Activating Curiosity® | Leading Change in the Construction Industry

AEC professionals spend their careers solving complex problems.

But are we applying that same problem-solving ability to our finances, businesses, careers, and lives?

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Ryan Sullivan, founder of Off the Beaten Path Financials and Off the Beaten Path Advisors, to explore a different question:

What if some of the financial realities we've accepted in AEC aren't rules at all?

Ryan began his career as a mechanical engineer. At just 22 years old, he could already see the traditional career path ahead of him, and he wasn't sure he wanted the life that seemed to come with it. That realization started a decade-long journey into investing, business ownership, financial planning, and understanding how money can create greater choice and control over time.

Today, Ryan works with AEC business owners on both business financial performance and personal wealth. Together, Ryan and Ryan explore the relationship between money, time, work, and the lives AEC professionals are trying to build.

They discuss why demanding careers in architecture, engineering, and construction can leave little time or capacity to focus on personal finances, how traditional career and compensation structures can limit a person's sense of control, and why becoming an excellent architect, engineer, or construction professional doesn't automatically prepare someone for the financial realities of running an AEC business.

The conversation also challenges some long-held assumptions about the business of AEC.

Do margins have to remain low because that's simply how the industry works? Does the traditional career path have to determine someone's earning potential? And how many of our financial assumptions are actual constraints versus beliefs we've stopped questioning?

Ryan challenges AEC professionals and firm owners to apply the same creative thinking and problem-solving skills they use to design buildings, solve construction challenges, and serve clients to their personal finances and businesses. There is no inherent rule saying AEC firms must remain low-margin or that profitability and building wealth are out of reach.

Because money isn't necessarily the goal. It can be a tool that creates more choices around our time, careers, businesses, and lives.

AEC professionals spend a lot of their lives building for other people.

It's worth getting curious about what we're building for ourselves.

What You'll Learn

• Why Ryan Sullivan began questioning the traditional engineering career path early in his career
• How money can become a tool for creating greater choice and control over time and income
• Why demanding AEC careers can make personal financial planning easy to postpone
• How traditional career and compensation structures can shape someone's relationship with work, money, and opportunity
• Why being a strong architect, engineer, or construction professional doesn't automatically prepare someone to run the financial side of an AEC business
• How better business financial practices can create opportunities for firm owners, employees, and the organization
• Why AEC's resistance to change can extend into business and financial practices
• How assumptions about low margins, profitability, and wealth building can become entrenched
• Why financial health is about more than investing or a once-a-year conversation about your 401(k)
• How AEC professionals can apply their existing problem-solving skills to personal finances and business finances

Who This Episode Is For

Architecture, engineering, and construction professionals, AEC firm owners, construction leaders, architects, engineers, project managers, operations leaders, emerging professionals, and anyone in the built environment interested in personal finance, financial planning, business finance, AEC business ownership, investing, career development, profitability, wealth building, and creating greater choice around their time and future.

Chapters

00:00 – Challenging AEC's Financial Assumptions
01:24 – The Financial Reality Behind the Work
05:17 – Ryan Sullivan's Path From Engineering to Finance
08:18 – “I've Got 40 More Years of This?”
11:25 – Taking Control of Time and Income
12:38 – Learning How Money Can Make Money
14:02 – Learning the Business Side of Engineering
18:54 – Turning Financial Experience Into a Purpose
20:05 – Money Is a Tool That Unlocks Everything Else
24:18 – Why AEC Professionals Don't Make Time for Their Finances
27:09 – Treating Financial Planning Like a Problem to Solve
33:18 – Bringing Business and Personal Finances Together
34:40 – The Financial Challenge of Running an AEC Firm
42:38 – Building Better Firms and More Opportunity
43:23 – The Hidden Cost of Staying in the Status Quo
46:14 – AEC Can't Keep Thinking About Business the Same Way
46:54 – Challenging the Low-Margin Mindset
47:30 – Apply AEC Problem-Solving to Your Finances

Guest

Ryan Sullivan is the founder of Off the Beaten Path Financials and Off the Beaten Path Advisors.

Ryan began his career as a mechanical engineer working in the building industry before his interest in investing, financial independence, and business ownership led him in a different direction.

