Leaders of global, multi-sector companies are tackling bigger, more complex challenges in our fast-evolving, highly connected world. During times of greater change and shifts, employees are looking to the C-Suite for even more direction and inspiration.

Research by Harvard Business Review reveals that for leaders to be successful now, they need to be versatile, resilient and empathetic to thrive in the relentless pace of global corporate organizations.

For this If/When podcast, we speak to two inspiring CEOs who embody these qualities and offer some of their experiences as leaders and collaborators. We explore the importance of key partnerships,* shared values, employee engagement and family support and learn how it's all helped shape them in their pivotal roles.  

My name is Arthur Jones, and the guests for this episode are Bob Pragada, CEO of Jacobs since January of 2023 and appointed Chair of Jacobs Board of Directors the following September and Christian Norris, who became CEO at PA Consulting, a global innovation and transformation consultancy, in August 2023. 

*Jacobs holds a 65% stake in PA Consulting, with the remaining 35% held by PA employees. Both Jacobs and PA operate as separate entities, each responsible for serving clients independently.

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Christian Norris

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Transportation is still the highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and one of the greatest carbon contributors globally.

Governments and local authorities are continually researching ways to drive positive change through legislation and policy, and a large part of this will come down to urban mobility and transportation planning. 

To make the right decisions in these fields, we need the right data and measurement tools. Case in point: the Transportation Climate Impact Index by StreetLight Data. Their report uncovers how metros in the U.S. rank across eight key factors and reveals the major mobility trends impacting climate.

In this episode, we discuss urban mobility and its role in climate change. We explore how to build a climate-resilient transportation system — one that offers social, environmental and commercial value. Our celebrated guests explain why urban mobility is one of the most critical areas of climate response, and more importantly, how we can better design our cities for greener futures with cleaner air and less traffic. 

Today, we’re speaking to Dr. Laura Schewel, CEO of StreetLight Data and VP of Transportation Software at Jacobs and Jenny Jones, Head of Transport Planning for Europe at Jacobs. 

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Dr. Laura Schewel
Jenny Jones

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How can we modernize airports to be better for passengers, communities, balance sheets and our environment?  

It’s a complex challenge that can’t be solved by talent or policy alone — it also requires the right application of digital tools and technologies. These transport hubs play a vital role in our communities and economies, and to empower a better, more sustainable future for all, we need an elevation in industry-wide innovation and collaboration.

Our guests for this episode are leaders in this field: Ersin Inankul, Head of Aviation Digital at Jacobs, and David Miranda, Digital Expert at PA Consulting.*

*Jacobs holds a 65% stake in PA Consulting, with the remaining 35% held by PA employees. Both Jacobs and PA operate as separate entities, each responsible for serving clients independently. 
 

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Ersin Inankul
David Miranda

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How are PFAS affecting your work and our world?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a large class of long-lasting, synthetic chemicals used extensively in industrial and household products. Many PFAS don’t degrade readily on their own, and some are highly mobile in the environment. They can be found worldwide in water, soil, air, plants, animals and even our bloodstreams. We’re still uncovering the full impact of these chemicals on the health of humans and our environment, but here’s what is clear: it’s a complex challenge at scale to remediate these so-called “forever” chemicals.  

Add fast-changing regulations in different geographies and regional differences to the scale and response to the PFAS challenge, and it all compounds the difficulty. The way forward requires a greater understanding of the risks and challenges of PFAS, but it’s just the start. We’ll need cross-sector collaboration and innovation to tackle these issues and apply the right measurement tools and technology.    

Our guests for this episode are defining the solutions for clients and the industry at large: Sharon Minchak, Global Solutions Director for Remediation and Regeneration at Jacobs, and Dr. Russell Ford, Global Director for Drinking Water & Reuse Solutions at Jacobs.

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Sharon Minchak
Russell Ford

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Transformation has become an over-used buzzword for companies and consultants in the last five years, but the market-proven truth is that companies, and by extension, employees, are now required to be more agile and resilient — and willing to upskill.

