In my previous post, I shared how I first got into project management and why I believe it’s a vital part of the sustainable fashion conversation. Today, I want to take you through what that journey has looked like for me so far — and offer resources in case you’re thinking about taking a similar path.

Where it all started

The very first time I learned about project management was through the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate — a self-paced course available on Coursera. For £43/month (which also gives you access to other courses), it offers a flexible and affordable way to learn.

I completed it in 3 months, but if you’re balancing a full-time job or family life, the recommended pace is around 6 months. For roughly £258, you get 140 hours of learning, practical resources, and a certificate to boost or change your career. Not bad at all.

The course is designed for beginners. It guides you step-by-step through the essentials of project management: from foundational concepts to planning, executing, and closing projects. Practical exercises are built in to keep you engaged, and each module ends with a test to reinforce your learning. There’s also a new segment on “Accelerating your job search with AI,” which shows the course is actively evolving with industry needs.

For me, it was the perfect starting point — clear, engaging, and surprisingly fun. I particularly appreciated the practical elements that helped me identify gaps in my understanding. While some might miss human interaction in a self-paced format, I found it energising and was lucky to have the time to dedicate fully to the program.

What came next

After completing the course, I wanted to deepen my understanding and grow in the community. I joined the Project Management Institute (PMI) — the global authority in project management — which gave me access to a rich library of publications, tools, online events, and discounts on further education.

While PMI’s PMP® certification is the gold standard in the industry, it requires hands-on job experience. Instead, I went for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) — a perfect entry-level credential for those just starting out.

To be eligible, you need a secondary degree and 23 hours of project management education — the Google course counts toward this (or at least did when I applied in October 2024; check the current requirements to be sure).

My study approach

I gave myself around four months to prepare for the CAPM exam — but it’s worth noting that I didn’t have a full-time job during that time, so I could dedicate quite a lot of energy to studying. If your schedule is tighter, you may want to extend that timeline.

I based my preparation mostly on PMI’s official materials. As a PMI member, I had free access to a whole library of publications. The key ones I used were:

• PMBOK® Guide – the core textbook for project managers
• Process Groups: Practice Guide – helpful for understanding the practical structure of projects
• Agile Practice Guide – introduces Agile methodologies in an accessible way
• Business Analysis for Practitioners: Practice Guide – especially useful for understanding stakeholder engagement and requirements
• The PMI Guide to Business Analysis – goes deeper into analysis tools and techniques

It may seem like a lot (and it is!), but don’t let that intimidate you. To help make sense of all the material, I used two key documents:

• The CAPM Exam Content Outline – this is essential. It tells you exactly what topics will be covered in the exam, and how they’re weighted. Make sure you return to it often and check whether your studying aligns with it.
• The CAPM Exam Reference List – I found it helpful as a study checklist, though I should mention it’s no longer officially on PMI’s website and contains a few inaccuracies. Use it as a guide, but with a critical eye.

To complement the reading, I added a good dose of video content and practice:

• On YouTube, Alvin the PM has some great explanatory videos, and Ricardo Vargas does a brilliant job breaking down complex concepts into visual formats.
• I used Pocket Prep — an app that makes it easy to do short practice quizzes whenever I had a spare moment. It was a great way to reinforce learning and identify areas I needed to revisit.

As the exam approached, I started doing full mock exams. This part is important — the real exam is long and mentally demanding, so you want to simulate those conditions. I used an exam simulator from PMLearning. The interface wasn’t perfect (some duplicate questions, occasional bugs), but it gave me a realistic feel for the exam structure and question types.

A few days before the actual exam, I watched a CAPM Exam Cram Session on Udemy. At that stage, I didn’t expect to learn much new, but it was a helpful recap and gave me some peace of mind.

The outcome

At the end of January 2025, I passed the CAPM exam on my first attempt with Above Target scores in all domains.

That means in just six months, I completely redirected my career. And while gaining the certificate was a major milestone, the journey didn’t stop there. I’ve since continued learning through books, webinars, community events, volunteering, and real-world experience. But I’ll save those parts of the story for another post.

Thinking about doing the same?

If you’re a creative professional, a purpose-driven brand founder, or someone curious about blending sustainability with structure, project management might be exactly what you need to bring your ideas to life.

Follow for upcoming posts on tools, strategies, and stories to help you lead projects with clarity, purpose, and impact. You’ve got the vision. Let’s build the structure to support it.