Ts. Alex Zulkarnain Zulkarim joined global project management leaders for a one-hour discussion on responsible sponsorship, governance and sustainable project success.
On 31 August 2026, Project Xcellence Partners Sdn. Bhd. (PXP) was represented by its MD/CEO, Ts. Alex Zulkarnain Zulkarim, at an international webinar hosted by the Project Management Institute (PMI), titled “Why Some Projects Fail: The Sponsor’s Role.”
The 60-minute webinar was conducted live via Zoom and brought together project professionals and leaders from around the world. The live attendance reached 829 participants, reflecting the strong level of interest in project sponsorship and its influence on project success.
Ts. Alex participated as a co-speaker alongside Dr Joel Carboni, Founder and CEO of GPM Global. The session was moderated by Lucila Dotto, Global Head of Sustainability and Enablement.
Examining the Sponsor’s Role in Project Success
The webinar explored why projects may still fail to achieve their intended outcomes even when they are supported by capable project managers and competent delivery teams.
The discussion focused on the important role played by project sponsors in providing direction, maintaining alignment, resolving organisational barriers and supporting decisions that may be beyond the authority of the project manager.
The principal areas covered during the webinar included:
* Sponsor behaviours and gaps that can place project outcomes at risk
* Governance and decision-making practices that strengthen project sponsorship
* The consideration of sustainability and long-term value in project decisions
These themes were consistent with the webinar’s objective of helping participants better understand how responsible sponsorship can strengthen governance, decision-making and overall project outcomes.
Representing PXP, Ts. Alex contributed the sponsor’s perspective to the conversation. His participation added a practical leadership dimension to the discussion on how sponsors, project owners and project managers can work together more effectively throughout the project life cycle.
Strong Engagement from the International Audience
The webinar generated active participation from the audience, with numerous questions submitted during the session.
Among the issues raised were:
* Who should be appointed to hold the project sponsor role?
* What should happen when the sponsor and project owner disagree?
* Should a project manager be responsible for guiding or training the project sponsor?
The questions highlighted the growing recognition that project sponsorship is not merely a ceremonial appointment or an administrative role. It is an important governance responsibility requiring clear authority, accountability and active involvement.
Supporting the Launch of a New PMI–GPM Guide
The webinar also supported the recent launch of The PMI® GPM® Guide to Responsible Project Sponsorship: Governing whether projects remain worth doing.
Written by Dr Joel Carboni and published through the PMI–GPM joint venture, the guide was developed for the executives and senior leaders who authorise projects and remain accountable for whether those projects continue to justify their investment.
The publication treats project sponsorship as a governance discipline and provides practical guidance on the decisions and accountabilities associated with the role. It examines how sponsors can maintain mandate clarity, establish decision rights, govern project trade-offs and protect the intended value of an investment.
PXP’s Participation in the Global Project Community
PXP is pleased to have been represented in this important international conversation on project leadership and governance.
Ts. Alex’s participation provided an opportunity for PXP to contribute its perspective to a global professional audience while engaging with current developments in responsible project sponsorship and sustainable project delivery.
The strong turnout for the webinar also demonstrated the increasing attention being given to the sponsor’s role in determining whether projects remain aligned, supported and capable of delivering their intended value.
PXP extends its appreciation to PMI for organising the session, to Lucila Dotto for moderating the discussion, to Dr Joel Carboni for sharing his knowledge and work on responsible project sponsorship, and to all participants who joined and contributed their questions.