After recognizing that the traditional career path didn't offer the level of control he wanted over his time and income, Ryan spent years studying markets, investing, business, and finance. His career eventually gave him the opportunity to build and manage an engineering department within a mechanical and plumbing contractor, providing firsthand experience with team leadership, business financials, sales, and operations.

Today, Ryan combines that experience with his work in financial advising and business consulting to help AEC professionals and firm owners think differently about money, business performance, personal wealth, and what's possible.

https://www.obpfinancial.com/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

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Explore construction leadership, operations, technology adoption, and AI’s role in improving company culture and productivity in the built environment.

Because construction leaders spend a lot of time talking about budgets, schedules, productivity, and technology.

But what if those aren't the real challenge?

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Casey Bell, CEO of Aecore and Co-Founder of Buildzen, to explore a different perspective:

What if the biggest challenge in construction is the construction experience itself?

Drawing from his experience building both a commercial general contracting company and a construction software platform, Casey shares how better systems, thoughtful leadership, and practical technology can remove friction—not just from projects, but from the everyday experience of the people delivering them.

Together, they explore what it takes to build stronger operations, improve technology adoption and change management, create healthier company cultures, and leverage AI in ways that support people instead of overwhelming them.

This episode challenges construction leaders to think beyond budgets, schedules, and software. Because when the experience improves for project teams, subcontractors, clients, and owners, better project outcomes naturally follow.

🎙️ Production Note: This episode was recorded with unexpected technical difficulties, so you may notice reduced audio quality throughout. We chose to share it because we believe the conversation is worth hearing. 

What You'll Learn

•  Why the construction experience matters more than budget or schedule 
•  How better systems and leadership reduce friction across projects 
•  The connection between company culture and operational success 
•  Why technology should support people instead of adding complexity 
•  Lessons from building both a construction company and a software company 
•  How AI is creating new opportunities for smaller contractors 
•  Practical ways to improve technology adoption inside construction companies 
•  Why leadership sets the standard for operational excellence 

Who This Episode Is For

General contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, construction leaders, operations professionals, entrepreneurs, technology leaders, project managers, and AEC professionals interested in construction operations, leadership, AI, construction software, process improvement, and the future of the construction industry.

Chapters

00:00 – The Biggest Problem Isn't Budget or Schedule

01:28 – From Economics to Construction

03:30 – Learning to Code on the BART Train

06:16 – When the Startup Dream Hit Reality

10:46 – Building a Construction Company Around Better Systems

17:17 – Construction Is Business on Hard Mode

23:01 – Better Systems Create Better Experiences

31:05 – Leadership Means Setting the Standard

36:14 – Why Technology Adoption Is So Hard

42:40 – Small Wins Build Better Change

46:32 – The Construction Experience Changes Everything

53:36 – What Happens If We Don't Fix It?

1:03:33 – Defining Success Beyond Growth

Guest

Casey Bell is the CEO of Aecore, a commercial general contractor, and the Co-Founder of Buildzen, a construction software platform helping general contractors simplify operations through better systems and workflows. After beginning his career with Turner Construction, Casey entered the startup world, participated in Y Combinator, and combined Silicon Valley's approach to software with hands-on construction experience.

Having worked in nearly every role within a construction company—from field operations and estimating to project management, finance, and software development—Casey brings a unique perspective on the intersection of construction, entrepreneurship, operations, and technology. Through Aecore and Buildzen, he is focused on helping the next generation of contractors build stronger businesses with simpler systems and better experiences.

https://www.buildzen.com/

https://www.aecore.com/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

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Discover construction workforce challenges, recruiting, talent retention, mentorship, and how culture impacts employee engagement in AEC firms.

We know the construction industry has a changing workforce.

But are the ways we recruit, hire, and develop people changing with it?

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Bryce Batts, Co-Founder of Career Collective and a recruiter with 20 years of experience in the AEC industry, to explore a different question:

Can construction really hire its way through a changing workforce?

Bryce has watched the AEC recruiting and talent landscape shift dramatically over the past two decades. The 2008 recession helped create a “missing middle” of experienced professionals, the balance between employers and candidates has changed, and today great candidates may be available for only days.

