What makes or breaks a multi-million-dollar capital project?

In today’s episode, we sat down with Jim Brill, Managing Director of the Construction and Real Estate Practice at EY to uncover what it takes to be successful in large-scale investment projects. With over 30 years of experience, Jim has advised a variety of stakeholders on capital projects across multiple industries. His leadership in consulting and expertise in project management have made him a key figure in the industry.

In our conversation, we find out how he got started in the industry, what his current role entails, and hear what makes EY unique in the construction and real-estate space. We also unpack how EY serves clients from the ground up to execution and its approach to integrating the entire business and owner objectives into a project.

Explore the various ways a large-scale project can fail, how EY supports the mission of its clients, and the various sectors it operates in. And discover why good leaders are vital for effective risk management, the difference between perception and perspective, the steps to fostering a healthy work culture, the importance of communication, and more.

Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Learn how to navigate the needs of the business with nuances of design and construction.

• Learn the fundamentals of setting a project up for success from its inception.

• How to gain an understanding of an entire project and the different teams involved.

Quotes:

“In my business, we have to sell internally to your account partners and then be able to get a good conversation [going] with the account themselves.” — Jim Brill

“I think that it takes good leaders to be able to execute risk management appropriately.” — Jim Brill

“Put in the hard work early and often, and it is going to pay dividends.” — Jim Brill

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jim Brill on LinkedIn

EY (Ernst & Young)

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

"If not me, then who?”

First Lt. Travis Manion, USMC, made this simple yet powerful statement before his final deployment, reflecting the profound sense of duty experienced by service members and their families.

Today on the podcast, BJ is joined by Ryan Manion, CEO of the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), one of the nation’s leading veteran service organizations. Known for her resilience after losing her brother Travis to war and her mother to cancer, Ryan is dedicated to empowering veterans and the families of fallen heroes to inspire future generations to drive change.

Join the conversation to learn more about TMF, the story behind the quote, and the powerful impact their Character Does Matter training program has on inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Ryan shares the background and mission of the Travis Manion Foundation and her role as CEO.

• Who was Travis Manion: Ryan reflects on the life and legacy of her brother.

• The story behind the quote, “If not me, then who?”

• Ryan shares details about their flagship leadership program Character Does Matter.

• What it means to live a life of character for our youth.

Quotes:

“The goal and the goal still continues to be, how can we inspire the rest of society to live by those five words, [If not me, then who?], as well” — Ryan Manion

“For us as a veteran service organization, we knew very quickly that the way to make sure that veterans thrive post their military career is to give them a continued sense of purpose and to make sure that they know that we still need them, even out of their uniform.” — Ryan Manion

“My mom started the [Travis Manion] organization — [with] three very simple goals. One was to continue providing support and resources to returning veterans. The second was to be able to do the same for families of the fallen. And the third — our mission was to help play a part in inspiring the next generation of leaders. ” — Ryan Manion

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Manion

Ryan Manion on X

Ryan Manion on Instagram

The Knock at the Door: Three Gold Star Families Bonded by Grief and Purpose

Brothers Forever: The Enduring Bond between a Marine and a Navy SEAL that Transcended Their Ultimate Sacrifice

The Resilient Life Podcast

Travis Manion Foundation

Travis Manion Foundation: Join the Mission

Travis Manion Foundation on Instagram

Character Does Matter Program

Donate to the Travis Manion Foundation

Fire in the Hole Golf Outing 2024

Joey Fay on LinkedIn

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Have you ever tried leading or managing someone but struggled with communication? Effective communication is the backbone of every successful training program.

In this solo episode of Inspiring People & Places, BJ dives into how the correct communication techniques can elevate your training methods. He unpacks the concept of training in the context of leadership and how to tailor training based on each employee’s specific needs.

Discover how to establish foundational language, communicate company culture effectively, and the interplay between career progression and business growth. Learn why companies and employees must remain flexible with their expectations, the importance of catering to an employee’s learning style, and why training is crucial for startups. Explore actionable strategies for improving communication in your training sessions and tips for building cohesive and productive teams.

Whether coaching a team, teaching a class, or delivering a workshop, mastering training can be the difference between success and missed opportunities. Tune in now to take your training and employees to the next level!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why communication is a vital ingredient for proficient training and team-building.

• Tips and strategies for teaching the baseline experience of the company.

• Explore the differences between technical and business-focused career paths.

• Approaches for filling employee skill gaps while meeting a client’s needs.

• The basics of a training program and how to identify an employee’s baseline.

• Resources to enhance your training program and foster top performers.

Quotes:

“The more an individual understands how their personal growth benefits the company and how the company’s growth benefits their career, I think, the more symbiotic [the employee] relationship is.” — BJ Kraemer

“I think that we have to recognize that we are always going to have team members that are at different levels of understanding, and our job, as leaders, is to meet them where they are.” — BJ Kraemer

“You may have gaps across the enterprise and that can give you the trends of where to put your corporate resources versus where to customize for an individual manager or employee.” — BJ Kraemer

“Training to me is critical and I think everybody should be doing it.” — BJ Kraemer

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn