Title: President and CEO, Illuminati Infrastructure Advisors
Industry: Infrastructure Finance and Public-Private-Partnerships (P3)
A: Mornings are sacred to me. I rise around 4 a.m. (4:45 in the COVID-era) and immediately roll out of bed to run and work out for at least 2 hours. After exercise, I meditate and stretch for another 30- 45 minutes, before showering and eating breakfast. This routine charges my batteries and helps with both focus and perspective. I’m also in training for the 2021 World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days), so my morning regime is a priority. Pushing boundaries is good, even though it eats into my beauty rest.
A: I do many things and serve in many different roles, so this is not a simple question. On the one hand, I am President and CEO of Illuminati Infrastructure Advisors, so I manage business issues related to the firm. On the other, I serve as a senior advisor to federal, state and local government authorities, as well as to institutions of higher education, on infrastructure finance and delivery across multiple sectors [transportation, water, energy, education, etc.]. I likewise serve on Boards and am active in many charities.
A: I am a voracious reader, so there is never a “last” book or article. During the COVID lock-down, I re-read The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert Caro. I am constantly looking for ideas that may help the United States become more efficient in the delivery of critical infrastructure projects, like roads, airports and water systems. While few would want to return to the days of Robert Moses and unchecked political power, perhaps the pendulum has swung a bit too far in the other direction.
A: Change is the only constant. In my industry (public infrastructure), transformation is coming from every direction. From climate change to COVID, priorities are shifting. The sector is also in the midst of a technology revolution that is impacting everything from planning, design and construction to operations and asset management. Technology is providing the scope for radically different solutions to infrastructure needs, and often much more cost effectively. Likewise, data-driven enlightenment is changing the way decisions are made. The entire industry is in the process of a transformative shift, which offers both challenges and opportunities.
A: Carving out time for thought and reflection. It is all too easy to get caught up in the rush of meetings and tasks, mistaking that for productivity. Critical thinking and creativity need to be cultivated, so I block out time on my calendar for that. In my view, multitasking is a placebo. It feels like productivity, but it is mostly action aimed at lesser priorities… a distraction. It is important to disconnect from time to time and let things percolate. This helps with problem solving and creativity.
A: That it is okay to say “no”. Time is a person’s most valuable and precious gift and it is absolutely fine to be stingy with it. You must keep control of your own time. Learning to say no is a critically important factor of success and happiness. You simply must not let other people set your agenda in life.
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About Jill Jamieson:
Jill Jamieson is the CEO of Illuminati Infrastructure Advisors, a boutique professional services firm specializing in providing infrastructure advisory services to public sector and governmental entities. She is a globally recognized leader in infrastructure finance and public-private-partnerships (P3), having worked extensively in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia for a wide variety of public and private sector clients. With nearly 30 years of experience, specific areas of expertise include innovative project delivery and performance-based contracting; infrastructure funding and finance, P3 program and framework development; structuring and implementing asset optimization / value-capture strategies; government transformation; and transaction advisory assistance. Successful project experience encompasses work across multiple infrastructure sectors, ranging from transportation and water to energy and higher ed, with a total capital investment portfolio in excess of US$28 billion. Ms. Jamieson currently advises a wide range of federal, state, and local public authorities across the U.S. and the globe on infrastructure finance and delivery. A frequent keynote speaker on issues relating to infrastructure finance and delivery, Ms. Jamieson has also been called to testify as an independent expert before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on P3 and other forms of alternative finance and delivery for public works. Ms. Jamieson’s professional background includes investment banking, law, and management.
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