My PROJXON Story: Lyndsie Slusher, Former Program Manager, PROJXON
user
Starting the Journey: A New Chapter
My PROJXON journey began soon after I transitioned out of the US Army and started pursuing my MBA. At the time, I was eager to gain hands-on experience in the corporate world, while also balancing the newfound time and freedom after my military service. Throughout my MBA journey, I discovered that I thrived on the challenges of learning new concepts and expanding my knowledge in corporate America. However, I also knew that gaining practical experience would be crucial to advancing my career. I was actively applying to jobs and internships and had even been accepted into the Hiring our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowship Program when I came across a LinkedIn posting for a Junior Project Manager role at PROJXON. With the fellowship, I was offered four months of paid internship if the company was willing to work with some of the additional requirements for Military Spouse Fellows. Shortly after I clicked “apply” on the job posting, the CEO and co-founder, Phelan, gave me a ring explaining the company, the Startup Internship Program (SIP) and what role he thought I could play- which wasn’t a Junior Project Manager. Getting to speak with the head of the company and hearing that he wanted to challenge me with a role with more responsibility encouraged me to join a Friday Showcase, the weekly project review and showcase hosted by all the participants.
Hitting the Ground Running: Turning Chaos into Opportunity
From my very first Friday Showcase, I transitioned into the role of Program Manager—a position created to synchronize teams and assist the CEO in managing the internship program, allowing him to focus on client acquisition. It was a huge role and a very fast change from just being an MBA student. I quickly learned that there were four teams: Marketing, Business, IT/AI, and Operations. The Operations team housed the HR department, legal, finance, and the Project Management Office (PMO). I had about a week to get settled into the role, process onboarding, and learn the culture of PROJXON. I quickly got to work on several key improvements—from revitalizing the recruitment and performance review processes to enhancing project visibility using Kanban boards and Gantt charts. I also collaborated to streamline the Weekly Standup presentations, improving their flow and making them more efficient for the briefing teams. These changes allowed me to make a tangible impact on the program’s effectiveness and its participants.
Culture: Not Just a Metric, But the Lifeblood
The best part of my experience at PROJXON was undoubtedly the company’s culture. PROJXON places a strong emphasis on recruiting and retaining talent who thrive in a collaborative, remote-work environment. This is not just a phrase to PROJXON, this is their lifeblood- teams work on different schedules and time zones with participants that are in various types of schools and some also work full- or part-time while in the program. Teams also work collaboratively amongst each other and with the Leadership Team, comprised of Team Leads, Program Leads, Advisors, and the CEO. I think it is important to note that even the Team Leads are interns, which means that everyone is continually in a learning, growing, and strengthening process of leadership, soft and hard skills, and management practices. With everyone having busy and different schedules, it’s so important that PROJXON recruits participants that can work in environments with minimal oversight and a large emphasis on collaboration. Throughout my five months as Program Manager, it was truly inspiring to see participants grow in both skills and confidence, all while immersed in PROJXON’s unique culture. The company doesn’t just value collaboration—it makes it the foundation of everything, and that culture played a pivotal role in each participant’s success.
Delegated Responsibility: The Ultimate Confidence Boost
Beyond its strong culture, PROJXON—and especially the CEO, Phelan—places a strong emphasis on delegating responsibility to keep things running smoothly. In my role, I was able to make positive changes that better the experience for others through the responsibility Phelan delegated to me and my Team Lead counterparts. Can you think of another internship that offers its interns this level of responsibility? Through my tenure, I was able to help the HR team branch out from Operations to form their own team lead and increase the size of the team to provide better support and a refined product for new and ongoing participants. I was also able to shape and implement quarterly and yearly goals for the team and program to assist with focus and prioritization across projects. All this being said, I never would have thought I could make this level of impact when I applied to be a Junior Project Manager, but Phelan’s guidance and mentorship helped me grow into the Program Manager that PROJXON needed at the time- and this is just MY story, there are dozens of similar stories across participants in the Startup Internship Program (SIP) and now Momentum Internship Program (MIP) that we transitioned to.
Final Note: Reflecting on Growth and Impact
My time at PROJXON provided a major confidence boost and helped me better understand my leadership style and what I seek in a full-time role moving forward. I experienced moments where I was unsure of what I should do, but always felt fully supported by both the CEO, the Team Leads, and so many of the participants. The community of PROJXON and its alumni are so strong that many former participants stay involved as mentors or extend their program after the initial 90-days. I feel fortunate to have been able to be a part of so many positive changes and seen so much growth for both the company and the participants. I gained a lot of new friends, expanded my network, and got a mentor out of the CEO. If you’re someone who values personal growth, meaningful collaboration, and the opportunity to make a real impact, I highly encourage you to join the MIP program. My time at PROJXON was truly impactful, and I believe it can be the same for you—whether you’re looking to grow your career or make a meaningful difference.