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In this new episode in The Implementation Series, I have invited in Nicole Schmidt from EUTEMA to share her insights on consortium meetings. These meetings are rarely just about reporting—they’re where the real dynamics of a project come into play. Nicole brings her long-standing experience in proposal writing and project implementation to the table, reflecting on how roles are clarified (or blurred), how partners position themselves, and how the soft skills of coordination make all the difference.

Our conversation highlights that consortium meetings are human systems in action: they are where trust is built, conflicts surface, and alignment is forged. Nicole shares practical tips on structuring agendas, reading the room, and balancing technical content with relational dynamics. For anyone who has ever wondered why some meetings feel energising and others draining, this episode offers both insights and strategies to make consortium meetings a real driver of collaboration.

Time codes:

00:01:33 Introduction

00:05:29 Fly in

00:09:53 What a consortium meeting looks like

00:20:31 Planning

00:37:56 The formal agenda: key elements

01:10:29 Involving external stakeholders

01:21:26 Project culture starts here

01:28:22 Advice

01:30:51 The toughest challenge