Radio Show #622: Why Big Government Projects Fail — and What Leaders Can Do About It

Guest: Matthew Olenuik: Public Sector Transformation Advisor

Governments around the world launch major programs with the promise of transformation — but far too often, those projects spiral out of control, deliver only a fraction of what was intended, or collapse entirely. In this episode, we’ll explore the deeper causes behind public sector project failures, including cultural resistance, poor oversight, and political misalignment. Most importantly, we’ll focus on how leadership behavior — not just tools or frameworks — can be the decisive factor in turning high-risk projects into successful ones.

Matthew Oleniuk is a former senior executive in the public service who spent over 15 years providing oversight of high-stakes government projects and reviewing billions in public spending. He now advises public service leaders on leadership behavior, oversight, and project risk through his platform The Risk Insider. He is also the creator of the free Project Health Check tool, helping teams catch trouble early and deliver what matters.

Join us as we discuss the reason why big government projects fail.

Host: Jo Moffatt