2025: A New Year for Study, Growth and Development

January has marked the beginning of a significant transition for me, both professionally and personally. Around mid-January, I made the decision to step away from my role as a Web Developer and move into part-time work to allow me to fully focus on my university studies and long-term career development.

This was not a decision taken lightly. Development has played a key role in shaping my professional foundations, however as my interests have evolved, it became increasingly clear that investing time into my academic journey and broader skill development would better support the direction I want my career to take.

A Year of Growth and Intentional Progress

The start of a new year always provides a natural opportunity to reflect and reset. For me, 2025 is very much intended to be a year of personal growth, making the most of opportunities and taking deliberate steps towards the future I am working towards.

Rather than viewing this change as a step back, I see it as a strategic realignment. By prioritising my studies, continuous professional development and wellbeing, I am giving myself the space to grow academically, professionally and personally.

Alongside my studies, I have also returned to part-time work in retail. While different from my previous technical role, this experience offers valuable opportunities to reconnect with people, strengthen communication skills and remain grounded in collaborative, fast-paced environments. Retail, in particular, reinforces the importance of community, teamwork and adaptability, which are all highly transferable skills for project and organisational contexts.

Advancing My Masters Studies in 2025

From April 2025, I will begin studying two key modules as part of my MSc pathway:

These modules represent an important shift in my academic focus, moving further away from purely technical delivery and towards strategic, organisational and innovation-led thinking.

The OU advises against the study of more than one module at Postgraduate level, but I am not one to shy away from the opportunity to take on a challenge!

Technology and Innovation Management

The Technology and Innovation Management module explores how innovation shapes organisations, industries and wider society. It adopts a broad perspective on technological innovation, covering product, process and system innovation, as well as the varying degrees and impacts of innovation from incremental improvements to disruptive change.

A core theme of the module is understanding how value is created, managed and evaluated through innovation. This includes commercial, social and environmental value, alongside the wider organisational and strategic implications of technological change. I am really excited to learn more about these concepts, how they impact organisations and the real-world impact on projects.

Key areas of study include:

Innovation processes and innovation strategy
Technology transfer and systems of innovation
Product, service and system innovation management
Technology roadmapping and evaluation of added value
The role of people, technological, organisational and contextual (PTOC) factors in innovation

This aligns strongly with my developing interest in project and technology management, particularly in understanding how innovation is planned, governed and delivered within real organisational environments.

Sustainable Organisations: Theory and Practice

Alongside innovation management, I will also be studying Sustainable Organisations, which focuses on the increasing environmental and societal responsibilities placed on modern organisations.

With global environmental targets such as net zero and sustainable economic transition becoming increasingly important, organisations must adopt transformative and forward-thinking approaches. This module will provide me with both theoretical foundations and practical tools to understand how organisations can operate in more sustainable, resource-efficient and socially responsible ways.

From a long-term perspective, this complements my interest in projects that contribute to meaningful, strategic and socially impactful outcomes.

Continuous Professional Development in 2025

Beyond formal academic study, I intend for 2025 to be a year of active CPD and skills development. This includes:

Continuing my APM-related learning and project management knowledge
Attending webinars, professional events and industry talks
Expanding my understanding of governance, leadership and strategic management
Reflecting on transferable skills gained through work, study and volunteering

I am increasingly aware that career progression into project management is not defined by a single qualification, but by the consistent development of both technical awareness and human-centred skills such as communication, adaptability and stakeholder engagement.

Reframing My Professional Identity

Stepping away from a full-time developer role has also encouraged me to reflect more deeply on my professional identity.

While my background in technology remains a strong foundation, my career direction is gradually shifting towards project, innovation and strategic management. My experiences in development, volunteering and academic study are beginning to form a more cohesive narrative centred around coordination, governance, problem-solving and strategic thinking.

This transition period is therefore less about leaving one field behind and more about building upon my existing experiences to support a broader, future-focused career pathway.

Looking Ahead

2025 is, above all, a year of intentional development for me.

I am committing to my learning, embracing new academic challenges and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. Whether through my Masters modules, CPD activities, volunteering or part-time work, each experience this year will help contribute towards my long-term goal of progressing into a project management role.

Change can feel uncertain, particularly when stepping away from a familiar career path. However, this new chapter feels purposeful. With my focus on growth, continuous learning and strategic development, I feel excited about the fact I am laying the groundwork for the next stage of my professional career.

Here’s to a year of growth, progress and meaningful development.