In this episode of Mastering Major Projects, Riccardo Cosentino and co-host Shormila Chatterjee sit down with Marni Dicker, a dynamic and bilingual senior executive recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women and one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in the country. Marni’s accolades include the General Counsel Award for Business Achievement and the Premier’s Award of Excellence from the Province of Alberta for her groundbreaking work on the Calgary Courthouse Public-Private Partnership.

With an impressive background in corporate law and a strategic leadership role in the Canadian Premier League, Marni shares her extraordinary journey from criminal law to becoming a transformative figure in infrastructure and business strategy. Known for her ability to deliver projects on time and within budget, she discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of female leaders.

"Remember, I knew nothing about construction and infrastructure engineering, and they would ask me a very substantive question. What would you do if this happened on one of your sites? And I did the following. I would certainly call external counsel who is specialized in that area, and I would ensure that we got the best advice. Basically, I was punting it down the line because I had no idea, none, how to answer their questions. What I quickly learned is that's what they liked. No one is expected to know everything you are supposed to be able to know how to use your resources, how to get the right expert advice." – Marni Dicker

Key Takeaways:

• Career Evolution: Marni’s path from criminal law to leading major infrastructure projects, showcasing her adaptability and leadership across industries.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Marni’s experience in structuring award-winning public-private partnerships, including her work on the Calgary Courthouse project.
• Leadership in Infrastructure Development: From leading infrastructure for the Canadian Premier League to managing multimillion-dollar projects, Marni’s strategic and operational expertise is highlighted across sectors.
• Mentorship and Diversity: Her role as a mentor and advocate for diversity, pushing for gender equality in leadership roles within traditionally male-dominated industries.Plus, insight into how Marni successfully balanced her demanding career while prioritizing her family life.

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The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Marni Dicker on LinkedIn
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• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.