But finding people is only one part of the challenge.

Ryan and Bryce explore why architects and engineers leave firms, how culture and career development affect employee retention, and what happens when companies approach staffing as a reaction to project needs instead of a long-term business strategy.

They also dig into onboarding, mentorship, the expectation that new hires should “hit the ground running,” and how AI is changing recruiting for employers and job seekers alike.

As more of the hiring process becomes automated, the conversation comes back to something distinctly human: creating workplaces where people can grow, contribute, ask questions, and see a future for themselves.

The workforce is changing. The question is whether construction leaders are willing to get curious about why people join, why they stay, and why they leave.

What You'll Learn

•  How the AEC recruiting market has changed over the past 20 years 
•  Why great candidates can disappear from the market quickly 
•  How the 2008 recession contributed to today's missing middle 
•  Why reactive staffing can keep firms stuck in a cycle of filling holes 
•  Why culture and career growth influence whether people stay or leave 
•  What firms get wrong when they expect new hires to “hit the ground running” 
•  How onboarding and mentorship affect employee success and retention 
•  How AI is changing recruiting, resumes, sourcing, and candidate screening 
•  Why human connection may become more valuable as hiring becomes more automated 
•  What AEC firms can do to become places the next generation wants to join 

Who This Episode Is For

Architecture, engineering, and construction leaders, firm owners, HR and talent acquisition professionals, recruiters, operations leaders, project managers, emerging professionals, and AEC professionals interested in recruiting, employee retention, career development, workplace culture, AI, leadership, and the future of the AEC workforce.

Chapters

00:00 – Why AEC Firms Struggle to Stand Out
01:07 – The Human Side of Staffing and Recruiting
05:44 – How AEC Recruiting Has Changed
09:41 – When Employers Stopped Holding All the Cards
11:55 – Great Candidates May Be Gone in 10 Days
12:32 – How 2008 Helped Create the Missing Middle
13:30 – Stop Staffing Projects and Start Thinking Strategically
16:25 – Why People Leave: It's Not Just About Compensation
17:30 – Your Firm Sounds Like Everyone Else
22:17 – From Filling Positions to Building Careers
24:18 – The Problem With “Hit the Ground Running”
28:51 – How AI Is Changing Recruiting
37:17 – Why Human Connection Still Matters
44:08 – Building an Industry People Want to Join

Guest

Bryce Batts is the Co-Founder of Career Collective, a business consultant, speaker, bestselling author, podcast host, Certified Career Coach, and recruiter with 20 years of experience in the AEC industry.

Throughout her career, Bryce has placed more than 800 professionals while helping organizations rethink how they attract and retain talent. Her work focuses on strengthening talent acquisition strategies, creating career opportunities, and helping firms and professionals navigate a changing AEC workforce.

Bryce also hosts the Wine After Work podcast, where she creates candid conversations around careers, life, and the experiences shaping the people behind the work.

https://www.mycareercollective.com/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

⭐ “Love the show? Toss some stars my way, it’s the easiest applause ever.

Unpack how AI and information management in construction estimating, preconstruction, and project delivery can reshape productivity and housing affordability.

Construction has spent decades trying to build faster, reduce costs, and improve productivity. Yet estimating, preconstruction, permitting, coordination, and project delivery continue to consume more time and information.

But what if construction doesn't have a building problem?

What if it has an information problem?

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Togal.AI and CodeComply.AI and Chief Innovation Officer at Coastal Construction, to explore artificial intelligence in construction, preconstruction, estimating, housing affordability, and the human side of technology adoption. Together, they unpack how AI could help the industry make sense of the enormous amount of information surrounding every project while giving people more capacity to do the work they actually want to do. 

From automated takeoffs and faster preconstruction to permitting, offsite construction, productivity, and the rising cost of housing, this conversation explores the connection between how we work and what it ultimately costs to build. Patrick challenges the assumption that AI's biggest impact will be replacing people. Instead, he sees an opportunity to remove repetitive work and allow estimators, architects, contractors, and tradespeople to spend more time building, creating, solving problems, and adding value. 

