17. Mastering Project Management- Chill Can Collapse: A Case Study in Project Failure

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Project Management Masterclass, host Brittany Wilkins unpacks the rise and fall of the Chill-Can Project in Youngstown, Ohio—a $20 million initiative that promised over 200 jobs, economic revival, and innovation but delivered none of it. This isn’t just a case study—it’s personal. Born and raised in Youngstown, Brittany shares her firsthand experience of watching hope turn into heartbreak as communities were uprooted, homes were bulldozed, and nothing materialized. Through the lens of project management, she breaks down what went wrong: missing milestones, ignored red flags, poor risk planning, and blind optimism without validation. The episode also examines the chillingly similar case of Zoetic Global—another failed promise in the same city. 🎧 Whether you’re a project leader, policymaker, or community advocate, this episode will challenge you to rethink what responsible project management really looks like—and why the lessons we learn must be applied. 🔑 Key Topics: The emotional and economic cost of failed projects Lessons in risk, governance, and stakeholder accountability Why "lessons learned" aren't enough without action A call to project managers to lead with integrity, not just ambition Subscribe to exclusive bonus episodes and elevate your project management career with insider insights, advanced strategies, and expert guidance! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2308468/subscribe If you are ready to strengthen the skills that separate project managers from project leaders, explore the Power Skills Accelerator, a course designed to help professionals master the leadership capabilities needed to thrive in complex project environments. Enroll in the Power Skills Accelerator https://www.developpowerskills.com/sales-page If you want to assess where execution may be breaking down in your current projects, take the Execution Intelligence Diagnostic to identify gaps across leadership, decision making, and team alignment. Start the diagnostic https://executionintelligence.scoreapp.com/ Join the waitlist for Brittany Wilkins’ upcoming book, Execution Intelligence, focused on the mindset, systems, and discipline required to turn strategy into measurable results. Join the book waitlist https://makowayconsulting.scoreapp.com To learn more about how organizations eliminate execution friction and turn strategy into measurable results, visit Makoway Consulting. https://www.makowayconsulting.com Support the show Deepen Your Project Leadership https://www.buzzsprout.com/2308468/subscribe