Beyond the CapEx

About Beyond the CapEx

Beyond the CapEx is a podcast about mastering capital projects through leadership, vision, and disciplined execution. Each episode offers practical insights into coordination, strategy, and lessons learned from real projects: both successful and failed. We go beyond the numbers to explore what drives long-term success and how strategic leadership aligns execution with business goals when project complexity and stakes are high.

Publisher

BPMP Solutions

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Aug 2025

Latest episode

30 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Mar 2026

   BtC12: “We’ll Fix It in Detail Engineering” | With Rob Clark

   In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez sits down with Rob Clark, a veteran project leader with 40+ years of experience delivering multi-billion-dollar capital projects across refining, petrochemicals, power, and emerging technologies. They break down what actually drives project success in real-world industrial environments—and why so many capital projects fail despite strong technical execution. This conversation dives deep into FEL/FEED, project leadership, risk management, stakeholder alignment, and EPC execution, with practical insights drawn from decades of global project experience. Rob shares why communication—not technical complexity—is often the biggest failure point, especially in global teams and low-cost engineering environments. He also explains how misalignment between business, procurement, and project teams creates hidden risks that surface later as cost overruns and schedule delays. Cristian and Rob explore: What a high-quality FEL/FEED package really looks like (and why overengineering is a problem) The dangerous habit of saying “we’ll fix it in detailed engineering” How to use tools like PDRI to assess true project readiness Why risk registers alone don’t manage risk—and what actually does The impact of misaligned KPIs and incentives across teams Owner vs contractor dynamics and where projects typically break down Global execution challenges, including cultural differences and engineering coordination The realities of emerging technologies where design continues evolving during execution This is a dense, high-value episode packed with real examples, hard-earned lessons, and practical frameworks for anyone involved in industrial projects. 👉 If you work in high stakes complex projects, FEL/FEED, EPC, engineering, manufacturing, project management or operations, this episode will help you identify early warning signs, improve alignment, and make better decisions before cost and schedule are at risk. This is one worth listening to all the way through. Guest: Rob Clark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-clark-pe/ Email: clarkrobertw98@gmail.com ⏱️ Chapters 00:46 – Introduction and Rob Clark’s global project experience 02:38 – Why communication is the #1 recurring lesson in projects 07:58 – Global execution challenges and concurrent FEED strategies 11:07 – What “good” FEL/FEED actually looks like in practice 12:51 – When projects think they’re ready (but aren’t) 15:24 – Go slow to go fast: stage gates and readiness 18:06 – Business vs project misalignment and incentive conflicts 22:52 – Owner vs contractor dynamics and alignment gaps 27:42 – Risk management vs risk documentation 31:41 – Procurement risks and managing the uncontrollable 35:30 – Global project realities and cultural differences 37:38 – Emerging technologies and evolving design challenges 42:10 – Leadership under pressure in megaprojects 43:52 – What makes an effective project leader 45:41 – Wrap-up and key takeaways 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 www.beyondthecapex.com (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐 www.bpmpsolutions.com (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com)

2. 

   11 Feb 2026

   BtC11: Beautifully Built, Completely Wrong - With Bryan Guess

   In Episode 11 of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez are joined by Bryan Guess, Founder of Bartizan, to explore why so many projects fail even when the technical work is done right. Bryan shares a real-world story from commercial construction: a six-figure roof replacement executed flawlessly… only for the building to be sold and demolished months later. The takeaway applies across industries, including industrial capital projects, manufacturing, construction, and complex operational initiatives, most failures aren’t technical. They’re business and people problems wearing technical disguises. The conversation dives into front-end planning (FEL),stakeholder alignment, PMO governance, and the hidden risks of tribal knowledge and organizational silos. Cristian, Luis, and Bryan discuss why organizations repeatedly skip the “vitamins” that prevent rework and firefighting, and instead rely on reactive fixes after damage is already done. This episode also explores how trust is built, why detractors can become your strongest allies, and why small projects can be just as complex, if not more, than large capital investments when alignment and governance are missing. If you work in project management, capital projects, FEL/FEED, engineering, operations, manufacturing, or PMOs, this episode will help you spot early warning signs and ensure projects are aligned with real business objectives before time and money are lost. Guest: Bryan Guess, Founder of Bartizan Website: www.bartizan.group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-guess/ ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Projects, politics, and why alignment isn’t a vote 01:02 – Introducing Bryan Guess and cross-industry failure patterns 03:44 – The $100k roof: perfect execution, wrong business objective 07:20 – PMOs, governance, and tribal knowledge 13:42 – Why process improvement fails after the crisis 20:44 – Turning detractors into champions 32:10 – Why small projects can be harder than big ones 37:31 – Wrap-up and how to connect with Bryan 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 www.beyondthecapex.com (http://www.beyondthecapex.com/) 🌐www.bpmpsolutions.com (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com/) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

3. 

