Aerospace leader turns project management lessons Into children’s storybook

Mary A. Hladio sees planning and collaboration as more than job skills. They are her everyday tools for turning ideas into reality. 

She’s a senior program manager in the aerospace industry and serves as vice president of professional development for the Western Michigan Project Management Institute. Throughout her career,  Hladio has helped teams stay organized and reach big goals. Now, she’s using those same principles to reach a new audience: children.

Hladio recently published Penny’s Treehouse Triumph, a picture book for kids ages 6 to 8 that teaches the basics of project management through storytelling. The idea grew from spending time with her goddaughter, whose creativity and curiosity made Hladio wonder if kids could be entertained by a story that incorporates the ideas of planning, teamwork, and follow-through.

“Watching her build and experiment made me realize that kids already think like project managers,” Hladio says. “They just need the language and encouragement to understand what they’re doing.”

Penny’s Treehouse Triumph tells the story of a girl named Penny who dreams of building her own treehouse. With guidance from her grandmother, a project manager, Penny learns to plan, delegate, and adjust when things don’t go as expected. The story shows how creativity, persistence, and teamwork can help kids turn their ideas into something real.

“Project management is really about bringing ideas to life,” Hladio says. “That’s something kids do every day: they dream, they build, they try again. This book helps them see that process in a fun and empowering way.”

The book is available at Schuler Books and Barnes & Noble.

Rapid Growth caught up with Hladio to learn more about the story behind her first children’s book and how her lifelong love of planning found a new home in storytelling.

Rapid Growth: You’ve spent your career leading projects in the aerospace world, not exactly the place most children’s authors start! What made you want to take those skills and translate them into a story for kids?

Mary A. Hladio: It’s true, most people may not think of aerospace and children’s books in the same sentence! It was a LinkedIn post from an executive in aerospace coming back from maternity leave that gave the first spark.  And when it comes down to it, project management is really just the art of turning big ideas into reality. Whether you’re coordinating a complex aerospace program or organizing a classroom science fair, the skills are the same: plan, communicate, adapt, and deliver. I’ve spent years teaching adults how to manage projects with purpose. I started wondering, what if we could help kids build those skills earlier, before they even know the term “project management”? That thought became a plan to make planning and teamwork fun and accessible for young readers.

RG: You’ve said your goddaughter inspired Penny’s Treehouse Triumph. What was it about watching her play and create that made you think, “This could be a book”?

MH: Watching my goddaughter dive into sports, build things at the playground, organize her Pokémon cards, and hear her thoughts on how things should be done was like watching a little project manager in action. She has creativity, leadership instincts, and a desire to make things happen. I started thinking: what if we could bottle that natural energy and show kids how to nurture it with simple tools like planning, teamwork, and communication? That’s where Penny was born. The story grew out of those real-life moments of curiosity and creativity to encourage kids to see themselves as capable planners and leaders.

RG: At its heart, this book is about teaching kids planning, teamwork, and problem-solving in a really fun, story-driven way. What do you hope young readers (and maybe even their parents) take away from Penny’s adventure?

MH: My biggest hope is that kids walk away from Penny’s Treehouse Triumph feeling confident in their ability to take on big ideas and know that they don’t have to do it alone. Penny’s story is about more than just building a treehouse; it’s about dreaming big, making a plan, asking for help, adapting when things go wrong, and celebrating progress along the way. I also hope parents, teachers, and caregivers see it as a conversation starter. It’s a chance to talk about how we approach challenges, how we work as a team, and how we value progress, not just perfection.

GR: You’ve mentioned that your family helped bring the book to life, even down to the illustrations. What was it like turning this into a family project? Did that collaboration influence the story itself?

MH: Absolutely. From the beginning, this project had family fingerprints all over it. My husband, Bill, supported me through every draft, and my sister-in-law, Kim Ellis, brought the story to life through her beautiful illustrations. My niece was the graphic designer, and my aunt was the editor and proofreader. It truly became a family venture. That spirit of collaboration influenced the book’s tone. Penny doesn’t build her treehouse alone; she brings together her friends and family. I wanted the story to reflect the kind of teamwork that I experienced during the book’s creation. And honestly, sharing this project with the people I love made it that much more meaningful.

RG: You wear a lot of hats: leader, mentor, storyteller. After Penny’s Treehouse Triumph, what’s next for you? Any new projects or stories in the works?

MH: Penny has definitely sparked something, and I don’t think she’s done yet! I’m exploring the idea of continuing her adventures in a series that introduces more real-world skills through relatable, imaginative stories. I’m also working on leadership and career development tools that blend storytelling with practical learning, some for kids, some for grown-ups. At the end of the day, I want to keep creating resources that help people of all ages believe in their ability to lead, build, and grow.