Why strong projects still fail without human judgment

The brief

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez traces a career shaped by cross-cultural experience, resilience after being fired, and a conviction that projects deserve a central place in organizational strategy.

From pharmaceutical development to banking and transformation, the discussion argues that projects need clear scope, measurable benefits, strong sponsorship, and the discipline to stop work unlikely to succeed.

Antonio’s account of the failed ABN AMRO integration exposes the limits of formal plans: excessive ambition, subprime exposure, weak prioritization, and leadership politics overwhelmed execution.

AI may automate scheduling, risk tracking, and administration, but the guests say judgment, stakeholder relationships, communication, and trust still determine whether complex work moves.

The conversation widens to the project economy, the Project Canvas, and the case for celebrating documented failure so organizations can learn rather than repeat it.