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Continue reading →: Creating While WaitingIt’s a strange thing to feel so uncertain about your future, and yet, somehow, stay deeply anchored. That’s what Catalyst has been for me. I’m still looking for my next role.Still applying.Still navigating interviews that go silent, recommendations that don’t land, and waiting rooms that feel endless. But while I…
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Continue reading →: The Real Role of a Project ManagerIt wasn’t on the official list. It didn’t have a budget. And technically… it wasn’t even a project. When I was asked to “take over” a technical trial that some senior engineers were running, something felt off. They were brilliant, deeply technical and highly experienced, but stuck. They’d been experimenting…
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Continue reading →: Protecting Teams from BurnoutEvery project has a critical path.But too often, we forget that people have one too. In engineering and project management, we’re trained to manage risks, budgets, and timelines — yet one of the greatest risks to any project isn’t a missed milestone. It’s a burned-out team. Burnout doesn’t always announce…
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Continue reading →: Full Circle MentorshipSome moments remind you that impact doesn’t end — it multiplies. Years ago, through APEGA’s Mentorship Program, I had the privilege of guiding a few early-career engineers as they navigated their first professional steps. We talked about confidence, communication, and the real work of finding your place in engineering. What…
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Continue reading →: The Power of Two MinutesThere’s a meeting I’ll never forget — one of those weekly project updates where every manager reports progress to a room full of stakeholders. In theory, these meetings are about alignment and collaboration.In practice, they often turn into something else. One person would always dominate the conversation. Every small issue…
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Continue reading →: Mentorship MultipliedI still remember a simple exercise at a STEM workshop earlier this year: each student held a piece of yarn, passing it across the room as they shared something about themselves. Slowly, a web took shape — fragile yet strong, connecting every hand. That image has stayed with me. Because…
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Continue reading →: Amsterdam: Resilience on WaterAt the end of 2024, I spent three months living in Europe — based in the Netherlands, working part-time, and using every free weekend to explore. From Greece to Portugal, Italy to Belgium, every city left its mark. But Amsterdam, with its canals and crooked charm, taught me something I’ll…
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Continue reading →: Stories in Salt: Networking Beyond the ConventionalNot all therapy looks like sitting across from a professional with a notebook. For many women, traditional therapy can feel distant, even intimidating. But in a salt chamber — amber light glowing, walls radiating calm, air infused with minerals — something shifts. Barriers fall. Voices open. Stories flow. That’s what…
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Continue reading →: Showing Up, Again and AgainEmigrating means making choices no one prepares you for. One of the hardest is distance — not being there for the everyday growth of the people you love. My children grew up in Canada, surrounded by family thanks to grandmothers who stayed for months at a time. Their presence shaped…
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Continue reading →: Consistency Is My CultureIn projects, promises are made every day. Schedules are built, budgets are approved, milestones are set. But promises mean little if they are not backed by consistency. Consistency is the culture that defines strong project managers. It is what turns uncertainty into progress, and pressure into delivery. I’ve seen projects…
Meet Mairim Neves
Engineer • Mentor • Founder • Storyteller
I’m an engineer with over two decades of experience leading complex projects — and a lifelong learner passionate about people, purpose, and growth. Through my blog “It’s Not a Legacy, It’s Just Me,” I share reflections on leadership, travel, and everyday moments that shape who we are.
Catalyst — my leadership framework born from real engineering experience — is where reflection meets action.
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It's Not a Legacy, It's Just Me 