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The Technical Leadership Paradigm: Evolving from Hands-On Builder to High-Impact CEO with Vladimir BaranovIn a recent episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur Podcast, host Josh Elledge sat down with Vladimir Baranov, Tech Founder Coach, Executive Coach, and Founder of Human Interfaces, to address the complex psychological and operational hurdles that emerge when technical experts transition into corporate leadership. Vladimir, a seasoned strategic coach specializing in guiding scientific founders and engineering executives through structural organizational shifts, details why traditional technical mindsets frequently create decision paralysis and team friction within scaling companies. This conversation delivers an essential, actionable manual for technical founders, scientific leaders, and C-suite executives who want to repurpose their analytical strengths, navigate business ambiguity, create safe operational sandboxes, and step confidently into executive leadership.The Leadership Transformation Engine: Repurposing Analytical Mastery and Navigating Corporate AmbiguityThe fundamental struggle facing technical founders during rapid organizational growth is the sharp transition from deterministic, logic-driven systems to the ambiguous, human-centered realities of corporate leadership. Vladimir Baranov explains that engineers and scientific experts are trained to solve predictable problems with complete data sets, often causing them to experience acute discomfort when forced to make high-stakes executive decisions with incomplete information. To successfully bridge this gap, technical leaders must reframe their existing analytical skills—repurposing scientific experimentation into iterative management tests and systems thinking into intentional organizational design. Accepting that technical education rarely covers interpersonal dynamics allows founders to view leadership development as a learnable, structured discipline rather than an innate talent they lack.Evolving from a hands-on technical builder into a transformational CEO requires an intentional identity shift that moves leadership beyond simple theoretical reading toward active behavioral execution. Many technical founders fall into the "comfort trap," retreating to familiar coding, product architecture, or laboratory tasks to escape the discomfort of team management, strategic planning, and business development. To break this avoidance cycle, executives must create low-risk operational sandboxes within their organizations to practice crucial leadership behaviors—such as delegating authority, delivering constructive feedback, and facilitating high-stakes alignment meetings—without fear of catastrophic failure. Consistently testing new leadership behaviors and gathering direct team feedback builds the psychological resilience required to lead through market unpredictability.Furthermore, sustaining long-term enterprise growth demands that executive leaders ruthlessly prioritize uncomfortable, high-yield business activities over daily technical execution. Establishing structured coaching cadences and peer accountability ecosystems provides founders with an objective sounding board to evaluate strategic choices, dissect team friction, and refine their corporate vision. By letting go of the need for total technical control and embracing the role of chief talent builder and strategist, founders enable their organizations to scale far past the limits of key-person reliance. When analytical skill mapping, deliberate leadership experimentation, and structured executive coaching are synthesized into a single growth framework, technical founders successfully shed operational friction, empower their leadership teams, and predictably expand enterprise valuation.About Vladimir BaranovVladimir Baranov is a Tech Founder Coach, Executive Coach, and the Founder of Human Interfaces. Drawing from a personal journey from Ukraine to the United States and a deep background in technical engineering, Vladimir specializes in coaching scientific founders and technical executives through the complex leap into organizational leadership. He is a prominent executive coach focused on helping technical leaders transform their mindset, repurpose their analytical strengths, navigate corporate ambiguity, and build high-performing company cultures.About Human InterfacesHuman Interfaces is an elite executive coaching consultancy and leadership advisory firm engineered to support tech founders, scientific entrepreneurs, and engineering executives as they scale their businesses. The firm specializes in delivering custom executive coaching frameworks, leadership skill mapping, organizational design consulting, and founder-identity transformation playbooks. Through structured discovery sessions and ongoing advisory programs, Human Interfaces enables technical leaders to eliminate leadership bottlenecks, optimize team performance, and maximize market equity.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeHuman Interfaces Official Website: humaninterfaces.coVladimir Baranov on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vladimirbaranovKey Episode HighlightsMapping Technical Competencies to Leadership: Repurposing analytical problem-solving, systems design, and scientific experimentation into high-leverage organizational leadership tools.Overcoming the Technical Comfort Trap: Recognizing when founders default to hands-on technical work to avoid high-stakes business decisions and people management.Creating Safe Leadership Sandboxes: Establishing low-risk environments to experiment with new management styles, delegate authority, and build leadership muscle.Navigating Ambiguity and Incomplete Data: Shifting executive decision-making away from rigid determinism to embrace iterative, hypothesis-driven leadership.Redefining Executive Identity: Transitioning internal self-perception from individual technical builder to visionary CEO to drive scalable organizational growth.ConclusionThe conversation with Vladimir Baranov reinforces that evolving from a technical expert into a transformational leader is an intentional architectural process rather than an unreachable shift. By standardizing internal corporate governance, creating safe environments for leadership experimentation, and embracing strategic uncertainty, technical founders can transform an overwhelming executive transition into a highly structured, self-sustaining growth engine.More from The Thoughtful Entrepreneur
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Hollie Hynes, a construction leader who's spent years helping shape how major infrastructure projects are delivered and how sustainability is becoming part of everyday decision-making across the industry. Having worked across environmental engineering, commercial strategy, and executive leadership, Hollie has seen firsthand what it takes to influence change in one of the world's most complex industries.Hollie shares how following her instincts led her into construction, why some of her biggest career breakthroughs came from stepping into roles that felt uncomfortable, and how the support of sponsors helped her see opportunities she never would have pursued on her own. Lauren and Hollie explore why sustainability shouldn't be treated as a separate conversation. Instead, they discuss how it needs to be considered from the earliest stages of planning and procurement.The conversation also dives into leadership, imposter syndrome, building teams around a shared purpose, and balancing a demanding career with family life. They wrap up with a thoughtful conversation about legacy. For Hollie, it's about more than the infrastructure we leave behind. It's about giving people every opportunity to succeed, creating projects that genuinely benefit communities, and having the courage to rethink the way the industry works so future generations inherit something better. Tune in for an insightful conversation about leadership, sustainability, career growth, and creating a construction industry that's built for the future. What You'll Learn in This Episode:Finding Purpose Early in a Career:How comparing two very different job interviews helped Hollie discover what she actually wanted from workWhy being drawn to "boots on ground" complexity, not comfort, pointed her toward constructionThe value of knowing how you learn best, and choosing a path that fits itSeeking Discomfort as a Growth Strategy:Why Hollie deliberately seeks out the next thing that makes her uncomfortableHow stepping into the unknown sharpens curiosity and widens your networkThe importance of knowing what you don't know, and who to askSponsorship, Initiative, and Getting Noticed:The difference between mentorship and sponsorship, and why both matterHow doing the jobs nobody assigned her opened doors she didn't expectWhy filling gaps on a growing team builds trust faster than waiting to be askedLeading Teams and Getting People on the Bus:Why a shared vision only works once you understand each person's individual "why"How leaders can curate that vision without having hours to spend with every personThe role of trust and personal connection in real leadership impactRethinking Sustainability in Construction:Why sustainability lives in every decision, not just a specialist functionHow procurement and tendering systems currently reward time, cost, and quality over long term impactWhat it would take to make climate and social outcomes part of the core scorecard, not a side conversationOvercoming Imposter Syndrome and Being Underestimated:How Hollie has learned to work alongside imposter syndrome rather than wait for it to disappearThe pivotal moment she called former colleagues to ask why they believed in herWhy turning up with clarity about what you don't know can be a form of strengthLegacy, Family, and a New Work Paradigm:What legacy means to Hollie, in both people and the assets left behindWhy she believes the industry needs new models like split shifts to attract and retain talentHer honest reflections on the "glass ball, rubber ball" approach to juggling career and familyKey Quotes from Hollie Hynes:"I now have a compulsion to seek the next thing that makes me uncomfortable."Sustainability lives in everyone's world.""You've got to know your people and understand what makes them tick.""You're not replaceable at home.""Hospitals keep humans alive on eight-hour shifts. We can do that.""There's a different way to do what we do."About Our Guest:Hollie Hynes is a construction and infrastructure leader whose career has spanned environmental engineering, roads leadership, commercial strategy, and sustainability strategy at an enterprise level. She has played a central role in embedding sustainability into procurement and delivery processes, and now works within a business where sustainability sits at the core of strategic direction. Hollie is also involved with the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA), where she helps tackle industry wide questions about talent, retention, and the future of work in construction. About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in construction leadership, retention, team culture, and building a more inclusive industry Connect with Hollie Hynes on LinkedIn. Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Janelle Kerrisk, founder of Helix Legal, a construction lawyer, business owner, and leader reshaping how legal services support the construction industry. From making partner at 30 to leaving a large firm and building Helix with one-year-old twins at home, Janelle shares the personal and professional decisions that shaped her approach to leadership, flexibility, systems, and success.Janelle reflects on the confidence it took to build her career in construction law, the doubts that still exist even after decades of experience, and the unusual ways she pushed herself outside her comfort zone — from public speaking to a comedy course at The Paddo Tavern. She also explains why the systems inside a business matter so deeply, how they influence behavior, collaboration, and trust, and why changing the way people work often starts with changing the infrastructure around them.Tune in for a thoughtful, practical, and deeply human conversation about building a business differently, challenging hustle culture, creating flexibility that actually works, and reimagining the role of legal services in construction — from reacting to disputes to helping projects, people, and businesses achieve better outcomes.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Building Confidence in Construction Law:How Janelle found her way into construction law almost by chanceWhy early hands-on experience helped shape her confidence and capabilityHow public speaking, leadership roles, and even comedy helped her find her voiceMaking Partner and Choosing a Different Path:What it meant to become the youngest partner and the first woman around the Queensland tableWhy success inside a traditional system does not always mean the system is right for youHow Janelle reached the point where she knew she wanted to build something differentBuilding Helix Legal:Why Janelle left equity partnership to establish Helix LegalHow her long-term collaboration with Dayna Gilbert helped shape the businessWhy founding a business with one-year-old twins was both challenging and purposefulSystems, Infrastructure, and Human Behavior:Why the systems inside a business shape the way people behaveHow early decisions around cloud-based systems gave Helix flexibility from the beginningWhy business infrastructure should support trust, transparency, and collaborationFlexibility, Trust, and Modern Work:Why flexibility at Helix is immediate, not something people have to earn over timeHow systems can create accountability without micromanagementWhy flexibility is about more than school pickup, it is about allowing people to be fully humanHuman-Led Leadership:Why Janelle encourages people to explore interests outside of workHow personal goals, family life, and professional growth can exist togetherWhy knowing and trusting the people inside your business can become a powerful leadership advantageConstruction, Contracts, and Better Project Outcomes:Why traditional adversarial approaches can make construction delivery harderHow Helix Legal, Helix Compliance, and Helix Impact support construction businesses in different waysWhy legal services should help prevent problems, not only respond after disputes ariseChallenging Hustle Culture:Why Janelle wanted her time away from her children to mean more than “selling time for money”How happiness became a success measure inside HelixWhy building a business does not have to mean sacrificing family, identity, or wellbeingKey Quotes from Janelle Kerrisk :“There's still always that little bit of doubt, no matter how old you get, no matter how experienced you are.”“You really need to make that side of you be quiet, or have some strategy for hushing that voice inside you.”“The infrastructure of major law firms makes it really a challenge to innovate.”“If everything that you touch every day, everything that's measured, is pushing towards one agenda, how are you ever going to go in the other direction?”“Flexibility isn't just about the person who needs to go and pick their child up from school. It's about so much more than that.”“My time is worth more than whatever money that you could possibly pay me.”“Happiness was a success measure.”“The friendship and that collaboration has been the foundation of the success of Helix.”About Our Guest: Janelle Kerrisk is the founder of Helix Legal, a construction lawyer and business leader with more than two decades of experience across construction law, dispute resolution, business design, leadership, and industry support. After becoming an equity partner in a large law firm, Janelle chose to build Helix as a more human, flexible, and commercially focused alternative to traditional legal practice. Through Helix Legal, Helix Compliance, and Helix Impact, she helps construction businesses navigate risk, improve systems, prevent disputes, and create better outcomes for projects and people.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in construction leadership, legal innovation, business design, flexibility, and building more human workplaces.Connect with Janelle Kerrisk and Helix Legal to learn more about construction law, compliance, impact, and better project outcomes.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
I'm a 39-year-old from Buford, Georgia. A wife, mother, and servant leader in the aluminium industry, navigating one of the busiest seasons of life while balancing a demanding career, family, and a commitment to living a life rooted in wellness, purpose, and joy. For decades, food was my comfort, and I struggled with metabolic illness and an unhealthy relationship with eating. In October 2019, as I honoured the 10-year anniversary of losing my son, Jacob, I made a decision that forever changed my life. I discovered clean intermittent fasting, and what began as a weight-loss journey became a complete transformation. Since then, I've lost +/- 165 pounds and reached the maintenance phase, but the greatest victory wasn't the number on the scale. I let go of destructive habits, rebuilt my relationship with food, learned to nourish my body through every season of life, and discovered the freedom that comes from focusing on what I can control. My journey became a complete renewal of mind, body, and spirit, replacing shame with confidence and limitations with strength. After living with PCOS and metabolic resistance for more than a decade, intermittent fasting helped me restore metabolic health, reduce inflammation, and finally break free from years of disordered eating and dieting. It didn't just change my body. It gave me my life back. Today, I'm passionate about encouraging others to invest in themselves because self-care isn't selfish; it's essential. In this episode, I share a personal life update, discuss intentionality, navigate inflammation after surgery, master portion control, and explain why intermittent fasting continues to give me my life back. Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply ready for change, I hope my story reminds you that transformation is possible. It starts with one decision, one step, and the courage to believe your best chapter is still ahead. You can follow my health journey on Instagram @LivelyLisa_Fasting4LifeCome and join our Patreon Community or book a one-on-one call with Graeme Graeme is available to work one-on-one with you, and you can book in with him at the website www.thefastinghighway.com To join Graeme's Patreon and get help every week in a group setting and through regular audio pieces exclusive to Patreon members, head to www.patreon.com/thefastinghighwayHis book is widely available on Amazon and all good online book retailers in Kindle, Paperback, and audiobook formats. global stage and is sought after as a mentor and coach by people from all over the world.Graeme has become one of the leading advocates of Intermittent Fasting on the global stage. He is freely available to his Patreon community, personally hosting Zoom meetings for members every week.
My story- I am a 44-year-old mom of 2 boys (ages 8&11) and wife to my wonderful husband for 14 years. We live in Lake Mary, FL (a suburb of Orlando). At the moment, I am a part-time Trainer at my gym. From 2022-2024, before having kids, I was a paralegal for 15 years. I started yo-yo dieting around age 16. Since then, I have struggled with my weight. In college, instead of the “freshman 15”, I gained about 40lbs… Fast forward to 2016-17 – I was pregnant now with my second son. I was gaining just like the first time, but at 28 weeks, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Because I had to follow an extremely strict diet to control my blood sugar, I didn't end up gaining as much. It was what came in the next 2 years that was the worst. I tried to go back to work (I am NOT the stay-at-home type) when my youngest was 7 months old. It was an absolute disaster. My husband got a big promotion 9 months later, and I was forced to quit my job and stay home with an infant and a 3-year-old in a town we had just moved to. I fell into a horrible depression and developed a pretty nasty sugar addiction...you know the kind, when you're eating an entire bag of candy in hiding, trying to cover up the wrappers in the trash. I ate ultra-processed food constantly… fast food, cheeseburgers, and fries were at least a weekly occurrence. Over those 2 years, I gained another 25(ish) lbs. I am 5'3” and my highest weight was around 200lbs...although I'm not 100%, as I never weighed myself. I remember weighing 191 at a doctor's appointment in January 2020 (right before I started fasting). So many health issues started piling up at this point...I lived at the doctor's office, but none could give me any answers....and not ONE mentioned weight loss, diet or lifestyle. I tried everything to lose this weight...I would lose 5-6 lbs, then it would come right back. This went on for a while before I accepted that this is who I was now and that I would be unhealthy and miserable. An old friend of mine had been telling me about IF for about a year at this point. I thought he was NUTS. How could anyone not eat for 16-20 hours?! I was someone who carried snacks in my purse long before I had kids because I was taught to keep your metabolism going, you should eat 6 times a day! Fast forward to January 2020...I'm getting my hair done and overhear the client next to me chatting about how she lost 30lbs doing IF. I went home that day and began researching. About a week into my journey, I ordered Delay, Don't Deny and read it in about an hour – this book would completely change my life (followed by Feast Without Fear, Fast Feast Repeat and more!). I've lost 50 lbs, met my original goal of 140 lbs in late October 2020, and have been maintaining for over 2 years, bouncing between 135-140. Almost every single health issue I had before is gone now. The best for me, though- I have completely tossed diet mentality in the trash (along with my scale) and my eating has never been cleaner - out of choice! I love the flexibility and freedom of this lifestyle. Today, I am a “qualitarian”, meaning I only eat high-quality food and focus on a protein-based diet. I work out 6 days a week in a 125-degree infrared sauna because I WANT to and really want to be as strong as possible for the very big hormonal changes I am experiencing at 44. I LOVE sharing this freedom and occasionally still take clients, so the links for my socials are below ☺ h ps://www.instagram.com/mrs_shellee81?igsh=dGR5bTN0dzRvZmlo&utm_source=qr www. ktok,com/@mrsshelle0?
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ben Cryan, founder of Praxis Engineering, Axesse, and Carbon Trace, for a powerful conversation about resilience, engineering, data, AI, and the future of project delivery in construction and infrastructure.At 31, Ben's life changed in an instant after a surfing accident left him facing 18 months in hospital, more than 55 operations, three months unconscious in intensive care, two strokes, and a kidney transplant donated by his mother. Doctors told him he may never walk again. But Ben refused to let that moment define him. One step at a time, he fought his way back to walking, back to engineering, and eventually into building businesses that are helping reshape how the industry understands cost, carbon, risk, and better design decisions.Ben shares how his recovery taught him the importance of community, asking for help, and never giving up. He also explains why data has always been central to the way he thinks as an engineer, and how structured project data can help teams reduce rework, improve decision-making, understand cost and carbon earlier, and create better outcomes across major infrastructure projects.Tune in for a deeply human, practical, and forward-looking conversation about what happens when resilience meets innovation — and why the future of construction will depend not just on AI, but on better data, better frameworks, and the courage to think differently.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Resilience, Recovery, and Rebuilding:- How Ben's surfing accident changed his life and career- What 18 months in hospital taught him about people, family, and community- Why Ben never wanted sympathy, and what it took to return to engineeringNever Giving Up:- How Ben rebuilt his life and career after being told he may never walk again- Why his businesses are shaped by the same mindset that carried him through recovery- The role determination, patience, and courage play in both life and entrepreneurshipMental Health, Speaking Up, and Asking for Help:- Why putting a problem out into the world is the first step to solving it- How asking for help shaped Ben's career in engineering and business- The importance of openness, honesty, and support in high-pressure industriesBuilding Businesses After Setbacks:- The reality of building an engineering consultancy and two technology platforms- Why rejection, resilience, and persistence are part of entrepreneurship- How Ben turned personal adversity into a drive to solve industry problemsData, Design, and Better Engineering Decisions:- Why “the data tells a story”- How structured data can help engineers understand cost and carbon in real time- Why early visibility of project data can reduce rework and improve design outcomesAI, Construction, and the Right Framework:- Why companies should not build AI for the sake of AI- The importance of getting the data framework right before adopting AI- How AI can support engineers by helping them filter complex information and make better decisionsReducing Cost, Carbon, and Project Risk:- How better data can help teams understand cost risk earlier in the design phase- Why embodied carbon needs to be considered alongside cost- The opportunity to deliver better infrastructure with more certainty and controlThe Human Cost of Poor Project Tools:- How rework affects design teams, project timelines, and people's wellbeing- Why better systems can help reduce unnecessary pressure on engineers- How technology can free up time for deeper thinking, creativity, and better solutionsThe Future of Engineering and Construction:- Why AI will not change construction overnight- How engineers can lean into change without losing the fundamentals- Why the industry needs to think differently if it wants to deliver better projectsKey Quotes from Ben Cryan:- “Once we put a problem out into the world, we can actually solve it.”- “I've never wanted sympathy for my accident. I've never wanted to be treated differently. I just wanna be normal.”- “The data tells a story.”- “Never giving up is so powerful.”- “Building a small engineering consultancy is hard. Building two tech startups is even harder.”- “Don't build AI for the sake of AI.”- “Things don't change overnight, and our industry's not gonna change overnight.”- “I made a career out of asking for help.”About Our Guest:Ben Cryan is a civil engineer, founder, and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in linear infrastructure design. He is the founder of Praxis Engineering, Axesse, and Carbon Trace. Through his work, Ben is helping the construction and infrastructure sectors use structured data to better understand cost risk, embodied carbon, design decisions, and project outcomes. His personal journey of recovery, resilience, and rebuilding has shaped his belief in never giving up, asking for help, and using data to make better decisions.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:- Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.- Share this episode with anyone interested in engineering, construction innovation, resilience, AI, data, project delivery, and the future of infrastructure.- Connect with Ben Cryan to learn more about Praxis Engineering, Axesse, and Carbon Trace.Stay Connected:- Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.- Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:- Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Cathryn Greville, CEO of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), a lawyer, governance expert, and one of the industry's most passionate advocates for systemic cultural change. From collaborative contracting to parental leave, from male allyship to psychological safety, Cathryn makes a powerful case that construction's biggest challenges: productivity, skills shortages, and retention won't be solved by technology alone. They'll be solved by leadership.Cathryn shares the evidence: inclusive teams make better decisions 87% of the time, and twice as fast. She explains why the single biggest risk time for losing women in construction is pregnancy and return to work, and why getting more men to take parental leave is a retention strategy, not a social one. She also pulls back the curtain on NAWIC's $5 million "Allyship in Action" project, including site-based allyship programs, sponsorship training, and a cultural ambassadors program designed to reach young tradies before bad habits set in.Tune in for a frank, data-driven, and hopeful conversation about what it actually takes to build workplaces where people want to stay and why inclusive leadership may be the most underleveraged commercial advantage in construction today.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Inclusive Leadership and the Future of Construction:Why inclusive leadership is a commercial advantage, not just a social initiativeHow leadership styles directly impact workforce retention and project outcomesThe role leaders play in creating psychologically safe workplacesThe Link Between Inclusion, Productivity, and Performance:Why inclusive teams make better decisions and achieve stronger business resultsHow psychological safety improves productivity and reduces workforce riskThe hidden financial costs of poor workplace culture and employee turnover Innovation Starts with People:Why innovation is about more than technology and AIHow diverse perspectives create better solutions and stronger decision-makingThe connection between workplace culture, creativity, and problem-solvingWorkforce Challenges and Talent Attraction:Why construction's workforce shortage requires a broader talent strategyHow inclusive workplaces help attract and retain the next generation of workersWhat Gen Z expects from employers and why culture matters more than everFlexibility, Retention, and Modern Work:Why flexibility means more than working from homeHow small adjustments can significantly improve employee retentionThe importance of designing workplaces around people's real needsPregnancy, Parenthood, and Retaining Women in Construction:Why pregnancy remains one of the highest-risk points for losing women from the industryThe role parental leave and caring responsibilities play in workforce retentionHow supporting fathers and caregivers benefits the entire workforceMale Allyship and Culture Change:What male allyship looks like in practiceWhy giving men the tools to support change is critical for industry transformationHow NAWIC's Allyship in Action program is helping shift workplace cultureRecruitment, Bias, and Untapped Talent:Why construction still relies heavily on traditional hiring methodsHow transferable skills can unlock new talent poolsThe importance of challenging assumptions about who belongs in constructionBuilding a More Sustainable Industry:Why workforce sustainability is becoming one of construction's biggest challengesHow governments, clients, contractors, and leaders can work together to drive changeWhat organizations can do today to become employers of choice Key Quotes from Cathryn Greville:"Productivity all comes back to people.""The biggest impediment to innovation isn't the technology. It's whether people are able to implement it.""Innovation is not just tech. Innovation is about solving problems.""The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.""If you're not engaging 50 percent of the population, you're missing a huge opportunity.""We need workplaces where people feel safe, valued, and able to do their best work.""Inclusion is not just a diversity initiative. It's a business strategy."About Our Guest:Cathryn Greville is the CEO of NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction), a lawyer by background with decades of experience in industry reform, regulation, and governance. She has worked across litigation, collaborative contracting, and cultural transformation in both the UK and Australia. Cathryn is currently leading NAWIC's $5 million "Allyship in Action" project (funded by the Building Women's Careers Grant Program), delivered in partnership with CPB Contractors, Adco Constructions, the Australian Workers' Union, and Holmesglen Institute. Her mission: to make "male ally" an obsolete term within a decade by building a sector that works for everyone.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in construction leadership, retention, team culture, and building a more inclusive industry. Connect with Cathryn Greville and NAWIC to learn more about workforce inclusion and culture change initiatives.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
What does it actually look like to lead people through a crisis — not just manage operations, but truly show up for the humans involved? In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, host Céline Williams sits down with Tracy Nolan, a Fortune 50 Senior Executive and global Board Leader with deep expertise in regulated industries, including healthcare and telecommunications. Tracy has led through it all: the closure of 27 retail stores as the last executive standing, being on a plane landing at Newark on the morning of 9/11 while working for Verizon, and managing 14,000 Sprint employees through both COVID-19 and a simultaneous merger with T-Mobile. Her philosophy? Jump in (beyond the operational checklist, beyond what the job description says), and treat your people the way you'd want to be treated. In this conversation, Tracy shares: - Why most leaders fail at crisis communication (and what to do instead) - How she ran "no-canned-questions" listening sessions that changed the way her teams trusted her - The "CEO for a day" roundtable method she uses to stay connected to frontline reality - Why feedback is a gift, regardless of your title - A powerful trust exercise every leader should do with their team today If you're a leader, executive, or manager who wants to build an organization that can not only survive a crisis but thrive through one, this episode is essential listening. — Tracy Nolan is a Fortune 50 senior executive and global board leader with deep experience in regulated industries, including healthcare and telecommunications. She has overseen $6B+ in P&L's, led multi-billion dollar revenue transformations, and delivered sustainable value through M&A integrations, operating models redesigns, and risk-managed expansion. Tracy currently serves as Senior Vice President, where she leads the Insurance sales organization and distribution strategy. Tracy has recently been named to the 50/50 Women to Watch for Boards list and serves as the Board Secretary for Dress for Success Worldwide. She is an advocate dedicated to "Inspiring Leaders to Lift while they Climb." Connect with Tracy: tracynolan.com | LinkedIn: Tracy E. Nolan
