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EPISODE · Jan 14, 2026 · 48 MIN

Why Projects Fail

from The Art of Network Engineering · host Andy and Friends

We've all worked on those technical projects that felt doomed from the start. In this episode, we're joined by Eyvonne Sharp and Mike Bushong to dig into what actually derails technical projects, and why the root cause is usually people, not packets.We unpack:- Why 80–90% of project failures aren’t technical- What “executive sponsorship” is supposed to mean (and why most teams never use it)- The real reason timelines feel arbitrary: information asymmetry- What “healthy escalation” looks like (and how to avoid the courtroom vibe)- How to deliver bad news to leaders: few words, calm tone, clear next step, clear ask- The leadership move that instantly lowers the temperature: removing blame- Why informal networks matter, including a legendary security-incident save powered by… cheesecakeIf you’ve ever felt stuck in status-call theater, pressured to keep the project's status green, or unsure how to talk to leadership when reality hits, this episode is your playbook.Send us Fan Mail This episode has been sponsored by Meter. Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now! Support the showFind everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

We've all worked on those technical projects that felt doomed from the start. In this episode, we're joined by Eyvonne Sharp and Mike Bushong to dig into what actually derails technical projects, and why the root cause is usually people, not packets. We unpack: - Why 80–90% of project failures aren’t technical - What “executive sponsorship” is supposed to mean (and why most teams never use it) - The real reason timelines feel arbitrary: information asymmetry - What “healthy escalation...

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Why Projects Fail

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This episode is 48 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 14, 2026.

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We've all worked on those technical projects that felt doomed from the start. In this episode, we're joined by Eyvonne Sharp and Mike Bushong to dig into what actually derails technical projects, and why the root cause is usually people, not...

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