Adrian x Pawel: A Day in the Life of a Program Manager

In our recent episode of our TECH TALK ‘A Day in the Life Series’ Adrian Duffy, Head of Software Development Recruitment at Cavendish Professionals, sits down with Pawel Grzegorczyk, a seasoned IT Program Manager with over two decades of experience. This is a great conversation about growth, leadership and the art of managing complex projects in a fast-moving digital world.

From Test Engineer to Program Manager: A Journey of Evolution

Pawel’s career began in testing, a field grounded in precision, process and problem-solving. But as he gained experience, his curiosity led him beyond quality assurance into project and program management. What inspired the shift? A desire to make a bigger impact.
He explains how the move allowed him to step back from the minutiae and focus on strategy, coordination and people, the cornerstones of effective delivery.

Delivering Results on a Global Scale

One of Pawel’s standout stories is about leading a global team to deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in just one month, to meet a crucial client deadline. Managing across time zones and cultures, he attributes success to clarity, trust and emotional intelligence.
‘You can’t lead effectively if people don’t trust you’ Pawel notes that ‘Delegation is not just about assigning tasks, it’s about empowering people to take ownership’.

Managing 200 Engineers: People Before Process

Leading a massive engineering team could easily become a management nightmare, but not for Damian. He believes in a people-first philosophy. ‘I focus on people and let the processes follow’, he explains that ‘If you empower the right leaders and build trust, the system runs itself’. Rather than micromanaging, Damian works indirectly, observing communication, leadership and problem-solving skills. His goal, surprisingly, is to make himself unnecessary ‘The best sign of success is when the team runs without me’.

Tools of the Trade

Behind every great team is a great toolkit. Pawel highlights the technologies that keep his global operations running smoothly:

• Microsoft Teams for communication and collaboration
• Miro for brainstorming and visual planning
• Power BI and Excel for tracking progress and data-driven decision-making

These tools, combined with strong leadership principles, help Pawel maintain both transparency and agility across his projects.

Key Takeaways

What really stands out in the discussion is Pawel’s emphasis on emotional intelligence. Technical skills may open doors, but empathy, communication and adaptability are what sustain long-term success. His advice to aspiring managers? Focus on understanding your people, their motivations, challenges and strengths. When teams feel supported, results naturally follow.

Listen to the full episode here