Project Tempo was a unique opportunity to lead research and insights work across EU countries, focusing on the voter groups shaping political and regulatory decisions. This helped us understand how public opinion connects to stronger economies, better jobs, and climate action. Using these insights, we developed political strategies and practical policy solutions to support both new and established technologies. We also helped our partners navigate political systems by providing clear, research-backed briefings at local, national, and regional levels.
As lead project manager, I was responsible for the full end-to-end delivery of the project — ensuring everything was completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standard. I began by building a clear, strategic project plan with key milestones, deadlines, and deliverables, and ensured resources were allocated efficiently across multiple teams.
I coordinated cross-functional teams and kept stakeholders aligned, creating strong collaboration across departments to deliver on shared goals. My role was not just about execution, but about ensuring that every part of the project — from research to delivery — was strategically connected and aligned with the wider business objectives. I worked across workstreams to make sure each piece supported the bigger picture, adjusting our approach when needed to stay focused on impact.
To support strategic planning, I led a team to conduct in-depth market research across key EU countries, identifying voter and regulatory trends, consumer behavior, and cultural differences that shaped our market entry strategies. I delivered clear, actionable insights to senior leadership, helping guide decisions around positioning, messaging, and expansion.
Alongside this, I led on risk management, proactively identifying challenges and building mitigation plans to keep the project moving forward. I provided regular updates on progress, risks, and milestones, and maintained open communication with all stakeholders to manage expectations and ensure alignment throughout.
The result was a successful launch that unlocked funding, built a strong presence in each market, and positioned the organisation as a trusted and influential voice in the industry.
The Challenge
One of the biggest challenges was navigating a constantly changing political and regulatory environment. With shifting voter priorities, policy developments, and regional differences, we had to stay responsive and flexible. I addressed this by building adaptability into the project plan — leaving room for pivots, setting up regular touchpoints for reassessment, and staying closely connected to local political intelligence through research and stakeholder feedback.
Another challenge was managing external factors we couldn’t control, such as elections, government transitions, and policy delays. I tackled this by focusing on what we could influence: clear communication, consistent scenario planning, and proactive risk management. We developed contingency plans to prepare for different outcomes and ensured stakeholders were always kept informed.
Working across multiple countries also posed logistical and coordination challenges. I overcame this by establishing strong collaboration frameworks, clear lines of accountability, and localised timelines — keeping all teams aligned and momentum high.
Finally, as this was a new business being built from the ground up, there were moments of ambiguity where not everything was clearly defined. I led through this by staying focused on the bigger picture, guiding decision-making based on our core mission, and fostering a culture of problem-solving and open communication.