Background
Dragos Diaconu is an experienced Programme Manager at Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), with over 20 years’ experience delivering complex projects, programmes and business transformation across banking, e-commerce, real estate and the UK rail industry. He specialises in leading multidisciplinary teams, managing strategic change and delivering meaningful, lasting outcomes for organisations.
Dragos applied for chartered accreditation, to demonstrate a measure of credibility and commitment to professional practice.
Dragos chose Provek’s specialist support to provide personal coaching and mentoring throughout his written application and interview.
Why did you decide on applying for chartered accreditation/what does it mean to you?
Achieving ChPP represents far more than another professional qualification. It is an important
milestone in a journey that began when I moved from Romania to the UK, determined to build my career through hard work, continuous learning and determination.
Over the past 25 years, I’ve progressed from a Research Analyst to leading complex programmes and discovered that my greatest satisfaction comes from bringing people together to solve problems and deliver meaningful change. I’ve invested heavily in my professional development, but ChPP felt different. It recognises not just knowledge, but the leadership, judgement and professionalism I’ve developed and demonstrated throughout my career.
Why did you choose Provek chartered specialist support?
Having spoken to colleagues and researched the ChPP process, it was clear that technical
competence alone is not enough to succeed. The application requires you to articulate your
experience in a way that aligns with the APM competencies, and that can be surprisingly
challenging.
I wanted an experienced coach who understood exactly what the assessors were looking for and
could help me present my experience honestly, clearly and confidently. Provek’s structured approach and strong reputation gave me confidence from the outset.
What did you find most useful in the support you received during writing your application form?
The greatest value was learning how to tell my professional story through the APM competency
framework. My coach challenged me to focus less on describing successful projects and more on my own contribution, decision-making and leadership. That constructive feedback strengthened my application and helped me recognise how my career had evolved from analysing research to leading programmes, influencing senior stakeholders and enabling teams to deliver meaningful change.
What did you find most useful in the interview preparation support?
The mock interviews were invaluable in building both confidence and competence. They helped
me understand the questioning style, refine my answers and explain complex situations
clearly. Most importantly, they encouraged me to speak naturally about my experiences, so the
final assessment felt more like a professional conversation than an examination.
Would you recommend this Provek training to another ChPP applicant (if yes, why)
Absolutely. ChPP is a demanding assessment because it evaluates not only knowledge but also
professional judgement, leadership and experience. Having an experienced coach who understands the assessment process allows you to focus on presenting your experience in the best possible way.
Provek never tried to change my story – they helped me tell it more effectively. I would confidently recommend their support to anyone pursuing Chartered status.
Brochure
Download the brochure here.
