Podcasts about aec

What if the biggest impact of AI in construction isn't cutting costs or headcount, but raising the standard of what clients expect?In this September takeover episode of KP Unpacked, guest host Tyler Sellhorn sits down with Brad Hargreaves, co-founder of General Assembly and Common, and founder of Thesis Driven, a newsletter reaching the investors, developers, and operators building American cities. Brad's take on AI in AEC cuts through the noise: the tools getting real enterprise adoption aren't the ones generating plans. They're the ones checking them. Validating them against code. Catching conflicts before they become change orders. And once clients know that capability exists, the question stops being "did you use AI?" and starts being "why didn't AI catch this?"The conversation covers where AI savings are actually showing up in multifamily operations (hint: it's collections and renewal optimization, not headcount cuts), why the unified data layer is still largely unsolved, why feedback loops at project close are the most underutilized AI opportunity in construction, and why no amount of automated conflict checking can replace the human layer of project alignment. Technology is the augmentation. Teamwork is still the unlock.Key questions answered:Why are plan checking tools getting enterprise adoption before plan generation tools?What does "why didn't AI catch this?" mean for client expectations going forward?Where are AI savings actually showing up in multifamily operations?Why was everyone's prediction about AI headcount cuts mostly wrong?What is a positive error rate and why do different firms come to different conclusions?How are tools like Trunk Tools, OpenSpace, and Alice Technologies connecting the dots across trades?Why is the unified data layer still largely unsolved across design and construction teams?Why are feedback loops at project close the most underutilized AI opportunity?What does Brad mean when he says AI can't replace the human layer?How does optimizing the worker's path generate savings without eliminating the worker?What's the difference between AI as efficiency gain versus AI as quality bar raiser?How does Thesis Driven think about second and third order effects of AI in AEC?If you're in AEC wondering where AI is actually generating value versus where it was overhyped, a developer trying to understand what's coming next in multifamily operations, or building tools for the construction industry and trying to figure out what gets enterprise adoption, this episode will show you why the savings showed up exactly where nobody predicted.Listen now.Catch Brad live at AEC Summit on October 19th at The Weylin in Brooklyn.

Architecture is usually discussed as a service. A client has a need, a firm delivers a building, everyone moves on to the next project. Dr. Marwa Al-Sabouni makes a harder argument. She says the built environment is one of the strongest forces shaping whether people in a place trust each other, and that the consequences of getting it wrong can take generations to show up. She would know. Marwa is an architect based in Homs, Syria, who stayed through the war and wrote about what she was watching in real time. In this episode she and Bryce talk about how decades of zoning and redevelopment separated communities that had lived together, what she believes reconstruction actually requires, why identity and beauty are structural concerns rather than decorative ones, and what it means to keep practicing architecture in a place where the profession's stakes are impossible to ignore. This one is for architects, engineers, and firm leaders who want a bigger frame on what their work does after the ribbon is cut. It's also for anyone in AEC who has started to wonder whether the profession they trained for still means what they thought it meant. About Dr. Marwa Al-Sabouni Dr. Marwa Al-Sabouni is an architect, urban thinker, author, and international speaker based in Syria. She holds a PhD in architectural design and Islamic architecture, and her work brings together sociology, contextual and psychological analysis, and aesthetics to make the case for architecture as a society-making tool. She is the author of The Battle for Home (2016), Building for Hope (2020), and Mosque (2026), published internationally by Thames & Hudson, and a chapter-author in the Getty publication Cultural Heritage and Mass Atrocities (2022). Her writing has appeared in RIBA Journal, Architectural Review, Standpoint Magazine, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the ICRC Journal, Renovatio, Middle East Eye, and others. She received the Prince Claus Award in 2018, was named to the BBC 100 Women list in 2019, and won the World Monuments Fund Watch Award in 2023. The Battle for Home was named one of the Guardian's best architecture books of 2016, Prospect Magazine named her one of the top 50 thinkers in the world, and Architectural Digest listed her among the top contenders for the 2018 Pritzker Prize. Her TED talk has been viewed over a million times. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marwaalsabouni/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marwa-al-sabouni-44a07b21/ What We Cover Introduction and Marwa's background as an architect in Homs How the built environment shapes trust between neighbors What happened to Homs before the war, and what the design decisions had to do with it Writing The Battle for Home from inside the conflict Why identity, beauty, and belonging are structural concerns and not decorative ones What real reconstruction requires, and how most rebuilding efforts get it wrong Mosque (2026) and what a single building type reveals about a whole society Practicing architecture when the stakes are impossible to ignore Advice for architects and engineers who want their work to matter more Where to find Marwa and closing thoughts Key Takeaways The built environment is not a neutral backdrop to social life. Zoning, density, and material choices change how likely people are to know and trust the people around them. Beauty and identity are not budget line items to cut first. They are part of what makes people willing to stay somewhere and take care of it. Reconstruction that ignores what a place meant to the people who lived there rebuilds the buildings and loses the community. Architects have more influence over social outcomes than the typical scope of work suggests, and that influence operates whether or not anyone claims it. A career in this industry gets more durable, not less, when you can name what your work is actually for.  

What if the biggest factor in America's reindustrialization isn't capital, technology, or policy, but whether your state ever learned to play well with others?In this September takeover episode of KP Unpacked, guest host Tyler Sellhorn sits down with Tom Stringer, founder of Stringer Site Selection, ahead of his appearance at AEC Summit on October 19th at The Weylin in Brooklyn. Tom has spent two decades deciding where things get built. Aerospace plants, EV lines, defense facilities, Fortune 500 headquarters. He's secured billions in incentives and he's a licensed attorney and real estate broker in New York. When a company picks a state, a county, a site, Tom is often the one in the room.The conversation covers why the CHIPS Act was the first real national industrial policy since World War II, why COVID exposed the fatal flaw in just-in-time supply chains, and why SpaceX is responsible for the volcanic eruption of defense tech startups now building in Southern California. Then Tom gets surgical about what new manufacturers actually need from municipalities, and why the states winning the reindustrialization race aren't the ones with the most incentives. They're the ones with the most integrated teams. Texas. Arizona. The Carolinas. Ohio. Florida. The same names keep coming up, and it's not an accident.Key questions answered:Why is this the first real national industrial policy since World War II?What did COVID expose about just-in-time supply chains that economists missed for 20 years?Why is SpaceX the origin story for the defense tech boom happening right now?What do new manufacturers actually need from municipalities and site selectors?Why does the workforce problem create a level playing field for unexpected states?Which states are winning reindustrialization projects and why are the same names always on the list?Why do incentives alone not win projects anymore?What does bringing back shop class have to do with national security?Why is New York losing despite offering more incentives than almost anyone?What does American Idol leaving California for Atlanta tell us about value propositions?How do utilities, community colleges, permitting offices and economic development agencies have to work together?What does project success as a team sport mean at the scale of a federal republic?If you're in AEC wondering where the next wave of industrial projects will land, a municipality trying to figure out how to compete for reindustrialization investment, or just curious why the same five states keep showing up in every major site selection announcement, this episode will show you exactly what separates the winners from the ones that need to go back to the gym.Listen now.Catch Tom live at AEC Summit on October 19th at The Weylin in Brooklyn.

Samir Mokashi is an architect, entrepreneur, and exit strategist who went from working 14 years at a large AEC firm to co-founding Code Unlimited with his wife in the basement of their Portland home. Together, they grew it into a multimillion-dollar professional services firm with five offices, earning multiple fastest-growing-company awards before selling the business to Jensen Hughes in 2022. Samir says the sale produced a return of 200 times his initial investment. Today, he is the founder of Business Millionaire Club and author of The Millionaire Exit, helping other entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses and position them for profitable exits.

Every year, the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds produces stories that remind us why eventing is about so much more than the final leaderboard. This week on the USEA Podcast, AEC Starter Amateur Champion Amanda Gantz joins us to share the remarkable journey that brought her and her Connemara, Meg O'Pint, to the top of the podium at the Kentucky Horse Park. Amanda shares how her late mother helped her find Pint, why she knew almost immediately that the confident little gelding was something special, and how she produced him herself from a young horse into an AEC champion. Their championship, however, is only one chapter of Amanda's story. A breast cancer survivor, Amanda opens up about the role horses and eventing played during some of the most difficult moments of her treatment and how Pint has helped her rediscover confidence in and out of the saddle. She also reflects on the signs that made her feel her mother was with them throughout their AEC weekend and the meaning behind the words she carries with her every time she rides: “the journey is the reward.” Stick around after Amanda's story for a special segment with Marshall+Sterling's VP of Equine Operations, Amy Dawm. She breaks down the ins and outs of equine insurance, discusses the coverage considerations that are especially important for event horse owners, and shares her top three tips for making informed decisions about protecting your equine partner.

Not finding reliable engineering talent for your projects when you need it? After 20 years running his AEC firm, Brian Sullivan knows that problem all too well — and he's now set out to tackle it from a completely different angle.

What if the reason we can't electrify the world isn't that we don't have good enough batteries, but that we can't make enough of them?In this September takeover episode of KP Unpacked, guest host Tyler Sellhorn sits down with Alexander Girau, CEO and co-founder of Group1, ahead of his appearance at AEC Summit on October 19th in Brooklyn. Alexander has worked on two Nobel Prize-winning technologies out of UT Austin, including technology developed by John Goodenough, the inventor of the lithium-ion battery. Group1 is his latest venture, commercializing potassium-ion battery chemistry that moves faster than lithium and sodium, and doing it right here in Texas.The conversation covers why the US has lost two battery technology leads to Asia already (lithium and sodium), why this is America's third shot and it's staying home, and why AI data centers have completely changed the demand equation. A few years ago it was EV madness. Now it's NVIDIA, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon all needing electrons and battery stability at infrastructure scale, faster than Group1 can grow. The insight? One person with AI agents is now as effective as ten. And startups don't die from starvation. They die from ingestion.Key questions answered:Why is the battery problem a manufacturing and supply chain problem, not a chemistry problem?What is potassium-ion chemistry and why does it matter for AI data centers?How much energy storage does the world actually need, and how far behind are we?Why did the US lose the lithium and sodium battery leads to Asia?How is Group1 keeping this technology from leaving the country again?What does re-industrialization actually look like at a battery manufacturing plant in Austin?How did AI data centers completely change the demand equation for battery storage?How does Alexander use AI agents to make one person as effective as ten?Why do startups die from ingestion, not starvation?What does a special ops team have to do with pre-product market fit hiring?What does "CEO as chief enabling officer" actually mean in practice?How do you cross the gap between a Nobel laureate's lab and a manufacturing plant?If you're in AEC wondering why data centers keep coming up in every infrastructure conversation, a founder trying to figure out how to scale manufacturing without scaling headcount, or just curious what deep tech commercialization actually looks like from the inside, this episode will show you why the battery problem is closer to solved than you think, and why the hard part was never the chemistry.Listen now.Catch Alexander live at AEC Summit on October 19th at The Weylin.

How can architects leverage AI and data to eliminate inefficiencies and reclaim their time for design?In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with Natalia Bakaeva, a registered architect in Ontario who transitioned from running her own multidisciplinary practice to becoming the co-founder and CEO of ARKI. This season continues to highlight architects who stopped waiting for the profession to change and built something themselves. Natalia's journey traces a unique path from beginning architecture school at sixteen in the Russian Far East, to studying in Moscow and London, and eventually establishing her career and practice in Toronto.The conversation delves into the deep frustrations Natalia experienced with the lack of innovation, scaling limitations, and heavy administrative burdens inherent in traditional practice. Recognizing that architectural services are difficult to productize and that firms often base decisions on guesswork rather than historical project data, she pivoted to the tech industry. Together with her co-founder, Mehdi, she developed ARKI, an AI "memory layer" or "second brain" that categorizes and stores a firm's construction details, layouts, and drawings to make them easily searchable and reusable.Natalia and Evelyn also unpack the cultural resistance within the AEC industry toward adopting new technologies and the necessity of backing up software solutions with hard ROI data. Natalia emphasizes the importance of architects taking the driver's seat in the AI transformation rather than being at the mercy of outside developers. She closes with profound advice for anyone feeling unfulfilled in their current role, encouraging professionals to follow their intuition and find their ikigai - the intersection of what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs, and what they can get paid for."I'm starting now to think about artificial intelligence and all this tech journey is more of coming back to the craft. My ideal scenario is, we automate the processes that can be automated so we can spend more time on things that we actually like to do, on creativity, on the parts that are maybe related to materials or what users experience every day, something that is tangible, something that makes a real impact." - Natalia BakaevaThis episode serves as a powerful reminder that while the tools of the profession are rapidly evolving, the core goal remains the same: designing better spaces. By embracing technology and better data management, architects can automate redundancies and return to the true craft of architecture.Guest:Natalia Bakaeva is a registered architect in Ontario who ran her own practice in Toronto, working across residential, commercial, healthcare, education, and public art. With a rich background that includes an early start in architectural education in Russia and a bilingual master's program between Moscow and London, she transitioned into the tech sector after experiencing the inefficiencies of traditional practice. She is now the co-founder and CEO of ARKI, full-time, building an AI system of record that operates on a firm's internal project data.This episode is especially for you if: ✅ You want to understand how AI can transform dormant firm data into a searchable "wisdom hub" or "second brain."✅ You are curious about the journey from running a traditional architecture practice to founding an AEC tech startup.✅ You want to explore the concept of productizing architectural services and overcoming industry inefficiencies.✅ You are looking for inspiration to follow your intuition and find your ikigai within or outside the profession.✅ You believe architects need to be proactive in shaping the tools and technologies that will define the future of practice.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

After a long hiatus, Joe and Dave are back at the microphone! In this episode, the guys catch up on what's been happening in the BIM and construction technology space, diving headfirst into the explosion of Artificial Intelligence. From building custom Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations across Revit, Civil 3D, and Navisworks to using Claude and AI conductors to streamline workflows, Dave and Joe break down what AI can (and can't) do for the AEC industry. Grab your favorite drink and join the conversation on workarounds, prompt libraries, and how to make AI work for you without burning through your tokens.

How can architects leverage storytelling to differentiate their practice, build authentic client connections, and communicate the true value of design?In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with Lee Schneider, founder of Red Cup Agency and adjunct assistant professor at the USC School of Architecture. With a rich background spanning screenwriting, network news production at Dateline NBC, and over a decade teaching media making to architecture students, Lee brings a unique outside perspective to the profession. Together, they explore how narrative carries weight in business development, firm positioning, and project selection.The conversation dives deep into the three foundational stories every architect must learn to master: the origin story of purpose, the testimonial story of social proof, and the tailored case study that addresses specific client needs. Lee breaks down common pitfalls, such as relying on the "genius reel" or assuming projects will simply speak for themselves, and emphasizes why collaboration and active listening matter more to clients than pure prestige. They also examine how evolving digital media, short-form video, and AI are shifting how firms communicate.Beyond digital marketing, Lee and Evelyn unpack the mechanics of high-stakes interview preparation, team composition, and building project advocates on both sides of the table. Lee shares practical strategies for overcoming public speaking hesitations, grounding presentations in authentic personal purpose, and adapting narrative delivery across different mediums. Ultimately, they highlight how clearer storytelling can elevate public appreciation for the architectural discipline as a whole."Clients want you to listen to them. For the most part, they're looking for a collaboration. They're not looking to be talked down to. If you're giving a case study, a really smart case study would include a little taste of that, the idea that this firm listens to clients." - Lee SchneiderThis episode serves as a powerful reminder that architecture is communicated not just through drawings and budgets, but through human connection and shared purpose. By mastering narrative strategy and focusing on client collaboration, practitioners can stand out in a crowded market and demonstrate the indispensable value of design.Guest:Lee Schneider is the founder of Red Cup Agency, a communications consultancy based in Santa Monica, and an adjunct assistant professor at the USC School of Architecture, where he has taught media making for over ten years. A former producer for Dateline NBC, playwright, and screenwriter, he specializes in helping firms, technical startups, and emerging leaders articulate complex ideas through compelling linear and non-linear storytelling.This episode is especially for you if: ✅ You want to understand how narrative strategy can differentiate your firm in competitive business development and RFP processes.✅ You are curious about the three essential stories every architect needs - origin, testimonial, and case study - and how to avoid the "genius reel" trap.✅ You want to explore practical ways to adapt your firm's communications across emerging media formats, short-form video, and podcasting.✅ You are looking for actionable strategies to prepare for high-stakes client interviews, build authentic team advocacy, and improve room-reading skills.✅ You believe that better storytelling across the AEC industry can broaden public appreciation for the full value of architectural practice.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

Architects have been losing ground for years, and the industry keeps explaining it away with fee pressure, schedule pressure, and software. Beau [Last Name] has a less comfortable answer. He says the profession's own craft has declined, and that decline is exactly why architects keep getting moved further from the decisions that matter. His case runs like this. When drawings are incomplete and coordination is loose, somebody has to fill that gap, and lately that somebody is the builder. The builder absorbs the risk, then reasonably takes the authority that comes with it. Beau and Bryce get into what caused that slide, why architectural education has to become craft centric to reverse it, how AI either accelerates the decline or becomes the thing that reverses it depending entirely on how firms use it, and what he means by the "Super-Architect" and the three characteristics that define one. They also talk about the fracture inside the profession itself and why a national focus on craft may be the only thing that closes it. This one is for principals and firm leaders watching their scope shrink, for emerging professionals who were never actually taught to draw a building, and for anyone in AEC who wants the architect back at the table where the real decisions get made. About Beau  Beau Dromiack is Principal of [Firm Name], a practice focused on mission critical architecture delivered with quality, efficiency, and craft. He has integrated design expertise across Design-Bid-Build, CMaR, Design-Build, and Integrated Design delivery, and is a member of AIA, DBIA, SCUP, and NCARB. He holds a Master of Architecture from Arizona State University, serves on the ASU faculty teaching graduate architecture, and mentors emerging professionals. He also volunteers teaching design to design-build teams at Northern Arizona University's School of Construction and teaches STEM based architecture and engineering principles to elementary students, including teaching tools he developed himself. He is the author of The Craft Advantage: Reviving Craft in Architecture to Build a Better Environment and Improve Influence and Super-Architect: The Future of Architecture, which is also available as an audiobook on Audible, Apple, and Amazon in five countries. Beau has been married 34 years, has four adult kids, and spends his free time backpacking, raising chickens in pursuit of the perfect egg, and baking in pursuit of the perfect cookie. What We Cover Introduction and Beau's background as a principal, professor, and author What craft actually means in architecture, and what it does not mean How the decline in craft eroded professional respect The craft gap, and why builders are filling it How poor documentation shifts risk to the contractor and authority away from the architect Why architectural education needs to be craft centric The three characteristics of the "Super-Architect" Using AI proactively to build AI optimized practices and new business models Why a fractured profession is a fragile one What a national focus on craft could actually reunify Where to find Beau and his books, plus closing thoughts Key Takeaways Influence follows responsibility. Every gap in a drawing set that a builder has to close is a piece of authority the architect gave away, whether or not anyone named it that way. Craft is not perfectionism and it is not slowness. Beau's case is that higher craft is what makes speed and integration possible instead of dangerous. Craft cannot be recruited. It gets built through mentorship, documentation standards, and leaders who actually teach, which makes it a firm systems problem rather than a hiring problem. AI will either widen the craft gap or close it, and the deciding factor is whether a firm defines its use proactively or lets AI define the firm. A profession that can't agree on what it is worth is easy to move off the table. Shared standards are a growth strategy, not nostalgia. Resources + Links Beau's website: https://dromiackinvention.com/about Beau Dromiack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beau-dromiack-aia-dbia-ncarb-scup-310747124/ The Craft Advantage: Reviving Craft in Architecture to Build a Better Environment and Improve Influence Super-Architect: The Future of Architecture (also on Audible, Apple, and Amazon as an audiobook) Career Collective: https://www.mycareercollective.com Bryce Batts Consulting: www.brycebatts.co If this one landed, rate and review Wine After Work wherever you listen. It's the fastest way to get these conversations in front of more people in the industry.  

Project management in AEC firms generally doesn't go beyond the technical aspects of the business, such as schedules, budgets, and quality controls that keep a building on track. Marketing rarely gets the same discipline. Even though marketing teams juggle their own budgets, deadlines, and quality standards every week.  Listen in as Katie Cash talks with Meredith Schroeder, Director of Operations at Smartegies, about why AEC marketing departments need real project management systems, not just good intentions and a color-coded whiteboard.Marketing workflow visibility comes up early as the clearest sign that a team has outgrown its current systems. Meredith shares the telltale signs of a reactive marketing department: missed deadlines, last-minute requests, and no single place to see the full workload, and explains why a new tool or process document rarely fixes the problem on its own. She and Katie also dig into proposal management, tracing what it takes to coordinate a dozen internal contributors who do not report to marketing while chasing a must-win RFP deadline that never moves.AEC marketing operations round out the conversation with a practical look at staffing versus workflow problems, and how time tracking data can show whether a team truly needs more people or simply needs better prioritization. Meredith closes with her five core project management practices: creating alignment early, building timelines around reality, making it easy for others to contribute, making the work visible, and owning the deliverable, along with her top tip for listeners: start before you start.Key TakeawaysMarketing departments deliver against budgets, schedules, and quality standards just like technical teams, and benefit from the same project management discipline.Reactive, last-minute work is usually a visibility problem, not a staffing problem. Get the full workload in one place before deciding you need to hire.Internal clients respond better to specific, well-resourced requests than to vague asks dropped on short notice.Time tracking by task, not by a single daily bucket, reveals where a marketing team's hours actually go and whether workload is balanced fairly.Meredith's five practices: create alignment early, build timelines around reality, make it easy for others to contribute, make the work visible, and own the deliverable.Connect with Meredith SchroederDirector of Operations, Smartegieshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mer-schroeder/https://smartegies.com/Resources Mentioned in Episode:SmartSkills Session: *you do have to have a subscription or pay to hear this webinar* https://www.bigmarker.com/smartegies/smartskills-work-smarter-not-harderConnect with Katie Cash:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacash/https://smartegies.com/ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:We hope you're finding value in our AEC Marketing For Principals.  Your feedback is important to us, and we'd love to hear from you. Here's how you can help.  Scroll to the bottom, rate our podcast with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”  Let us know what you found most helpful from this episode!  And if you haven't done so already, give the podcast a follow, and you'll be notified when new episodes come out.

