Q&A: Talking with Suzanne McCormack, Vice President, Executive Program Director, Europe

What are some of your key insights from all this major program experience?

Real programmatic success comes through efficiency and standardization and learning from the projects across the program. It should be a constant evolution of lessons learned as the project teams cascade their successes and challenges upwards to the program – these are then shared across the program for overall benefits to time, cost and quality.

Major programs in the Cities and Places market have a real opportunity to positively impact people’s lives and encourage wider societal benefits by always looking to legacy – and that legacy goes beyond the place and the buildings, into the learnings that the teams gain on the program, the development of supply chain and the supporting of SME businesses.

What’s your favorite part of your role?

People, engaging with enthusiastic, creative, problem-solving people. I love a challenge, but even more I love finding a solution and I love working in situations where this thrives – whether it’s how to identify the way forward to address a challenge a client is facing or how we can improve the end-user experience.

What inspired you to pursue a career in STEAM?

At high school I loved mathematics, physics and technical drawing – the latter I was particularly gifted at, I loved my drawing board! That led to taking an apprenticeship as a draftsperson and then onward to undertaking a degree in Architectural Technology. It all goes back to my love of problem solving – and the biggest problem can be how to make a building or program successfully come together.

Your story is so inspiring. What inspires you?

Happy clients and happy end users of spaces, whether that’s within buildings, or the urban realm. When you meet a client for the first time, they will have a vision of what they want; taking that vision and supporting, finding solutions and bringing it to life is a real buzz for me. And that can be a student using a new school, a patient in a cutting-edge healthcare facility, an athlete in a stadium or a visitor enjoying a major event such as Expo 2020 Dubai.

What advice would you give to young professionals?

When I look back at my own career, I think the advice I would give is to always look to do something that’s challenging and interesting – don’t get blinded by role titles and be aware that there are different routes to work (I started in an apprenticeship). Be conscious that sometimes what might be perceived as a backward or even downward step can give you a richness of experience that will help your overall learning and approach to life. And lastly, be kind!

Most interesting career moment?

For me the interesting bits are those moments that are out of the norm. I embarked upon a career primarily based around construction and so it’s fascinating for me when I step away from that focus and get involved in helping to promote the values of those events and programs. 

One stand-out memory is going to the BBC studios in Glasgow for a live radio interview; to see the studio set-up from the inside was incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience; it really did take public speaking to the next level!

Most proud career moment?

Taking my parents to the Athletics events at the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Hampden in Glasgow where, working for the organizing committee, I had played a huge part in the transformation and design of the athletics venue. It was amazing to enjoy this with them – including seeing Usain Bolt winning the 100 meters race on a unique running track design that I was instrumental in developing. Read more here.

People would be surprised to know that I….

Started my very first apprenticeship doing craft training which developed some random skills such as soldering and welding (albeit not so sure I am competent in that now.)

What do you enjoy most about being part of #OurJacobs?

That it is a family, one that provides support – all our leadership are accessible and hugely supportive. Our Culture of Caring and values are being lived, it’s not just a strap line.