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Daryl Sadgrove, a leader who has worked across healthcare, telecommunications, e-commerce, logistics, education, and professional services before joining Struber, a business focused on unlocking human potential in infrastructure. Daryl brings a rare cross sector lens to one of the industry's most stubborn challenges: flatlining productivity.From his time at Telstra under David Thodey through to his current role as CEO of Struber, Daryl reveals what actually creates momentum in large organizations. He challenges the belief that AI is a magic bullet, warning that accelerating an inefficient model only makes things worse, faster.Daryl also shares a powerful sliding doors moment from his time at Australia Post during COVID, when a reactive fear based decision could have led to mass layoffs, but curiosity and analysis unlocked 20% year on year growth. He makes the case that infrastructure's real constraints aren't technical, they are human. And he explains why leaders must supercharge their people with AI, not replace them.Tune in for a thought provoking conversation on productivity, legacy, and the future of infrastructure leadership.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Building Momentum in Large Organizations:How strategic clarity from the top creates a “tsunami” of alignmentWhy leaders need to repeat strategy until they are sick of it, at least seven times via different channelsThe power of hyper effective meetings: narrow focus, clear outcomes, and the right people onlyThe Productivity Paradox in Infrastructure:Why infrastructure productivity is 2% below 1990 levels despite the internet, mobile phones, and AIHow communication, collaboration, and culture are the three biggest constraints, according to Infrastructure AustraliaThe danger of treating “soft skills” as a nice to have when they unlock millions in ROIAI as a Leadership Opportunity, Not a Shortcut: Why AI can make bad systems, bad data, and bad culture worse, fasterThe difference between using AI to replace people versus supercharging themA real life case study: a new hire in her second week building an AI powered infrastructure project pipeline that blew Daryl's mindThe Sliding Doors Moment at Australia Post During COVID: How fear nearly led to 10,000 layoffs and why pausing to question assumptions changed everythingThe power of internal research, curiosity, and reframing risk as opportunityWhy the “best case scenario” of 50% growth became reality, not the worst caseAI, Human Connection, and the Future of Work: Why humans will still deliver infrastructure for decades (10,000 people on a job site is not going away)How to use AI to accelerate your own voice, not replace itThe two business models: cut staff and gain 50% productivity OR supercharge everyone and gain 300%Legacy, Leadership, and Being Present: Why Daryl's legacy is translating solutions across industry silosThe importance of being truly home when you are home, with family, not just in bodyKey Quotes from Daryl Sadgrove:“Communication, collaboration, and culture are the biggest constraints holding projects back.”“You don't need everyone on the bus. You need critical mass.”“If you're not sick of repeating the strategy, you probably haven't communicated it enough.”“AI can make bad systems worse faster.”“The businesses that win with AI will be the ones that supercharge people, not replace them.”“People are craving human connection more than ever.”“Leadership clarity matters exponentially more in the AI era.”“The future belongs to organizations that unlock human potential.”“Infrastructure productivity is still sitting below where it was in 1990.”About Our Guest:Daryl Sadgrove is a leader who has worked across healthcare, telecommunications (Telstra), e-commerce, logistics, education, and professional services before joining Struber, a business focused on unlocking the human constraints in infrastructure. He has seen what works in high performing organizations and what does not. A former GM of Innovation at Telstra, a musician, and a golfer in training, Daryl brings cross-sector wisdom, strategic clarity, and a deep belief that people, not technology, are the real accelerators.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in construction leadership, retention, team culture, and building a more inclusive industry Connect with Daryl Sadgrove on LinkedIn.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Adam Woodley, a refrigeration and air conditioning veteran, former business leader, and passionate male ally. From tradie apprentice to building a business with 97 percent staff retention, Adam proves great teams aren't luck. They are built on trust, empathy, and rejecting "that's just how it is."Adam shares the small choices that kept his people loyal: high end tools, eight to ten shirts for Queensland's heat, and customer first autonomy. He also opens up about surviving a house fire that left him clinically dead, a second chance that reshaped his approach to work, family, and legacy.He speaks frankly on why construction struggles to retain women, what microaggressions look like on site, and why change must start from the bottom up with young men aged 17 to 25. As a leader of the Male Allies program, run with Trellis and NAWIC, Adam equips young tradies and engineers to call out poor behaviour without fear.Tune in for honest insights on retention, courage, and building an industry people actually want to stay in.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Building a Career Through Opportunity and Work Ethic:How early exposure to trades shaped Adam's career path and mindsetWhy hard work creates “luck” and opens doors over timeThe value of adaptability and being willing to take on new challengesScaling a Business from the Ground Up:What it takes to build a service business without acquisitionsWhy customer service is the foundation of sustainable growthHow repeat business is earned through consistency, not shortcutsHiring, Retention, and High-Performance Teams: Why hiring through trusted referrals leads to stronger teamsHow culture is built through shared standards and accountabilityThe small, practical decisions that led to exceptional staff retentionLeadership, Autonomy, and Trust: Why empowering employees to make decisions improves outcomesThe importance of giving teams full ownership not partial responsibilityHow removing friction helps people perform at their bestCustomer Experience and Long-Term Loyalty: Why customers stay loyal to people, not just companiesHow professionalism, attitude, and consistency drive repeat workThe role of trust in building long-term client relationshipsLife-Changing Perspective and Personal Growth: How surviving a house fire reshaped Adam's priorities and mindsetWhy living with urgency changes how you lead and make decisionsThe importance of focusing on what truly matters todayCulture, Bias, and Industry Change: Why construction doesn't have a talent problem, it has a thinking problemHow unconscious bias and microaggressions impact retentionThe role leaders and teams play in shaping inclusive workplacesMale Allyship and the Future of Construction: The case for changing culture from the bottom up, starting with young men aged 17–25What it takes to create a culture where everyone belongsWhy the goal is to make "male ally" an obsolete term in 10 yearsKey Quotes from Adam Woodley:“Construction has never had a talent problem. It has a thinking problem.”“Hard work creates the luck that people see.”“If you can do it today, don't put it off until tomorrow.”“Customers are loyal to the person, not the company.”“Don't ever be too busy to make sure your door is always open.”“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”About Our Guest:Adam Woodley is a refrigeration and air conditioning professional who built and scaled a service business in Queensland from scratch, achieving industry leading retention rates. He's a passionate advocate for cultural change in construction, co facilitating the Male Allies program (in partnership with Trellis and NAWIC ) to equip young men aged 17 to 25 with the skills to challenge poor behaviour and build more inclusive sites. Adam's perspective is shaped by decades on the tools, a near fatal house fire, and the experience of watching his own daughter try to enter a trade, only to find the doors still closed.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in construction leadership, retention, team culture, and building a more inclusive industry Connect with Adam Woodley on LinkedIn.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Cameron Bell, a seasoned construction and project management leader with decades of experience across Scotland and Australia. Cam has built his reputation on something surprisingly simple: holding a clear, consistent standard. From his early days as a “peggy” (chainman) in Scotland to leading major infrastructure teams in Australia, Cam shares the reality of what it takes to deliver profitable projects without cutting corners.Cam opens up about his rocky start in Australia, including washing dishes for three months, the pressure of losing money on a job, and why he refuses to settle for “good enough” when hiring. He also talks about the concrete footpath that sets the tone for an entire project, the power of a sticker board meeting, and why the most important concrete you pour might not be structural at all. Tune in to hear how strong standards, honest leadership, and disciplined decision-making can shape better projects, stronger teams, and a lasting reputation in construction.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Building Strong Foundations in Engineering:Why Cameron's early career in Scotland created a hands-on understanding of constructionHow engineers overseas are trained differently through practical responsibilityThe importance of learning how projects are built, not just how they are designedWhy early career exposure to pressure creates stronger long-term capabilityPersistence, Career Growth, and Breaking Into the Industry:How Cameron went from washing dishes to landing an engineering role in AustraliaWhy persistence matters more than perfect timing when searching for opportunitiesThe value of saying yes to regional roles to gain experience and credibilityWhy graduates should focus on gaining experience rather than chasing the perfect jobHigh Standards and Hiring the Right People:Why lowering hiring standards creates long-term project problemsWhat Cameron looks for in interviews beyond technical skillsWhy attitude, accountability, and willingness to learn matter more than technical brillianceHow early expectations shape performance culture across a project teamLeadership Under Pressure:How to manage stress when projects are losing money or facing delaysWhy great leaders focus on solutions instead of blameThe importance of honesty when mistakes happen on-siteHow clear communication helps teams recover during difficult periodsCulture, Accountability, and High-Performance Teams:Why project culture starts with the smallest details on siteHow leadership behaviors shape standards across an entire workforceThe importance of holding teams accountable without creating blameWhy one high performer can elevate an entire teamHow “rotten eggs” quietly damage morale and performanceProblem Solving and Lean Construction Thinking:Why construction is ultimately a constant exercise in communication and problem-solvingHow lean construction methods improve collaboration and planningThe value of bringing engineers, supervisors, safety, and environmental teams togetherWhy alignment across disciplines creates stronger project outcomesIntegrity, Reputation, and Long-Term Success:Why reputation matters more than short-term winsCameron's “pub test” and “Sunday paper test” for making ethical decisionsThe role integrity plays in hiring, leadership, and client relationshipsWhy people remember both strong leaders and poor decisionsFamily, Burnout, and Life Outside Construction:The reality of balancing leadership roles with family lifeWhy Cameron made weekends family time after becoming a project managerHow long holidays and downtime help leaders reset mentallyThe importance of finding identity beyond workKey Quotes from Cameron Bell:“Honesty is the best policy. It's easier to fix a mistake at the start.”“There's always a solution. You just haven't looked hard enough.”“You've got to set the standards at the start with the people you hire.”“If you settle on anything in life, you're giving up.”“There's nothing worse than not dealing with a rotten egg. It kills the culture.”“We're not tier one, tier two, or tier three. We're just the best people to work with.”About Our Guest:Cameron Bell is a construction and project management leader with extensive experience across Scotland and Australia. He has held senior roles on major infrastructure projects and is known for delivering profitable outcomes through high standards, strong teams, and consistent problem-solving. Cam currently works with Georgiou, where he leads multiple projects and helps shape a culture of performance and accountability.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Cameron Bell on LinkedIn.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ashley Hernandez, a civil engineer turned sustainability consultant who has worked across Australia, the Middle East, and the United States. Now a key member of the boutique consultancy Losee Consulting, Ashley brings a rare blend of technical engineering knowledge, sustainability expertise, and mindfulness practice to her work.Ashley opens up about her unexpected journey into engineering, her time in Abu Dhabi chasing the mysterious “green kilometre,” and why she walked away from big consultancies to align her career with her values. She also shares how becoming a mother reshaped her perspective on work, leadership, and legacy. From the power of single-tasking to the importance of turning cameras on, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for anyone navigating the human side of infrastructure.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Sustainability as Integration, Not Silos:Why sustainability isn't just “something the enviros do”How infrastructure rating systems (like Greenroads and ISC) create a common languageThe challenge of moving goalposts and why that's actually a sign of progressCareer Transitions and Values Alignment:Why Ashley left large consultancies to join a boutique firmHow saying “yes before thinking” led to a board role and a new career pathLetting your RPQ lapse and why that was the right decisionMotherhood, Activism, and Legacy:Why “motherhood in and of itself is activism”How raising the next generation is the most influential work we can doThe shift from selling your soul for a paycheck to building a life aligned with your valuesMindfulness for the Overwhelmed Professional:Why burnout builds from micro-stresses, not just major crisesPractical techniques: box breathing, single-tasking, and the “rubber ball vs. glass ball” analogyHow to transition between meetings (and why a minute of breath work matters more than being on time)Workplace Culture and Human Connection:Why cameras off on Teams calls creates anonymity and hostilityThe power of in-person kick-off meetings to build psychological safetyHow a manager who encouraged friendship created a high-performing teamGender Equity and Male Allyship:The sting of “working a short day today?” and why it still happens 20 years laterWhy bystanders have more power than targets to call out biasThe importance of male allies in creating psychologically safe workplacesKey Quotes from Ashley Hernandez:“Sustainability brings it all to the forefront. This is everyone's problem.”“We're here for a short time. What kind of life are we living if we're not true to our values?”“Motherhood in and of itself is activism.”“It's not that serious. We're saving PDFs, not lives.”“We design and build these massive pieces of infrastructure through teamwork and through people.”About Our Guest:Ashley Hernandez is a civil infrastructure professional with over a decade of experience across Australia, the Middle East, and the United States. She currently works at Losee Consulting, a boutique sustainability firm, where she helps clients integrate environmental and social outcomes into major infrastructure projects. Ashley is also a certified yoga teacher who leads weekly mindfulness sessions for her team, and a former board chair of the Greenroads Foundation.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Ashley on LinkedInStay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Paul Rhoden, a seasoned infrastructure leader, podcaster, and consultant with over 30 years of experience across the UK and Australia. Paul is the founder of Vulpra Contractors and the host of the Construction Matters podcast, where he champions the human side of construction.Paul shares why he believes the industry's greatest asset is its people, and how authentic, vulnerable leadership can transform project cultures. From his early days in the Royal Navy to leading major infrastructure projects, Paul opens up about his journey through grief, burnout, and purpose. He offers powerful insights on male allyship, the importance of listening to your supply chain, and why sometimes the best way to save a failing project is to simply stop and ask for help.