We keep promoting people because they're great at the work, then handing them a team and hoping they figure out the rest. Across a year of in-depth conversations with leaders throughout the industry, this was one of four patterns that kept coming up, no matter who we were speaking to.In this solo episode, Andrea Janzen breaks down those four patterns, then takes on the question almost everyone asked during our conversations: how do you actually know whether the money you put into leadership development is doing anything? What's the ROI on leadership development?In this episode, we cover:Why "They're good at the work, so we made them a manager," keeps producing leaders who were never taught to leadThe same realization from people across the industry who'd never met: you can teach the technical side, but leading people is the hard partWhy the best companies hire and promote on potential, not only years of experienceWhat's worth measuring to know your leadership development is workingWhere to start: don't get overwhelmed starting huge – name the two or three people you're counting on in three yearsThe 2025 Building Better report referenced in this episode is Ambition Theory's research partnership with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).Rethinking Leadership in the Built World is hosted by Andrea Janzen, founder of Ambition Theory. Each episode gets into what it actually takes to develop strong leaders in construction and the built world.Learn more at ambitiontheory.com. If something here resonated, send it to one person who'd want to hear it.

This one was Meta AI - it's a free model and it did a pretty good job. Obviously I am not going to read that and neither will anyone else, but outside of the lack of brevity here it's a decent write up. Well done, Mark. EPISODE TITLE OPTIONSUse one as main title, others as alternates for SEO:One Nation's Immigration Muddle, 18C on Trial, and Tampa 25 Years OnFarley the Throwback, AI Bubble Warnings and the Swans Self-DestructFrom Narrandera to Norway: Immigration, Data Centres and Banning AI in SchoolsThe Two Jacks on Pauline Hanson vs 18C, the UK's Boat Camps and America's Voting MessCocaine Capital, $600 Grams in Perth and a 49ers Billionaire in a Trailer Park StingBloods Culture to Boarding School: Tampa, Tribunals and What Went Wrong at the SwansEPISODE SUMMARYEpisode 170 is a wide-ranging end-of-winter news wrap from Sydney and Hong Kong.Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack start with One Nation's confused immigration numbers - David Farley suggesting an intake not far from Labor's, Pauline Hanson unclear on net overseas migration - and ask whether vagueness matters when neither government nor opposition has a clear story either. Farley, the Narrandera-based former Labor aspirant now with One Nation, is singled out as a throwback to old Country Party-style ministers like Doug Anthony, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon - rural common sense and real-world experience.The conversation moves to energy and tech. The Albanese government's proposal that new data centres from mid-next year need their own water source and 100% renewable power triggers a debate about global electricity demand. Data centre consumption is projected to double from 460 TWh in 2024 to over 1000 TWh by 2030. The Jacks question small modular nuclear reactors in Australia and warn of an AI investment bubble, with 15% of the S&P 500 now AI-configured and Chinese open-source models undercutting expensive US startups.On law, they unpack Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Context is Pauline Hanson's 2022 tweet to Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi telling her to "piss off back to Pakistan" after Faruqi's comments on Queen Elizabeth, which led to a Federal Court finding and a reported $200,000 penalty. Hanson is seeking leave to appeal to the High Court. The Jacks also discuss the White Australia Party's attempt to circumvent hate-group laws linked to the National Socialist Network and ASIO's role, and debate whether repugnant speech should be illegal.Twenty-five years on from the MV Tampa, they revisit the Howard-era response, children overboard, the excision of Christmas Island and other northern territories from the migration zone, and the legacy of mandatory detention introduced under Keating. Hong Kong Jack draws on his ten years on the Refugee Review Tribunal, including a harrowing self-harm incident during a video hearing in Woomera.Internationally: the UK's new camps for unscheduled boat arrivals after the High Court blocked the Rwanda plan, and the problematic Daily Mail reporting of gyms, football pitches and halal-only food; the US Supreme Court allowing state-based moves to restrict mail-in ballots, the stalled SAVE Act requiring birth certificates to vote and its impact on married women, and why America needs an AEC-style independent electoral commission.The Jacks note Norway banning generative AI in primary schools and restricting it in upper years after a decline in reading and writing, and pay tribute to Dolly Parton and the Dollywood Foundation's 325 million books program as a springboard into phonics vs whole-language teaching. Jack the Insider credits his mother and the Whitlam-era disadvantaged schools program for championing phonics.Court and crime: a mistrial in Pennsylvania after a juror allegedly smoked marijuana in the jury room during a murder trial; and Australia's cocaine problem in the context of the Sydney Swans hotel-room scandal. The Jacks discuss the legal risk of supply of a trafficable quantity (15 years in Victoria), self-reporting data suggesting 4% to 11% usage, 1500 possession arrests in the Eastern Suburbs, $600 a gram in Perth creating a Nullarbor business model, and the shift to crystal meth where cocaine is scarce.Sport to close: Italy's Giorgia Meloni becoming the longest-serving PM of the Italian Republic, polling 25-26% for Brothers of Italy as a buffer against the harder right; the Swans culture piece by Andrew Webster - the end of the Bloods self-sacrifice era of Kirk and Kelly, late nights at the Beach Road and Clovelly Hotels, adult entertainment in the team hotel, four-week bans, presumption of innocence, and Nick Blakey demanding a trade to North Melbourne where his father played; NRL - Roosters and Panthers as premiership threats; AFL - Carlton vs Melbourne as a clash of new game plans; cricket - England vs Pakistan at Lord's, Pakistan in disarray, Babar Azam out of form, and whether Marnus Labuschagne should tour South Africa or if he is at the "thanks for your service" stage; and finally the NFL - the San Francisco 49ers CEO caught in a police sting in East Palestine, Ohio, $140 agreed on WhatsApp, no trailer or brothel at the lot, two days jail with credit for time served and $1000 in fines and costs.Next week: listener feedback on booze and upper-middle-class parenting.SHOW NOTES - TOPICS COVEREDAustralian Politics: One Nation immigration policy split between David Farley and Pauline Hanson, net overseas migration confusion, Albanese wedge politics, Opposition property ban for temporary residents, Labor's delayed immigration announcement and refugee intake numbers.Energy and Technology: Data centres in Australia, water and renewable requirements, small-scale nuclear reactors in Russia and China, global power demand, AI bubble vs dotcom bubble, US vs Chinese AI models, S&P 500 exposure.Law and Free Speech: Section 18C - offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate, Pauline Hanson vs Mehreen Faruqi Federal Court decision, High Court leave to appeal process, White Australia Party and National Socialist Network, hate group laws, implied freedom of political communication.Immigration History: 25th anniversary of Tampa, MV Tampa and Captain, Merak and Christmas Island, children overboard, excision of Australian territories, mandatory detention, Woomera, Port Hedland, Villawood and Maribyrnong, Manus Island and Nauru costs.UK and US: UK mandatory processing centres, minibuses, no-document arrivals, security risks and Nick Radev case, Daily Mail coverage; US mail-in ballots, electoral rolls, SAVE Act, automatic voter registration in Oregon/Washington/California, gerrymandering and partisan control, Ross Perot and third-party candidates.Education and Culture: Norway AI ban, iPads in schools, national testing decline, phonics revival in Australia, Dr Seuss, John and Betty readers, Dolly Parton and literacy, scholarships for Year 7 retention.Courts and Drugs: Pennsylvania juror and devil's lettuce mistrial, field sobriety and judge's chambers process, Christian Brothers at St Pat's Ballarat, Sydney Swans scandal and allegations of indecent assault, white powder found, trafficable quantity laws, Australia as highest self-reported cocaine users, Double Bay and Waverley Local Court, cardiac risks.Sport: Swans culture, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey trade to North Melbourne, Andrew Webster SMH column, AFL finals odds Sydney at $34, NRL Warriors Roosters Panthers, Carlton vs Melbourne injuries, England vs Pakistan second Test, Marnus Labuschagne technique and Steve Smith comparison, Ricky Ponting assessment, San Francisco 49ers CEO East Palestine sting.All timestamps below are adjusted by +25 seconds to account for theme music at the top of the episode.TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS (Adjusted +25s)00:00:25 - Open: End of winter in Sydney and the Highlands, mid-20s, bracing for a stinking hot summer. Hong Kong Jack on the Hungry Ghost Festival heat and humidity.00:01:54 - One Nation's immigration numbers: David Farley vs Pauline Hanson, does vagueness matter?00:03:36 - Old Country Party ministers: Doug Anthony, Ian Sinclair, Peter Nixon, Peter Walsh, John Kerin, Mick Young. Farley as a rural common-sense throwback and best new MP in ages.00:04:39 - How long will Farley stay with One Nation? History of independents.00:06:07 - Government and Opposition also unclear on migration, cabinet donnybrook, Albo's populist instincts and a potential wedge.00:14:50 - Data centres are coming to Australia: Albanese plan for own water source and renewables from July 1 next year.00:15:52 - Small modular nuclear: one in Russia, one in China, cost issues, worldwide energy growth before AI.00:16:47 - Electricity to double: 460 TWh in 2024 to 1000+ TWh by 2030, S&P 500 AI exposure, trillions invested.00:18:50 - Tech bubble vs AI bubble: companies with no revenue then vs Meta and Google with revenue now, but startup risk for Anthropic and others.00:21:41 - What is Section 18C? Offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate explained.00:22:23 - Pauline Hanson tweet to Mehreen Faruqi "piss off back to Pakistan", Queen Elizabeth context, Federal Court appeal, $200k fine, High Court leave.00:23:12 - White Australia Party, National Socialist Network, ASIO recommendation to Home Affairs Minister to shut down hate groups.00:25:38 - Will Hanson succeed? Prediction 18C rendered toothless on offend/insult/humiliate.00:28:08 - 25 years since Tampa: ABC docudrama, Norwegian tanker MV Tampa, 2001.00:29:26 - Children overboard, Peter Reith gilding the lily.00:30:43 - How Tampa changed the rules permanently: no unscheduled arrival lands in migration zone.00:32:12 - Refugee Tribunal reality: Woomera/Port Hedland video hearing, self-harm incident, need for thick skin.00:35:00 - UK's new camps after Rwanda failure, mandatory processing, fingerprints, 17 minibuses, not locked up like Villawood.00:38:27 - Security risk: Nick Radev - Nick the Russian/Bulgarian, wiped criminal history, prison tattoos, arriving with clean sheet.00:42:46 - SCOTUS and US mail-in ballots: state administrators, postal workers, accurate electoral rolls, attempt to slow mail voting.00:49:21 - Norway bans generative AI in primary schools, iPads since 1990s, decline in reading/writing, return to books.00:51:30 - Dolly Parton tribute: Dollywood Foundation 325 million books to US, Ireland, UK, Australia, NZ, functional illiteracy, pathway to imagination. 4,000 songs and 9 to 5 story with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.00:57:30 - Phonics vs whole language: Dolly's father, $500 scholarships to get through Year 7, Australian education decline, Whitlam disadvantaged schools program, Dr Seuss and Cat in the Hat 1957.01:01:22 - Devil's lettuce in the jury room: Pennsylvania murder trial of Saffron Gump and Gregory Prince, juror smoked in fifth-floor room, lawyers argue prescription, judge calls jurors one by one, mistrial, boarding school parallels.01:04:31 - Cocaine and the Swans: Australian article, two bags of white powder in hotel room, no one claims ownership, supply trafficable quantity 15 years jail, agency providing girls.01:07:29 - Australia's cocaine appetite: biggest users in world on self-reporting, 4% to 11%, tradies on the bags, financial and legal sectors, Double Bay 1500 possession arrests.01:12:53 - $600 a gram in Perth, Nullarbor drug run business model, when cocaine scarce users turn to crystal meth.01:14:58 - Italy: Giorgia Meloni longest-serving PM of Italian Republic, Brothers of Italy polling 25.4 to 26.4%, buffer against extreme right, far-right label rendered meaningless.01:17:38 - Swans culture: Brett Kirk and Paul Kelly Bloods era vs now, Andrew Webster column, Beach Road Hotel and Clovelly Hotel, self-sacrificing myth.01:20:22 - Hotel scandal: 4am return, 7am bus, adult entertainment, disrespect for teammates, four-week bans near certain, victims and presumption of innocence.01:25:26 - Nick Blakey demands immediate trade, North Melbourne link, dad John Blakey, Heeney Warner and Blakey as top liners someone will want.01:26:09 - NRL: Warriors, Roosters premiership winning form if past Panthers.01:26:38 - AFL tonight: Carlton vs Melbourne preview, injuries to Lever, Will Hayward, attractive footy and game plan changes.01:28:20 - Cricket England vs Pakistan at Lord's: Pakistan dismissed cheaply, in disarray, Joe Root captaincy phone call.01:29:46 - Does Marnus Labuschagne go to South Africa? Renshaw, Campbell Callaway, Oliver Peake options, Ricky Ponting says thanks for your service.01:32:30 - NFL not football: San Francisco 49ers CEO in East Palestine, Ohio trailer park sting, WhatsApp $140, no trailer there, two days jail with time served, $1000 fines, attempt to seal records denied, quick trip to Tiffany's.01:35:?? - Close: Spring next week, listener feedback on booze and parenting coming up.

