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Humans of Project Controls

Michael Lepage 5 Episodes Aug 20, 2026

Humans of Project Controls is a podcast that goes beyond spreadsheets and Gantt charts to spotlight the people behind project controls. Each episode features candid conversations with industry leaders, rising stars, and unsung heroes, sharing their journeys, struggles, triumphs, and lessons learned.

Episodes

Saying "Yes" Means Saying "No": Jessica Colbert on the Nuances of Recognition and Problem-Solving Aug 20, 2026 00:55:47 Welcome back to another exciting episode of Humans of Project Controls! In this episode host Michael Lepage invited Jessica Colbert to discuss the nuances of communication, achieving accolades, and problem-solving in a chaotic industry.Jessica began her career in operations project management and has spent her entire career working with self-performing heavy civil contractors. Over fifteen years a

The Power of Growth: Ghaith Al-Hiyari on Making Space for Growth and Learning from Challenges Jul 27, 2026 00:41:42 In another episode of Humans of Project Controls, host Michael Lepage invited Ghaith Al-Hiyari to discuss organizations within the industry, the dichotomy of activities which are invigorating or draining, and the intricacies of growth.Ghaith Al-Hiyari is a project controls and cost management enthusiast, currently working as a Director at Turner & Townsend. Throughout the past twenty-five year

“Projects Are Chaos”: Dale Foong on Baselines, Better Decisions, and What’s Next in Project Controls Jun 25, 2026 00:50:03 In this episode of Humans of Project Controls, host Michael Lepage meets with Dale Foong to discuss project controls, leadership, and entrepreneurship. They engage in a wide-ranging conversation on what project controls looks like in the real world, and where the profession is heading.As co-host of the Project Chatter and Gen AI Podcast, Dale shares the significance of active listening. He also ex

Dr. Ali Montaser on Mega Projects: Why “On Time & On Budget” Is a Myth May 28, 2026 00:56:02 In this episode of Humans of Project Controls, host Michael sits down with Dr. Ali Montaser, Vice President of Project Controls at Accenture Canada, to talk about the real side of delivering mega projects.Ali shares his journey from civil/structural engineering in Egypt to leading project controls across transit, rail, energy, oil & gas, and hydropower in Canada, the U.S., and the Middle East.

Stop Trusting the Tool: How Great Project Controls Leaders Think (Sedat Akkaya) Apr 28, 2026 00:46:55 In this episode of Humans of Project Controls, Plan Academy’s Michael Lepage sits down with Sedat Akkaya, Director of Project Controls at Hydro One Toronto, to unpack the human side of project controls and why the tool should never become the goal.Sedat shares his career journey from studying civil engineering in Turkey to a defining co-op experience in Russia (1991) that sparked his passion for s

Starting Over in Canada: Ernesto Llorens on Leadership, Project Controls and Having Fun Apr 2, 2026 00:47:18 In this episode of the Humans of Project Controls Podcast, Michael Lepage sits down with Ernesto Llorens, Head of the Project Management Office at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).Ernesto shares his journey from Venezuela to Canada, what it was like to rebuild his career from scratch, and the lessons he learned about leadership, communication, vulnerability, and the human side of project contr

The Pressure Vessel Disaster That Changed How I Schedule Projects Feb 12, 2026 00:47:05 Welcome to the very first episode of the Humans of Project Controls podcast! Join host Michael as he sits down with Shoshana Fraizinger, a seasoned project controls professional with deep roots in engineering and nuclear projects. In this candid conversation, Shoshana shares her journey into project controls, the realities behind the technical jargon, and the importance of human connection in a da

Humans of Project Controls

Episodes

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