This episode challenges construction leaders to look beyond AI as another piece of technology and ask a bigger question: If we can reduce the time and friction built into how projects move from idea to construction, what could that mean for housing affordability, the people working in the industry, and the communities we're building for? 

What You'll Learn:

Why construction may have an information problem disguised as a building problem.

How AI is changing construction estimating and preconstruction.

Why human involvement and control still matter when adopting AI.

How repetitive work can keep estimators and construction professionals from higher-value thinking.

Why time and inefficiency contribute to rising construction costs.

How faster preconstruction and project delivery could influence housing affordability.

Why AI may create opportunities for people to spend more time building, creating, and solving problems.

How technology, offsite construction, new materials, and different ways of working could reshape construction over the next decade.

Why the future of construction technology is ultimately still about the humans who build and occupy what we create. 

Who This Is For:

AEC and construction leaders, architects, engineers, contractors, estimators, preconstruction professionals, trade contractors, developers, construction technology leaders, innovators, and anyone interested in AI in construction, construction productivity, housing affordability, preconstruction, construction estimating, technology adoption, and the future of the built environment.

Chapters

I would build these from the actual final edit timestamps rather than guessing from the raw transcript. But the chapter subjects I see are:

00:00 — AI Can Handle the Complexity of Construction
 04:06 — Patrick Murphy's Journey from Construction to Congress and Back
 12:23 — Can AI Help Make Housing More Affordable?
 19:40 — AI as a Power Tool for Estimators
 25:10 — Why Humans Need Control to Trust AI
 28:20 — How AI Could Help Smaller Contractors Grow
 33:15 — The Connection Between Construction Productivity and Housing Costs
 39:40 — What Happens If We Don't Solve Housing Affordability?
 48:05 — Construction Is an Information Problem Disguised as a Building Problem
 52:05 — Could AI Give People More Time Back?
 58:10 — Rethinking Success in Construction
 1:02:30 — Challenge the Norm: Patrick's Vision for the Future

Guest

Patrick Erin Murphy is the founder and CEO of Togal.AI and Chief Innovation Officer at Coastal Construction, the largest general contractor in Florida. Raised in a multigenerational construction family, Patrick began his career as a laborer before working in project engineering, estimating, and accounting.

A CPA and former U.S. Congressman, Patrick has also worked at Deloitte and served as Chair of the Future Forum Foundation, researching issues including automation and artificial intelligence. In 2023, he was appointed to the President's Export Council as the only representative from the construction industry.

Today, Patrick brings his experience across construction, finance, public policy, and technology to exploring how AI can reduce friction, improve productivity, and help the industry build more efficiently.

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

⭐ “Love the show? Toss some stars my way, it’s the easiest applause ever.

Construction has spent decades trying to solve labor shortages, productivity challenges, and rising costs. But what if the greatest opportunity isn't simply changing how we build? What if it's changing what we consider "standard?"

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Melanie Taylor, Vice President of BILDT, to explore why industrialized construction is about far more than prefabrication or modular buildings. Together they discuss how leadership, collaboration, manufacturing thinking, and curiosity are reshaping the future of construction while creating better outcomes for people, projects, and communities.

Rather than asking whether industrialized construction will replace traditional methods, this conversation challenges construction leaders to ask a different question:

What becomes possible when we redefine the standards we've accepted for how buildings are designed, delivered, and built?

From Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) and integrated project delivery to workforce development, lean thinking, healthcare, housing, and leadership in change, this episode explores how curiosity and collaboration can help the construction industry navigate transformation with greater confidence.

What You'll Learn

•  Why industrialized construction is ultimately about people, not factories 
•  How leadership shapes the adoption of new construction methods 
•  Why redefining standards creates new opportunities for innovation 
•  The value of upstream planning and early collaboration 
•  How Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) improves certainty, quality, and project outcomes 
•  Why community impact should be a measure of construction success 
•  How curiosity helps leaders navigate change in the construction industry 
•  Why the future of construction depends on rethinking today's assumptions 

Chapters

00:00 – What If We Changed the Definition of Standards?

