E11. The Owner's Playbook: What "Good Ownership" Looks Like (COAA/CURT)

Why Capital Programs Fail Before Construction Even Starts

For many organizations, the success or failure of a capital program is often decided long before construction begins. While the industry tends to focus on execution challenges in the field, the reality is that many of the biggest risks are introduced much earlier, during planning, governance setup, and delivery strategy decisions. In this episode, we sit down with Arthur Terechtchouk, Partner, Capital Advisory & Transformation at Superset Infrastructure, to explore why capital programs struggle to meet expectations and what owners and project leaders can do differently. Drawing from his experience advising on large-scale infrastructure and nuclear programs, Arthur shares insights into how early-stage decisions shape outcomes across the entire lifecycle of a project. We discuss where misalignment typically occurs between stakeholders, how governance and delivery models influence performance, and why many organizations underestimate the complexity of managing risk at scale. We also explore what leading owners are doing differently to improve predictability, accountability, and overall program success. Whether you are an owner, program leader, or part of a project delivery team, this conversation offers a practical look at what drives success in today's most complex capital programs.

Technology That Actually Gets Used: Driving Adoption in Construction

What does it take for construction technology to actually get used, not just implemented?  In this conversation, Nicholas Johnson sits down with Jeff Sample to explore the growing gap between the promise of construction technology and the reality of adoption in the field. While new tools are constantly entering the market, many fail to make it past rollout, leaving teams overwhelmed, undertrained and ultimately reverting back to old processes.  This discussion centers on what separates technology that sticks from technology that gets abandoned. From leadership alignment to change management and training, we unpack the real drivers behind successful adoption and why simply “buying software” rarely solves the problem it was intended to fix.  This episode highlights what’s actually working today (and what isn’t) when it comes to implementing technology across complex construction programs.

Why Construction Keeps Chasing the Future but Struggles to Live in It

Construction has never talked more about innovation (AI, automation, digital transformation) but many organizations still struggle to turn that ambition into real, lasting change.  In this episode, AJ Waters sits down with Bhragan, civil engineer at AECOM and Innovation Advisor to the Level Crossing Removal Project, to unpack the gap between innovation hype and on-the-ground reality. Drawing from his work supporting AI capability uplift programs and his widely read “Last Week in ConTech” newsletter, Bhragan brings a candid perspective on why the industry continues to chase new technology while struggling to adopt what already exists.  AJ and Bhragan explore what actually gets in the way of meaningful technology adoption in construction, from organizational behavior and education to misaligned incentives and unrealistic expectations. They also discuss what it takes to successfully roll out innovation at scale and how leaders can move from experimentation to real impact.  Whether you’re leading a capital program, evaluating new technology or trying to drive change within your organization, this conversation offers a grounded and practical look at what innovation really requires.

Why Brand Matters More Than Ever in Construction

For decades, construction companies grew their businesses the same way: strong relationships, repeat clients and a reputation built project by project. Those fundamentals still matter, but the industry around them is changing.  In this episode, AJ Waters sits down with Jonathan Cor, Founder of Customer Growth, to explore how brand is becoming a critical differentiator in construction. As workforce expectations shift and information travels faster than ever, companies are realizing that reputation is no longer built only on the jobsite. It is shaped by how organizations communicate, how leaders show up in the industry and how firms tell the story of the work they do.  AJ and Jonathan discuss how the concept of “brand” fits within an industry traditionally driven by relationships and referrals. They explore what leading construction companies are doing differently to build credibility, attract talent and stand out in competitive markets.  Whether you lead a construction firm, manage major capital programs or work at the intersection of construction and technology, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on how reputation and brand are shaping the future of the industry.

Women Driving Change in Construction Technology

What does leadership look like when technology, data and collaboration are reshaping how capital programs are delivered?  In this special Women in Construction Week conversation, we sit down with a female leader at the forefront of technology-driven construction programs to explore how women are influencing change across the industry. From leading complex programs to driving digital transformation, this discussion focuses on real experiences, practical leadership lessons and how technology can be used as a lever for better outcomes, not just better tools.  This session creates space for candid dialogue around leadership, communication and career growth in a traditionally male-dominated industry.  Rather than focusing on theory, the conversation highlights what’s actually working today, how women are navigating influence and decision-making and what the next generation of leaders should be paying attention to as construction programs become more connected and data-driven.