Keniea Russell

My personality types were Trainer, Communicator, and Influencer, which describe me perfectly! I’ve always loved helping others and understanding people, even from a young age. Leading, communicating, and seeing things from different perspectives are some of my strongest qualities, and they’ve naturally shaped how I show up in everything I do.

I’m doing a degree apprenticeship in Project Management, and I specialise in infrastructure. Infrastructure basically means all the big things that help society run. So yes, schools and hospitals etc. are super important, but you wouldn’t be able to get to them without things like roads, railways, and airports. All of that is part of infrastructure, and that’s what I work on! My day-to-day job is all about communicating with loads of different people on my project - engineers, designers, planners, you name it - and making sure everything runs smoothly. I love it because it’s people-focused and every day is different.

I actually knew I wanted to work in construction when I was in Year 11, so I had plenty of time to research different routes into the industry and figure out what path would get me to where I am now. At A‑level I studied Biology, Psychology, and Economics so nothing directly linked to project management! But what helped me the most wasn’t the subjects I took… it was my communication skills, my organisation, and my determination to work hard. That’s what really helped me secure my apprenticeship. I always knew I wanted to go into a STEM‑aligned area of construction because it genuinely interested me, but sometimes, on site I’m the only woman there! I think that says a lot about the perception people still have of construction. I want girls to know it’s not all hard hats and steel‑toe boots. There are so many exciting, creative, people‑focused roles, and there’s absolutely space for more women to shine in this industry.

In my spare time, I love travelling around the country to visit my friends, most of them are at university now, so it’s always nice catching up and seeing how everyone’s growing. I love roller skating (I can even skate backwards!), which is my favourite way to switch off and just have fun. And when I’m not out and about, you’ll probably find me reading. My favourite book is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - it’s very old‑fashioned, but the lessons in it still feel so relevant today.

Outside of work, I’m really passionate about promoting apprenticeships and speaking up for people whose voices aren’t always heard. I’ve had some incredible opportunities through this — including writing a published article about my journey and even speaking in the House of Lords! It’s been amazing to use my experiences to inspire others and show what’s possible.

Right now, I’m working more on the contract‑management side of project management rather than the hands‑on delivery of projects (there are so many different areas within project management!) My typical day involves a lot of analysing and paying attention to detail, especially when it comes to making sure the project costs and timelines are being followed properly. Alongside that, I have loads of meetings and get to speak with lots of different people who influence the project (we call them stakeholders). My job is to keep everyone informed, aligned and happy so the project runs smoothly from every angle.

I studied Biology, Psychology, and Economics at A‑level, and now I’m working towards my BSc in Project Management.