What if the biggest barrier to data center approvals isn't policy, permits, or power, but storytelling?In this episode of KP Unpacked, KP Reddy and Nick cover a lot of ground: why AEC firms are terrible at the billable hour compared to lawyers, why 18-year average tenure is a sign of mediocrity not culture, why AI is going to expose the standby workforce faster than anyone expects, and why architects have been handed a billion-dollar opportunity in the data center wars that nobody's talking about.The Walmart analogy says it all. When Walmart was expanding everywhere, communities hated it. Not because groceries were expensive. Because they were worried about their friends on Main Street. Data centers are in the same moment right now. Half the opposition has genuine concerns. The other half is just mad and has been told to be mad. Either way, the technocrats showing up in Mercedes S-classes are not the right messengers. Architects are. They understand community engagement, storytelling, negotiation of experience versus money, and why a watercolor rendering sells better than a photorealistic one that's technically accurate but makes everyone uncomfortable.Key questions answered:Why do AEC professionals work unpaid overtime while lawyers never question their billable hour?What firm pays engineers overtime for billable hours, and how does it make better project managers?Why is an 18-year average employee tenure a sign of mediocrity, not culture strength?What does "debugging the human endpoint" mean for remote workers?Why will AI expose the standby workforce faster than anyone expects?Why are data center projects getting put on pause and what does that mean for AEC firms that ramped up?What does the Walmart community opposition playbook teach us about data center pushback?Why are architects better positioned than engineers or technocrats to sell data centers to communities?Why does a watercolor rendering sell better than a photorealistic one in community meetings?What would happen if Kevin Durant's $250K Hugging Face investment returned $60M?Why do pro athletes listen to investor calls while working out instead of music?How does KP think about meritocracy versus tenure in a world where Claude can audit your calendar?If you're an architect watching engineers dominate the data center boom, an AEC firm trying to figure out where community engagement fits in your service offering, or a project manager whose best people work nights and weekends for free, this episode will make you rethink where the real opportunity is and who actually belongs in the room.Listen now.

Initially unveiled in Summer 2023, nearly 200 ACEC member firms have participated in the Roadmap — a DEI&B maturity model and benchmarking tool that gives engineering firm executives a comprehensive, data-driven way to assess the maturity of their firm's DEIB program, with actionable suggestions for making further progress. Chad Clinehens brings the data and the on-the-ground perspective from years of benchmarking the AEC industry, and together unpacks what the roadmap recommends, where firms are already making progress, and where the real work still lies ahead.

Why are the youngest designers often the most resistant to adopting AI, and how can firms effectively navigate this technological shift?In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with Stacy Thorwart, former global AI strategist for Steelcase and founder of The Intelligent Designer. Stacy shares her unique journey from running a small residential interior design firm to leading enterprise-level AI strategy, and eventually launching an educational platform full-time to teach other designersThe conversation challenges common assumptions about AI in the AEC industry. Stacy reveals that the lowest adoption rates she sees aren't among senior staff, but junior designers coming straight out of school who lack exposure to the true capabilities and limitations of the tools. She unpacks the reality that the biggest barrier to AI integration isn't necessarily fear, but a severe lack of time for experimentation and context-building within already overwhelmed schedules.Stacy and Evelyn also tackle the nuanced conversation around AI and sustainability, the vital role of leadership sentiment in determining organizational success, and why AI image generators are not yet a one-to-one replacement for technical drawing tools. Ultimately, they explore how AI might not replace design professionals, but rather elevate the value of human-to-human connection and create net new opportunities within the industry."AI is everywhere. It is in our email, it is in our phones, it is in our GPS, and it is baked into the design tools and design software we're using. So by saying you're opting out of AI, really that means you're opting out of all technology." - Stacy ThorwartThis episode serves as an essential guide for navigating the impending wave of AI technology, emphasizing that true innovation requires a balanced approach to education, responsible implementation, and a continued appreciation for the human element of design.Guest:Stacy Thorwart is an interior designer, educator, and the founder of The Intelligent Designer. With over a decade of experience at Steelcase, culminating in her role as global AI strategist, she bridges the gap between complex technology and creative practice. In 2023, she launched her educational platform full-time, which has since trained over 8,500 designers on how to responsibly and effectively integrate AI into their workflows, from conceptual visualizations to administrative tasks and procurement.This episode is especially for you if: ✅ You want to understand why junior designers are often the most resistant to AI and how to address this education gap at the firm level.✅ You are curious about where AI tools can save the most time right now, especially in administrative, marketing, and procurement workflows.✅ You want to explore the real environmental implications of AI data centers and how to approach sustainable tech usage without taking an "all or nothing" approach.✅ You believe that adopting AI will ultimately elevate the value of human relationships and in-person connections within the architectural and design process.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

Pauline Souza, FAIA, LEED Fellow, LFA, WELL AP, and LEED AP BD+C, is WRNS Studio's Director of Sustainability and co-lead of the firm's K-12 and Civic Studio. Her curiosity is her superpower. Pauline has led numerous projects with a passion for health, inclusivity and beauty--and for advancing the role of design as a medium for building a more sustainable, resilient, equitable future. Many of her projects are considered important case studies, such as the Sonoma Academy Guild and Commons, a LEED Platinum, Living Building Challenge Petal and Net Zero Carbon project, and AIA COTE Top Ten winner. Pauline says that she was initially drawn to school design because it is a project type where equity and advocacy for healthy conditions are considered primary conversations--and these were the conversations that she wanted to have as part of the design dialogue. She brings a tenacious leadership approach rooted in the idea that good design and sustainable design are synonymous and can be achieved at any scale and any budget. She is a member of the Architecture 2030 Board of Directors. And she is a generous sharer and collaborator who has dedicated time and effort to many peer networks and other groups that have been essential to progress in the AEC space.

(Recorded August 6, 2026).This episode we are joined by Mr. Tony Marino - CEO of Tenaz Energy - a TSX listed energy company with a market cap of ~$2 billion. Mr. Marino is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Vermilion Energy, Baytex Energy and Dominion Exploration Canada, with additional management and technical experience at AEC, Santa Fe Snyder, Plains Resources and Atlantic Richfield. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Kansas and an MBA from California State University, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. In addition, Mr.Marino is a Non-Independent Director, Board, Tenaz Energy.Among other things we learned about $65 Million to $2 Billion: Building The Netherlands' #1 Gas Producer. Enjoy.Enjoy.Newsletter: Subscribe HereThank you to our sponsors.Without their support this episode would not be possible:Connate Water SolutionsATB Capital MarketsBunch Projects-*This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended as investment advice. Please do your own research, and consult professionals directly before making any investment decisions.Support the show

AI may transform how professional services firms deliver technical work, but it cannot replace the human qualities that build trust. In this episode, BJ welcomes back Jim Rogers, founder of Impellor Group and author of Becoming a Seller-Doer, to explore why client leadership, judgment, and empathy will become even more valuable as AI reshapes the AEC industry. Jim outlines the progression from transactional provider to embedded advisor, explains the difference between attentive, active, and empathetic listening, and shares ways emerging leaders can develop client-facing skills. They also discuss the risks of relying on AI, the leadership gap created as senior principals retire, and why paraphrasing is one of the simplest ways to prevent costly miscommunication. Tune in to discover how strengthening your human skills can protect your career, build relationships, and help you become the trusted advisor clients call first!Key Points From This Episode:Jim's approach to progressing from a transactional provider to an embedded advisor.Discover what empathy looks like in professional settings and leadership roles.The difference between attentive, active, and empathetic listening.Find out how empathetic listening helps people feel understood and strengthens trust.Explore why project management is about people, not only schedules and metrics.Learn how young professionals can build trusted-advisor skills through content curation.Uncover the risk that AI workflows pose and why experience and context matter.Understand how leaders adapt their tactics to the client, team, culture, and situation.The client-leadership gap and why empathy and relationship-building create career security.Try a practical listening exercise: paraphrase what someone said in your own words.Quotes:“So much of leadership is about human problems.” — BJ Kraemer [0:07:58]“One of the foundations [of leadership] is caring about somebody else's success.” — Jim Rogers [0:13:40]“Everybody needs more client leadership.” — Jim Rogers [0:22:24]“We're taught to write, we're taught to read, [and] we're taught to speak [but] nobody's ever taught to listen.” — Jim Rogers [0:27:56]Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Jim Rogers on LinkedInImpellor GroupBecoming a Seller-DoerSeller-Doer AcademyNever Eat AloneProject Management InstituteLeadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

In this episode I'm joined by digital marketing consultant Daniela Furtado, founder of Findable Digital Marketing, to discuss how AEC firms can get discovered online. We cover the shift from traditional SEO to "GEO" (generative engine optimization) for AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. We also chat about cross-border marketing strategy, budget prioritization, and go off a slight little tangent about MySpace's potential relaunch and whether AEC firms have any place on it. About Daniela Daniela Furtado — Digital marketing consultant, speaker, and writer specializing in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC). Founder of Findable Digital Marketing, based in Toronto, Canada. Publishes a biweekly email newsletter on digital marketing for the AEC industry. Where to Find Daniela: Agency: Findable Digital Marketing (website and social channels) Newsletter: Biweekly, ~300 words, published every other Thursday LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-pimentel-furtado/

Rich Szecsy, CEO of Big Town Concrete, discusses his journey in the concrete industry and the impact of Texas's population growth on concrete consumption. He explores the competitive landscape and benefits of private companies, sharing insights from his experience with mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Using a pizza vs. tacos analogy, Rich explains modern M&A strategies, emphasizing technology and AI. He highlights the importance of mindset, preparation, and economic awareness in selling a business. The episode also covers AI's role in the AEC industry, focusing on labor augmentation and shared data, with advice on embracing risks and valuing field experience.