02:17 – Melanie's Journey into Industrialized Construction

09:20 – Why Construction Must Change

13:00 – Better Projects Start with Better Collaboration

18:51 – Challenging the Myths of Prefabrication

23:43 – The Human Side of Change

30:23 – Measuring Success Beyond Cost and Schedule

36:28 – Proof, Data, and Building Trust

42:35 – Redefining Standards for the Future of Construction

49:44 – Building Better Communities

55:27 – Access, Opportunity, and Industrialized Construction

66:45 – Curiosity and the Future of Construction

Guest

Melanie Taylor is Vice President of BILDT, where she helps advance industrialized construction through collaboration, innovation, and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA). With decades of experience spanning lean construction, prefabrication, integrated project delivery, and manufacturing, Melanie works across the AEC industry to help teams rethink traditional building methods while improving project outcomes and expanding access to healthcare, housing, and critical infrastructure.

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

⭐ “Love the show? Toss some stars my way, it’s the easiest applause ever.

Construction has spent decades improving physical safety.

Hard hats. Harnesses. Glasses. Training. Procedures. PPE.

But what about the things we can't see?

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Dina Fodero, speaker, certified Enneagram Practitioner, and creator of I-PPE™ (Invisible Personal Protective Essentials), to explore the human side of safety in construction.

Together, they unpack why protecting people may require us to think beyond physical safety to psychological safety, mental health, belonging, communication, relationships, and the experiences people carry with them into work every day.

Drawing from Dina's experience building and leading a business centered around women, the conversation explores what happens when people feel supported, respected, and safe enough to grow—and what those lessons might teach an industry still working to create stronger cultures for women and men alike. Dina's own experience of feeling like an outsider became an important influence on how she approached culture, belonging, and helping others thrive.

The conversation also challenges the idea that communication, empathy, emotional intelligence, and other human skills are somehow "soft." Because navigating the complexity of ourselves and the people around us may be some of the hardest work we do.

From women supporting women and men becoming better allies to leadership, workplace culture, mental health, and the invisible factors influencing retention, this episode asks construction leaders to widen the way we think about keeping people safe.

Because what we don't see doesn't mean it isn't happening. 

What You'll Learn

•  Why physical safety may be only one part of protecting people at work 
•  What Dina means by I-PPE™ and Invisible Personal Protective Essentials 
•  How psychological safety and belonging influence construction culture 
•  Why human skills for construction leaders deserve the same attention as technical skills 
•  What women in construction experience when they feel isolated or like outsiders 
•  How women can support other women without protecting their own "seat at the table" 
•  Why men have an important role as allies 
•  How leaders can better understand people's strengths, blind spots, and communication styles 
•  Why culture can't be created through one-time training or onboarding 
•  How mental health and the invisible experiences people carry affect both women and men in construction 

Who This Episode Is For

Construction leaders, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, project managers, field leaders, HR and people leaders, women in construction, male allies, and AEC professionals interested in psychological safety, mental health in construction, workplace belonging, emotional intelligence, leadership development, construction culture, and the human side of the built environment.

Chapters

00:00 — Construction Protects the Body. But What About the Person?
 04:59 — Learning That Culture Matters as Much as Technical Skill
 09:?? — Creating a Culture Where People Feel Safe to Grow
 15:16 — Hiring People With Heart
 23:27 — We Don't Leave Our Lives at the Door When We Go to Work
 28:21 — Women in Construction Don't Need to Navigate It Alone
 32:36 — There's Nothing Soft About Human Skills
 34:44 — Leaders Have to Remember They're Leading People
 42:22 — Culture Isn't a One-Time Training
 46:31 — There's Enough Room on the Beam
 47:42 — The Invisible Challenges Affect Men Too
 52:20 — What We Don't See Doesn't Mean It Isn't Happening

Guest

Dina Fodero is a speaker, certified Enneagram Practitioner, and creator of I-PPE™ (Invisible Personal Protective Essentials) and Dare to D.R.E.A.M.™, frameworks focused on emotional and mental safety, human connection, and personal growth.

With more than 20 years of experience in leadership, communication, education, and personal development, Dina helps individuals and teams better understand the invisible factors influencing how people think, communicate, lead, and experience work. Her work has a particular focus on supporting women in construction while also encouraging stronger mentorship, allyship, and human connection across teams.

