Research Brief
A recording for this session isn't published. Below is the BPI editorial brief — key takeaways, an in-depth summary, and FAQs drawn from the original session materials and the presenter's body of work.
Presenter
Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
Description
Every aspect of our lives is becoming a set of projects. The speed of change witnessed in the past decade has radically affected the way we organize and manage our companies and work. Many of the traditional activities in organizations will soon be carried out by automation and robots. In this new landscape, projects are becoming an essential model to create value. In short, we are witnessing the rise of the project economy. By 2025, regardless of industry or sector, senior leaders and managers will spend at least 60% of their time selecting, prioritizing, and driving the execution of projects, predicts Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, renowned Thinkers50 expert, Lecturer, Author, PMO Director and 2016 PMI. Nieto-Rodriguez believes that “we will all become project leaders, but many of us are not prepared for this shift.” According to recent research, the number of individuals working in project-based roles will increase from 66 million (in 2017) to 88 million (forecast 2027). And the value of project-oriented economic activity worldwide will grow from $12 trillion (in 2013) to $20 trillion (forecast 2027).[1] Those are millions of projects requiring millions of project leaders per year. In this landscape, the percentage of work activities performed as part of projects is markedly increased as projects are becoming an essential model to deliver change and create value around the world. The so-called gig economy is also driven by projects. Make no mistake, we are witnessing the rise of the project economy. The good news is that project-based work is human-centric – leaders are the levers who will drive the work with new approaches.
Learning Points
Imagine a world in which most projects – personal, social, corporate, organizational and governmental – are successfully accomplished. There is work to be done. Only a select few projects deliver their purpose, meet their expected goals, achieve sustainable benefits, satisfy most stakeholders, meet their deadlines and stay within their original financial budget. So what is the secret? What can we learn from the thousands of failed projects? And how can we develop a framework or tool that guarantees, or at least significantly increases the chance of, project success?
Key Takeaways
- 1.The global economy is shifting to a model where projects are the primary means of creating value.
- 2.By 2025, senior leaders are expected to spend at least 60% of their time on project-related activities.
- 3.The number of people working in project-based roles is forecasted to grow from 66 million to 88 million by 2027.
- 4.The value of project-oriented economic activity is projected to reach $20 trillion by 2027.
- 5.A significant challenge is that most projects fail to meet their original goals, budget, or deadlines.
- 6.Project-based work is fundamentally human-centric, requiring new leadership approaches for success.
The Rise of the Project Economy
We are witnessing a fundamental shift in how work is organized and managed. As automation and robotics handle an increasing number of traditional, repetitive tasks, companies are moving toward a project-based model to create value and drive change. This new landscape is called the "project economy," where every aspect of our professional and personal lives can be viewed as a portfolio of projects.
A New Reality for Leaders and a Growing Workforce
This transformation has profound implications for leadership. According to presenter Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, a Thinkers50 expert, senior leaders and managers across all sectors will spend at least 60% of their time selecting, prioritizing, and executing projects by 2025. This shift means that virtually everyone will become a project leader, yet many are not prepared for this new role.
The workforce is evolving to meet this demand. Key industry research highlights this trend:
- The number of individuals in project-based roles is projected to increase from 66 million (2017) to 88 million by 2027.
- The global economic value of project-oriented activities is forecasted to grow from $12 trillion (2013) to $20 trillion by 2027.
The Challenge: Overcoming Project Failure
Despite the growth in project-based work, success remains elusive. Only a small fraction of projects—whether personal, corporate, or governmental—achieve their stated purpose, meet stakeholder expectations, and stay within their original timeline and budget. The critical question is: what is the secret to project success?
A Human-Centric Approach
The good news is that project-based work is inherently human-centric. Success does not lie in more automation but in more effective leadership. Leaders are the levers who will drive project success by adopting new frameworks and approaches. This webinar explores the lessons learned from thousands of failed projects to provide a model that significantly increases the chances of achieving project goals.
The "Project Revolution" describes the fundamental shift in how organizations conceptualize and execute work, moving from traditional functional structures to a project-centric model. This session, featuring insights from Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, explores the implications of this revolution for leadership, strategy, and organizational design, offering prescient guidance for navigating an increasingly complex business landscape.
What you'll learn
- Understanding Projectification: Grasp the concept of projectification and how it is reshaping industries globally.
- Strategic Imperatives: Discover why adopting a project-driven mindset is crucial for achieving strategic goals and fostering innovation.
- New Leadership Demands: Identify the evolving skill sets and leadership styles required to effectively lead within a project-centric organization.
- Overcoming Implementation Challenges: Learn about common pitfalls in project-based transformations and strategies to mitigate them.
- Measuring Success: Explore new metrics and approaches for evaluating project and organizational success in this evolving paradigm.
Who this webinar is for
- Senior Executives: Leaders responsible for strategic planning and organizational transformation.
- Project Managers: Professionals looking to understand the broader strategic context of their work.
- HR and OD Professionals: Those tasked with talent development, organizational design, and culture change.
- Consultants: Advisors guiding clients through organizational shifts and strategic execution.
- Anyone Leading Initiatives: Individuals in any role who manage projects or drive significant change.
Why it matters now
The shift to a project-driven economy is accelerating, making the insights from the Project Revolution more relevant than ever. Organizations that fail to adapt risk being outmaneuvered by more agile, project-focused competitors. The ability to quickly initiate, execute, and deliver impactful projects has become a core competency for sustained growth and market leadership. Understanding this transformation is critical for building resilient and future-ready organizations capable of continuous innovation and rapid response to market dynamics.
How leaders can apply this
Leaders can apply the principles of the Project Revolution by consciously fostering a project-based culture, valuing flexibility and adaptability. This involves empowering cross-functional teams, investing in project management capabilities across all levels, and recognizing projects as the primary vehicle for strategic execution. Leaders should prioritize continuous learning and skill development in areas of agile methodologies, change management, and strategic project leadership to drive successful outcomes and transform their organizations effectively.
About this session
Key takeaways
Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on workplace culture. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez's direct experience.
Who this is for
CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for workplace culture inside their organization.
Why it matters now
Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about workplace culture.
How to apply it
Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.