Meet Point B’er Amber Lightfoot
Get to know Amber, Program Management Office Manager based in Orange County, CA.
Meet Amber Lightfoot, a seasoned Program Management Office Manager who’s been with Point B for 8 years. Although she’s lived in Phoenix for several years, she’s recently made the move to Orange County. Amber has made a lasting impact across the organization, both with customers and on internal projects. Her dedication to teamwork and collaboration fuels her success, allowing her to contribute to strategic initiatives while developing her own skills and expertise.
What makes you proud to work at Point B?
Teamwork and camaraderie! Everyone jumps in to support each other and share diverse perspectives. I see it both in internal projects and in our customer engagements.
Describe the work you do and your areas of expertise. What do you love most about your work?
I started my career at Point B leading customer projects as part of our Strategic Execution team. After a few years, there was an opportunity to join our internal operations team to help launch an Enterprise Program Management Office (EPMO). It was rewarding to be able to bring my experience working with customers and my knowledge of the consulting industry to support our strategic initiatives within Point B. In this new role, I love that I get to work across all teams at Point B and gain exposure to multiple types of projects, from system migrations to process automation to launching new services and offerings.
Let’s dive into a memorable project.
I had the privilege of working with our amazing summer interns on their 10-week team project. After leading the EPMO for a year, I was eager to develop a better method for tracking project outcomes and benefits. This was crucial for ensuring that our projects not only met their objectives but also delivered tangible value.
To tackle this challenge, we needed to understand the latest industry trends and best practices in portfolio management. I connected the team to our experienced consultants at Point B and encouraged them to review external publications. Together, we developed several recommendations, including enhanced business case templates to capture intended benefits, standardized project reporting to monitor in-flight outcomes, and more robust communication with project teams.
The interns were able to meet and learn from experienced consultants across several different teams, providing them with a holistic view of our company. In return, this experience gave me fresh perspectives on our EPMO operations and helped drive further innovation. The interns' hard work culminated in a presentation to our leaders, where they showcased their recommendations and received full support.
How is Point B helping you grow your career?
Point B has offered an array of options for me to continue my career development. The annual training stipend Point B provides employees has allowed me to obtain Lean Six Sigma and OKR certifications. I’ve also enjoyed taking courses Point B hosted related to presentation skills, such as Executive Presence, Presentation Skills, and Power Speakers (which has been my favorite). However, the most notable source of learning and support has been the formal mentorship and coaching that I’ve received from more experienced Point B’ers.
Describe Point B’s culture in 1 word. Why that word?
Collaborative – everyone I work with at Point B is ready to jump in and support each other. There’s a shared understanding that collective wisdom enhances everything we do!
One of our core values is “Respect and Care for all People.” What ways do you create a work environment around you that is respectful, empathetic, and supportive of others?
I’m a huge advocate of listening. When I first joined the internal operations team, I scheduled interviews with key partners to better understand how an EPMO could help address some of the challenges they were encountering. Those perspectives helped me shape the processes that we have in place today!
"Everyone I work with at Point B is ready to jump in and support each other. There's a shared understanding that collective wisdom enhances everything we do!"
Amber Lightfoot
One of our core values is “Own It.” Can you describe a time when taking ownership of a project or problem led to a positive outcome for a customers or colleague?
When I joined Point B, I was looking for a work environment that offered a fun community. I was excited to learn that our local offices host numerous in-person networking events throughout the year. I’ve jumped into various roles to help plan trainings, retreats, social activities, and volunteer events to bring everyone together for shared experiences outside of our day-to-day work!
What are your favorite podcasts currently?
I start most days with The Daily to stay up to date on trending news. I also like Marketplace for business-related news. For fun, I try to catch occasional episodes of Hidden Brain, Duolingo Spanish Podcast, or The Rewatchables!
If you were to be described as a movie or TV character, who would it be and why?
Monica Geller from Friends – let’s just say, I like things clean and organized.
Sweet or savory?
Savory – I was born and raised in Arizona, and can’t resist a good bowl of chips and salsa!