Her belief is simple: PPE protects the body. I-PPE protects the person.

https://www.dinafodero.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-fodero-85056835/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

⭐ “Love the show? Toss some stars my way, it’s the easiest applause ever.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the construction industry—but technology alone won't determine who succeeds.

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Timber Barker to explore why successful AI adoption starts with people, not software. Rather than asking whether AI will replace jobs, this conversation challenges leaders to ask a different question:

How can AI help people do their best work?

From architecture and engineering to construction and facility management, AI has the potential to eliminate repetitive work, improve decision-making, and return valuable time to the people solving complex problems. Together, Ryan and Timber explore digital twins, connected data, workflow automation, and why keeping humans "in the loop" remains essential as AI capabilities continue to evolve.

This episode challenges construction leaders and AEC professionals to rethink AI implementation, digital transformation, and innovation. Because the future won't be defined by the organizations with the most technology—it will be shaped by the leaders who help people use it well.

What You'll Learn

•  Why AI adoption is more about people than technology 
•  What "Human in the Loop" means for construction leaders 
•  How digital twins improve project intelligence and decision-making 
•  Why connected data is the foundation of effective AI 
•  How AI can eliminate repetitive work without replacing human expertise 
•  Practical ways to introduce AI without overwhelming your organization 
•  Why curiosity is a competitive advantage in an AI-driven future 
•  How AI improves collaboration across design, construction, and facility management 

Who This Episode Is For

Architects, engineers, contractors, owners, facility managers, technology leaders, innovation teams, and AEC professionals interested in artificial intelligence, digital twins, BIM, construction technology, workflow automation, and leading digital transformation in the built environment.

Chapters

00:00 – AI Is More Human Than You Think

01:46 – From Ranch Kid to AI Entrepreneur

05:26 – Why Construction's Biggest AI Opportunity Is Hidden Data

08:21 – AI Isn't Software. It's Your Personal Operating System.

14:16 – Solving Construction's As-Built Crisis

22:38 – The Live Digital Twin: Connecting Every Phase of a Project

26:34 – How AI Can Design a Security System in Seconds

30:20 – From Five Hours to Fifteen Minutes

34:00 – Why Construction Still Fears AI

37:18 – AI Is Personal: Start with One Person, Not the Whole Company

54:24 – Building Your Company's AI Brain

59:49 – The Cost of Waiting

1:06:41 – AI Won't Replace Curiosity

Guest

Timber Barker is the Founder and CEO of Boom Interactive, where he helps organizations harness artificial intelligence, digital twins, and connected data to transform how buildings are designed, constructed, and managed. With a background spanning technology, software development, and the built environment, Timber focuses on making AI practical, accessible, and human-centered. His work helps AEC firms improve decision-making, streamline workflows, and unlock the value of their existing data while keeping people at the center of innovation.

Learn more: https://www.boominteractive.io/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
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For years, sustainability has often been framed as a choice between doing what's right for the planet and doing what's right for business.

But what if the fastest path to climate action has nothing to do with asking people to sacrifice?

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Josh Dorfman host of Supercool and co-founder and CMO of Plantd to, explore sustainable construction, climate innovation, building products, and the human side of change. Together, they unpack why the most successful ideas aren't adopted because they're labeled sustainable—they're adopted because they solve real problems, improve people's lives, and create better outcomes for everyone involved.

From healthier buildings and product innovation to consumer behavior, business strategy, and the psychology of adoption, this conversation challenges how we think about sustainability in the construction industry. Rather than convincing people to care more, Josh shares why the future belongs to solutions that people naturally want to choose.

This episode challenges construction leaders, manufacturers, architects, and innovators to rethink how sustainable construction gains momentum—and why creating better products may be the most powerful way to create lasting change.

🎙️ Production Note: A technical issue around 21:16 resulted in a change in audio/video quality. Thanks for sticking with us. 

What You'll Learn:

• Why people don't buy sustainability—they buy better buildings.
• The biggest misconception about driving climate action.
• How better products outperform better marketing.
• Why human behavior influences innovation more than technology alone.
• The connection between business value and sustainable construction.
• How healthier, higher-performing buildings accelerate adoption.
• Why solving real problems creates lasting change.
• How construction leaders can influence the future through better solutions instead of better arguments.