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is finally upon us! The USEA Official Podcast heads behind the scenes of the 2026 AEC at the Kentucky Horse Park with co-organizer Mary Fike, course builder Mick Costello, and EEI's Competition Director Louise Gilliam. From more than 200 cross-country fences to hundreds of volunteers, the trio shares what it takes to bring one of the biggest weeks on the U.S. eventing calendar to life. They also share their best advice for competitors arriving in Kentucky, what makes the AEC experience special at every level, and a few stories from behind the scenes. Whether you're competing, volunteering, spectating, or following along from home, get ready for a week that celebrates the horses, people, and journeys that make eventing so special.

Sign up for Practi, a new platform that helps law firms use subscription billing.Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:* Unexpected setbacks can accelerate your path. Drédeir didn't pass the bar on the first try, took a contracts manager role to pay the bills, and ended up being offered a GC position at a national company before many peers had even started at a firm.* In-house experience reframes how you think about legal billing. Having managed outside counsel budgets, Drédeir saw firsthand how unpredictable hourly billing disrupts business planning. Clients care about cost per transaction, not how long something takes.* Niche selection matters, but stay flexible early on. Drédeir chose fractional GC work in clean tech and construction because of genuine expertise in AI governance and AEC licensing, but used his own name for the firm to avoid locking into a brand before the market validated the focus.* Subscription pricing mirrors how the rest of the business operates. Rather than selling hours, Drédeir structures fees around how much of his time and attention a client needs. Tiers keep it simple, predictable, and scalable without bespoke negotiation on every engagement.* Flat fees let you practice better law. When you are not tracking hours, you double-check your work without guilt, move faster, and focus on delivering value rather than justifying time entries. Efficiency benefits the lawyer; quality benefits the client.__________________________Want your question to be answered on a future show? Fill out this short survey.Have subscription model question? Check out this free resource to ask all of your questions at notebook.practi.ai.Check out Drédeir Law.Sign up for Paxton, my all-in-one AI legal assistant, helping me with legal research, analysis, drafting, and enhancing existing legal work product.Get Connected with SixFifty⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a business and employment legal document automation tool.Sign up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gavel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, an automation platform for law firms.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Law Subscribed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to subscribe to the weekly newsletter to listen from your web browser.Prefer monthly updates? Sign up for the Law Subscribed Monthly Digest on LinkedIn.Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mathew Kerbis'⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ law firm ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscription Attorney LLC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Want to use the subscription model for your law firm? Click here to sign up for a new platform that helps law firms use subscription billing. Get full access to Law Subscribed at www.lawsubscribed.com/subscribe

Great healthcare design is invisible. You feel calmer, you find your way, your family has a place to rest, and you never notice the hundred decisions that made it happen. Kristin Green, a healthcare architect at Earl Swensson Associates (ESa) in Nashville, builds her whole practice around that idea. In this episode, she walks through what it actually takes to design hospitals that balance operational efficiency with genuine, patient-centered care. We get into the human details and the hard tradeoffs. Why she starts every project by leaving her ego at the door. How ESa levels the room so the nurse's voice carries as much weight as the CEO's. What she'd change about sterile, all-white healthcare spaces. And how AI has earned a real place in her workflow, from generating exterior concepts to building a data-backed space program in hours instead of weeks. This one is for architects, healthcare and AEC leaders, and anyone curious about where design and technology are heading. It's a thoughtful look at building spaces that serve people first and still hold up for the next 30 years. About Kristin Green Kristin Green is a healthcare architect at Earl Swensson Associates (ESa) in Nashville. Known for her collaborative approach, she works closely with design teams, clients, end users, and consultants to guide projects from concept to completion while preserving the integrity of the design vision. A University of Cincinnati graduate, she is skilled in 3D software and driven by the belief that great design should be functional yet beautiful, inspiring, and timeless. Her process starts with intentional listening, so that the spaces she creates reflect the people and stories behind them.   What We Cover Introduction and Kristin's path from Cincinnati's co-op program to healthcare design Why ESa's single-office culture in Nashville shapes how the work gets done Intentional listening and the visioning session that starts every project Leveling the room so end users, not just leadership, shape the design Balancing emotional patient experience with operational efficiency The small details that change everything, from daylight to washers and dryers on the floor Emerging trends: hospital robots, pneumatic systems, and AI-enabled patient monitoring How ESa thoughtfully integrates AI, from concept generation to data-backed programming Preserving design vision across years, consultants, and team turnover The Arthur M. Blank Hospital and designing for timelessness over trends Where to find Kristin and closing thoughts   Key Takeaways Listening beats telling. The best healthcare projects start with a visioning session where the design team leaves its ego at the door and hears what actually matters to the people who will use the space. Warmth is a design decision. A facility can be cutting edge and still feel human, through daylight, color, and details that fight the sterile, institutional default. AI is a curator's tool, not a replacement. Kristin uses it to generate thousands of concepts and to build data-backed space programs, then applies human judgment to what's real, buildable, and right for the client. The first design is rarely the final one. Collaboration and early contractor pricing often produce a better, more cost-effective result without losing the intended look. Design for decades. Timeless choices matter most in buildings that may not change for 20 or 30 years.   Resources + Links ESa website: https://esarch.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-plummer/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/earl-swensson-associates/ Career Collective: https://www.mycareercollective.com  

In this episode of The Market Edge, ACEC's Vice President of Market Intelligence, Diana O'Lare, speaks with FMI Chief Economist Brian Strawberry on What markets are growing? Which sectors are cooling? And what does the rapid rise of data centers and energy infrastructure mean for the future of the AEC industry? 

What if the keyboard is already obsolete and we just haven't told anyone yet?In this episode of KP Unpacked, KP Reddy and Nick unpack eight takeaways from KP's breakfast with who he calls the smartest person he knows in AEC. The conversation spans how kids born today will interact with computers the same way we interact with abacuses, why LLMs finally let humans skip the translation layer entirely, and why construction is already sitting on the most valuable physical AI dataset in the world without realizing it.The deeper thread is about empathy. AI is galvanizing silos, not breaking them down. Everyone's getting more efficient in their own lane, but the 30% waste stays because no one is asking how their decisions affect the carpenter on the other end. KP floats a new term to replace "master builder": the project success manager. Not someone who tracks facts and reports delays, but someone who leads the project so every party wins. Then they pivot to what it means to invest in this era: stop looking for the best tech, start looking for people who can lead markets. There are only three voices leading AI right now. Why?Key questions answered:Why will KP's four-year-old view a keyboard the same way we view an abacus?What's the difference between transcribing voice and actually understanding it?Why does AEC already have the most valuable physical AI dataset and not know it?Why are LLMs making silos stronger instead of breaking them down?Has an architect ever asked AI how a design decision affects the carpenter? (The answer is no.)Why is CRUD software mostly busywork and what replaces it?What's the difference between humans in the loop and experts in the loop?What is a project success manager and why does it matter more than a project manager?Should KP hire someone with zero construction experience but amazing leadership ability?Why are only three people leading the AI market when there's so much talent?What does Brett Taylor have that most technical founders don't?Why does KP predict Lovable gets acquired?If you're in AEC wondering why your tools are getting better but your projects aren't, a founder trying to figure out what market leadership actually looks like, or an investor trying to update your mental model for what attributes matter most right now, this episode will challenge how you think about empathy, silos, and what it means to actually lead.Listen now.Join our AEC Summit - https://aecsummit.co/ - for a full-day event featuring developers, innovators, operators & business leaders and the massive new tech transforming the built environment!

How can architects move away from billable hours, trade traditional fees for equity, and step into the role of initiators rather than waiting for client calls?In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee speaks with Lisa Sauve, co-founder of Synecdoche, a design-make practice based in Detroit. Lisa's entrance into practice bypassed traditional firm hierarchies entirely. Her firm's first project came off Craigslist before she finished undergrad, a 110-square-foot office interior for $1,500 that she skipped graduation to build, which ultimately won Architizer and Inc. Magazine's World's Coolest Offices in 2009.As a 22-year-old single mother balancing parenthood and education, Lisa built her business out of necessity. The flexibility of working asynchronously on small projects was the only path forward that allowed her to parent while earning three degrees. For eight years, Synecdoche operated in partnership with architects of record who stamped their drawings. Lisa intentionally delayed licensure to serve as a model for alternative practice, sitting for exams only when defending her model to traditional peers became a distraction from the work itself.The conversation explores how Synecdoche operates without billing time or tracking billable hours. Instead, Lisa focuses on outcome-driven, value-based compensation, taking equity in client ventures, receiving distributions, and structuring creative deals like exchanging formal rent credits for tenant sweat equity during building renovations. She also breaks down her approach to client intake, including asking the fundamental question that most architects overlook: "How did you arrive at that budget?""We don't track time. We've never billed time. Because the client doesn't care about how much time I spend on things, they care about if they're getting the outcome." - Lisa SauveThis episode offers a fresh perspective on firm ownership, risk, and value creation. By challenging the profession's reliance on time-based billing and rigid operational norms, Lisa demonstrates how architects can expand their agency, align with client goals, and build resilient, multi-stream business models. Guests:Lisa Sauve is the co-founder and CEO of Synecdoche, a Detroit-based architecture and design-make studio working across commercial design, development feasibility, branding, and fabrication. Balancing practice and academia, she serves as an educator and advocate for alternative licensure pathways, code reform, and non-traditional business models in AEC. This episode is especially for you if:✅ You want to learn how to transition away from billable hours toward value-based pricing and equity-driven compensation models.✅ You are curious about non-traditional career paths, alternative pathways to firm ownership, and navigating practice as a parent.✅ You want to understand how to structure creative real estate deals, tenant sweat equity, and passive income streams for your practice.✅ You are interested in how asking deeper financial questions during client onboarding can align design solutions with business metrics.✅ You believe architects should act as proactive initiators and instigators rather than passive service providers.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

