What is a Successful Project?

By Dr Sandra Hirschberg

We talk a lot about “success” of projects, but its meaning is surprisingly hard to pin down for life sciences projects. In life sciences the world shifts constantly: the science surprises us, data nudges us in new directions, regulations evolve and companies and competitors change shape, and yet we often act as if success is a single fixed destination with a straight line to the finish.

A successful life sciences project is a fixed outcome, and more a promise that’s honoured over time, i.e., that we will deliver data to ultimately provide meaningful treatment for patients that need it. Every project starts with an intention: deliver a therapy to patients faster, generate the evidence needed for a critical decision, expand into a new indication or set up a capability that unlocks the next phase of growth. That intention is our North Star, but North Stars aren’t always reached by sailing in a straight line: tides move, weather turns and smart navigators adjust course while keeping the final purpose intact. We love a perfectly executed plan laid out on a pristine Gantt chart and updated monthly, but we need to remember that real projects breathe, react and evolve.

A successful project, then, is one that delivers on its evolving promise while remaining grounded in its core purpose. That doesn’t mean changing course for the sake of it; it means paying attention to what the data shows, what the environment requires, and what the organisation genuinely needs. It’s about adjusting early rather than apologising later, and having the confidence to question original assumptions when they no longer support the goal.

This is where effective project leadership shines. It takes judgement to distinguish a necessary pivot from unnecessary noise and discipline to communicate changes clearly and bring stakeholders along - no small feat in the life sciences world, where everyone is already balancing competing priorities. It takes courage to adjust course without losing confidence, and to keep teams energised even when the destination shifts a little on the horizon.

The projects that stand out aren’t the ones that avoided difficulty; they’re the ones where the team continually re-aligned around what mattered most. They’re the ones where decisions were timely, trade-offs were transparent and progress meaningful even when imperfect.

Success isn’t static. It’s delivered through thoughtful navigation and intentional leadership. When we embrace that, we’re not just completing projects; we’re delivering value that remains true to its intent, no matter how the path twists along the way.

And that, to me, is what a successful project really is.