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Own the Build Leadership Series #7: Genna Rourke, Former Commercial Director at Costain (£1bn+ Contractor)
Description
In the seventh episode of the Own the Build Leadership Series, Paul is joined by Genna Rourke, former Commercial Director at Costain and now Industry Engagement Director at Built Intelligence, to explore an unconventional route into commercial leadership and the lessons she learned along the way.
After falling into quantity surveying by chance, Jenna built her career through curiosity, continuous learning and a willingness to take on problems others avoided. From trainee QS to Commercial Director, she reflects on the relationships, mentors and mindset shifts that shaped her leadership journey.
The conversation explores:
- why trust and relationships are the foundation of great commercial leadership;
- the importance of delegation and why "what got you here won't get you there";
- how succession planning starts with developing the people around you;
- why collaboration consistently delivers better commercial outcomes than hierarchy; and
- the role of mentoring, feedback and continuous professional development in building high-performing commercial teams.
Jenna also shares her thoughts on the evolving culture of construction, the importance of embracing different perspectives across generations, and why today's leaders should focus less on having all the answers and more on creating environments where their teams can thrive.
The episode closes with a simple but powerful message:
great commercial leaders don't create followers—they create future leaders.
A practical and refreshingly honest conversation for QSs, Commercial Managers and aspiring Commercial Directors looking to build stronger teams, earn trust and lead with confidence.
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