Is technology the answer to delivering major programmes on time? Is the infrastructure industry moving towards equality? In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo and Corail Bourrelier Fabiani discuss all this and more. Corail is an accomplished programme manager with expertise in delivering ambitious urban and cultural programmes with budgets ranging from £2 million to £5 million for clients such as the City of London Corporation, City of Paris, Sellar, and Fondation Louis Vuitton. Her experience includes managing the Paddington Square Public Art Programme and the Shard Quarter Public Art Programme in London, as well as leading the Sculpture in the City programme for four editions.
Riccardo and Corail catch up after both recently graduating from Oxford’s Saïd Business School before diving into Corail’s fascinating career and her invaluable insights to improving inclusivity in infrastructure.
Key Takeaways:
- The surprising factors of navigating internal and external stakeholders
- Recognizing the importance of mentors, sponsors and allyship in male-dominated industries
- How diversity in the leadership teams could even out the respect playing field
- Why rebranding the industry will inspire more women choose a career in infrastructure
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The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:
- Riccardo Cosentino
- Corail Bourrelier Fabiani
Transcription:
Riccardo Cosentino 00:05
You're listening to navigate major problems, the podcast that aims to elevate the conversations happening in the infrastructure industry and inspire you to have a more efficient approach within it. I'm your host Riccardo Cosentino I bring over 20 years of major product management experience. Most recently, I graduated from Oxford University's a business school, which shook my belief when it comes to navigating major problems. Now it's time to shake yours. Join me in each episode as a press the industry experts about the complexity of major program management, emerging digital trends and the critical leadership required to approach these multibillion dollar projects. Let's see what the conversation takes us. Corail Bourrellier Fabiani is an accomplished Program Manager with expertise in delivering ambitious, urban and cultural programs for high profile public and private organizations. With a collaborative and problem solving approach she pushes the boundaries of what is achievable within complex environments. Corail has delivered projects with budget ranging from 2 to 5 million pounds for clients such as the City of London cooperation city of Paris, Cellar and fundacion Louis Vitton her experience includes managing the Paddington score public health program and the Shard quarter public health program in London as well as leading the Sculpture in the City problem for for additions in summary corroborate the bill Fabiani is a highly skilled and experienced Program Manager with an exceptional track record of delivering successful outcomes for her clients with a collaborative and problem solving approach. She's a valuable asset to any team working on ambition and cultural problems. Hello, welcome to navigating major projects. I'm here today with Correll I met Correll in my university degree at Oxford. And how are you doing today, Corail?
Corail 02:05
Hi, Riccardo. I'm doing great. Thank you for having me.
Riccardo Cosentino 02:08
It's my pleasure. It's my pleasure. As we discussed before, this podcast is about women representation in infrastructure. And I wanted to do to corral because I've learned through my years at Oxford, as she has a strong opinion about women in infrastructure. So I felt it was perfect guest for this podcast. So why don't we get right into the questions, Coraill? Let's start with a simple one. What what is your current role in infrastructure or contraction?
Corail 02:42
So I manage the delivery of large scale public art programs for both public and private organizations. And I work on fitout projects for museums.
Riccardo Cosentino 02:55
All sounds really interesting. How do you get into that and to begin with,
Corail 03:00
so basically, I I've always had abilities in the scientific subjects as a kid, like, I remember, I was like, maybe seven and they weren't like a mathematic competition in my region in France, etc. So being good in maths or in science as a child and coming from like a family of engineers, basically, I, I didn't really have a choice in my career. At 17, I told my mom, I wanted to become a makeup artist. And she said, No, she was like, there is no way first you you get a master's in engineering, you get degrees, and then you see what you want to do. And you can do whatever. And that was kind of like the idea that this this field would open doors to anything else. And so later, I found the university that was offering a type of engineering that was called urban systems engineering, which is like kind of a mix of civil engineering, structural engineering, urban design, all this kind of different elements, which felt kind of a bit more creative, you know, then just like something like more traditional. So I went for that. And out of this, I started working with people that were doing art with engineers and with architects and so it was fascinating. I worked with a really interesting man who was both an architect and an engineer, and with whom we basically developed really complex pieces of art by helping the artist design them, helping them build a fire in the fabricators to build them but also communicate with you know, the cities or the planners etc. To put them in the public space and re landscaped the areas etc, to increase integrate new pieces of art. So So that's how kind of I got into that very specifics field of the industry was your chance,
Riccardo Cosentino 05:08
So you are the crossroad of engineering and art. Is that a fair description?
Corail 05:14
Yes, absolutely. I think that's, that's really it. And that's just out of being interested in both and never being able to choose. And going with Well, I was still like, if you go into this, this engineering, infrastructure construction field, then you can also do what you're passionate about, which was art. And that's also why I moved to London, because I thought London was the place to be if you were interested in art. And that's how I started working for the city of London, but also private developers in London.
Riccardo Cosentino 05:50
Very good. So I, by the sounds of it, the next question might be a little redundant, but was it a surprise for you to build a career in infrastructure?
Corail 05:59
So it wasn't so much a surprise, I feel, I feel like it just kind of happens, you know, it's a was not also what's interesting isn't in our careers, or in our work, planning, or organizing is very important. I feel like in my personal career choices, it has been more like, you know, just following my passion, following my heart at the time or following advice I was receiving from families and friends. And so it was, it wasn't a planned, but ...
