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/
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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/
Delivering Major Nuclear Energy Projects with Collaboration in Mind with Carol Tansley
Navigating Major Programmes
38 minutes 20 seconds
4 months ago
Delivering Major Nuclear Energy Projects with Collaboration in Mind with Carol Tansley
What does it take to lead major programmes in one of the world’s most complex, highly regulated, and rapidly evolving sectors? Carol Tansley has built a career doing just that. In this episode of the Master Builder series, she joins Riccardo to talk about her unconventional path to leadership in the nuclear industry. Carol takes listeners through her early days in international consulting, a transformative period working in Saudi Arabia, up to her current role spearheading major nuclear projects at X-Energy in Maryland.
Carol offers a candid look at what it means to lead with strategy and humility. She shares how returning to school mid-career helped sharpen her focus and how stakeholder alignment is the biggest differentiator of success. They also explore why complex infrastructure projects demand more than technical skills—genuine engagement, curiosity, and a deep respect for collaboration are equally essential. Whether you’re already in the field or considering your options in programme management, Carol’s humble and holistic perspective is a powerful reminder of how valuable and versatile project leadership can be.
Key Takeaways
Strong project leadership is powered by vision, adaptability, and people skills, as much or more than by technical knowledge.
How unfamiliar or challenging environments can accelerate your leadership growth if you focus on creating value for others.
The factors shaping nuclear energy’s resurgence, from policy to AI and decarbonization.
The importance of minimizing first-time risks in successful major programme management.
The truth of infrastructure projects: it is less about individual brilliance and more about coordinated collaboration across hundreds of contributors.
Quote:
“But I would say, you know, from an early stage in my career, I think the thing you learn more than anything is, I'll call it stakeholder management, for want of a more delicate expression. You know, the ability to be able to help people. I mean, something somebody told me years and years ago, and this wasn't even in a work context, was when there's somebody standing in front of you, what you should do is look and think, how can I help this person? And I think if you bring that kind of mindset, you know, what can you do to try and make everybody else successful? That really helps. An ability to think about how you add value on other people's terms, not just what is valuable in your context. And I feel like that, that has served me quite well wherever I've been. You know, ability to. And the willingness to listen and understand what it is other people are needing and what will help them to be successful.” - Carol Tansley
Navigating Major Programmes
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/
