Ricardo Vargas

Passionate about transforming ideas into action, I am one of the leading voices in the project management field and a pioneer in applying artificial intelligence to project management. 

Specializing in implementing innovative global initiatives, capital projects, and product development, I have directed dozens of projects across industries and continents, managing more than $20 billion over the past 27 years.

I am a recognized authority in AI-driven project management. I co-authored the highly acclaimed HBR article "How AI Will Transform Project Management," which was a top-read article worldwide for nine weeks. I also authored the LinkedIn Course "Leveraging Generative AI for Project Management," with more than 125,000 students enrolled.

I share my expertise and passion with millions of professionals around the globe through my "5 Minutes Podcast," which I have hosted since 2007 and has reached 14 million views since its release. I have written 16 books on project management, risk and crisis management, and transformation, which have been translated into seven languages and sold over half a million copies.

As a seasoned board member certified (CCA) by the Brasilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC), I am also a professor in the program at IBGC, teaching Innovation and Trends with a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence's impact on organizations. 

I was the first Latin American Chairman of PMI worldwide. I also serve on the advisory board of Yera, an Estonian startup focused on enhancing employee performance and engagement through the use of AI.

I founded Macrosolutions, a global consulting firm with international operations in energy, infrastructure, technology, oil, and finance. From 2016 to 2020, I directed the Brightline Initiative, a Project Management Institute think tank that unites leading global organizations to bridge the costly gap between strategy design and delivery.

Before my work with Brightline, I directed the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Infrastructure and Project Management Group. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and operating in over 120 countries, my team and I led over 1,000 projects with a combined value of $1.2 billion. Additionally, I managed the ESG program, which was responsible for producing the first sustainability report using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework within the United Nations system.

I hold a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the UFF, an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering, and a master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the UFMG in Brazil.