The Future of Project Management is Regenerative

How do we move from high-level sustainability ambitions to real impact in daily project work? In this episode of the Future of Sustainability podcast, host Michael Hanf speaks with Dr. Joel Carboni, Founder and President of GPM Global, and a pioneer in embedding sustainability directly into project management practice.

Joel shares how his journey began as what he calls an “accidental project manager.” With a background in technology and local government projects, he saw that cost and schedule were managed in detail, but environmental and social impacts were barely addressed. That insight led him to create the P5 Standard for Sustainability in Project Management and the PRiSM methodology, tools now adopted globally and integrated into PMI’s portfolio.

The P5 Standard reframes project success across five areas: People, Planet, Prosperity, Processes, and Products. Joel explains how this framework turns sustainability from an afterthought into a design principle. By setting thresholds at stage gates and embedding criteria into procurement and governance, teams can act before damage is done. “If you treat sustainability like cost or schedule, it becomes part of the conversation, not an extra,” he says.

Joel also discusses the business case. Rather than trying to “sell” sustainability as an ethical add-on, he connects it directly to what CFOs already care about:

• Avoiding the trap of low upfront costs with high long-term expenses through life cycle costing.
• Cutting hidden costs through waste elimination.
• Reducing risk by embedding sustainability thresholds that prevent costly delays or reputational damage.
• Securing a license to operate by engaging stakeholders early and building trust.

Drawing from his global work, Joel emphasizes the importance of cultural context. In Germany, precision and documentation define trust. In Bolivia, projects succeed only when communities are engaged as equal partners. “Principles are universal, but the playbook has to be local,” he explains.

Looking ahead, Joel believes that “do no harm” is no longer enough. The new goal must be regeneration: leaving systems stronger than before. He describes how projects can move from harm minimization to active system improvement in areas like carbon, biodiversity, and equity. If project managers worldwide adopt this mindset, the compound effect will be transformative.

Finally, Joel reflects on teaching future leaders. He sees younger generations arriving with strong expectations: they assume sustainability belongs in project management, and they want dashboards, predictive analytics, and measurable thresholds. They also choose employers based on values. “Organizations that embed sustainability will attract talent,” he observes.

In this episode, you will hear Joel Carboni discuss:

• How he developed the P5 Standard and PRiSM methodology

• Why sustainability should be embedded into project controls, not added on later

• How cost, risk, and resilience link directly to sustainable practices

• Why culture shapes project delivery and how principles must adapt locally

• Why regeneration is the new bar for success

• What the next generation of project leaders expects from organizations

Joel’s message is clear: projects are how change shows up in the world. If project professionals embed sustainability into their work, small actions compound into global transformation.

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