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Leadership and Vulnerability:Why authentic leadership means admitting you don't have all the answers.How leaders can create psychological safety by being vulnerable first.The power of “stopping” a project to reset culture and solve underlying problems.Male Allyship and Gender Diversity:Practical ways men can use their influence to amplify women's voices in meetings and on-site.Why true allyship is about everyday behaviors, not just policies.Paul's personal motivation: his mother's strength and his three daughters.Mental Health and Psychosocial Safety:The link between purpose, retirement, and wellbeing in construction.How burnout and “rust-out” affect the industry, and what leaders can do about it.The importance of self-care for those who spend their lives helping others.Project Culture and Supply Chain:Why paying subcontractors fairly builds loyalty, innovation, and better outcomes.Moving from a “master-servant” dynamic to genuine business partnerships.The value of listening to everyone from the plant operator to the cleaner for breakthrough ideas.Key Quotes from Paul Rhoden:“If you're willing to turn up and have a go and ask for help, you get help. For me, it's the power of human relationships.”“We're great at building bridges and roads. We need to get better at building people.”“When I look at a social media post or a brochure, that reveals intent. But sites reveal design.”“Don't worry about position and power. It'll chase you when you're ready and you may not want it.”About Our Guest:Paul Rhoden is a civil infrastructure leader with more than three decades of experience delivering complex projects across the UK and Australia. A passionate advocate for mental health, gender equity, and authentic leadership, Paul now runs his own consultancy, Vulpra Contractors, and hosts the Construction Matters podcast, where he continues to shift the conversation toward the people who make the industry possible.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and listen to his podcast Construction Matters.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Alex Prenzel, a construction leader and coach with more than 20 years of experience in the property and infrastructure sector. Alex shares her insights on the pressures many professionals face in high-performance environments and why the constant push to deliver more can come at a hidden personal cost. Together, they explore what it means to find calm amid the chaos and why shifting how we think about leadership may be the key to sustaining long-term success in the construction industry.Alex, known for her thoughtful leadership and focus on mindset and wellbeing, also shares personal stories from her own career journey. From navigating imposter syndrome to discovering the transformative impact of meditation, she reflects on how slowing down helped her lead with greater clarity and resilience. Whether you are an industry veteran or early in your career, this conversation will challenge you to rethink performance, pressure, and what sustainable leadership truly looks like.What You'll Learn in This Episode:High Performance and Leadership Pressure:Why many high achievers tie their identity to their professional success.The hidden cost of “grinding it out” in high-performance industries.How capable leaders often carry silent pressure to always be the reliable one.Mindset and Sustainable Performance:How meditation helped Alex shift from constant stress to clearer thinking.Why slowing down can actually improve decision-making and creativity.The difference between working harder and expanding your leadership capacity.Identity, Self-Acceptance, and Leadership:How imposter syndrome can exist even at senior leadership levels.Why self-acceptance is a critical foundation for authentic leadership.How embracing different leadership styles strengthens teams and organizations.Practical Advice for the Boom Times Ahead:How to navigate the upcoming pipeline of work in Queensland without burning out.Why "grind it out or tap out" isn't the only choice, there's a third way.The difference between capability issues (which most high performers don't have) and capacity issues (which require a mindset shift).Key Quotes from Alex Prenzel:“If we're going to be high performers, we need to give ourselves space to breathe. Otherwise, we're just on a narrow track of relentless achievement.”“You can't increase your capacity simply by working harder. You have to change how you think about the work.”“I am enough exactly the way I am. The more I accept myself, the easier it is to go out and do exciting things without being tied to the outcome.” About Our Guest:Alex Prenzel is a construction leader, consultant, and coach with over 20 years of experience in the property and infrastructure sectors. Having delivered complex projects and led large teams across the UK and Australia, Alex now works with high-performing professionals to help them navigate pressure, strengthen leadership capability, and build sustainable approaches to performance. Through coaching, meditation practices, and mindset work, she helps leaders unlock clarity, creativity, and long-term resilience in demanding industries.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Alex Prenzel on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with James Gleeson, civil engineer and co-founder of Marvel Engineers, to unpack what productivity really means in infrastructure and what it takes to build a resilient specialist consultancy.James shares his journey from tech drawing at school to launching Marvel Engineers after walking away from corporate burnout. Together, they explore the realities of starting a business with no blueprint, the risks of niching too narrowly, and the lessons learned from navigating market slowdowns in government-funded infrastructureThe conversation dives deep into procurement systems, panel arrangements, and the hidden cost of endless tendering. James challenges the industry to rethink how we engage consultants if we're serious about delivering major infrastructure ahead of 2032.If you're building a business or leading through market uncertainty, this episode will show you how to stay nimble, structure for growth, and rethink productivity to build long-term resilience.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Productivity in Infrastructure:Why current procurement processes may be slowing deliveryThe real cost of panel prequalification and repeated tenderingHow simplifying engagement could unlock speed and efficiencyBuilding and Pivoting a Consultancy:The risks of concentration in government-funded workWhy diversification doesn't mean abandoning your nicheHow structure and clarity create momentum in a growing businessLeadership and Resilience:Why having a strong business partner mattersHow to lead through market slowdowns without losing composureThe importance of support networks in sustaining long-term growthHiring and CultureWhat makes a “rounded consultant” in a small businessWhy communication and accountability matter more than everHow intentional onboarding shapes culture from day oneKey Quotes from James Gleeson:“There's no guideline or standard on how to create a business. It's a blank canvas.”“If we're serious about productivity, we need to rethink how we engage industry.”“We're not a big cruise ship. We can pivot quickly, but we're exposed.”About Our Guest:James Gleeson is a civil engineer and co-founder of Marvel Engineers, a specialist consultancy focused on transport infrastructure and government projects. Passionate about productivity reform and collaborative delivery, James is building a nimble business grounded in structure, accountability, and strong relationships.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with James on LinkedIn and share your takeaways.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ben Schnitzerling, founder of Red Fox Advisory, a Queensland-based civil and structural engineering consultancy delivering support across the full project lifecycle, from early planning and design through construction, contract administration, technical due diligence, and dispute avoidance. Red Fox helps clients navigate risk, protect value, and deliver practical, buildable infrastructure solutions.From nailing floors for his builder father as a kid to certifying major infrastructure projects just two years out of university, Ben's career has been shaped by doing the uncomfortable. Today, he's on a mission to challenge what he sees slowing the industry down: fear of litigation, fear of accountability, and fear of stepping outside the “safe” standard.Lauren and Ben unpack how this risk-averse culture is producing average outcomes and quietly failing the very communities engineers are meant to serve. With Queensland facing a massive pipeline of work and tighter budgets, Ben makes it clear that courageous, accountable engineering is no longer optional. It is essential.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Roots of a Courageous Mindset:How Ben's upbringing on construction sites and struggle with dyslexia shaped his learning and leadership philosophy.Why embracing uncomfortable, high-stakes projects early in his career was foundational to his growth.The personal hierarchy for sustainable success: “Love yourself first, then your partner, then your kids, then work.”Confronting the Fear Culture in Engineering:Why the industry's obsession with “cover your ass” and blind compliance is stifling innovation and delivering poor value.The critical difference between a compliant design and a good, accountable design.How an abundance of money over the past decade has incentivized safe, unthinking work and why the coming "burning platform" of financial constraint will force change.Courage, Accountability, and the Art of Negotiation:Why true accountability leads to positive consequences and professional pride.Advanced negotiation tactics: understanding the “deal zone,” moving past “stupid numbers,” and identifying what the other party needs to feel they've won.The danger of email “CYA” culture and the irreplaceable value of picking up the phone to build understanding.Building the Engineers of the Future:How Ben's company, Red Fox, was born from asking clients one simple question: “What can't you get right now?”Practical strategies for creating a “safe to fail” environment: setting clear safety rails, encouraging peer review, and resisting the leader's urge to solve every problem.The link between personal pride in one's work and magical outcomes for the community, the engineering profession's true customer.Legacy, Grit, and the Next Generation:How stories of resilience from past generations (like his 102-year-old grandmother) inform a mindset of grit and determination.Why fostering discomfort and allowing the next generation to “have a crack” is essential for building courage.The legacy Ben wants to leave: training a generation of engineers who contribute to society and make the world a better place.Parenting and Modeling CourageWhy children learn courage by watching, not listening.The story of a teenage act of bravery that left a lasting mark.How leadership at work directly mirrors leadership at home.Key Quotes from Ben Schnitzerling:“I found I had to learn the concept of being uncomfortable to learn.”“We solve complex problems for the community. They're our true customers.”“A compliant design does not mean a good design or an accountable design.”“Courage is no longer optional in engineering. It's required.”“You're better to have a go and get it wrong than do nothing safely.”“If you want magic to happen, give people pride and freedom.”About Our Guest:Ben Schnitzerling is an engineer, leader, and founder of Red Fox Advisory, with decades of experience across complex infrastructure, dispute resolution, negotiation, and business leadership. Known for his direct honesty and deep commitment to developing young engineers, Ben is passionate about restoring courage, accountability, and pride in the profession. His work focuses not just on projects but on shaping the next generation of industry leaders.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Ben on LinkedIn and explore Red Fox AdvisoryStay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Richard Harris, the global sales expert who trained the teams at SalesForce, Zoom and General Electric, founder and principal of The Harris Consultant Group, and author of bestseller “The Seller’s Journey: Your Guidebook to Closing More Deals with N.E.A.T. Selling”. You’ll learn why everyone is in sales, regardless of whether you are sharing ideas, influencing a corporate direction, an entrepreneur, a landscaper, have a career in selling products or services, or at home discussing an upcoming vacation with the family. In short, the Sellers Journey is not just for people with “sales” on their business card. The insights and wisdom discussed in this episode are gleaned not from perfection, but from imperfection—from first-hand experiences and challenges that ultimately led to years of award-winning sales achievements and award-winning sales training to help others—including teams from some of the Top companies in the world—achieve the same and better. Richard Harris has been named one of the “40 Most Inspiring Leaders in Sales Lead Management” by the Sales Lead Management Association (SLMA) and was included on the Datanyze Top 20 Inside Sales rockstar list, which is a list selected from Datanyze’s peers, partners, and mentors who have helped grow and shape the industry. As they put it: “A seasoned SaaS sales leader and inside sales trainer, Richard helps early stage and expansion stage startups build their sales infrastructure and train their sales teams to “get there faster.” He went on to found The Harris Consultant Group, which has helped transform hundreds of companies, teams and individuals who have worked with him or read his book. A passionate advocate for mental health awareness in sales, Harris balances his professional achievements with his role as a husband and father of two sons. His approach to sales leadership emphasizes both high performance and human-centric values, making him one of the most respected voices in modern sales transformation, as you’ll learn from this episode. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don't miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: RICHARD HARRIS: BIO: https://theharrisconsultinggroup.com/about/ BOOK: The Seller’s Journey: Your Guidebook to Closing More Deals with N.E.A.T. Selling, by Richard Harris WEBSITE: https://theharrisconsultinggroup.com/
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with award-winning engineer and author Felicity Furey to unpack the powerful ideas behind her upcoming book and her mission to transform the engineering profession from the inside out.Felicity shares how engineering's DNA, inherited from the Industrial Revolution, has shaped the way we design, solve problems, and even unintentionally overlook the people those designs impact. She reveals why modern engineering must go beyond efficiency and output, and instead reconnect with values like well-being, community connection, and legacy.Through personal stories of burnout, motherhood, and rediscovering purpose, Felicity shows why engineers are not just technical problem solvers. They are inventors, creators, and community shapers whose decisions influence how society feels, moves, and thrives. Whether you are an engineer, a leader, or someone passionate about the future of our cities, this episode will challenge you to rethink what is possible.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Engineering's Hidden Values and Blind Spots:Why engineering still operates from industrial era assumptions.How designing for the “average” person creates safety and wellbeing gaps.The surprising ways that road design, seatbelts, vaccines, and even signage can unintentionally exclude people.Shifting From Efficiency to Human Impact:How reframing engineering around people, place, and legacy leads to better design.Examples from around the world where small, thoughtful changes created enormous community benefits.Why nature-connected, stress-reducing infrastructure must become standard.Diversity, Purpose, and the Future Workforce:Why engineering has a marketing problem and how creativity genuinely belongs in the field.What attracts young people, especially girls, to engineering today?The real reasons women struggle to stay in the industry and what actually works to fix it.Leadership, Wellbeing, and Cognitive LoadFelicity's personal journey through burnout and complex PTSD, and how it reshaped her work.Why engineers cannot design for human wellbeing when they are overwhelmed themselves.How workplaces can rethink schedules, meeting structures, and expectations to support better thinking and better results.Legacy and the Next GenerationThe seven generational question that inspired Felicity's book: “What Did You Do Once You Knew?Why engineering is entering an era where maintenance, stewardship, and long-term thinking matter more than ever.How small values-based shifts in design can create massive change over time.Key Quotes from Felicity Furey:“Engineers are superheroes. We can change the planet.""Everything we do as an engineer is for people, and often we are not actually meeting them.""What if we designed infrastructure that actually calms us down?"