Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez is the global champion of project management and author of the Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook (HBR 2021) and HBR magazine’s featured article “The Project Economy Has Arrived” (Nov 2021), which argues that Projects are the lingua franca of the business and personal worlds from the C-suite to managing your careers.
Mentions and Recognitions:
Antonio’s research and global impact in modern management has been recognized by Thinkers50 with the prestigious award “Ideas into Practice” and is ranked #4 in the global gurus’ Top 30 list. He is part of Marshall Goldsmith 100 coaches. He was the global Chairman of the Project Management Institute in 2016 and has been recognized as a Fellow of PMI for his contribution to the project management profession. He created the Brightline Initiative, founded Projects & Co, and co-founded the Strategy Implementation Institute. His work advises senior leaders on prioritizing and implementing strategic initiatives and leading transformational change.
Antonio is also the author of Lead Successful Projects (Penguin, 2019), The Project Revolution (LID, 2019). and The Focused Organization (Taylor&Francis, 2014), and has contributed to seven other books. A pioneer and leading authority in teaching and coaching senior executives the art and science of strategy execution and project management. Currently visiting professor at Duke CE, Instituto de Empresa, Solvay, Vlerick, Ecole des Ponts, and Skolkovo.
He is a much-in-demand speaker at events worldwide. Antonio has presented at more than 220 conferences worldwide, regularly evaluated as the best speaker. European Business Summit, Strategy Leaders Forum, Gartner Summit, TEDx, and EU Cohesion Policy Conference; are some of the events he has delivered inspirational keynotes.
He is the Sustainability Transformation Program Director at GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines. Previously he worked as Head of Project Portfolio Management at BNP Paribas Fortis. Before that, he was Head of Post-Merger Integration at Fortis Bank, leading the acquisition of ABN AMBRO, the largest in financial service history. He also worked for ten years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, becoming the global lead practitioner for project and change management.
Born in Madrid, Spain, and educated in Germany, Mexico, Italy, and the United States, Antonio is fluent in five languages. He is an Economist, has an MBA from London Business School, and Insead’s IDP.
Speaking Topics -
Growth:
- TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER: The secret to transformational success? Executive sponsorship. Uncover how top leaders make a huge difference.
- PROJECT DRIVEN POWERHOUSE: Transform into a project-driven organization. This is not just a change; it’s an evolution for the future of business.
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT REINVENTED: Empower every team with the modern project management skills of tomorrow: simple techniques, common language, and major leaps in execution.
Innovation:
- FUTURE OF WORK REIMAGINED: The future is project-based. Learn how this shift will redefine roles, goals, culture, and organizational structures.
- HOW AI WILL DISRUPT PROJECTS: Ready for AI to redefine project management? Learn how it’s not just a possibility—it’s the upcoming reality.
- ECO-PROJECTS SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATION: Green isn’t just a color—it’s a mission. See how modern project management is critical to driving sustainability.
Leadership:
- CULTURE FOR CHANGE: Align your culture to change and with your strategy for unmatched project success. It’s about making the right moves, together.
- INCREASE YOUR FOCUS: In a world driven by change and projects, focus and prioritization have become essential leadership skills—skills that the Dalai Lama, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, and other great leaders have in common.
- LEADING WITHOUT LAYERS: Hierarchies are out; flat structures are in. Master the art of managing without traditional hierarchy and inspire collaboration and innovation across all levels.
Personal Development:
- BUILDING RESILIENCE FAST: In the project economy, adaptability isn’t optional. Discover how building resilience can turn challenges into your organization’s greatest victories.
- THE EXECUTIVE’S MINDSET: Accelerate your career development with an executive mindset. Learn to cultivate the strategic foresight and mental agility that defines today’s top leaders.
“Antonio was a keynote speaker at our top 300 managers conference, and attendees unanimously acclaimed his intellectual sharpness, oratorical dexterity and interpersonal skills. Antonio has a knack for breaking complex topics down into easy-to-grasp subjects. In addition, participants also appreciated his ability to apply management and strategy topics to real-life challenges, shedding light on quick yet effective ways to efficiently solve everyday problems. In short: Antonio is a brilliant, savvy presenter whom I would like to hear again and again and again”.
“Antonio was a keynote speaker at our top 300 managers conference, and attendees unanimously acclaimed his intellectual sharpness, oratorical dexterity and interpersonal skills. Antonio has a knack for breaking complex topics down into easy-to-grasp subjects. In addition, participants also appreciated his ability to apply management and strategy topics to real-life challenges, shedding light on quick yet effective ways to efficiently solve everyday problems. In short: Antonio is a brilliant, savvy presenter whom I would like to hear again and again and again”.