Leading in the Project Economy with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

What if projects weren't just part of work but how work gets done in your organization? In this episode, Kevin is joined by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez to discuss the project economy and why treating projects as "side work" is no longer an option for leaders. Antonio challenges traditional hierarchies and operational mindsets, making the case that today's value creation, innovation, and transformation happen primarily through projects. He also explains why mindset matters more than tools and why project leaders must think like entrepreneurs who own outcomes, fight for value, and bring problems into the open rather than hide them. Kevin and Antonio explore the critical skills leaders need to move from managing tasks to leading change, including building real teams, understanding the business impact of projects, and having the courage to challenge senior leaders when priorities are unclear.

Antonio's Story: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez is the author of five books, including the Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook and his latest book, Powered by Projects: Leading Your Organization in the Transformation Age. He is a world-leading expert in project management, strategy execution, and organizational transformation. He is the creator of the "project economy" concept, which advocates that organizations shift from traditional hierarchical structures to fully project-driven ones—where change, innovation, and strategy come to life through projects. Antonio was selected as one of the top 50 most influential management thinkers in the world by Thinkers50 in both 2023 and 2025. He previously served as chairman of the Project Management Institute and is a visiting professor at top business schools, including Duke CE, IE Business School, and Skolkovo.