Meet The Team: Sam Wilton, Director

With a background spanning residential accommodation and commercial developments, Sam joined Dragonfly Projects drawn by the opportunity a boutique practice offers: real ownership of projects, genuine client relationships, and the ability to get into the detail of every package from first brief to final handover.

Having spent five years at a larger firm, he knew exactly what he was looking for, and at Dragonfly he's found it.

Away from the office, Sam is an endurance athlete who has completed both an Ironman and a UTMB ultra run, with another challenge already in the diary, and

when he's not covering vast distances, you'll find him on the tennis or padel court, preferably somewhere sunny.

What made you go into project management?

Transformation, really. There's something incredibly satisfying about seeing an idea on paper turn into something you can actually walk into. Being able to follow that journey from start to finish is what makes it so rewarding.

If you could have one superpower on a high-pressure site, what would it be?

Clear, strategic thinking. Knowing exactly what you need to get out of every action, planning ahead, and making sure everyone stays on the same page. Oh, and the ability to teleport between the site office and the shop floor wouldn't hurt either.

You spent time at a larger firm before joining Dragonfly,  what drew you to a smaller practice?

I was at a firm of around 80 people for five years, which was a great experience. I then loved the idea of moving to a boutique practice where you have real ownership of your projects, getting into the detail of every package and building a genuine connection with your clients. That's what brought me here.

Describe the feeling of finishing a project?

I actually completed a project this week. We handed over a a refurbishment of an existing office which included additional desks and meeting rooms in a space we'd previously worked on, for Marshmallow. The founder was there with his clipboard, effectively checking our homework, and the meeting room was in use during the handover. 

It's a strange feeling; you've owned that space for six weeks and suddenly it's not yours anymore. Seeing him watch his team take their first meeting in the room and then congratulate you, for completing on budget and on time. That's what it's all about. There's always a nervous moment making sure all the tech works and everything is in line, but it all came together. Very rewarding.

What's your favourite part of the journey?

RIBA stage three to four, without a doubt. You've come through quite an intensive design process, the brief is locked in, and you start to really envision what the space is going to look like. You're going out on pricing, you know what the end product will be, and it's the beginning of a big journey with the wider team.

 There's a real energy to that moment, it's exciting.

Based just off Carnaby Street, you're in the heart of London. Where are you heading to celebrate a project milestone?

Honest Greens would be the easy answer. Great food, clean and healthy, and a really good vibe. But for a proper celebration? I'd want something with a bit more fun and interactive. Go-karting, a ping pong competition, bowling. Something a bit different that really brings the team together.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one piece of equipment from a construction site, what would it be?

I'd take a sparky. Electricians have a trick for everything, if anyone can get things up and running from scratch, it's them.

Outside of project management and sports, what's your superpower? 

My superpower is energy. I say yes to everything, always go the extra mile, and I'm constantly on the go, just don't take away my coffee!!

Can you tell us about a time a project threw a curveball at you and how you managed it?

Last minute changes. It's one of the biggest hurdles you can face on a project. It requires rapid recoordination, reprogramming, and a lot of careful review. The key is working hard to keep everyone happy on both sides, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

If you could manage a project anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Thailand, without a doubt. Set up a training camp, running, cycling, swimming; and then recover with some of the best food in the world. Great weather, great people. It's hard to beat.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone starting their career in project management today?

Just get stuck in. Say yes to everything, go the extra mile, and be present with your team, with your clients and with every opportunity that comes your way. That's how you learn and that's how you grow.

If you weren't in project management, what would your Plan B career have been?

I'd have been a private chef. I'd specialise in Asian fusion.

Quick Fire Questions

Do you have a morning ritual that sets you up for a productive day?

A flat white, followed by some quick exercise. 

Favourite app?

Strava.

What's a hobby or skill you have that people might be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve recently got into hot yoga. 

Coffee order?

Flat white. 

Outside of work, I’m most likely found…

In the Sauna.

Favourite building? 

The All England Club

Who would you most want to be stuck in a lift with, dead or alive?

Phil Knight. I find his story on how he created Nike fascinating, and I could learn a few tips.