“Purpose is one of the most powerful ways to attract and keep people in engineering.”“What did you do once you knew? That question keeps me going.”About Our Guest:Felicity Furey is an award-winning engineer, entrepreneur, and speaker recognised for her leadership in engineering, diversity, and the future of infrastructure. With 18 years in the industry, Felicity has led major projects, launched national programs, advised organisations on gender equity, and is now reshaping how engineers think about values, legacy, and human-centered design. Her upcoming book explores how rewriting even 1% of the industry's mindset can have a profound impact on communities and the planet.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Felicity on LinkedIn and visit felicityfurey.com for updates on her book and podcastStay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Mark Simister, a globally experienced program leader who has spent three decades reshaping how infrastructure is delivered. From London's crumbling water network to disaster recovery in Queensland and Christchurch, and ultimately transforming Sydney Water into one of the world's top-performing programs, Mark's story proves that collaboration is not a buzzword. It is a system that works when leaders are brave enough to implement it.Mark opens up about his unconventional journey from the British Army to hydrogeology to major program delivery. He shares inside stories from rebuilding regions after natural disasters, pioneering early contractor involvement, cutting years out of procurement cycles, and leading one of the most influential collaborative frameworks in Australia.Whether you work in water, transport, energy, major projects, or leadership more broadly, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how teams engage, how contracts shape behavior, and how cultural clarity lifts productivity. Mark shows what happens when you replace fear-based systems with trust-based delivery: better outcomes, higher morale, and programs people are proud to be part of.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Leadership & Career Journey:How Mark went from the British Army to hydrogeology to multimillion-dollar program leadership.Why early exposure to NEC contracts shaped his lifelong passion for collaboration.How major disaster events (2011 floods, Christchurch earthquake) taught him the power of co-location and shared purpose.Collaboration & High-Performance Delivery:Why early-contractor involvement removes waste before it starts.How co-located teams eliminate rework and build trust.Why standardized contracts accelerate decisions and cut procurement delays.How shared KPIs and open-book data create accountability instead of adversarial behavior.Procurement Reform & Industry Challenges:Why traditional tendering creates fear, inefficiency, and poor outcomes.How Sydney Water shifted from adversarial contracting to 10-year partnership frameworks.How behavioral scoring using organizational psychologists created world-class team alignment.Why governance should enable, not police, major programs.Culture, People & LegacyWhy emotional intelligence matters as much as engineering intelligence.How embedding finance, communications, and support staff into frontline teams boosts morale.Why Mark believes mature engagement between owners and contractors must define Australia's next decade of delivery.What meaningful legacy looks like when billions of public dollars are on the line.Key Quotes from Mark Simister:“I want to see people enjoying being at work. I want to see a maturity in the engagement between owner and contractor.”“Everyone will work in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation, that's written into NEC, and it changes everything.”“Get what you want. Get what you're really striving for. If you want something, plan it clearly from the beginning.”“When disaster hits, people turn up. Collaboration becomes natural when the purpose is clear.”“It's public money, my money and your money so I want to see it spent effectively.”About Our Guest:Mark Simister is a program delivery and collaborative contracting specialist known for transforming some of the most complex infrastructure environments in Australia and the UK. From Sydney Water's award-winning Partnering for Success framework to major disaster reconstruction and global best-practice adoption via Project 13, Mark's work continues to influence the future of infrastructure procurement, governance, and team culture.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Mark on LinkedIn to follow his work and insights.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Stuart Cook, a multi-award-winning engineering leader who stepped into major leadership roles early, including managing a 400 million infrastructure program in his late 30s. Stuart opens up about career-defining opportunities, overcoming imposter syndrome, mentoring future engineers, and why the human element matters just as much as technical excellence.Stuart also shares his personal journey from following his grandfather on construction sites to raising three boys and rediscovering fishing. His honesty about insecurity, leadership missteps, and the pressure to be everything to everyone offers rare insight into what real growth looks like in the engineering and construction sectors.Whether you are an emerging engineer, an experienced leader, or someone fascinated by the future of infrastructure, this conversation will encourage you to rethink how you lead, collaborate, adapt, and build a meaningful career.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Leadership and Career Growth:How Stuart landed a design manager role decades ahead of the norm.Why building core technical skills is essential before chasing leadership titles.The truth about imposter syndrome and why even top leaders still feel it.Why the best leaders stop doing everything and start empowering others.Mentoring the Next Generation:Why mentoring only works when the mentee wants it.How organic, intentional mentorship shaped Stuart's entire career.Why knowledge transfer matters now more than ever as senior engineers retire.Sustainability and Industry Challenges:Why red tape, not people, is strangling productivity in infrastructure.Stuart's frustration with sustainability points that waste resources.The gap between practical sustainability and bureaucratic sustainability.How industry expectations must evolve to truly support net zero goals.Collaboration and Team CultureWhy collaborative outcomes depend on people, not contract structures.How simple rituals like weekly coffees and birthday celebrations build trust.The surprising importance of emotional intelligence for engineers.What it takes to unify SMEs, contractors, clients, and stakeholders.Personal Growth and LegacyWhy becoming a father shifted Stuart's definition of legacy.How family, surfing, and fishing keep him grounded.Why being a good dad matters more than being a well-known engineer.Key Quotes from Stuart Cook:“I still feel deeply inadequate and insecure in my position, but you have just got to work to your strengths.”“You cannot mentor someone into success unless they want to be mentored.”“Some of the most collaborative projects I have seen were not collaborative contracts. They were collaborative people.”“We spend so much time chasing sustainability points instead of investing in real sustainable outcomes.”“Legacy does not matter to me as much now. Being a good dad and a good mate matters more.”About Our Guest:Stuart Cook is an award-winning engineering leader known for delivering major infrastructure programs, mentoring emerging engineers, and championing emotionally intelligent leadership in a traditionally technical field. From the Ipswich Motorway upgrade to the Coomera Connector South project, Stuart has built a career grounded in curiosity, humility, and passion for developing people.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Stuart on LinkedIn to follow his work and insights.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Dr. Sean Brady, a forensic engineer, safety expert, and founder of Brady Heywood Consulting. Known for leading the landmark Brady Review into fatal mining accidents, Sean breaks down why our current approach to safety is fundamentally flawed and how the way we design systems, reward behavior, and report incidents can quietly create the very risks we think we are preventing.Sean shares what he discovered while investigating major failures across mining, aviation, health, and engineering, and why so many organizations unknowingly encourage silence, hide near misses, and measure the wrong things entirely. From normalization of deviance to the dangers of chasing zero-harm metrics, this episode challenges leaders to rethink how they view systems, human behavior, and organizational learning.Whether you lead teams, manage major projects, or simply want to understand what true safety looks like, Sean's insights will shift how you think about risk, leadership, and culture.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Rethinking Safety and System Design:Why most companies mistake the absence of incidents for the presence of safety.The real reason safety statistics often hide, not reveal, fatal risks.How normalization of deviance creeps into everyday work and leads to catastrophic failures.Why high-reliability organizations like aviation do not rely on compliance alone.Leadership, Reporting, and Culture:Why bad news rarely flows upward and how leaders can change that.How to create a culture where people report near misses instead of hiding them.Why learning beats blaming and how organizations unintentionally punish honesty.What senior leaders must do to build genuine psychological safety.Building Systems That Actually Keep People Alive:Why effective controls, not hazards, determine whether people survive high-risk work.How to design critical controls and verify their effectiveness continuously.The powerful difference between set-and-forget systems versus systems that learn.How dropped object reports and near misses can reveal deep system weaknesses.Key Quotes from Dr. Sean Brady:"It is not hazards that kill people, it is ineffective controls.""Zero harm sounds good, but what your people hear is: do not report anything.""When you cannot measure what is important, you make what you can measure important.""High-reliability organizations do not expect perfection. They expect things to go wrong.""Our companies are built for good news to flow up, not bad news."About Our Guest:Dr. Sean Brady is a forensic engineer, consultant, and internationally recognized expert in safety and organizational failure. Through his company, Brady Heywood Consulting, Sean investigates complex failures across high-risk industries and helps leaders understand how systems break and how to design organizations that learn, adapt, and prevent catastrophic events. His work on the Brady Review reshaped how Australia views mining fatalities and organizational risk.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Dr. Sean Brady on LinkedIn to learn more about his work.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ashley Stewart, Project Director at Turner & Townsend, whose global experience across major events, construction, and program delivery gives her an extraordinary 360-degree perspective on Queensland's future. From starting on construction sites in Scotland at 18 to shaping the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and delivering Canada's Pan Am Games, Ashley brings a rare blend of lived experience and strategic insight.Together, Lauren and Ashley explore the state's biggest challenges, from housing shortages to capability gaps to the cultural shifts reshaping the workforce. As the 2032 Olympics fast approaches, what will it truly take for Queensland to build a workforce ready for the world stage?Grounded, honest, and deeply human, this episode offers practical wisdom for anyone navigating growth, leadership, or the emotional weight of relocating a family across continents.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Realities of Migration and Major Events:Why relocating a family is far more complex and emotionally taxing than people assumeThe hidden financial layers of international migration (shipping, customs, housing, credit history, vehicles, schools)How Ashley's experience across Glasgow 2014 and Toronto Pan Am Games informs her predictions for Brisbane 2032Why Brisbane is a different test case compared to London or LA due to city size, growth rate, and resource constraintsQueensland's Housing and Infrastructure Challenge:Why housing shortages could become one of the biggest barriers to workforce growthHow policy, zoning, approvals, and red tape shape development timelinesWhy large-scale master planned communities may be essentialThe ripple effects: schools, healthcare, roads, and the infrastructure needed to support incoming workers and familiesHow the cost of living and interstate migration are reshaping South East QueenslandWorkforce Capability, Skills, and Diversity:Why Queensland faces unique skill shortages heading into the Olympic decadeHow long procurement cycles awarding work years ahead affect workforce planningThe alarming 12% decline in women in construction over the past yearThe role flexibility, culture, and workplace systems play in retaining women“You can't be what you can't see”: why visible role models matterHow technology, hybrid work, and outcome-based management can close capability gapsLeadership, Flexibility, and the Future of Work:Why flexibility is not one size fits all, and why organisations must redefine itThe dangers of “flexibility but” policiesHow trust, autonomy, and outcome-focused leadership strengthen cultureThe double-edged sword of remote work: freedom vs. the pressure of being “always on”Why leaders must build sustainable systems, not rely on individuals to “push through” burnoutThe Mental Load, Comparison Trap, and Redefining SuccessWhy so many professionals, especially women, feel overwhelmed post-COVIDHow social media distorts expectations around careers, parenting, homes, and successWhy intentionally protecting your inner circle changes everythingThe importance of letting go of comparison and building connections aligned with your valuesHow community groups like NAWIC and industry bodies build confidence, belonging, and supportCommunity, Networking, and BelongingWhy meaningful networking is about depth, not quantityHow newcomers to Queensland can build a professional community from scratchThe power of reaching out to new arrivals, women returning from maternity leave, and early-career professionalsWhy smaller events often spark richer, more authentic connectionsThe role of committees, advocacy groups, and industry organisations in shaping the future of constructionKey Quotes from Ashley Stewart:“I want to be able to push open doors that people thought were closed and hold them open for others to walk through behind me.”“If I had known how hard relocating with a family would be, I'm not sure I would've done it.”“Queensland is such an attractive place to live, but that makes housing one of our biggest challenges.”“Flexibility can't be ‘flexibility but', it has to be tailored to the individual.”“You can't be what you can't see. Visible role models matter.”“Sometimes you walk into your home and your kids run to you, and that's the moment that makes everything feel worth it.”About Our Guest:Ashley Stewart is a Project Director at Turner & Townsend, with a career spanning major global events including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Toronto's Pan Am Games, alongside significant roles in construction, program delivery, and infrastructure. With deep experience across Scotland, Canada, and now Queensland, Ashley brings a unique lens to workforce capability, housing challenges, and the human realities behind major development cycles. Passionate about women in construction, flexibility, and leadership, Ashley is committed to opening doors and building pathways for future generations.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn and follow Turner & Townsend's workStay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Nick Mair, founder of Pack Mentality Group and a rising voice for men's mental health across construction, mining, and FIFO workforces. Nick opens up about his near-fatal mental health crisis, the moment Lifeline saved his life, and how that experience inspired him to build a movement centered around community, connection, and giving men a safe space to speak without judgment.Nick unpacks the hidden struggles workers face in high-pressure, male-dominated industries, from isolation and fatigue to identity shifts and societal expectations. Whether you lead teams, work onsite, or simply care about the well-being of people around you, this conversation will challenge you to rethink strength, connection, and what it means to show up for each other.