As a senior program manager, we ask that you have strong executive presence. What qualities do you feel you have that would contribute to that goal?
Senior program managers are responsible for working directly with the executives of their own company as well as the executives of partner and client companies. This question is asked to learn more about a candidate's ability to handle themselves appropriately during these important exchanges.
Remember to describe your skills with confidence and presence. Your answer should be a representation of one or more of the qualities you describe. For example, if you answer that you have vast experience in the industry and you are confident in your ability to help executives make solid business decisions, you should state this in a direct and confident manner.
"I am a naturally calm and confident person. I do not always have the answer needed in every situation, but the executives I work with trust that I will work hard to find a way to solve whatever complex problems they throw my way. I also have strong facilitation skills. I find that executives tend to have significant challenges getting on the same page because they all work hard to represent the unique needs of their own departments. I am skilled at bridging disparate perspectives together and fostering cohesion in uncomfortable circumstances."
