several of my bioinformatician roles. I also gained a lot of experience in project and people management, taking care of projects from start to finish, being a team leader as well as a developer in those roles, and building client relationships while fostering team growth and development. All of these experiences are now used in my delivery manager position, where I oversee projects across various industries, with a special focus on the life sciences sector, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare companies.

Transferable Skills from Life Sciences

Gigi: That’s interesting! Which skills from your life sciences and bioinformatics experience have been most transferable to delivery management?

Aga: I think there are three main ones. The first is attention to detail, to ensure that all aspects are executed and discussed. This is especially important in the life sciences industry, where precision is critical.

Secondly, technical understanding. Having this scientific and technical background, along with hands-on experience, helps me a lot in effective communication with teams and stakeholders.

Lastly, I would say critical thinking—the ability to understand the connections between ideas. It involves evaluating information, analyzing arguments, and making reasoned judgments that are well thought out. This skill is, in my opinion, essential for problem-solving and decision-making in a wide variety of contexts.

Biggest Challenge in Transitioning Roles

Gigi: What was the biggest challenge in transitioning from life sciences to delivery management? What was most difficult about moving from an expert role to a delivery role?

Aga: For me, it was understanding regulatory and compliance requirements and staying updated on the latest standards relevant to the life sciences industry. I needed a thorough understanding of these requirements, which can be complex and vary across regions and products. The life sciences industry is vast, covering not just pharma but also biotech companies and different products.

Our goal is to ensure that the projects or products we deliver comply with these regulations. Misunderstanding here can be critical, leading to delays and legal issues. Keeping up with these changing requirements is challenging.

Gigi: That makes sense. There’s a lot going on in that regard, especially now that we’re integrating AI into many things, which brings even more to learn about.

Staying Up-to-Date in a Fast-Moving Field

Gigi: How do you stay up-to-date with everything going on in the field, from life sciences to tech? You’re also a Scrum Master, so how do you balance and choose what to learn? Where do you source your information from?

Aga: As I mentioned earlier, I have a routine of reviewing industry news every morning—that’s one source of information for me to stay updated. I also dedicate quite a lot of time to my personal development. I’m interested in leadership and tech topics, so I follow relevant profiles on social media, subscribe to newsletters, attend webinars and conferences, and follow top voices in the industry.

I’m also mindful about choosing my sources of information because there’s a lot going on, and you can’t follow everything. You have to be selective and critical in assessing the information you choose to follow. Staying curious about what’s going on is key. If I’m interested in a topic, I’ll dive deeper through workshops, courses, books, or meetings—anything that helps me get a better understanding.

Advice for Transitioning into Tech Roles

Gigi: If you could start over, what would you do differently?

Aga: It’s easier now to sit back and consider what I would do differently with all this extra knowledge and experience. My advice is to make your decisions confidently, and regardless of the outcome—whether it’s a success or failure—learn from it and keep moving forward.

Gigi: Let’s say there’s someone with a life sciences background who wants to transition into tech as a project manager, product manager, or delivery manager. What advice would you give them?

Aga: I would say be open to learning. Master your communication skills and take care of your project management skills. Try and experiment—every project is different, so you need to be flexible. Remember, everyone learns, so no matter if it’s a big failure or a small one, learn from it. It will give you some very insightful knowledge that you can carry forward.

Use all you have from your previous career in life sciences as an advantage in this new role. Communicating with both technical and non-technical people is key, so mastering that skill is important.

Top Qualities of a Good Delivery Manager

Gigi: What are your top three qualities of a good delivery manager? I think this also ties back to what you just said.

Aga: First of all, the ability to adapt to changing requirements, unexpected challenges, and evolving industry trends while maintaining focus on project objectives and quality standards. Secondly, excellent communication skills. As delivery managers, we engage with a variety of stakeholders, including clients, cross-functional teams, and senior management, so it’s very important to master this skill.

Thirdly, curiosity combined with perseverance—a desire to explore and persist in seeking solutions and understanding complex topics despite difficulties.

Personal Insights and Advice

Gigi: How many cups of coffee do you have in a day?

Aga: Usually around four, with the last one at 4 p.m. After that, no more coffee for me!

Gigi: You’ve shared so many amazing points. What’s one thing you want someone watching this video to take away—whether it’s about delivery management, life sciences, or life in general?

Aga: Don’t be afraid to try. If you don’t try, you’ll never know the outcome. Just go for it, and trust in yourself because you’re making good decisions—you know it if you feel it.

Wrapping Up A Day in the Life of a Delivery Manager

It's clear that the role of a Delivery Manager is both challenging and rewarding. We hope you found this conversation insightful. 

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the roles at Appsilon, you can contact us and explore our careers page. You can also connect with Aga on LinkedIn, she regularly shares insights on the life sciences, data science and machine learning.

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