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Truth About Men's Mental Health:Why men are three times more likely to die by suicideThe silent toll of isolation, societal pressure, and identity shiftsHow stigma keeps men suffering alone and hiding behind “I'm fine”Why connection, not toughness, is the real antidoteInside the FIFO and Construction Reality:How long shifts, heat, fatigue, and remoteness impact mental healthWhy FIFO workers face unique guilt, stress, and relationship strainThe hidden dangers of financial pressure and “golden handcuffs”How simple support structures can change the culture on-siteBuilding Pack Mentality Group & The Power of the Pack:The story behind Pack Mentality Group and the “wolf pack” conceptWhy Nick created the onsite Wolf Chap and Wolf Angel rolesHow the Palmy Army gives men a safe space to talk openlyThe importance of catching subtle behavioural shifts earlyConnection, Identity & Living Your ValuesWhy our identity should not be tied to our job titleHow changing gender roles leaves many men feeling “lost”The danger of ignoring misalignment in your careerWhy removing the phone can transform any conversationKey Quotes from Nick Mair:“People don't want to hear your obituary. They want to hear your story.”“Men want to be seen. They want to be heard. Just like everyone else.”“Fatigue is the biggest driver of poor mental health onsite.”“We're losing connection through technology, and we're not built for that.”“You'd be surprised how quickly a mate will show up when you say, ‘I'm not doing well.'”About Our Guest:Nick Mair is the founder of Pack Mentality Group, an organization dedicated to smashing the stigma around men's mental health. Through workplace sessions, Mental Health First Aid training, and community groups like the Palmy Army, Nick provides education, awareness, and safe spaces for men to be seen and heard. His mission is fueled by his own lived experience and a passion for ensuring no one feels as alone as he once did.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Nick on LinkedIn and explore Pack Mentality Group's mission.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ryza Garbacz, the second-generation Managing Director of NEACH, a leading Australian steel fabrication and manufacturing company. From humble beginnings in a small Noosa workshop, NEACH has evolved into a powerhouse supplier for some of the nation's most complex infrastructure projects, championing regional capability and sovereign manufacturing.Ryza shares his journey from sweeping floors in his family's factory to managing major tier-one projects across Australia, before returning to transform his family's 50-year-old business. He reflects on lessons in leadership, authenticity, and the power of building loyalty through developing homegrown talent.The conversation explores data-driven decision-making, transparent communication, and creating a culture that thrives through change. Ryza also unpacks the resurgence of trades, the transition ahead for Australian manufacturing, and the importance of sustainable growth. He leaves listeners with an inspiring message about legacy, purpose, and building a business that endures beyond yourself.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Leadership and Legacy:How Ryza transformed his family's business into a sustainable, future-focused manufacturer.Why true legacy means building something that thrives without you.Lessons from 50 years of continuous operation and what it takes to survive in a changing economy.Career Growth and Authentic Leadership:How working on large infrastructure projects built the foundations for authentic, people-first leadership.The power of humility, likeability, and transparency in advancing your career.Why trusting your gut and having hard conversations are essential leadership skills.Building and Retaining Talent:How to create loyalty and long-term retention through homegrown apprenticeship programs.Why investing in people early builds a stronger culture and business resilience.Insights into tackling the trade shortage and inspiring the next generation of skilled workers.Data, Decisions, and Sustainable Growth:How to use data to make smart, strategic decisions that keep your business alive and thriving.The importance of measuring everything and knowing your numbers “to the cent.”Why not all growth is good growth. Understanding sustainable scaling in construction and manufacturing.Resilience, Balance, and HappinessRyza's personal journey from a high-paying corporate career to rebuilding a family business for purpose and lifestyle.Why choosing happiness, family, and nature over constant hustle leads to real success.The value of staying human in an increasingly automated, AI-driven world.Key Quotes from Ryza Garbacz “Authenticity in how you deal with people is everything; it creates loyalty and trust.”“True legacy is building something that can survive without you.”“Data doesn't lie. If you don't know your numbers, you can't run your business.”“Don't chase growth for the sake of it. Growth has to be meaningful.”“I chose happiness, and that was the best business decision I ever made.”About Our Guest:Ryza Garbacz is the Managing Director of NEACH, a second-generation Australian manufacturing company based on the Sunshine Coast. With a background in civil engineering and a decade working on major infrastructure projects across the country, Ryza brings a unique blend of hands-on experience, commercial acumen, and deep commitment to regional manufacturing. Under his leadership, NEACH has become a trusted partner in sovereign supply and sustainable growth across Australia's construction sector.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Ryza Garbacz on LinkedIn to learn more about his work and insights on the future of Australian manufacturing.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth & Law Forum will host a free, daylong event for middle and high school students, parents, and guardians. This year's theme, "Call to Action: Your Voice, Your Power," seeks to inspire and empower youth to understand their rights, use their voices, and envision themselves as future leaders in law and justice. Scheduled for November 1st, the event will be held at Church By the Side of the Road and Tukwila Municipal Court. Bobby Alexander and Fae Brooks joins the Rhythm & News Podcast to talk about this milestone year and why this program continues to make such a powerful impact. Interview by Chris B. Bennett
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Paul Rojas, a commercial litigation lawyer and founder of ConstructSupport Australia. Paul pulls back the curtain on the silent crisis gripping the construction industry: record-high insolvencies. With years of experience working with builders, liquidators, and directors in the midst of legal storms, Paul provides a stark look at the realities of cash flow strain, contract breaches, and the domino effect that can topple even established companies.Paul shares hard-won wisdom on why proactive legal counsel is not an expense, but a critical investment in your business's survival. He demystifies complex contract clauses, reveals the common pitfalls that sink SMEs, and outlines the practical steps every construction business owner must take to shield themselves from financial collapse. Whether you're a seasoned builder or a new subcontractor, this episode is an essential guide to building a more resilient and legally sound business.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Insolvency and Risk in Construction:Why insolvency rates in the construction sector are at an all-time high.The “four-year lag” effect of economic shocks like COVID-19.The domino effect when one builder collapses and how it impacts the entire supply chain.Contracts and Legal Protection:Common contract mistakes that can destroy your business.The difference between variations and cost escalation clauses and why it matters.Why every builder and subcontractor must understand their contract terms, not just have them.Business Growth and Leadership:Paul's unique “merge to retire” model for law firm acquisitions.How to build a sustainable business through referrals, acquisitions, and trusted partnerships.Lessons from leading teams, spotting culture misfits, and trusting your gut in hiring.Resilience and Legacy:How to restructure a struggling business and turn it around.The power of focus and why staying in your niche protects you from unnecessary risk.Paul's vision for a more transparent, accessible legal service model for SMEs.Key Quotes from Paul Rojas“As boring as it sounds, it always comes down to your contracts; they're there to protect you.”“Insolvency doesn't hit straight away. There's always a four-year lag before the real impact shows.”“Stick to what you know and do it well. You can't be everything to everyone.”“Sometimes the biggest lesson in business is learning to trust your gut.”About Our Guest:Paul Rojas is a commercial litigation lawyer and founder of RCR Lawyers, ConstructSupport Australia, and a national debt collection company. With more than 20 years of experience across construction, insolvency, and commercial law, Paul has helped countless businesses navigate disputes, avoid collapse, and rebuild stronger. Passionate about making legal support more accessible, he is now pioneering a subscription-based legal model for SMEs in the building industry.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Paul Rojas on LinkedIn to learn more about his work.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Scott Clements, Managing Director of Inertia Engineering, whose story is one of resilience, innovation, and leadership in an ever-evolving construction industry. Scott shares how he built his company from the ground up, navigated economic downturns, and even doubled in size during COVID, proving that adaptability is the ultimate advantage. He and Lauren dig into how AI and design automation are transforming civil engineering, cutting project timelines in half while freeing teams to focus on creativity and problem-solving.They also explore the realities of leadership, how to protect culture as you grow, hire the right people, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. From tackling labor shortages to reimagining the government's role in driving productivity, this episode is packed with fresh insights and inspiration for leaders ready to embrace change and keep building, no matter what challenges lie ahead.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Resilience and Leadership:How Scott's business grew through global crises like the GFC and COVIDWhy resilience and adaptability are key traits in engineering leadershipThe mindset needed to lead through uncertainty and growthAI and the Future of Engineering:How AI and automation are transforming design and project deliveryWhy communication and creativity will be the most valuable future skillsThe importance of learning to “interrogate” AI rather than fear itHow new technology partnerships are revolutionizing civil engineeringCulture and People:The secrets to maintaining company culture through rapid growthWhy hiring great people (not “mini-mes”) accelerates business successBuilding leadership teams that value diversity, autonomy, and trustIndustry Insights and Government's Role:How Australia's construction industry can boost productivity and innovationWhy government and industry collaboration is vital for addressing skills shortagesThe role of immigration and training in solving the labor crisisPersonal Lessons and Balance:Scott's belief that energy, fitness, and family are key to sustainable leadershipThe legacy he hopes to leave for his team and the engineering industryKey Quotes from Scott Clements“In the new age of AI, the things that will matter most are communication and creativity.”“Culture doesn't have to fade as you grow; it just has to evolve.”“If we don't become more productive, we'll all keep paying more for everything we build.”“AI won't replace engineers, but engineers who use AI will replace those who don't.”About Our GuestScott Clements is the Managing Director of Inertia Engineering, a leading civil engineering consultancy known for embracing innovation and sustainability. With over 20 years of experience, Scott has built a reputation as a forward-thinking leader who integrates technology, creativity, and culture to deliver impactful engineering solutions. From pioneering AI partnerships to mentoring future leaders, Scott is shaping the next generation of engineering excellence.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Scott on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
Send us a textIn this episode of the Earrings Off Podcast we feature a powerful conversation with Olaolu Ogunyemi from Parent Child Connect! Learn practical parenting tools, hear inspiring stories about faith, family, and resilience, and discover how our communities can come together to build a brighter future for our kids. ✨ Faith & Family Insights
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Sally Stannard, the Director General of Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads. Sally's journey from a farm in New South Wales to leading one of the most ambitious transport reform agendas in Australia is one of grit, curiosity, and transformation. In this powerful conversation, Sally reveals her insights into the importance of leadership, inclusivity, and how women are breaking barriers in the traditionally male-dominated infrastructure sector.From the challenges of starting in a country town to leading large-scale infrastructure projects, Sally shares her experiences of creating change in the transport industry. She discusses how crucial it is to understand both design and construction, the importance of leadership during high-stakes moments, and why she believes infrastructure is about people, not just concrete and contracts.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Female Leadership: Breaking Barriers and Building SupportThe power of mentorship and inclusion in fostering female leadersBalancing career, family, and leadership responsibilitiesCreating an environment where women can thrive and leadTransforming Public TransportHow the 2032 Olympics is reshaping Queensland's infrastructureBuilding sustainable, accessible transport systems for future generationsThe role of public transport in connecting urban and regional communitiesCollaborative Contracting: Partnership Over PaperworkMoving beyond contract forms to foster true collaborationHow shared risks and rewards create stronger project outcomesThe importance of communication and transparency between sectorsShaping People and CultureMentorship and its impact on long-term industry successBuilding a culture where talent is nurtured and valuedCreating lasting change through inclusive leadershipInfrastructure as LifelineThe crucial role of infrastructure in remote and crisis-stricken areasRebuilding communities quickly after natural disastersHow regional infrastructure supports broader economic stabilityTechnology Transforming InfrastructureHow digital twins and AI are making infrastructure smarter and saferLeveraging technology for more efficient and sustainable systemsThe future of infrastructure: anticipatory solutions for safer communitiesKey Quotes from Sally Stannard:"Your career is shaped by the people you talk to.""I used to think that everything was about what I was working on, but I recognize now that how we work and who we work with, the team that we show up with every day, that's the thing that changes what it feels like to go to work.""Sitting on the outside knocking wasn't letting me have the kind of change that I wanted to have, so it motivated me to go inside.""A team's job is not to critique each other. It is to find the things that are real issues and resolve them, not just throw them across the table at each other."About Our GuestSally Stannard is a visionary leader and a driving force behind the transformation of Queensland's transport systems. She is passionate about creating inclusive, forward-thinking infrastructure projects that address the needs of the community while embracing cutting-edge technologies. Throughout her career, Sally has worked across multiple facets of the transport sector, championing digital innovation, sustainable practices, and collaborative approaches to infrastructure development.Connect with Sally Stannard on LinkedIn.About Your HostLauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with engineers, contractors, and leaders in construction and infrastructure.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode, Scott Becker recognizes five remarkable leaders for their resilience, drive, and entrepreneurial success.
