From Textbooks to Trenches: What I Learned from Gabor Stramb About Real Project Management

#CoffeeandProjectManagement By Bhavana Tadiboina

When I first stumbled into project management, I was buried in books. I knew the difference between Waterfall and Agile, had memorized the five process groups, and even passed my CAPM. But none of that prepared me for the chaotic beauty of real-world projects. So I started Coffee & Project Management — a space to learn directly from those who’ve walked the walk.

This week, I had the privilege of speaking with Gabor Stramb, Program Manager at Nokia, PMP coach, and creator of the Agile Admiral newsletter. With over 14 years of experience and more than 200 PMP/CAPM success stories under his belt, Gabor knows exactly where theory ends and reality begins. And let me tell you — he didn’t hold back.

Gabor Stramb

✅ Mindset Over Methodology

One of the first things Gabor said that stuck with me was this: “I used to think being a good PM meant doing it all. Now I know it means enabling others to do their best.”

That hit hard. In a world where students (like me) often feel the need to prove ourselves through certifications and checklists, Gabor reminded me that real project management isn’t about control — it’s about trust. Delegation, empowerment, and clarity aren’t “nice to have” — they’re how you scale as a leader.

🗺️ Alignment Isn’t a Status Report

We talked about stakeholder alignment — and Gabor’s approach was refreshingly simple: a “plan on a page.” One visual, one page, everyone aligned.

Whether he’s working with execs, engineers, or third-party vendors, he adapts how he communicates. The goal is always the same: make sure people not only hear the update but understand it. “Communication isn't about the medium,” he said. “It's about creating shared understanding.”

💥 When the Plan Fails (Because It Will)

Gabor shared a story of inheriting a large, meticulously planned project — one that fell apart within three months. The kicker? He couldn’t replan. He had to deliver within the original constraints. Hearing that was oddly comforting. As a student, I used to believe failed plans meant failed PMs. But Gabor made it clear: flexibility beats perfection. The best PMs aren’t the ones with flawless Gantt charts — they’re the ones who stay calm, pivot fast, and still deliver.

🔄 Switching Industries? Your Skills Still Count

We also touched on Gabor’s cross-industry experience — from oil & gas to telecom. “The PM mindset transfers,” he told me, “but the priorities change.”

In oil & gas, cost and risk are king. In telecom, speed and customer satisfaction reign. The lesson? Your tools are portable — but your strategy has to match your environment.

🔍 No Title? No Problem.

I asked Gabor what students like me — people without official PM roles — can do to stand out. His answer was empowering: visibility matters more than titles.

He encouraged me (and now, you!) to share what we’re learning, help on small projects, and ask managers how we can support. We don’t need a job title to think like PMs. We just need to show up like one — consistently.

🎓 Certifications = Tools, Not Tickets

Now this part really resonated. Gabor is a PMP coach, but he’s brutally honest about what certifications don’t do. They don’t guarantee jobs. They don’t replace experience.

What they do offer is structure, language, and credibility — all of which matter, but only when paired with action. “Certifications open doors,” he said. “But it’s what you do after that that gets you in the room.”

🤖 Will AI Replace Us?

We wrapped up with one of the most asked questions: Will AI replace project managers?

His answer was firm: No — at least not anytime soon. While AI can assist with tasks like risk reviews, documentation, or reporting, it can’t replace context, nuance, or human leadership. “Project management is a relationship-driven discipline,” he reminded me. And no AI can replace trust.

🧩 Final Thought

This conversation reminded me why I started this project in the first place. Behind every framework is a human. Behind every milestone is a story.

If you’re an aspiring PM feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure — you’re not alone. We don’t have to know it all. We just have to start showing up, asking questions, and learning from those ahead of us. Like Gabor.

Huge thanks to Gabor Stramb for sharing his time, his journey, and his generosity. If this resonated with you, feel free to comment or message — and stay tuned for the next Coffee & Project Management episode.