   12 Jan 2026

   BtC10: The Biggest Risks are Taken Before Anyone Thinks Capital is at Risk

   In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis challenge one of the most common blind spots in capital projects and CapEx decision-making: the belief that capital risk starts in execution. It doesn’t. The most consequential risks are embedded early, during front-end loading (FEL), project shaping, and business case development — when spending is low, scrutiny is minimal, and leadership attention is often elsewhere. By the time a project reaches approval, most of the enterprise value, capital exposure, and optionality are already locked in. This conversation reframes capital risk away from dashboards, controls, and execution metrics, and toward decision quality, project governance, and leadership involvement at the front end. The hosts explore why project predictability continues to elude the industry, how “small” early decisions create irreversible commitments, and why execution teams don’t create problems, they inherit them. This episode is essential listening for CEOs, CFOs, board members, project sponsors, investors, and leaders responsible for capital allocation, industrial projects, megaprojects, and protecting enterprise value through major capital investments. Key takeaway: Execution doesn’t destroy value. It delivers exactly what was shaped upstream. ⏱️ Chapters 01:30 – Why early decisions have the greatest influence 03:45 – Predictability problems: are we focusing too late?06:20 – FEL spending vs. asymmetrical risk 09:30 – Commitment risk vs. execution risk 13:00 – The “brick wall” analogy for poor front-end discipline 18:00 – Optionality and silent decisions 22:30 – Governance without bureaucracy 26:00 – Why execution only delivers what was shaped early 29:50 – Final takeaway for CEOs, CFOs, and boards 📩 ContactQuestions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 www.beyondthecapex.com (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐 www.bpmpsolutions.com (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and review the show.

4. 

   1 Dec 2025

   BtC09: The Charter: The One Map Everyone Needs but No One Reads

   In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez examine why the project charter is one of the most underutilized — yet critical — tools in capital project delivery. Many projects begin with broad agreement but vague definitions of success. This conversation explains how unclear objectives, weak decision boundaries, and implicit assumptions create misalignment that surfaces later as rework, conflict, and lost value. Cristian and Luis reframe the charter as a decision framework, not a formality, one that aligns stakeholders, clarifies intent,and anchors governance throughout the project lifecycle. This episode is essential listening for sponsors, project directors, and leaders responsible for aligning organizations before execution begins. Key takeaway If success isn’t explicit, execution will optimize the wrong outcome. ⏱️ Chapters 01:20 – Why charters are often ignored 04:40 – Alignment versus agreement 08:50 – Defining success before execution 13:30 – Decision boundaries and authority 18:10 – Governance anchored in intent 22:50 – Using the charter throughout execution 27:30 – Final perspective on alignment 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 ⁠www.beyondthecapex.com⁠ (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐⁠www.bpmpsolutions.com⁠ (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

5. 

   19 Nov 2025

   BtC08: The PMO - The One Thing Owners Don’t Realize They Need

   In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez reframe the role of the Project Management Office (PMO) from a perceived administrative burden to an owner’s value-protection system. Projects are complex, capital-intensive, and exposed to decision risk long before execution begins. Relying solely on individual capability, even strong capability, is not a strategy. This conversation explains how a PMO establishes consistency in decision-making, governance, and accountability across capital portfolios. Cristian and Luis clarify what a PMO is — and what it is not— and explain why organizations without these disciplines struggle to achieve predictable outcomes despite experienced teams. This episode is essential listening for executives, sponsors, and organizations scaling capital investment. Key takeaway Good people need systems that protect their decisions. ⏱️ Chapters 01:10 – Why “good people” isn’t enough 04:20 – PMO myths and misconceptions 08:30 – Governance as value protection 13:10 – PMO versus bureaucracy 17:50 – Portfolio-level discipline 22:20 – Owner accountability 26:40 – PMO as an operating system 30:00 – Final perspective on predictability 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 ⁠www.beyondthecapex.com⁠ (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐⁠www.bpmpsolutions.com⁠ (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

6. 