In this episode, Scott Becker recognizes five remarkable leaders for their resilience, drive, and entrepreneurial success.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan chats with Erik Vandenberg, a seasoned leader with a fascinating journey from technical expert to executive in the energy sector. Erik's career spans diverse roles in aircraft maintenance, oil and gas, and now, executive leadership in energy transitions. Erik reveals his insights into leadership evolution, the power of emotional intelligence, and the rapid changes in the energy industry.From navigating mergers and organizational change to making high-stakes decisions in critical environments, Erik's journey offers valuable lessons on how to lead through uncertainty and drive meaningful progress. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting in your career, this episode provides actionable insights for anyone looking to thrive in complex industries.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Emotional Intelligence & LeadershipHow emotional intelligence and curiosity shaped Erik's leadership success and enabled him to manage teams through mergers and cultural shifts.Navigating Energy TransitionsErik shares how the energy sector is evolving and how businesses need to adapt to sustainability and technology shifts, including AI and decarbonization.Leadership ChallengesFrom technical expert to strategic leader: the skills and mindset Erik adopted to lead across diverse disciplines and industries.Lessons from the FieldReal-world insights into managing high-stakes projects in oil and gas, including a terrifying near-miss in commissioning gas turbines.The Role of AI in Leadership & BusinessHow AI is changing industries, but also the concerns it raises about workforce development and cognitive abilities for the next generation.Key Quotes from Erik Vandenberg"The skillset you need as a leader in technical industries is vastly different from being a problem-solving SME.""It's a transition of emotional intelligence, not just retaining information. As leaders, you need to learn how to lead people, not just manage projects.""The energy transition isn't a cliff. It's a mix of solutions. Nuclear, gas, renewables, AI, all are part of the puzzle.""Leadership is about doing the right thing, having the right conversations, and making tough decisions, even when it's uncomfortable."About Our GuestErik Vandenberg is a leadership expert with extensive experience in mechanical engineering, oil and gas, and the energy sector. Currently focused on leading growth during the energy transition, Erik's career spans technical, operational, and strategic roles. Passionate about mentoring, he continues to navigate complex projects, always seeking the next challenge. Erik advocates for the importance of combining technical expertise with emotional intelligence in leadership.About Your HostLauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with engineers, contractors, and leaders in construction and infrastructure.Connect with Erik Vandenberg on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
Lalitha Murali is a gifted and talented teacher for the Glendale River-Hills School District. 16 years ago, when she started teaching, she noticed that there were only a handful of immigrant and minority children in the gifted programs. By starting educational outreach programs and organizing workshops, Lalitha targeted the underrepresented groups in her school a community. Today, she offers advanced learning opportunities for immigrant and minority families. Lalitha has been recognized several times for dedication and passion in the field and most recently, her commitment to advancing STEM education has earned her recognition as a Globant STEM Award Winner for the Inspiring Leader
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Michael Terry, a construction leader whose career journey has taken him from dreaming of becoming a vet to running his own business to senior leadership roles on both the contracting and client side. Michael shares candid insights into work ethic, ownership, and the importance of systems in building successful projects, as well as how to transition from “110% worker” to leader and mentor.Michael's story highlights resilience, entrepreneurial drive, and the value of mentoring the next generation. From early struggles at school to shaping communities through large-scale developments, his journey offers valuable lessons for anyone in construction, engineering, or leadership.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeCareer Journey & ResilienceHow Michael went from aspiring mechanic and vet to becoming an engineer and entrepreneur.Lessons learned from starting and running his own business while studying.The importance of seeing setbacks as opportunities to build persistence and grit.Ownership & Work EthicWhy treating every project dollar as your own drives better results.How ownership shapes decision-making, from budgets to quality.The balance between working at “110%” and knowing when to slow down.Leadership & MentorshipTransitioning from worker to leader: leading by example and giving teams freedom to succeed.Why recognition and trust are vital in motivating high-performing teams.The role of mentoring in passing on hard-earned knowledge to the next generation of engineers.Systems & Business MindsetHow building repeatable systems creates long-term project success.Why a project should be run like its own business with a P&L mindset.The risks of leaner project teams and subcontractor-driven delivery models.Client-Side PerspectiveThe shift from contractor to client-side leadership and why patience is key.How to hold contractors accountable for quality while shaping better project outcomes.The legacy of moving from invisible infrastructure to building visible communitiesKey Quotes from Michael Terry“Every dollar is your dollar. Would you accept it at home if you were paying for it?”“You can make one mistake, but never the same mistake twice.”“Most of the money is made before you break ground; after that, you're just chasing it.”“The answer is three phone calls away, build your network, and don't be afraid to ask.”About Our Guest:Michael Terry is a seasoned construction leader with experience spanning demolition, infrastructure, and development. From running his own business in his early 20s to senior leadership in client-side development, he brings a unique perspective on ownership, systems, and building high-performing teams. Passionate about mentoring, Michael is committed to sharing his knowledge with the next generation of engineers and leaders.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with engineers, contractors, and leaders in construction and infrastructure.Connect with Michael Terry on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan talks with Matthew Mackey, a no-nonsense leader with 27 years in construction across the UK and Australia. Matt shares real-world insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, and navigating burnout in an industry that often overlooks people skills. He opens up about a six-week “disaster stint” in contracting, the power of simplifying complex ideas, and why kindness is essential, not optional, for long-term success.Matt challenges the myth of linear career paths and calls for leaders who admit mistakes and prioritize psychological safety. He also highlights how his networking group, Property Leaders Brisbane, supports professionals across Australia's construction landscape.Whether you're early in your career or leading a team, this episode offers practical wisdom and a refreshing perspective. Real leadership isn't about titles; it's about creating environments where people can truly thrive.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Leadership That ConnectsWhy technical expertise doesn't equal leadershipThe missing human skills: storytelling, empathy, and being "just a good human"Why EQ not just KPIs is the future-proof skillChanging a Stuck IndustryWhy innovation in construction starts with people, not just AI or procurement modelsHow legacy processes, rigid hierarchies, and ego block real progressThe myth of “the honest tradie” and the undervaluing of consultants in AustraliaCulture, Kindness, and the Cost of SilenceWhat “no-blame culture” really looks like and how it failsThe hidden damage caused by promoting toxic top performersCreating safe spaces for mistakes, feedback, and actual changeFrom Panic to PurposeMatt's six-week contracting experiment and the lesson he'll never forgetThe power of gut instinct and what happens when you ignore itWhy trusting your intuition is often smarter than following the titleBuilding Networks That LastThe origin of Property Leaders Brisbane and its grassroots missionWhy Matt stopped networking for work and started connecting peopleHow a side project became a platform for industry-wide impactKey Quotes from Matthew Mackey:“If it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no.”“Leadership would be easy if it weren't for the people.”“We've built a whole industry of people talking about leadership. That tells you how big the gap really is.”“You don't have to manage people to be valuable. We need other paths.”“I don't want credit, I just want to grease the wheels for change.”About Our Guest:Matthew Mackey is a senior construction and infrastructure leader with over 27 years of experience across the UK and Australian markets. Known for his honest, often humorous take on leadership and systems, Matt is committed to transforming how we work, not just what we build. He's the founder of Property Leaders Brisbane and co-host of The Shovel podcast.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Matthew Mackay on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey, and check out his podcast, The Shovel Podcast.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Josh Yates, co-founder of Landy Group, a company that's reimagining leadership in construction through relationships, trust, and community. Josh shares how he went from corporate loyalty to co-founding a people-first business with multiple arms and a clear social purpose. He opens up about navigating financial risk, arbitration, and the emotional challenges of leadership, while staying anchored in humility and impact.From team culture to legacy-building, this conversation is packed with real talk on what it takes to lead with heart. Whether you're starting out or scaling up, Josh's story will inspire you to build beyond the blueprint.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Relationships First, AlwaysWhy long-term trust beats short-term transactionsThe biggest mistakes people make when building networksHow a single relationship led to Landy's first major winPeople Over TitlesThe "no ego" rule that drives Landy's team cultureHow hiring based on values changed everythingWhy treating your team like family is worth the riskReal Talk on Leadership and ResilienceThe lessons learned from a painful arbitrationWhy investing in HR, IT, and accounting early made all the differenceHow Josh manages culture while the company scalesLegacy Beyond ProjectsThe social impact outcomes that drive Josh's workHow Landy helps clients create lasting community benefitsWhy legacy means leaving people better than you found themKey Quotes from Josh Yates:“If you've got an ego, don't work at Landy.”“Some of our best wins came from relationships built over coffee, not contracts.”“Titles don't matter. Showing up does.”“Our legacy isn't just a bridge. It's the lives we've helped transform.”“You can be all in with your team and still be a strong leader.”About Our Guest:Josh Yates is the co-founder of Landy Group, a growing consultancy and delivery firm in the infrastructure and construction sector. With over two decades of experience, Josh is known for his genuine leadership style, focus on relationships, and commitment to social impact. He believes in building businesses that serve people first and profits second.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Explore the Landy Group website to see their latest ventures and impact.Connect with Josh on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
In this episode ofBuilding Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Michael Furey, leadership coach, former sales leader, and founder of We Aspire, to unpack why construction leadership needs a radical reframe. From being demoted in his first management job to building programs that train Australia's future leaders, Michael shares how lived experience, failure, and values-led development are transforming how we build capability across the industry.Drawing parallels between professional sport and construction, Michael reveals why project leaders aren't just managing jobs, they're living a lifestyle, often with unsustainable expectations. He breaks down why authoritarian leadership is crumbling, why skills shortages are pushing values misalignment to the brink, and how even small changes (like asking your boss's boss what they need) can kickstart massive personal and cultural shifts.Whether you're an aspiring leader or shaping policy at the top, this conversation is packed with real talk, practical insight, and a refreshing reminder that leadership isn't about knowing it all, it's about caring enough to learn.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Career Transitions & Personal Growth:Why Michael's leadership journey began with burnout and a demotion, and how that changed his approach forever.The story of a junior leader who paid $8K out of pocket for training, and what it reveals about ambition, ROI, and the hunger for change.Why “fake it till you make it” sometimes works, and when it absolutely doesn't.Real Leadership Development:The lie school teaches us about failure, and how it cripples leadership growth later in life.Why “being too nice” might be your greatest leadership asset.The missing piece in most corporate training: identity, belief, and emotional foundations.Why asking “What's your boss' boss' intent?” could be your secret weapon.Industry-Specific Challenges:How construction mimics professional sport, and why that's burning out both junior and senior leaders.Why leading in construction is 80% emotional intelligence, 20% technical ability.The unsustainable reality of six-day project weeks and how Capital Group redesigned the model.How the industry's lack of trust is undermining leadership and learning.Future Thinking & System Shifts:Why expecting engineers to suddenly become innovators is a flawed strategy.How firms like Capital Group are proving courage (not comfort) drives lasting change.What the rise of AI and tech outsiders means for traditional leadership pathways.Key Quotes from Michael Furey:“Being technically good doesn't mean you're people-good.”“If you're too nice to be a leader, we probably need more of you in leadership.”“Failure isn't the end. It's where the real learning begins.”“The biggest lie? That ‘it's the thought that counts.' Action always matters more.”“We train project leaders like it's a job, but it's actually a lifestyle, more like a professional sport.”“Sometimes I spelled ‘strengths' wrong while teaching strengths, and that became the lesson.”“Don't wait for your company to develop you. The ROI on personal investment is exponential.”“The leaders who stand out are the ones who understand what their boss' boss is trying to do.”About Our Guest:Michael Furey is the founder of We Aspire, a leadership development firm focused on the construction and infrastructure sectors. A former sales manager turned coach, Michael blends lived experience, deep vulnerability, and industry insight to help emerging and senior leaders navigate real-world leadership. His new book, Shifting Foundations, captures insights from over 20 leaders across the sector—and is available for free via We Aspire.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone passionate about construction, leadership, or meaningful workConnect with Michael Furey on LinkedInDownload his free book Shifting Foundations via WeAspireStay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! Remember: The best leaders aren't waiting for doors to open, they're building them.
Get more leadership insights and behind-the-scenes tips: Follow Business Tips for Gym Owners by Clicking HereAttend the event virtually or in person and keep leveling up your leadership game: Reserve your spot here or email tom@vincegabriele.com if you have questions. Ever wonder how the most effective leaders get their teams to produce results without leaving a trail of resentment behind? In this episode, we unpack the real-world strategies behind leading with clarity, building trust, and creating accountability—without becoming the boss everyone avoids in the break room. If you want a team that delivers and respects you, this conversation is your cheat code. 5 Key Points from the CallClear Expectations Are Everything: Fuzzy goals create confusion. Great leaders communicate exactly what success looks like and check for understanding—no assumptions allowed.Accountability Without Micromanaging: You don't have to babysit adults. Learn how to install accountability systems that free you from chasing people down while keeping standards sky-high.Leading with Empathy (Not Weakness): Empathy doesn't mean letting standards slide. It means you understand your team's perspective—and still hold them to what matters.Why “Nice” Isn't the Same as “Respected”: If you're always trying to be liked, you'll end up resented. This episode breaks down how to earn respect by making the hard calls with integrity.The Secret to Sustainable Motivation: Hype fades. Purpose lasts. Discover how to connect daily tasks to the bigger mission so your team stays driven even when things get hard. Get more leadership insights and behind-the-scenes tips: Follow Business Tips for Gym Owners by Clicking HereAttend the event virtually or in person and keep leveling up your leadership game: Reserve your spot here or email tom@vincegabriele.com if you have questions. If you're a gym owner seeking answers on how you can grow your gym, make more money, and have more freedom to do what you love, visit www.vincegabriele.com or book a call by CLICKING HERE!
