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Navigating Major Programmes

Navigating Major Programmes

Von: Riccardo Cosentino
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Have you ever wondered why 80 percent of major programmes are late and over budget? Are you skeptical about the pace of adoption of technology in the infrastructure industry? Is your leadership as a major programme professional different from leadership of other professions? Welcome to the Navigating Major Programmes podcast, the elevated conversation dedicated to the world of infrastructure and major programme management. Join Riccardo Cosentino, a Major Programmes Senior Executive with over 20 years experience, along with the industry’s thought leaders as they delve into your disconcerting questions on programme design, delivery, governance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, along with the most controversial subjects facing infrastructure professionals today. As misconceptions are dismantled, industry standards questioned and fresh ideas are shared, you’ll walk away with new perspective. The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/2023 Navigating Major Programmes Management & Leadership Ökonomie
  • From P3s to Alliance Contracts: Building Better Projects Together with Fred Antunes
    Jul 28 2025

    Even traditional contracts can be collaborative with the right team. As a seasoned infrastructure leader who has served in government, private sector, and advisory roles for more than 15 years, Fred Antunes has seen this firsthand. His extensive experience delivering large-scale projects under P3s, design-builds, and collaborative models guides this wide-ranging and nuanced conversation with Riccardo. Together, they unpack truths and myths around what makes projects work.

    Fred’s real-world insights help to highlight the power owners have to shape project relationships and outcomes, the dangers of shifting risk without support, and why alliance contracts call for experienced and deeply engaged teams.

    Fred and Riccardo reframe collaboration beyond just a type of contract and offer up a compelling case for considering the unique needs, risks, and capabilities of each project team when choosing a delivery approach.

    Key Takeaways
    • The right people, mindset, and approach—not the contract itself—determine whether a project is truly collaborative (and successful).
    • Fair and active engagement from owners through major programme challenges can mean the difference between a frictionless project and a contentious one.
    • When public infrastructure contracts push all risk onto the contractor, collaboration breaks down—and so does performance.
    • Having the right people on the team during high-stress phases can turn a failing project around, even if it means personnel changes.
    • Experience across public and private sectors builds a more well-rounded, adaptable perspective on project delivery.

    Quote:

    “The ​thing ​about ​the ​alliance ​that's ​really ​interesting ​is, it’s ​like ​setting ​up ​a ​new ​company. ​Where ​you ​basically have an ​alliance ​leadership ​team ​​that ​is ​providing oversight ​and ​direction. ​They're ​like ​the ​board ​of ​directors. ​You ​appoint ​somebody ​who's ​the ​CEO ​and ​then ​you ​basically ​create ​an ​organization ​that ​includes ​people ​from ​the ​owner, ​the ​designer, ​the ​contractor, ​put ​them ​together ​and ​you ​may ​have ​somebody ​from ​the ​owner's ​team ​managing ​somebody ​who's ​in ​the ​design ​team, ​or ​in ​the ​construction ​team, ​but ​they're ​all ​working ​for ​the ​best ​outcome ​of ​the ​project. ​And ​working ​as ​one ​coherent ​management ​team.” - Fred Antunes

    The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:

    • Follow Navigating Major Programmes - https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/
    • Follow Riccardo Cosentino - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/
    • Read Riccardo’s latest at http://www.riccardocosentino.com
    • Follow Fred Antunes at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-antunes-36912852/

    Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

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    50 Min.
  • Defying Doubt and Redefining Leadership with Ethel Craft
    Jul 21 2025

    What does it take to lead with integrity and empathy in an industry where technical expertise can quickly outweigh human connection? In this episode of the Master Builder series, Ethel Craft joins Riccardo and Shormila to reflect on a career rooted in service—from her beginnings in social services to her leadership role in Ottawa’s rail construction program.

    Ethel shares how a leadership course during her MBA sparked her passion for mentoring others, ultimately guiding her to pursue a Doctorate in Business while working full-time. Through personal challenges, professional pivots, and academic milestones, Ethel has remained grounded in one goal: to be a role model and a connector. She leads with a deep respect for the people around her and a clear-eyed view of stakeholder relations. Her track record highlights the vital balance leaders must strike between respect for those around them and confidence that they have earned their place, regardless of the journey that brought them to the table.