   3 Nov 2025

   BtC07: Mastering Change: The Art of Scope Control

   In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez explore how effective change control enables flexibility without sacrificing predictability. Change is inevitable in complex projects. The problem is not change itself, it is unmanaged change introduced without understanding its downstream consequences. This conversation examines how organizations confuse adaptability with permissiveness, and why disciplined change managementprotects both schedule and business intent. Cristian and Luis discuss the structural, cultural, and leadership elements required to manage change effectively once executionbegins, and why strong front-end alignment is the foundation of successful control mechanisms. This episode is essential listening for project leaders navigating evolving requirements under real-world constraints. Key takeaway Change is not the enemy; unmanaged change is. ⏱️ Chapters 01:20 – Change versus chaos 04:50 – Why change control fails in practice 09:00 – Leadership behavior and enforcement 13:30 – Change timing and cost asymmetry 18:10 – Governance without rigidity 22:40 – Execution discipline under pressure 27:20 – Final perspective on adaptive control 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 ⁠www.beyondthecapex.com⁠ (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐⁠www.bpmpsolutions.com⁠ (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

7. 

   20 Oct 2025

   BtC06: Right-Sizing the Front-end Loading Process

   In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez challenge the assumption that front-end loading (FEL) is only necessary for large capital projects. Smaller projects often operate with thinner margins, tighter schedules, and less tolerance for error yet they are frequently rushed through early planning. This conversation explains why small projects require precision, not shortcuts, and how right-sizing FEL improves predictability without unnecessary overhead. Cristian and Luis discuss how FEL principles scale by intent, not volume, and why engineering rigor, scope clarity, and early discipline matter even more when projects cannot absorb mistakes. This episode is essential listening for operations leaders, maintenance teams, and organizations managing recurring capital work. Key takeaway Small projects don’t tolerate mistakes, they amplify them. ⏱️ Chapters 01:30 – Why “small” doesn’t mean simple 04:40 – Error tolerance and scale 08:10 – Right-sizing FEL without bureaucracy 12:50 – Engineering rigor in small projects 17:30 – Cost impacts of late corrections 22:10 – Discipline versus overhead 26:40 – Practical guidance for recurring capital work 30:10 – Final perspective on proportional rigor 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 ⁠www.beyondthecapex.com⁠ (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐⁠www.bpmpsolutions.com⁠ (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

8. 

   6 Oct 2025

   BtC05: Scope Creep; The Trojan Horse Inside Your Project

   In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez examine one of the most underestimated threats to capital predictability: scope creep. Rarely driven by bad intent, scope creep often enters projects quietly — through well-meaning ideas, late input, and leadershipsignals that unintentionally bypass discipline. Over time, these incremental changes erode cost certainty, delay schedules, and weaken business outcomes without a single defining moment of failure. The conversation reframes scope creep as a leadership andcultural issue, not a paperwork problem. Cristian and Luis explore why strong front-end definition, clear decision boundaries, and consistent change governance are essential to protecting capital once execution begins. This episode is essential listening for sponsors, executives, and project leaders responsible for maintaining control without stifling good ideas. Key takeaway Scope rarely explodes; it quietly accumulates. ⏱️ Chapters 01:10 – Why scope creep is rarely intentional 04:30 – Leadership signals and unintended consequences 08:20 – Cultural roots of scope growth 12:40 – Change discipline versus rigidity 17:10 – Why small changes compound 21:50 – Protecting capital during execution 26:30 – Scope control as leadership behavior 30:00 – Final perspective on discipline and trust 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 ⁠www.beyondthecapex.com⁠ (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐⁠www.bpmpsolutions.com⁠ (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

9. 

   22 Sept 2025

   BtC04: AI Use in Front-End Loading

   In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez explore how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly and effectively during front-end loading (FEL) without outsourcing judgment or accountability. As AI tools rapidly enter engineering, planning, and project management workflows, many organizations struggle to distinguish between acceleration and abdication. This conversation reframes AI as a decision-support partner, not a decision-maker, and clarifies where AI adds value; and whereit must never be accountable. Cristian and Luis walk through practical use cases for AI in FEL 1 and FEL 2, including research, option evaluation, and scenario development. They also discuss the limits of AI, emphasizing thataccountability, relationships, and judgment remain human responsibilities. This episode is essential listening for leaders exploring AI adoption while maintaining rigor, governance, and ownership in capital decision-making. Key takeaway AI can accelerate thinking but accountability must remainhuman. ⏱️ Chapters 01:20 – Why AI belongs in front-end planning 04:10 – AI as a decision-support partner 07:30 – Where AI adds value in FEL 1 and FEL 2 11:40 – RACI, accountability, and AI limitations 16:30 – Risk of outsourcing judgment 20:40 – Human judgment and relationship-driven decisions 25:10 – Responsible AI adoption in projects 28:40 – Final perspective on AI and accountability 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 ⁠www.beyondthecapex.com⁠ (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐⁠www.bpmpsolutions.com⁠ (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

10. 

