#197 Clint Padgett, An Olympic Project Manager

Clint Padgett is the President and CEO of Project Success Inc., a global leader in project management consulting that for over 30 years has empowered Fortune 500 companies to plan, execute, and deliver complex initiatives across industries. A dynamic thought leader, Clint is also a ForbesBooks author and the host of the popular podcast The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett, where he explores the intersection of people, leadership, and project success with C-suite executives and renowned authors.

Early in Clint’s career he served as an electrician’s mate aboard an aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy. This formative experience forged the discipline, resilience, and mission-focused mindset that would come to define his leadership philosophy. Following his military service, he transitioned into technical roles, including serving as a sales equipment engineer at The Coca-Cola Company. Clint holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business—credentials that reflect his rare blend of technical acumen and strategic insight. His people-first, process-driven approach is further shaped by decades of experience leading complex projects around the globe, and by his continued commitment to learning, teaching, and mentoring.

Clint is best known for championing the human side of project management. He believes that successful projects are not driven by charts or software—but by empowered people and real conversations. His methodology emphasizes commitment, clarity, and collaboration in matrixed organizations, helping clients create plans their teams can believe in and deliver on. This philosophy is codified in his two books: The Project Success Method and How Teams Triumph: Managing by Commitment.

Through Project Success Inc., Clint has helped global teams with executing high-stakes, high-visibility projects—including multiple Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups for brands like Coca-Cola—ensuring every objective is met with precision and alignment.

Clint’s insights have been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and numerous industry podcasts and panels. Whether training project managers, consulting senior leadership, or speaking on global stages, Clint brings three decades of experience, candid wisdom, and a relentless drive to help organizations thrive through project excellence.