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan chats with Luke Crouch, a former air traffic controller who made a bold leap into construction project management. Luke's unconventional career, from managing McDonald's to directing airspace and now leading infrastructure projects, challenges traditional ideas about how talent enters the construction industry.He opens up about the risks of changing careers, including taking a pay cut and starting over, all in pursuit of a more fulfilling path. Luke shares how persistence, adaptability, and values-driven leadership helped him stand out in a competitive market and build a rewarding new chapter.Once introverted, Luke has evolved into a people-focused leader, using culture as a cornerstone of team and client success. His story is a powerful example of how diverse backgrounds bring fresh thinking to the industry.Whether you're navigating a career shift or leading a team, Luke's insights will inspire you to rethink what's possible.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Career Transitions & Resilience:Why Luke walked away from a six-figure salary in air traffic control and how it led to a more fulfilling career.The “cold-calling” strategy that landed him his first role in construction and why persistence matters more than traditional resumes.How skills like decision-making under pressure translate across industries.Leadership & Hiring Differently:Why Luke now prioritizes initiative and drive over industry experience when hiring.The flaws in traditional recruitment (e.g., Seek ads) and why “annoying” candidates often stand out.How to onboard talent from non-traditional backgrounds and foster innovation.Industry Challenges & Cultural Shifts:Why construction is still slow to adopt change, and how younger generations are driving tech/AI integration.The surprising reality of project management: 80% people skills, 20% technical work.The impact of building a “just culture” where learning from failure is embraced.Balancing rigid contracts with client relationships and why flexibility wins long-term trust.Personal Growth & LegacyHow becoming a father reshaped Luke's priorities and what he hopes to model for his son.The leadership philosophy he borrowed from aviation: “Just Culture” (no blame, collaborative problem-solving).His vision for leaving a legacy of empowerment and collaboration in construction.Key Quotes from Luke Crouch:"There are times where a leader has to push because otherwise things get stuck and they stagnate. But I think most of the time you can get through if you show trust in people, and people will perform better than you realize when they're given the opportunity.""I wanna see people really empowered in this space. And that's something that I will continue to drive for my entire career." "I'm excited for the future of technology, especially in the construction space. I think that improved efficiencies in construction are gonna be a fantastic boom for the whole industry."About Our Guest:Luke Crouch is a Project Manager at Flexem, bringing a unique blend of skills from air traffic control, retail management, and construction. Known for his problem-solving mindset and commitment to fostering diverse talent, Luke is helping reshape how the industry approaches hiring and leadership.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Luke on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! Remember: The best leaders aren't waiting for doors to open, they're building them.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan welcomes Domenic De Fazio, a seasoned executive whose career journey from project manager to CEO is marked by conviction, courage, and consistency. Domenic shares the raw truth about navigating leadership without compromising your values, and what happens when the traditional leadership "suit" no longer fits who you are. From making the leap into executive roles to managing board dynamics and driving a values-based culture, this is a masterclass in real-world leadership.Whether you're an emerging leader or a seasoned professional rethinking your next move, this episode unpacks what it means to lead with empathy, build trust, and influence without manipulation, even in complex corporate environments.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Leadership & Organisational CultureWhy empathy and consistency matter more than charisma in leadershipHow to build and scale culture across teams, departments, and countriesThe art of giving feedback that's honest, not brutalNavigating Executive RolesHow Domenic stepped into the CEO seat while staying true to himselfWhy board dynamics are often dysfunctional, and how to lead through themSkills that matter most at the GM and C-suite levelsCareer Development & SuccessionHow visibility and risk-taking can accelerate your riseThe difference between managing up and bringing people alongWhy being “seen” matters more than ever in hybrid workplacesAuthenticity & Personal LegacyThe link between personal values and professional leadershipWhy authenticity creates safety, and what that looks like in practiceHow to leave a legacy that empowers others to be their best, most honest selvesKey Quotes from Domenic De Fazio:“If getting to the top means I have to be more of a mongrel, I'm okay not getting to the top.”“Sometimes people just need time to get used to ideas. You plant the seed and let it grow.”“There's nothing authentic about brutality. Feedback should be empathetic and honest.”“If you're not seen, you're not seen. Visibility matters.”“Because they worked with me, I hope people felt they could be their true selves.”About Our Guest:Domenic De Fazio is a seasoned executive and former COO who has built his career on authentic leadership, strategic risk-taking, and a deep commitment to building cultures that last. With experience across project management, operations, and executive roles across Australia and New Zealand, Domenic's story is a blueprint for leaders who want to do more than succeed; they want to lead with purpose.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Domenic De Fazio on LinkedIn Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thanks for listening! Leaders don't wait for doors to open, they build them.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Harley Whaikawa, Director at Minerva Group, whose journey from the military to civil engineering and into consultancy leadership is anything but traditional. From cold calls and rejection to becoming a respected voice in fire engineering and a force on LinkedIn, Harley shares the lessons he's learned about authenticity, leadership, and playing the long game.Whether you're a graduate seeking your first role or a business owner navigating the digital landscape, this conversation provides a no-fluff look into building a reputation that lasts, both online and offline.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Leadership & High PerformanceWhy leading by example is non-negotiable in high-performing teamsHow Harley's military discipline translates into running a consultancySetting standards and attracting like-minded professionalsBrand & Business DevelopmentHow Harley went from 300 LinkedIn connections to 12,000+ weekly impressionsWhat actually works (and what flops) when trying to build a personal brand onlineWhy human connection beats automation every time in sales and relationship-buildingCareer Journeys & TransitionThe real talk about leaving the military and starting overHow rejection, cold calls, and missed expectations shaped Harley's gritWhy building a consultancy is not all sunshine and smooth sailingAuthenticity in a Digital WorldThe power of transparency, inside your calendar, team culture, and online presenceWhy authenticity online isn't optional anymoreWhere AI fits into the future of business (and where it really doesn't)Key Quotes from Harley Whaikawa:“You can't fake effort. People spot it a mile away.”“If I'm not willing to operate at a high level, how can I expect others to?”“LinkedIn is a two-to-three-year game. You've got to do it for the right reasons.”“People still do business with people they like and trust.”About Our Guest:Harley Whaikawa is Director at Minerva Group and a leader in fire engineering consultancy. A former military forward observer turned civil engineer, Harley brings structure, grit, and a human-centered approach to building businesses, teams, and client relationships. He's also grown a vibrant, authentic presence on LinkedIn, known as much for fire engineering insights as he is for his fruit trees.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Harley on LinkedIn and follow Minerva Group.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thanks for listening! Remember, leaders don't wait for an opportunity. They build it.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Jock Macfarlane, a leader in environmental and sustainability practices within the construction industry. Jock shares his insights on why Australia's construction sector is lagging in sustainability and how technological innovation can be the key to bridging the gap. Jock, a respected leader known for his authentic leadership style and dedication to diversity, also shares personal stories of career growth, finding balance, and the impact of becoming a father. Whether you're an industry veteran or just starting your career, Jock's story will inspire you to think differently about leadership, sustainability, and personal growth. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Leadership in Sustainability: Why Australia's construction industry is slow to adopt sustainability practices. How embedding sustainability into tender processes could drive change. The role of technology in reducing administrative burdens and increasing efficiency. Personal Growth and Leadership: How stepping back from a high-pressure career led Jock to a more balanced and purposeful life. Lessons on leadership and creating flexible, inclusive workplaces. The challenges and rewards of balancing career ambitions with family life. Diversity and Inclusivity: Why fostering diversity in the workplace is more than just a numbers game. Jock's approach to building a high-performing, diverse team in the construction sector. Key Quotes from Jock Macfarlane: “If we don't take action, our kids may not have a sustainable future.” “We need to rethink how we award contracts to encourage sustainable practices.” “Finding balance is about prioritizing what truly matters, both at work and at home.” About Our Guest: Jock Macfarlane is a passionate leader in the environmental and sustainability space within the construction industry. Known for his hands-on approach and dedication to diversity, Jock has led numerous teams to success while advocating for smarter, greener, and more inclusive industry practices. His journey from high-energy kid to national sustainability leader is a testament to the power of persistence and passion. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership. Connect with Jock on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey. Stay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn. Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content. Let's Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au. Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
Nancy MacKay is the founder and CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, an organization that provides the highest impact and least time-intensive peer support groups for CEOs, executives, and business owners across Canada and around the world. Since founding MacKay CEO Forums in 2005, Nancy has been dedicated to fostering inspiring leadership through confidential peer learning and support. Under her leadership, MacKay CEO Forums has built a community of over 1,200 members, facilitated by 60+ Forum Chairs, delivering an ROI of 708% through increased profit, employee retention, and customer satisfaction as measured by the ROI Institute Canada in 2022. A seasoned CEO coach, dynamic keynote speaker, former university professor and published author, Nancy's latest book, I Don't Have Time, co-authored with Nico Human, tackles the top time mastery mistakes CEOs make and provides actionable strategies to reclaim time and productivity. She is also the co-author of two influential books with Alan Weiss: The Modern Trusted Advisor and The Talent Advantage. Nancy is also actively involved in her community, serving on the boards of the Genwell Project and the Rick Hansen Foundation Campaign Cabinet, and co-chairing the Vancouver Committee for Canada's Great Kitchen Party. She holds a B.Math and a Master's degree in Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo, and a Ph.D. in Business from Canterbury University in New Zealand. Residing in British Columbia, Canada, Nancy enjoys playing squash and traveling the world with her family. From professor to CEO entrepreneur, Nancy shares the many faces of her journey - its challenges, opportunities, inspiration, and reward. Now in its 20th Anniversary year, Nancy explains the concept of MacKay CEO Forums and the peer support format available for CEOs, senior executives, and business owners. Nancy highlights the ways in which they take a stand for diversity and inclusion and their dedication to provide relevant and real-life thought leadership in a space of non-judgment. On a date night over 20 years ago, Nancy shared her compelling vision with her husband Rob and together they created an organization that is rooted in service and contribution toward populating the world with inspiring leaders. It's lonely at the top but with the intentional community they've curated, CEOs, executives and business owners don't have to go it alone.
Dr. Adam Galinsky, a celebrated social psychologist, professor at Columbia Business School, a world-renowned expert in leadership and negotiation, bestselling author, and speaker joins me on this episode. Adam is known for his research on leadership, decision-making, teams, and ethics. He's been featured in Forbes, The New Yorker, Fast Company, GQ, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and other notable media outlets.
Trust in various institutions is declining, making itincreasingly valuable in business. The fourth trust survey released byPricewaterhouseCoopers highlights the significance and opportunity of trustamong business executives, consumers, and employees. Among respondents, 95% ofbusiness executives agree that organizations have a responsibility to buildtrust, an increase from 92% in 2023. The numbers for consumers and employeesare also high, with 92% and 94% agreeing, respectively, remaining unchanged fromthe previous year. There is not only a moral case for building trust but also abusiness case, as 93% of business executives believe that the ability tocultivate and maintain trust positively impacts the bottom line. Amongexecutives, 42% cite productivity as the biggest risk if employees do not trusttheir employer, followed closely by the quality of products and services (41%),operational efficiencies (40%), and profitability (38%). Surprisingly, employeeretention ranks lower on the list. Traditionally, companies have consideredtrust among employees as a way to attract and retain talent. However, this dataindicates that a lack of trust among employees significantly affects everydayoperations. The risk is not simply that employees may leave; it is that theymay stay but work only half-heartedly. Additionally, 60% of employees report that they haverecommended a company as a good place to work because they trusted it, whereas22% have left a company due to trust issues. Adam Malone is a leadership consultant, corporate keynotespeaker, and father of five, known as “The Tenacious Operator.” After a 20-yearcareer in the corporate world—17 of which he spent with one company, risingfrom analyst to VP—Adam left in 2024 to pursue his passion for helping highperformers become great leaders of resilient teams. His mission is to assistleadership teams and mid-level managers in identifying barriers to performance,enabling teams to function cohesively and thrive even in high-pressureenvironments. Adam's philosophy is that most leadership behaviors arestraightforward but require consistency, especially on challenging days. Hefocuses on transforming “soft skills” like trust and empathy into realstrengths that foster engagement and inspire change. He joined me this week toshare more about his approach. LinkedIn: @AdamMalone Text operator 33777
“The way to get to the heart of an employee is by asking a question that you haven't asked before that opens up a new side to them.” - Dr. Beverly Kaye In this episode of the People Dividend, host Mike Horne engages with Dr. Beverly Kaye, a renowned author and thought leader in career development and employee engagement. They discuss the release of her latest book, 'Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go,' which emphasizes the importance of career conversations in organizations. Dr. Kaye shares insights on navigating the evolving workplace landscape, including the impact of remote work, the gig economy, and AI on employee engagement. The conversation highlights the significance of asking meaningful questions as a leadership tool and offers practical strategies for fostering employee motivation and retention. Key Points: Understanding psychological safety is crucial in the workplace. Leaders should focus on asking meaningful questions to engage employees. How AI is transforming the learning and development landscape. Links: Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/, LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/, Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike Learn More about Dr. Beverly Kaye http://www.bevkaye.com email: bev@bevkaye.com X @beverlylkaye Youtube: @Bev Kaye & Co.
Leading with Purpose Navigating Leadership in All Its Forms Tune in for this transformative conversation on why leadership and energy go hand in hand—and how to step into your full potential as a leader. Gain Insight On: ✅ The connection between leadership & energy ✅ How to lead with purpose and authenticity ✅ Practical strategies for stepping into your power As an energy solution coach, my mission is to help leaders break free from exhaustion, align with their purpose, and maximize their impact. By leveraging your unique strengths with intention and energy, you can lead powerfully, inspire others, and create meaningful change. BIO Enrique is the CEO of Triad Leadership Solutions LLC, and served 26 years in the United States Navy. Enrique was named on the power list of the Top 200 (#76) thought leaders to follow by PeopleHum, a nominee of the top 30 Global Guru's list by Global Gurus, Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership by LeadersHum, Top 10 Inspiring Leaders of 2023, 2024 Global 100 Executive Coach of the Year, and 2024 Best CEO Mentorship & Leadership Development Firm for his work in the leadership development arena. He is a best-selling author of five books and an award-winning podcaster. He is a sought-after John Maxwell certified coach, trainer and speaker and is an avid mentor in three national and international organizations. His impactful delivery of leadership truths leaves the listener with renewed hope and energized to regain their position in leadership and make an impact in their sphere of influence. CONNECT WITH ENRIQUE ACOSTA GONZALEZ ▶LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enriqueacostagonzalez/ ▶YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dtlwpodcast FREEBIE ▶DM Enrique 5 points from this podcast interview and get a FREE Leadership Book BUSINESS RESOURCES ▶Your ticket to Freedom
Dr. Jade Miller joins host Dr. Joel Berg for a very special episode of little teeth, BIG Smiles discussing a major opportunity within organized dentistry. After nearly 25 years, Dr. John Rutkauskas will be retiring as AAPD CEO in July 2026. Dr. Miller, as chair of the search committee to find AAPD's new leader, shares details of the role as well as what it means to join an AAPD staff committed to the optimal oral health for all children. Guest Bio: Dr. Jade Miller is a board-certified pediatric dentist who since 1983 has maintained a private practice in Reno, Nevada. Dr. Miller is a faculty member in dental and medical education, as well as a member in some of the country's most prestigious dental organizations. A past American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry president, he is the current AAPD Board of Trustees Congressional Liaison. While Dr. Miller has been practicing pediatric dentistry for four decades, his education has never really ended. He devotes time to continuing education so that he can offer “his kids” the best and most modern treatments available. Dr. Miller has dedicated his career to keeping at the forefront of pediatric developments and providing his patients with the best service available. Dr. Miller is married and has three children.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What's the difference between an inspiring boss and an infuriating one? What qualities do the best coaches, teachers and mentors share? Adam Galinsky, PhD, author of “Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others,” discusses why leaders often have even more power than they realize, the universal qualities of good leadership, and how anyone can learn to become a more inspiring leader in their work, as a parent, and in other aspects of their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Negotiate Anything: Negotiation | Persuasion | Influence | Sales | Leadership | Conflict Management
Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company In this insightful episode of "Negotiate Anything," host Kwame Christian engages in a compelling conversation with renowned social scientist and author Adam Galinsky. As a professor at Columbia Business School, Adam dives deep into the concepts from his books Friend and Foe and his latest release Inspire. The discussion explores the delicate balance between being a friend and a foe, the characteristics that define inspiring leadership, and practical advice on how to become more inspiring in everyday interactions. This episode is a must-listen for current and aspiring leaders who seek to harness inspiration as a powerful tool for effective negotiation and leadership. What We Covered: The contrasting dynamics of being a friend versus a foe in leadership roles. The three universal factors of inspiring leadership and their global relevance. Real-life examples and actionable strategies for becoming a more inspiring leader. Connect with Adam Buy the book Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others Buy the book Friend & Foe: When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both Contact ANI Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn The Ultimate Negotiation Guide Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race! Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
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