Brain Food: Why Design Leadership Matters
Zoom
Event Details
Why Design Leadership Matters
Many capital projects are delayed or derailed ... not because of poor design, but because design leadership is left undefined. In the absence of clear structures for making decisions, teams often rely on informal processes – resulting in misalignment, late changes, and escalating costs. This session will help Owners understand how their leadership during design influences the trajectory of the entire project.
Drawing on proven practices from Target Value Delivery and other collaborative tactics, we’ll explore how Owners can shape a culture of purposeful, timely decision-making without micromanaging. Participants will leave with practical strategies for structuring decisions, fostering shared leadership, and reducing uncertainty during design.
Learning Objectives
1. Identify the risks of informal or ad hoc decision-making during design, including misalignment, rework, and cost overruns.
2. Differentiate between authority and leadership in the context of owner-led design and describe how both influence decision flow.
3. Apply key practices from Target Value Delivery to support timely, well-informed decisions that align with project goals.
4. Implement foundational strategies to create clarity of purpose and structure during the design phase—improving team coordination and overall project predictability.
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Meet the Presenters
Tom Richert
Tom Richert is Principal of RisingTerrain, a strategy advisory firm that helps capital project owners improve outcomes through structured decision-making and collaborative design leadership. He equips executive and project teams with practical approaches to clarify purpose, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate delivery. With over two decades of experience advancing Target Value Delivery and Last Planner System® practices, Tom has supported institutions and project leaders across the U.S. and is a speaker at national forums on high-performing project delivery.