Stories, insights and conversations across Kapitol

In this episode of Kapitol Conversations, Andrew Deveson is joined by Project Manager Andrew Monagle, Assistant Project Manager Jack Cunnington, and Talent Acquisition Manager Lisa Grantham to unpack how careers are really built in construction.

Andrew Monagle shares his path from an undergrad role at ProBuild to leading a $700 million data centre project before turning 30, and why leaving a large, established business for a smaller, faster-growing one felt like a leap of faith at the time. Jack reflects on going from cadet to effectively running a project with 170 workers on site inside four and a half years, and why the support network around him — not years of experience — made that possible.

Lisa brings the recruitment perspective, explaining why candidates consistently reach the same crossroads at the four-to-five year mark: the blockage, the wait for someone above them to move, and the question of how quickly they can genuinely grow.

The conversation also digs into the harder truths — that the skills that made you an excellent senior project coordinator won't make you a good assistant project manager, that titles matter far less than people think in the moment, and that chasing a title too early can derail a career rather than accelerate it.

Deveson and Monagle discuss why a culture of sharing lessons learned and admitting "I don't know" is what lets people make decisions without fear, and why a bad decision often beats no decision at all.

Throughout the episode, the discussion considers:

• Why do so many people reach a career crossroads at four or five years?
• What actually accelerates growth — opportunity, support, or experience?
• Why can chasing the next title work against you?
• What does sustainable career progression look like?
• How do you lead people who are older and more experienced than you?
• Why is attitude more important than technical skill when hiring?
• What role does a lessons-learned culture play in giving people confidence to decide?
• Why does the industry promote the project manager pathway above all others?
• How should people take ownership of their own development?

This is a candid conversation about ambition, impatience, mentorship and the difference between moving fast and building something that lasts. The message is clear: the better question isn't "how quickly can I get promoted?" — it's "am I better this year than I was last year?"

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