The Olympics are history—so the race to complete infrastructure projects for the Games no longer can distract Latin America’s largest economy from a grim
reality. A recession that officially hit Brazil in
August 2014 lingers on, and government corruption
has created leadership turmoil. National unemployment is expected to climb to nearly 12 percent this
year. With jobs and wages in decline, the economy—and project opportunities—keep contracting.
“Project management, as a career, is being deeply
affected by this economic scenario: Less investment
means fewer projects being rolled out because com-
panies are in standby mode, waiting for funding,”
says Alex Julian, PMP, head of change operations
and cross-product services, Bradesco Bank, São
Paulo, Brazil.
While many capital-expenditure projects have
been shelved or delayed because of a lack of funding,
organizations are doubling down on transformation
initiatives that can cut inefficiencies and streamline
operations. “Brazilian companies are looking for
project managers who think with an owner’s mindset, always looking for ways to provide efficiency
gains and do more with less,” Mr. Julian says.
Applicants must learn to switch lanes, too.
Slumping construction and oil and gas industries
are forcing some project professionals to flock to IT,
telecommunications and financial services. Having
a proven track record in stretching resources and
motivating team members will make the transition
easier, Mr. Julian says.
“Some companies were less concerned about
cost or scope in the past because there was lots of
money, but now budget restrictions mean more
CEOs are interested in controls, processes and
methodologies,” Mr. Julian says. “That contributes
indirectly to the project management profession
growing in maturity here.”
Competitive Disadvantage
AT A GLANCE
2017 GDP
Growth
Forecast: -0.01%
Median Project
Practitioner
Salary: US$48,171
Sectors to
Watch: IT,
telecommunications,
financial
services
A neighborhood in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil
“Brazilian companies are looking for
project managers who think with an
owner’s mindset, always looking for
ways to provide efficiency gains and
do more with less.”
—Alex Julian, PMP, Bradesco Bank, São Paulo, Brazil
BRAZIL
Cold