So, how do large companies manage significant, lasting changes across their operating model during times of transition with organizational performance, innovation and collaboration as priorities? Success is driven by engaged and empowered employees, but it requires the right leadership, corporate culture and silo-busting collaboration. There’s one golden thread that runs through all three: the power of collective purpose.  

My name is Arthur Jones, and I’m joined by our guests Shelie Gustafson, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Jacobs, and education and leadership development coach Michael Chavez, who is Founder & Managing Director at Broad Vista Partners.  

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Shelie Gustafson
Michael Chavez

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Like most markets and industries globally, the water sector is facing greater and more complex challenges due to climate change, population growth, rising costs and a shortage of incoming talent. 

The question is: how can water companies deliver the best value for customers by turning these challenges into opportunities for people and places? 

In this episode, we unpack innovation, core values and close collaboration between Jacobs and Northumbrian Water, which supplies 2.7 million people with water and wastewater services in North East England, and 1.8 million people with water only in Essex and Suffolk. 

My name is Arthur Jones, and I’m joined by our guests, Heidi Mottram, CBE, CEO of Northumbrian Water Group, and Kate Kenny, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Buildings & Infrastructure Europe at Jacobs.

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Diana Anderson
Matthew Holmes

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Conventional healthcare design is no longer fit for purpose. The pandemic exposed critical cracks in its foundations, exposing the need for deeper research, connected care and community integration.

The question is: How do you build resilient healthcare that benefits patients, health carers and communities?  

The future hospital blueprint must go beyond concrete, steel and material decisions, as social factors and architectural design are as crucial for healing and well-being as medicine.

In this insightful conversation, several Jacobs teammates, including Matthew Holmes, Global Director of Health Infrastructure at Jacobs, and Dr. Diana Anderson, Dochitect and healthcare principal at Jacobs, discuss the role of design and  technology in healthcare, and explore future trends. 

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Diana Anderson
Matthew Holmes

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In this insightful conversation, several Jacobs teammates, including Vice President, Global Head Corporate Sustainability Tawny Chritton Keene, Director, Global Corporate Sustainability – Talent and Culture, Bo Storozuk, and Graduate Environmental Consultant Reem Habib, discuss how every role within an organization can contribute to a more sustainable future. Whether you’re an engineer, data analyst, project manager or part of an administrative team, your actions can make a huge difference.

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Tawny: @tawnychrittonkeene
Bo: @bostorozuk
Reem: @reem-thamer-89a744204

More episode details available here. 

Hollie Janson Schmidt is a Principal and the Global Solutions Director of Sustainability, Resilience & Climate Response for the Americas Region at Jacobs. She provides consulting and advisory services to a wide range of public, private, and federal clientele. She is also the Director of the Sustainability, Resilience & Climate Response Business Advisory as a trusted business partner for the company’s internal project delivery and growth as well as external client services. 

In her 28 years of practice, Hollie has honed an integrated planning and delivery approach, with a particular focus on large-scale, complex projects. Hollie provides resilient solutions either as a preventative or recovery service for large-scale clients who are experiencing vulnerabilities to natural and man-made shocks and stressors. She addresses ESG and climate response while holistically considering the physical, human, and business aspects of the challenge.

Jilma Jiménez is a visionary, engaging, and inspirational leader with more than 30 years of experience in the management of engineering companies and projects. Her diverse and extensive background encompasses various roles within the engineering consulting field. Now as Vice President and Market Strategist of Jacobs’s Global Program Management, she applies her wealth of expertise to assess organizational performance and lead initiatives that sustain competitive advantage, enable strategy implementation, and support senior executive decision-making. In addition to her multifaceted engineering career, Ms. Jiménez is an expert in the realm of infrastructure construction supply chain management having spearheaded supply chain strategies for multibillion-dollar construction programs. Jilma’s strategic thinking and adaptability have been key in navigating the complexities of the construction industry particularly since the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic. Her proactive approach to mitigating risks, leveraging opportunities, and applying strategic escalation pricing techniques sets her apart as a trusted expert. Jilma’s expertise isn't confined to construction programs; she also stays ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and innovative contracting models to enhance efficiency and sustainability in the construction supply chain.