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MargaretHelsabeck

Margaret Littell Helsabeck, CPP APMP Fellow (Class of 2009)

Retired

Bio

Margaret has been happily retired since 2015. She spent more than 30 years working in the US and the UK, mostly on government proposals and contracts. She had several roles focused on proposal process improvement across a division of the company, starting in 1984 with IBM to implement a cross-division standard proposal system.

She retired from BAE Systems in 2015, where she implemented improvements for the Avionics Division and Platform Solutions before taking on a role at the corporate level in the Centre for Performance Excellence as Director of Performance Improvement. Margaret worked across BAE Systems to identify, communicate, and implement perceived best practices at the time. She designed, wrote, and published an internal book based on identified best practices, which was distributed across the corporation. After BAE Systems, she worked part-time for a consulting group called Harmonic Inc to systematize and create a standard internally and with customers.

In retirement, Margaret is focused on her love of art and improving her drawing and painting skills in addition to traveling, gardening, cooking, reading, and visiting family in the US.

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

It’s an honor to be an APMP Fellow.

What's your best memory from attending an APMP event?

Receiving my Fellowship. I can also recall some amazing speakers.

What advice do you have for a proposal professional entering our field?

Be focused, consistent, strong, but also flexible.

Anything else you would like to share?

Proposal management is challenging and a wonderful place to learn about a business and to establish yourself there as a professional who delivers, sometimes known as a heavy lifter.

APMP has provided an incredible platform for seasoned individuals from the Proposal and Bid Management profession and young professionals who want to start their careers in this field.
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Mayura Ravishankar, Proposal Associate
Certification has enhanced my worth as a bid professional. It has validated the skills and experience I have and is proof of my bid management qualities and capabilities. It has given me a springboard to develop my career and aim for Professional certification.
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Aynsley Davidson, CP APMP
As a sales coach, the executive summary is vital for capturing and proposing management activities. This is an excellent addition to our members' professional standing, and I look forward to many more micro certifications.
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Suzanne Shields, CPP ES-M APMP
The certifications, starting from the foundation to the professional level, help individuals from diverse timeframes in their careers.
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Mayura Ravishankar, Proposal Associate
APMP's techniques on proposal writing are meticulously engineered with real-life examples, and the extensive information available in their Body of Knowledge is a goldmine for bid & proposal professionals.
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Anant Shukla, CF APMP
APMP has been instrumental in my success and has given me a framework in which to coach and mentor the bid and proposal stars of the future.
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Ceri Mescall, CPP APMP
Being a part of APMP, I get access to the knowledge and experience of great leaders and mentors from the community. I have learned a great deal from the webinars and conferences I attended on diverse topics from career progression in Proposal Management, trends (such as automation) in PreSales to achieving work-life balance, and handling burn-outs – all real-life experiences.
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Shubhada Kulkarni, CP APMP
This topic, Executive Summaries, is way underrated. The Executive Summary is the most eye-catching document, which almost everyone on the customer side reads. Yet, in most bid teams, we don’t dedicate the attention it deserves. I want to learn about something I can immediately put into practice at my workplace, which provides a “quick win” to the team and is a long-term benefit for the company.
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Dénes Máthé, CF ES-M APMP
I would advise new professionals to take advantage of the resources that APMP offers. Not only do you have access to conferences and seminars through your chapter, but the free webinars and the robust network of professionals are great benefits that can help advance one’s career.
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Valerie Kessie, CP APMP
Being an active APMP certified practitioner allowed me to recognize my hidden potential multifold (40u40, BPC Awards, BPC Speaker) and give back to the profession through the APMP community.
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Karthik Koutharapu, CP APMP