Growth is supposed to feel like winning. For a lot of contractors, it feels like drowning. Derek Isaac, founder of Rapid Result Creators, spent more than 20 years in construction and real estate before turning that experience into a systems coaching practice for general contractors and home builders. In this episode, he breaks down why a growing business quietly becomes harder to run, and what to do about it. We get into the real mechanics. How to spot the frog-in-boiling-water moment before something breaks. Why owners revert to the tools or start micromanaging instead of leading. How to make new systems actually stick when enthusiasm gets diluted at every level below you. And the difference between growth that builds a business and growth that breaks it. This one is for GCs, home builders, and any AEC owner who feels like the business runs through them. It's a straight, practical conversation about structure, margins, boundaries, and building a company that doesn't need you in the room to function.   About Derek Isaac Derek Isaac is a business systems coach who works with general contractors and home builders to bring structure and control to growing businesses. With more than 20 years in construction contracting and real estate investing, he understands how quickly growth creates complexity, reduces visibility, and increases reliance on the owner. Through coaching, training programs, and live education, Derek helps builders strengthen operations, improve margins, and run businesses that are easier to manage as they scale. He's the founder of Rapid Result Creators.   What We Cover Introduction and Derek's path from contractor to business systems coach Why technically great builders struggle the moment they become business owners The frog-in-boiling-water problem and the early warning signs owners miss Leadership catching up to growth, and why reverting to the tools is a trap Making systems stick: buy-in, enthusiasm, and the implementation period Finding the bottleneck when the bottleneck is the owner, using the org chart Healthy growth versus growth that breaks the business, and why margin beats revenue Setting client boundaries with a clear "what to expect" approach Hiring as a system problem first, the Ideal Employee Profile, and why good people stay with good businesses The one thing every contractor should fix: their numbers Where to find Derek and closing thoughts   Key Takeaways Systems are the foundation that lets your people do their jobs well. They are not bureaucracy, they are what makes a business feel professional and easier to run. When the bottleneck is you, fill the org chart from the bottom up. Document and delegate the lowest rungs first, then build management layers as your finances allow. Margin beats revenue. A 2 million dollar business at a healthy margin has more room and more resilience than a 5 million dollar business running on 5 percent. Boundaries protect the business, not just the owner. A clear "what to expect" conversation earns respect and still earns the referrals and the reviews. Hire like it's a six or seven figure decision. Build the Ideal Employee Profile, go find passive candidates, and keep a database of everyone who ever applied.   Resources + Links Rapid Result Creators: https://rapidresultcreators.com Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-isaac Career Collective: https://www.mycareercollective.com  

Higher education capital planning, university procurement, and what it really takes to win AEC work with a public university anchor this conversation with Howard Wertheimer, FAIA Emeritus, LEED AP, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities at UNC-Chapel Hill.Howard has spent more than two decades on both sides of the design and construction table. He built his career in private practice, including 21 years as a Partner and Principal at Lord, Aeck and Sargent, before moving into ownership and institutional leadership roles at Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt University, and now UNC-Chapel Hill, where he oversees planning, design, construction, and operations across nearly 20 million square feet of campus facilities.Host Katie Cash sits down with Howard to unpack how UNC's capital improvement plan comes together, from early pre-planning and budgeting through board approval, and what firms need to understand about the state's advertising and procurement process. Howard explains why attention to detail on proposals, from accurate references to correctly spelled university names, matters more than most firms realize, and how outdated reference contacts can quietly sink a submission. He also shares how UNC brought in an independent cost estimator to reconcile budgets on a CM at-risk delivery project and saved three million dollars on a single job, along with a look at the 950-acre former airport site UNC recently acquired for future campus development.Whether a firm is chasing its first project with a public university or working to strengthen a long-standing relationship, Howard's perspective from both sides of the table offers a clear, practical roadmap. It is a conversation packed with guidance for any AEC firm serious about growing its higher education practice.Key TakeawaysSweat the details. Typos, misspelled university names, and language copied from a previous proposal read as a lack of care and are one of the fastest ways to lose credibility with a selection committee.Keep references current and relevant. Outdated contact information undermines a proposal before anyone picks up the phone, and a reference tied to the wrong project type can do just as much damage.Local presence builds trust. For out-of-state firms pursuing public university work, having someone who can be on site within a day matters, especially on the construction side.Independent cost estimating pays for itself. Bringing in a third-party estimator to reconcile budgets between the design team and the CM helped UNC save three million dollars on a single project.Connect with Howard Wertheimer, FAIA Emeritus, LEED AP, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities, The University of NC at Chapel Hillhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-wertheimer-faia-emeritus-leed-ap-6711454/Resources Mentioned in Episode:The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, official website and facilities RFQ postingsGeorgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Howard's previous institutionUniversity of North Carolina System, Board of GovernorsUNC-Chapel Hill Board of TrusteesNorth Carolina State Construction Office (SCO)Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, Georgia TechClough Undergraduate Commons, Georgia TechKrone Engineered Biosystems Building, Georgia Tech, AIA COTE Top Ten award winner, LEED PlatinumHoward Wertheimer's contact email: worthy@unc.eduConnect with Katie:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacash/https://smartegies.com/ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:We hope you're finding value in our AEC Marketing For Principals.  Your feedback is important to us, and we'd love to hear from you. Here's how you can help.  Scroll to the bottom, rate our podcast with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”  Let us know what you found most helpful from this episode!  And if you haven't done so already, give the podcast a follow, and you'll be notified when new episodes come out.

PFAS rules from the EPA have been getting a lot of attention, as the Trump administration looks to make controversial adjustments. One recent rule change effected drinking water, but crucially, only impacted publicly owned municipal drinking water systems.  HRP's Bryan Massa, LSP, Regional Office manager for HRP Massachusetts, and PFAS expert, has worked closely with exactly the type of drinking water utilities that will have to be incompliance with these agency rules.  For today's episode of the PFAS Pulse Podcast, Bryan will walk us through the rules as they've stood and explain the nuances and complexities that come with utilities remaining in compliance.  Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

How can killing the profession's collective ego unlock new business models, elevate client experience, and modernize business development across the AEC industry?In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee welcomes back George Valdes, co-founder of ToolBlocks and marketing and design lead at companies such as Monograph, IrisVR, Paperspace, and WeWork. Five years after his initial appearance on the podcast, George returns to reflect on his non-linear trajectory, from studying landscape architecture at FIU and earning an M.Arch at Columbia GSAPP to navigating the tech startup ecosystem without a traditional coding background. George unpacks how early experiences, including running a design firm prior to graduation and leading accreditation efforts at Columbia that brought him deep inside NAAB and NCARB, shaped his decision to step away from traditional practice and realize that professionals can simply take agency and "just do things".The conversation explores the mechanics of tech adoption, the friction around firm portfolios, and how his latest venture, ToolBlocks, leverages network intelligence and AI agents to collapse non-billable time and streamline business development for AEC firms. The discussion also dives into client experience as the critical battleground for the next decade, pushing firm leaders to challenge received ideas around marketing, fee structures, annual reviews, and compensation models. George advocates for a shift in how architectural education and practice view the "expanded architect," emphasizing that the profession must be willing to dismantle its ego to adapt to changing client expectations and market realities."It's just this energy of 'you can just do things.' When there's friction or a lack of agency, I'm always questioning why. Who's saying that you can't do something?" - George ValdesThis episode serves as a powerful reminder that architectural practice is moving beyond traditional boundaries, requiring firm leaders to align business strategy, client experience, and internal operations. By questioning inherited norms and embracing operational leverage, architects can position themselves for sustainable growth in an evolving industry.Guests:George Valdes is the co-founder of ToolBlocks (now called Zensets), a platform focused on helping AEC firms grow their network, build pipeline, and automate business development workflows. With an academic foundation in landscape architecture from Florida International University and an M.Arch from Columbia University GSAPP, George spent a year leading GSAPP's accreditation process before transitioning into tech. Over the past decade, he has held leadership roles across product, marketing, and strategy at Augmate, IrisVR (acquired by Autodesk), Paperspace (acquired by DigitalOcean), WeWork, and Monograph.This episode is especially for you if:✅ You are curious about how to navigate non-traditional career paths in AEC, product management, and tech leadership.✅ You want to learn how relationship mapping and AI tools can modernize business development and collapse non-billable hours.✅ You are looking to reframe client experience as a primary driver of firm value and differentiation.✅ You are interested in challenging received ideas around firm operations, performance reviews, and seller-doer compensation models.✅ You believe architectural education and practice should embrace the concept of the "expanded architect" to stay relevant.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

Lauren Weinbaum didn't leave a job she hated. She left one she loved, because a client offered to hire her company before she'd even started one. In this episode, the founder and president of Weinbaum Management Group walks through how a one-way flight to LAX and a single conversation turned into a 13-year run in aviation and large commercial construction. We get into the decisions most founders don't talk about. How Lauren watched the 2008 crash freeze high-rises mid-skyline and used it to redesign her career around bond-funded public work. Why she grows slowly and refuses debt. How she thinks about A, B, and C players on a small team. And the mindset shift that comes with trading "am I going to make it" for "do we have the right culture and the right clients." This one is for AEC firm leaders, women building careers in construction, and anyone weighing the jump from a stable seat to running their own thing. It's honest about the mental load, the guilt, and what it actually takes to keep a firm healthy.   About Lauren Weinbaum Lauren is the founder and president of Weinbaum Management Group (WMG, Inc.), an owner's representation and construction management firm specializing in aviation and large commercial projects. She leads all business development, program and project management, estimating, scheduling, and bidding for the firm. With more than 18 years in the industry, Lauren built her foundation on major capital programs including the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. She grew up on a working pig and cattle farm in Illinois and started working for her dad at nine. What We Cover Introduction and Lauren's path from a Midwest farm to aviation construction Watching the 2008 crash halt private projects, and pivoting to bond-funded work for stability The one-way flight to LAX and the client conversation that started WMG Leading under pressure on a billion-dollar airport program with competing interests Being a working mom as a productivity edge, and guarding against distraction and mental load Building a small team: A, B, and C players, and why "10 percent of the work" still matters Growing without debt, managing cash flow strictly, and learning to say no to the wrong work Why the right life partner is a business decision What's next for WMG: LAWA with Paslay Management Group, the Centurion Lounge at LAX, and expansion beyond California Where to find Lauren and closing thoughts   Key Takeaways Stability is a strategy you can design. Lauren deliberately moved toward bond-funded public projects because that money rarely defaults, and it insulated her from the private-market swings that wiped out her peers in 2008. Gamble on yourself. If you're going to take a risk, take it on your own effort and judgment rather than betting on someone else's company or timing. Grow at the speed of your cash, not your ambition. Waiting until you can cover a new hire before you make it is slower, but it keeps you out of debt and off the payroll cliff. Saying no protects your brand. Taking work you don't have the competent staff to execute costs more than the revenue is worth. Never be too good to call people back. In a distracted industry, basic follow-through is a competitive advantage.   Resources + Links WMG website: https://wmgconsult.com Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-weinbaum-wmg/ WMG on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wmgconsult/  