    Within this celebration of Ethel’s achievements is an invitation to re-envision what leadership can look like, in infrastructure and beyond.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Genuine care and passion can take you further in leadership than a degree in your chosen industry.
    • A strong support network makes all the difference as you chase your goals through life’s inevitable challenges.
    • Imposter syndrome is common, even among accomplished leaders, but it shouldn’t define your path.
    • Seeking to be a good role model can have a significant positive influence on your path to success.
    • Real leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating space for others to shine.

    Quote:

    “I ​felt ​like ​I ​was ​just ​draining ​everything ​within ​me, ​and ​at ​the ​same ​time, ​I ​needed ​to ​be ​a ​mom. ​And I ​was ​working, ​too. So, ​it ​was ​hard. ​But ​I ​had ​this ​amazing ​supervisor who ​just kept ​telling ​me, ​you ​can ​do ​this. ​Never ​putting ​pressure ​on ​me, telling ​me ​to ​take ​the ​time. ​And ​so ​when ​I ​talk ​about ​having ​a ​support ​system, ​it's ​a ​word ​that ​we ​take ​for ​granted, right? ​​But ​to ​have ​that ​network ​around ​you ​that ​makes ​you ​feel ​full ​on ​the ​inside is ​crucial.​” - Ethel Craft

    The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:

    • Follow Navigating Major Programmes - https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/
    • Follow Riccardo Cosentino - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/
    • Read Riccardo’s latest at http://www.riccardocosentino.com
    • Follow Shormilla Chatterjee at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/
    • Follow Ethel Craft at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethel-craft-dba-mba-7961a724/

    Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

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    45 Min.
  • Dare to Disrupt: Skill Shortages, Leadership, and Innovation in Infrastructure
    Jul 14 2025

    Uncharted Conversations facilitates unscripted and controversial discussions aimed at disrupting the infrastructure industry. In the face of major skills shortages affecting Canada’s major programmes, Riccardo sits down with David Ho, the National Leader for Healthcare and Buildings at Accenture. What begins as a look at the skill-based industry shortcomings transforms into a nuanced conversation about cultural, structural, and leadership challenges.

    Is the talent shortage just about trades and technical labour, or are we also seeing a void in leadership and bold thinking? Together, David and Riccardo dig into why the industry struggles to innovate, what it would take to truly break from tradition, and how a fear-based approach to risk weakens even the most capable leaders. They explore how changing political priorities, unclear project outcomes, and resistance to outside ideas further complicate the path forward.

    This conversation challenges long-held assumptions and invites anyone involved at every stage of the infrastructure delivery lifecycle to have the kinds of discussions that, David and Riccardo argue, are essential to carrying the industry into the future.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Current labour shortages may be overshadowed by a systematically hindered approach to leadership.
    • The shift of project outcomes over time, while often unavoidable, creates missed opportunities for the implementation of new technologies.
    • Fear of risk is an intrinsic part of the industry’s culture, discouraging first movers and stifling the bold leadership required for innovation.
    • Venture capital constraints and razor-thin contractor margins leave little room for research and development.
    • Remote and underserved communities could be catalysts for innovation—if approached with intention.
    • How a uniqueness bias prompts us to reject international approaches that could help Canada adapt and improve.

    Quote:

    “I encounter lots of different infrastructure leaders and usually conversations where these individuals are reflecting on their own organizations or on other organizations. Somewhere within the diagnosis is a problem of disempowerment. And that when people and leaders are not truly empowered, they fail to live up to what are their on paper accountabilities. And lack of empowerment at all different levels of leadership causes people to put the blinders on, work in their silo and become content or comfortable being told what to do. And ​that ​is ​the ​sort ​of ​exact ​​opposite ​type ​of ​outcome ​and ​behaviour ​we ​want ​from leaders.” - David Ho

    The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:

    • Follow Navigating Major Programmes - https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/
    • Follow Riccardo Cosentino - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/
    • Read Riccardo’s latest at http://www.riccardocosentino.com
    • Follow David Ho - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtho-ontario/
    • Listen to Riccardo’s interview with Alice of Brick & Mortar Ventures at https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/construction-technology-and-the-importance/id1683413407?i=1000709879402

    Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

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    1 Std. und 1 Min.
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