Brad Fauteux is Vice-President at Colliers Project Leaders, a Toronto firm specializing in project management and advisory services. Brad has 20+ years of experience in both the public and private sectors, including leading large, environmental, infrastructure, and organizational development programs. He is a leader in sustainable project delivery and has been recognized by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario for his outstanding contributions.
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Q: You have served in leadership positions in both government and private organizations. How has that diversity of background shaped your work at Colliers Project Leaders?
BRAD FAUTEUX: From working in both the public and private sectors, I’ve gained a great deal of respect for different ways of approaching the work. The world of public service focuses on accountability, transparency, and working together with different stakeholders. Whereas in the private sector, there’s a focus on innovation, efficiency, client service, etc. At Colliers, I draw on both perspectives to deliver results that meet client expectations while taking into consideration the broader community and regulatory aspects of the work.
Q: How do you ensure strong partnerships are built with clients and stakeholders?
BRAD FAUTEUX: Good partnerships begin with trust. And I’ve found that the best way to build trust is to establish honest and open communication. Surprise your clients with how much you talk to them and keep them updated, and solicit their input on decisions and potential forks in the road. At Colliers, we have frequent check-ins with our clients to make sure their expectations are set and met, and to proactively address any issues that arise. All our clients have different organizational cultures, but we’re able to maintain meaningful partnerships by putting pressure on ourselves to earn that trust and show accountability.
Q: More organizations are prioritizing sustainability practices. How do you integrate that demand into project leadership?
BRAD FAUTEUX: We know that sustainability is central to modern project delivery. We partner with our clients to build and execute strategies around environmental accountability, like integrating Net Zero Carbon building principles, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and prioritizing energy efficiency. In doing this, we’re helping our customers comply with regulations and contributing towards broader environmental objectives.
Q: What’s a lesson about leadership you learned from your experience managing large teams and projects?
BRAD FAUTEUX: I think a key lesson of leadership is being able to articulate a clear vision that unites everyone’s objectives and tasks. When you do this while maintaining an open line of communication and adaptability, you’re able to establish the confidence and direction that a team needs to succeed. In any big project, things can always shift quickly. As a leader, you want to be there to provide direction and focus, and to build a culture where everyone is empowered to solve problems.
Q: What future developments do you believe will have the greatest impact on project leadership?
BRAD FAUTEUX: We will continue to see the push to integrate technology into project management practices. Some of these integrations will come with AI features that are geared towards greater efficiency. New technology always takes getting used to, and with AI there’ll be an extra layer of resistance and wariness, I believe. However, once the results become apparent, and human creativity and collaborations are enhanced rather than replaced, I think we’ll see an embracing of these new technologies. None of that happens without project leaders who maintain the right priorities for their clients.