In this episode Thomas and I clarify the differences between marketing and branding and talk about ways that AEC firms can use their brand and a brand strategy to differentiate themselves. We draw on best practices from B2C and B2B to brainstorm what a blue ocean strategy could look like for an AEC firm and what success looks like for a strong AEC brand. About Tom: Tom is a professor of practice, teaching Sustainability Marketing and Branding. He also advises global cities, institutions, and corporations on the development of strong brand strategies. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-murphy-929b5730/

What happens when every silo optimizes itself but nobody optimizes the whole system?In this episode of KP Unpacked, KP Reddy and Nick unpack the central paradox of construction AI: if 500 AI estimating tools, AI scheduling tools, and AI design tools are all saving contractors 20-30% in their respective silos, why aren't buildings getting cheaper? The answer: all the waste lives in the interoperability, not the individual workflows. Walmart didn't get cheap by optimizing their suppliers in isolation. They engineered the entire supply chain to comply with their rules. Until someone does that in construction, everyone just gets more profitable in their own lane.The conversation covers DroneDeploy's $800M acquisition by Procore (good outcome for the industry, bad news for customers who loved the product), why reality capture might actually kill BIM by creating a historical archive of actual buildings that AI can train on to design new ones, and why the SaaS pricing model is quietly breaking apart at the feature level. KP is currently negotiating enterprise software, named the AI-native competitor, and the incumbent offered practically free. The switching costs that kept SaaS sticky for a decade are gone. AI agents migrate your data now. No Deloitte implementation required.Key questions answered:If AI makes everyone more efficient, why aren't buildings getting cheaper?Why does all the waste in construction live in interoperability, not individual workflows?Who will be the first contractor to defect from the prisoner's dilemma and price 20% lower?What does the DroneDeploy acquisition mean for Procore's hardware ambitions?Could reality capture kill BIM by training AI on 20,000 actual scanned buildings?Why is the SaaS pie shrinking for the first time in tech history?How do AI-native companies use incumbent software against itself in pricing negotiations?Why did the AI-native competitor quote five years of service for what the incumbent charges in one year?Why are switching costs gone when AI agents migrate your data in minutes?Are public companies structurally incapable of innovating anymore?What happens to Procore and Autodesk now that they've both made major acquisitions?Why does Microsoft keep trying and failing to enter the AEC market?If you're a construction company wondering whether AI savings will ever show up in project costs, a founder trying to understand the exit landscape after DroneDeploy, or negotiating a software renewal and wondering whether to name drop an AI competitor, this episode will show you exactly where the leverage is and why the pricing power that built SaaS is gone.Listen now.

Join hosts Tom Simmons and Matthew Wallace as we talk the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's newly released Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids. We begin by explaining what biosolids are, why they can contain PFOA and PFOS—the two most historically used and commonly detected PFAS chemicals in the United States—and why these contaminants have become a growing concern. While the EPA's new guidance offers recommendations for testing, monitoring, and reducing risk, it's important to note that the guidance is entirely voluntary. We also explore how states are taking their own approaches to regulating PFAS in biosolids. Finally, we examine the practical challenges facing wastewater treatment plants if biosolids can no longer be land applied Join us as we unpack the latest EPA guidance, the growing patchwork of state regulations, and what comes next for biosolids management in the evolving world of PFAS. Listen to learn more and subscribe to The Pulse for all the details.

How can architecture leaders navigate economic uncertainty, build authentic brand voices, and transform practice operations through live connection and practical AI tools?In the Season 13 premiere of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee opens the season with a dynamic roundtable featuring Aya Schlachter and Nikita Morrell. Aya is the founder and CEO of MGS Global Group, the production partner behind more than 500 architecture firms worldwide, and host of the AI for Architects and Architect My Business podcasts. Nikita is an architecture messaging strategist and the founder of Dirt, a brand messaging agency for AEC tech and construction companies. Together, they discuss the state of the industry, why traditional practice models need a fresh approach, and why they co-founded Archicon, the "unboring business conference" landing in Melbourne, Australia.The discussion explores the pressing business challenges facing AEC firms today, from drying pipelines and economic uncertainty to standing out in a crowded market. Rather than relying on traditional formats, Aya and Nikita break down how Archicon flips the standard conference setup by using shorter 15-minute presentations, extended Q&A sessions, candid panels on firm failures and regrets, and a total ban on all-black dress codes. The trio also delves into the operational shifts necessary to build sustainable practices - emphasizing how clear systems, business model refinement, and operational efficiency give leaders the headspace needed to think strategically about their firm's future."You can be professional and have personality, and you can learn and have fun too. It doesn't have to be so serious." - Nikita MorrellLooking toward the future of practice, Evelyn, Aya, and Nikita tackle content creation, personal branding, and the practical implementation of AI. From leveraging dynamic tools like Notion and custom AI agents to guardrail email workflows and record repeatable tasks, they emphasize that technology should support human judgment rather than replace a unique brand voice. They also preview an upcoming masterclass collaboration between Evelyn and Nikita designed to give practitioners actionable, high-impact AI skills for positioning and practice growth.Guests:Nikita Morell is a messaging strategist who has spent over a decade helping architecture firms around the world articulate their value and win better projects. She is the co-founder of Archicon and founder of DIRT, and is widely known for her sharp, thought-provoking insights on branding and business in the AEC industry.Aya Garcia Shlachter is the Founder and CEO of MGS Global Group and co-founder of Archicon, with nearly two decades of experience helping architecture firms grow and scale. A recognized entrepreneur, AI thought leader, and podcast host, she empowers architects to build future-ready practices through strategy, technology, and leadership.This episode is especially for you if:✅ You want to explore new, "unboring" formats for business development, industry networking, and conferences like Archicon.✅ You are looking to overcome pipeline slowdowns and differentiate your practice through clear positioning and distinct brand messaging.✅ You want to streamline practice operations using systems like Notion, ClickUp, and CRMs to reduce mental load and gain strategic headspace.✅ You want to build authentic trust with potential clients by embracing content creation, personal storytelling, and human-centered marketing.✅ You are seeking practical, actionable ways to integrate AI, speech-to-text tools, and custom workflows into your firm without losing your unique practice voice.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

"Culture is a set of beliefs and values. Are you setting those expectations of what you would like your ideal employees to embrace? …Talking only gets you so far. You have to measure and encourage innovation if you want it to take root."Scott CattranEpisode SummaryIn this special ElevateAEC episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast, Frank Lazaro moderates a forward-thinking panel featuring Scott Cattran, Vanessa McMahan, and Jered Morris. Together, they explore the intersection of innovation, culture, and strategy—especially as generative AI transforms the architecture, engineering, and construction landscape.With candid stories and practical frameworks, the panel unpacks what it takes to foster a culture of innovation, assess ROI on technology investments, navigate the ongoing “build vs. buy” debate, and anticipate the workforce shifts AI will catalyze. Throughout the episode, listeners receive actionable advice on how to cultivate adaptable teams, implement meaningful change, and position their firms for long-term success.If you're seeking real-world strategies to elevate your firm's innovation initiatives or facing questions about AI's impact on organization, talent, or value to clients, this episode is a must-listen.Key TakeawaysCulture Drives Innovation: Creating an environment where open communication, empowerment, and “play at work” are prioritized is critical for sustained innovation Bottom-Up Meets Top-Down: Leaders must set guardrails and values, but real change stems from empowering staff at all levels to propose and experiment with new ideas.Strategic Investment in AI: Calculating ROI isn't always straightforward—success comes from a thoughtful portfolio approach that balances quick-win automations with high-potential, riskier bets.Build vs. Buy: Rapid technological change often favors “buying” solutions, but hybrid models—where external tools are adapted with internal expertise—offer differentiated value.Talent of the Future: The next generation of AEC leaders will blend technical, creative, and cross-disciplinary skills, shifting hiring priorities and the emphasis of internal upskilling.Data Strategy is Foundational: Clean, structured organizational data is the indispensable fuel for AI-enabled innovation—start preparing now.Listen to the full conversation on this episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast.Links Referenced in This EpisodeConnect with Frank Lazaro on LinkedInConnect with Scott Cattran on LinkedInConnect with Vanessa McMahan on LinkedInConnect with Jered Morris on LinkedInZweig Group & ElevateAEC ConferenceThe Zweig Letter WebsiteFlipping Book Version of the NewsletterLearn about the Zweig Letter and subscribe: https://thezweigletter.com/Connect with Randy Wilburn on LinkedInGet your FREE Subscription to the Zweig Letter Newsletter.Call to Action & Next StepsTo stay updated on industry evolution and leadership, subscribe to The Zweig Letter Podcast and explore our library of episodes highlighting AI transformation and technical innovation. To connect with Puskar Regmi, visit his LinkedIn profile or the Stantec website. Stay tuned for continued insights into how today's leaders are driving the future of design and construction—one conversation at a time.Thank you for listening! Be sure to subscribe for regular updates and more enlightening content from The Zweig Letter Podcast.Other Episodes You'll EnjoyAI Transforming AEC with KP ReddyBridging Design and Construction with Dan CristLeadership Transition with Sondra RottyConnect with Zweig GroupInstagram: Zweig GroupFacebook: Zweig GroupTwitter: Zweig GroupLinkedIn: Zweig GroupWebsite: Zweig Group

AI is changing everything in the AEC industry — but not in the way most people fear. In this episode of The Peggy Smedley Show, host Peggy Smedley sits down with Claire Rutkowski, Executive Director of AI Productivity and Enablement at WSP, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the engineering workforce. They dig into how AI is catching recurring clash patterns, flagging spec drift before it becomes costly rework, compressing meeting prep time, and freeing engineers to focus on judgment, creativity, and higher-value decisions. Claire also shares how WSP is upskilling its workforce, why the most skeptical engineers are often the most valuable voices in the room, and what it means to mentor a generation that's ready to go AI-native. Topics covered: Is AI coming for engineering jobs? The honest answer How AI agents work alongside engineers today — and where it's heading Clash detection, spec inconsistencies, and change order prevention Smarter coordination meetings powered by AI Upskilling engineers: persona-based training at scale The shift from project delivery to full asset lifecycle intelligence What separates firms that will lead from those that fall behind  Guest: Claire Rutkowski, WSP Executive Director of AI Productivity and Enablement

What do you do when you finish six years of architecture school, land in the profession, and realize none of it speaks to you? Evan and Cormac start with a former student on a Detroit construction tour who says the buildings around her are falling on deaf ears, and they take the question seriously instead of waving it off. They dig into the difference between dreading the work and feeling nothing for it, why the degree opens far more doors than the traditional path, and how meaning has to be found before happiness can follow it.From there the conversation widens into attitude and its contagious effect on a team, the collapse of the mentorship that used to teach young architects why a single line matters, and a misplaced fire department connection that reveals how coordination breaks down when nobody asks the question. This episode is especially relevant for emerging professionals second-guessing the path they chose, and for the people managing them. You'll leave with a harder, more honest frame: the situation is yours to change, and no one else is going to do it for you. Episode Links:Out of Architecture — the community and book Cormac points the disillusioned grad toward, for architects finding a life in, around, and outside the professionTRXL Podcast — Evan's AEC tech podcast, recommended alongside Out of Architecture-----Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.Support Archispeak by making a donation.