    8 Sept 2025

    BtC03: Owners are from Jupiter, Contractors are from Pluto

    In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez unpack one of the most persistent sources of tension inindustrial capital projects: the fundamentally different ways owners and contractors perceive risk. Although both sides want projects to succeed, their businessmodels, incentives, and exposure to downside risk are not the same. These differences shape how contracts are priced, how contingencies are built, and why relationships often become adversarial, even when intentions are good. The conversation explores how risk is introduced upstreamthrough contracting strategies, scope definition, and front-end decisions. Cristian and Luis explain why execution teams are often blamed for outcomes that were structurally locked in long before construction began. For owners, sponsors, and commercial leaders, this episodeprovides a clear framework for understanding contractor behavior — and how better front-end alignment reduces friction, cost escalation, and value leakage. Key takeaway Owner-contractor conflict is rarely personal, it is usuallystructural. ⏱️ Chapters 01:30 – Why owners and contractors see risk differently 04:40 – Business models and risk exposure 08:20 – Contracting strategy and unintended consequences 12:50 – Lump-sum pricing and uncertainty 17:40 – How early decisions shape execution behavior 22:10 – Why execution inherits upstream risk 26:30 – Creating win-win alignment 30:00 – Final perspective on contracting discipline 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 www.beyondthecapex.com (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐www.bpmpsolutions.com (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

11. 

    8 Sept 2025

    BtC02: Communicating vs Connecting

    In this episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez explore a subtle but critical distinction in capital project leadership: the difference between communicating information and creating genuine connection. Many project teams believe that dashboards, reports, and status meetings are enough to align organizations. Yet misalignment, resistance, and disengagement persist even when information is technically correct and widely distributed. This conversation examines why communication alone rarely changes behavior, and why connection — built through trust, listening, and shared understanding — is essential for driving alignment on complex projects. The hosts discuss how leadership presence, body language, and intent influence outcomes far more than metrics alone. For project leaders operating in high-stakes, multi-disciplinary environments, this episode reframes leadership as a human system, not just a technical one. This episode is essential listening for leaders responsible for mobilizing teams, influencing decisions, and aligning stakeholders across complex capital initiatives. Key takeaway Alignment doesn’t come from being heard, it comes from being understood. ⏱️ Chapters 01:10 – Communication versus connection defined 04:00 – Why information alone doesn’t drive alignment 07:30 – Trust as a project performance variable 11:10 – Active listening and leadership presence 15:40 – Body language, intent, and influence 19:30 – Remote work and the loss of connection cues 23:50 – Creating alignment without authority 27:40 – Final leadership reflection 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 www.beyondthecapex.com (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐www.bpmpsolutions.com (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and reviewthe show.

12. 

    22 Aug 2025

    BtC01: Project Front-End Planning

    In this inaugural episode of Beyond the CapEx, Cristian Gonzalez and Luis Gomez introduce the foundational discipline behind predictable industrial capital projects: front-end loading (FEL). Across the industry, a large percentage of capital projects miss their original cost, schedule, or performance objectives. Not because execution teams are ineffective, but because early decisions are made with incomplete definition, weak alignment, and limited appreciation for their long-term consequences. This conversation walks through the FEL stage-gate methodology, breaking down FEL 1, FEL 2, and FEL 3, and explaining the purpose of each phase in shaping scope, risk, and value. Cristian and Luis discuss why rushing early phases creates downstream uncertainty, cost growth, and operational challenges that often surface only after startup. Front-end planning is not bureaucracy. It is a decision-qualityand risk-management discipline that protects capital, improvespredictability, and strengthens business outcomes long before execution begins. Many of the principles discussed in this episode are expanded in The Industrial Capital Project Playbook, a practical guide for project leaders navigating early-stage decision-making, risk, and alignment in complex industrial investments: 📘 https://a.co/d/0eYKK6Qz (https://a.co/d/0eYKK6Qz)This episode establishes the core philosophy of Beyond the CapEx and sets the foundation for how disciplined early decisions shape everything that follows. Key takeaway Projects don’t lose value in execution — they inherit the consequences of early decisions. ⏱️ Chapters 01:20 – Why early decisions dominate project outcomes 03:40 – Cost, schedule, and performance gaps in capital projects 06:10 – What front-end loading actually is (and isn’t) 09:00 – FEL 1, FEL 2, and FEL 3 explained 14:30 – Why FEL 2 is where predictability is won or lost 18:50 – The long-tail consequences of rushing early phases 23:40 – Front-end discipline as risk management 27:10 – Final perspective on capital predictability 📩 Contact Questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Email podcast@bpmpsolutions.com 🌐 www.beyondthecapex.com (http://www.beyondthecapex.com) 🌐www.bpmpsolutions.com (http://www.bpmpsolutions.com) If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and review the show.

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