How I Completed Google’s Project Management Certification in a Weekend

Recently, I wrapped up Google’s Project Management certification over a weekend. This might sound ambitious (or a bit crazy), but thanks to my work experience juggling multiple projects and collaborating with great teams, I was able to breeze through the quizzes quickly. Much of the methodology was already familiar to me, as I had built up this knowledge by doing the work and learning from amazing colleagues along the way.

A New Approach to Learning Soft Skills

Instead of following the traditional learning flow, I tried a new approach tailored to my strengths. Since I’ve already developed many of these skills through team projects, volunteering, and group work, I skipped directly to the quizzes. Whenever I encountered unfamiliar terms or concepts, I jotted them down, navigated to the relevant sections, and dove into the materials for those specific topics.

This method felt a bit like what cows do (yes, cows!). They eat their food, chew it, swallow it, and then “rechew” it later. Similarly, I consumed the knowledge raw, noted gaps, and revisited it to process and reinforce it better. It’s my own version of reinforcement or enhancement learning.

However, I wouldn’t recommend this method for topics I’m learning for the first time. In those cases, building a foundation through the full course structure is essential.

How My Journey Prepared Me

My learning style is shaped by my experiences. I was fortunate to attend the University of Alberta and even spent an exchange term at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) in Austria. Those experiences taught me critical thinking and working methods while helping me build meaningful connections with people across the globe. Some of these friendships have lasted, even though we’re now separated by a quarter (or three-quarters) of the Earth!

Still, it was in the workplace where I gained hands-on experience and sharpened my vision of what I want to achieve and how to get there. This certification is just another step in that journey, combining my practical knowledge with structured learning to improve how I tackle projects and objectives.

Completing certifications like these is a great way to formalize what you know, fill knowledge gaps, and gain new perspectives. If you’re considering it, I encourage you to try—and maybe even experiment with your own unique learning style! And feel free to reach out and discuss your findings or your journey with me.