REPLAY!On today's episode of Architectette we feature Dr. Tami Hausman. Tami is the founder and president of Hausman LLC which is an agency that helps architecture and design professionals amplify their influence inside and outside of AEC industries. In addition to her role as president, she is a media specialist, expert communicator, art historian, and design aficionado. Her international roster of clients includes architects, engineers, construction firms, expeditors, interiors firms, real estate developers, project management firms, construction cost consultants, artists, and non-profit organizations.We talk about: - Transitioning from Semiotics-French to marketing for architecture firms- Establishing her firm, winning her first clients, and learning how to run a business- A special segment called 'Doctor in the Haus' where Tami advises on common AEC public relation questions including:a. How do I network?b. Does my firm really need to invest in PR?c. How do I reach my target audience? What message do I share?d. Do awards matter?e. What publications have the most impact?f. How to avoid being left out of marketing efforts by collaborators?g. What is too much content?h. Why does a firm need a marketing strategy?- We end by talking about rising trends in the AEC industry and what Tami wishes AEC firms knew about communications and marketing >>>Connect with Tami: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamihausman⁠Hausman LLC Website: ⁠http://www.hausmanllc.com/⁠Connect with Hausman LLC on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/HausmanLLC/⁠ & LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hausman-llc/⁠>>>Connect with Architectette:- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>>>Support Architectette by leaving us a rating and review!>>>Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What happens when non-technical people at a hackathon build in one day what software startups have been pitching for years?In this episode of KP Unpacked, KP Reddy and Nick unpack why sitting in a hackathon full of non-technical AEC people building working prototypes in eight hours is making software feel uninvestable. Incumbents are building features they've wanted for five years. Nobody needed corporate approval. Nobody needed a startup. They just needed a day and a keyboard. If that's the new baseline, what exactly is a software company selling?The conversation covers why PE firms are overpaying for AEC companies at 14x EBITDA and losing their best people 18 months after close (almost clockwork), why Procore's AI agents announcement landed with a thud, why vibe coding is a rabbit hole that creates individual value but rarely scales to the company, and why token pricing is heading toward the same bundled unlimited model as internet bandwidth in the 90s. KP also reveals his new LinkedIn rule: send a 10-page resume, not a one-page highlight reel. If you control what I see, I can't assess what matters. And a hospital system owner asked Zero RFI to build a real-time team qualification tool because they're tired of getting the B team swapped in mid-project without notice.Key questions answered:Why is software getting harder to invest in after every hackathon?What did non-technical AEC people build in one day that startups have been pitching for years?Why are PE firms losing their best AEC people 18 months after acquisition, almost to the day?What's wrong with paying 14x EBITDA for a firm that doesn't grow like that?Why did Procore's AI agents announcement land with nobody caring?Is vibe coding a rabbit hole or a real productivity tool?Why should you send a 10-page resume instead of a one-page highlight reel?How is KP cross-referencing resumes against his LinkedIn connections using skills files?Why do hospital owners want real-time team qualification tools mid-project?What's the AI diffusion crossing the chasm moment for the broader economy?Why is the Bay Area network effect getting stronger, not weaker?Why are tech company balance sheets suddenly going CapEx heavy for the first time ever?If you're building software for AEC and wondering why incumbents are building your features in-house, a PE firm trying to understand why cultural fit isn't transferring post-acquisition, or a founder debating whether to raise venture or bootstrap, this episode will force you to ask whether the software playbook still applies when anyone can build anything in a day.Listen now.

AI promised AEC marketing teams more speed. What it delivered was a mirror.Katie Cash sits down with Rachelle Ray, Head of AEC Marketing Innovation at OpenAsset, about what has genuinely changed in proposal production since AI entered the workflow, and what has simply been exposed rather than fixed. Rachelle brings a rare dual perspective, having led marketing and proposals inside an architecture firm before moving to the vendor side, and she is direct about where AI creates real value and where it introduces contractual risk that firms are not yet prepared to manage.Katie and Rachelle also discuss the guardrails firms need before rolling AI out firm-wide, from approved and prohibited language lists to structured training and review processes.Key Takeaways:Speeding up misaligned pursuits with AI does not save resources; it burns them faster.AI-generated proposal language can create real contractual risk without a review process in place.Firms that succeed with AI treat it as a firm-wide rollout, with training and guardrails, not a single toggle switch.The AEC marketers who thrive in the AI era will build data literacy, relationship intelligence, and systems thinking.Knowledge management, capturing what lives in people's heads, is becoming essential infrastructure for AI to work well.Connect with Rachelle Ray, Head of AEC Marketing Innovation, OpenAssethttps://openasset.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelle-ray-marketing/Connect with Katie:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacash/https://smartegies.com/ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:We hope you're finding value in our AEC Marketing For Principals.  Your feedback is important to us and we'd love to hear from you. Here's how you can help.  Scroll to the bottom, rate our podcast with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”  Let us know what you found most helpful from this episode!  And if you haven't done so already, give the podcast a follow, and you'll be notified when new episodes come out.

On this episode of Engineering Influence, host Jeff sits down with Sean Young from NVIDIA to explore how artificial intelligence — particularly agentic AI and large language models — is reshaping the AEC industry. Sean and Jeff discuss why firms should start treating project data as valuable IP, how AI agents can automate repetitive CAD and BIM tasks, and the ways AI is accelerating design iteration. They also dig into why engineering firms need to position themselves as technology- and AI-first organizations to stay competitive. The conversation highlights findings from the ACEC Research Institute's Firm of the Future initiative, along with practical steps firms can take right now to scale expertise across their teams and free up engineers to focus on higher-value design decisions.

Every firm competing for talent is saying the same things. Great culture. Exciting projects. Competitive benefits. And candidates can't tell any of you apart. That's the problem James Ellis has built a career solving. In this episode, James breaks down what employer brand actually is (hint: not a campaign, not a vibe, not a careers page redesign) and how midsized companies can build a brand that wins talent without outspending bigger competitors. We get into why most employer brand work is theater, what candidates actually believe about your firm, and how to change what recruiters say and hiring managers reinforce. This one is for AEC firm leaders, TA and HR professionals, and anyone tired of posting jobs into the void and wondering why the right people never apply. About James Ellis: James Ellis is the founder of Employer Brand Labs, where he builds choosable employer brands for mid-market companies in 3 to 5 weeks. He's built employer brands at Webflow, Roku, ASICS, and Telecare over more than 13 years, and he's the bestselling author of Becoming Choosable and Talent Chooses You. Based in Chicago, James describes his stage presence as equal parts strategist and friendly arsonist. Find him at employerbrandlabs.com and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/thewarfortalent. What We Cover: Introduction and James's background building employer brands at Webflow, Roku, and ASICS Why most companies don't have a hiring problem, they have a differentiation problem What "employer brand theater" looks like and why it fails How midsized firms can compete for talent without outspending the giants What it means to be a "choosable" employer How employer brand shows up in job posts, outreach, career sites, and interviews Why you can rent attention but you can't rent trust Where to find James + closing thoughts Key Takeaways: Employer brand is a system, not a campaign. It changes what candidates believe, what recruiters say, and what hiring managers reinforce. If your job posts could belong to any of your competitors, candidates have no reason to choose you. Midsized firms win talent through clarity and differentiation, not budget. You can't scale a business faster than you can hire the right people. Employer brand work should be usable Monday morning, not next quarter. Resources + Links: Employer Brand Labs: https://www.employerbrandlabs.com James on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/thewarfortalent Newsletter: https://employerbrandheadlines.com Books, videos, podcasts, and articles: http://www.EB-AF.com Becoming Choosable and Talent Chooses You by James Ellis  

On this episode, Matt Singletary and I reflect on lessons from the field on leadership, team dynamics, and common misconceptions that apply surprisingly well to AEC. We talk about football, Matt's own journey to leadership, and the crossover between the NFL and AEC. About Matt: Matt Singletary is a keynote speaker, former professional athlete, and the founder of BECOME/ER — a leadership and identity platform built for people who feel like they've never been enough. After his playing career, Matt rebuilt his life at the intersection of athletic discipline, business strategy, and the deeper work of personal becoming. Today he speaks to military academies, Fortune 100 companies, universities, faith communities, and youth organizations on the principles that have shaped him: pressure doesn't reveal character — it creates it; you have always been enough; and the work always starts within. Certified by the Elite Speaking Academy under speaker coach Shon Y. Hart, Matt brings two decades of lived experience at the intersection of sport, leadership, and the work of becoming. *Links: * Website: https://mattsingletaryco.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmsingletary/

Mike Pruitt joins the episode to share his journey in the AEC industry and discuss his strategic shift in business growth. He emphasizes the importance of identifying an ideal customer base and how raising the project floor has influenced lead flow. Communication is highlighted as a crucial element in project management, client trust, and satisfaction. Mike delves into the significance of core values in hiring and company culture, advocating for hiring based on outcomes rather than job descriptions. He explores the impact of technology investments, particularly AI, on efficiency and productivity. Reflecting on past experiences, Mike offers advice to his younger self and shares his insights on balancing people, processes, and technology.

The road to the USEA American Eventing Championships looks different for every rider, and this episode celebrates two unforgettable journeys. Nicole Brown sits down with AEC competitors Sarah Bryan and Lisa Cook to talk about rebuilding confidence, balancing careers and family life, overcoming setbacks, and the horses that helped them rediscover their love of eventing. From an Amish buggy horse turned championship contender to the unforgettable "Flying Potato," these stories prove that there is no single path to Kentucky—only the determination to keep moving forward. Whether you're preparing for the AEC or simply need a reminder of why you fell in love with horses, this episode is full of heart, humor, and inspiration.

Cintia Arnhoffer is a Hungarian entrepreneur, real estate investor, and business consultant based in Dubai. At 21, she moved to Denmark, where she spent 13 years building her career across diverse international environments. She later relocated to Dubai alone, without contacts or an existing network, and built a new life and business from scratch. Today she is Co-Owner and General Manager of FullComm Real Estate Brokerage, where she helps international clients invest in Dubai real estate and navigate the UAE property market. She also helps entrepreneurs and firms with Dubai company formation, licensing, residency visas, and banking.   What We Cover:   Introduction and Cintia's path from Hungary to Denmark to Dubai Moving to Dubai alone with no network, and what the first year actually looked like Misconceptions about life for women in Dubai, and what's actually true The cultural differences that took the longest to adjust to The mindset shift required to go from employee to business owner in the Middle East Why AEC firms are looking at Dubai as an expansion market What's actually involved in setting up: company formation, licensing, residency visas, and banking Where to find Cintia and closing thoughts   Key Takeaways:   The biggest barriers to building a career or business in Dubai as a woman are mostly perception, not reality, but the real barriers (cultural, logistical, financial) are different than people expect Building a business in a new country without a network is possible, but it requires a deliberate mindset shift, not just hard work AEC firms considering Dubai have a real, accessible path to entry: company formation, licensing, residency, and banking are all navigable with the right guidance Tax-efficient structuring through Dubai is a legitimate option for firms and individuals, not just a rumor Adaptability matters more than ambition when relocating a business internationally