Who This Is For:

AEC and construction leaders, architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, developers, sustainability professionals, building product innovators, business leaders, and anyone interested in sustainable construction, climate innovation, human-centered change, product adoption, and the future of the built environment.

Chapters

00:00 — People Don't Buy Sustainability. They Buy Better Buildings.
02:31 — Josh Dorfman's Journey into Climate Innovation
07:55 — Why Sustainability Shouldn't Feel Like Sacrifice
13:16 — Stop Selling Sustainability. Start Solving Problems.
17:42 — Why Guilt Doesn't Drive Lasting Change
29:35 — Why Better Products Beat Better Technology
32:25 — The Electric Datsun That Changed Everything
39:32 — Passive House: Why Benefits Matter More Than Labels
46:36 — When Climate Work Becomes Personal
52:56 — Does It Matter If People Believe in Climate Change?
59:11 — The Real Cost of Doing Nothing
1:05:33 — Defining Success Through Impact

Guest

Josh Dorfman is a climate entrepreneur, author, and media personality dedicated to accelerating the adoption of practical climate solutions. He is the CEO and host of Supercool, a media company exploring innovations that reduce carbon emissions, improve business performance, and enhance everyday life.

Previously, Josh co-founded and served as CEO of Plantd, a carbon-negative building materials manufacturer recognized by Fast Company as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies in 2024. Throughout his career, he has launched sustainable businesses, led climate-focused organizations, and helped shape how consumers and businesses think about sustainability and innovation.

Josh is also the creator of The Lazy Environmentalist, an award-winning media brand that became a television series, national radio show, and bestselling book series. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, and Reuters.

Learn more at https://getsuper.cool/ and https://www.plantdmaterials.com/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

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Affordable Housing Starts With Better Questions | Purpose, Community & Construction

Affordable housing is often framed as a construction challenge, with conversations focused on cost, speed, and supply. Yet behind every housing project is a deeper question about community, purpose, and the people those spaces are intended to serve.

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Rory Rubin, Founder and CEO of SI Container Builds, to explore her unique journey from social work to construction and how that perspective is shaping conversations around affordable housing, community development, and innovation in the built environment.

Drawing from experiences in nonprofit leadership, healthcare, organizational development, and entrepreneurship, Rory shares how purpose became the common thread throughout her career. Together, the conversation explores the housing crisis, community engagement, offsite construction, and why meaningful solutions often begin by understanding the human needs behind the projects we build.

From workforce housing and sustainable construction to leadership, collaboration, and change, Rory offers a refreshing perspective on what it takes to create lasting impact in both communities and the construction industry.

This episode challenges a common assumption that solving housing challenges is only about better building systems. Instead, it highlights how curiosity, trust, and purpose-driven leadership can help create stronger communities and better outcomes for everyone involved.

What You'll Learn:

• Why affordable housing is about more than construction costs
• How a background in social work shaped Rory's approach to leadership
• The connection between community engagement and successful project outcomes
• Why collaboration is essential when addressing complex industry challenges
• How purpose can guide career transitions and entrepreneurial decisions
• The role offsite construction plays in addressing housing challenges
• Why curiosity creates better conversations around change and innovation
• How leaders can build trust by listening before leading
• The importance of partnerships when creating community-focused solutions
• Why human-centered thinking may be one of construction's greatest opportunities

Who This Is For:

Architects, engineers, contractors, developers, manufacturers, community leaders, and AEC professionals interested in affordable housing, community development, offsite construction, construction leadership, innovation, and navigating change across the built environment.

Chapters

[Final timestamps]

Guest

Rory Rubin is Founder and CEO of SI Container Builds, a company focused on sustainable offsite construction solutions utilizing shipping containers for housing, workforce accommodations, commercial spaces, and community-centered projects.

With a professional background spanning social work, healthcare, organizational development, and business leadership, Rory brings a unique perspective to construction—one centered on purpose, collaboration, and creating meaningful impact. Through her work, she continues to advocate for affordable housing, community development, and innovative approaches to solving challenges across the built environment.

Learn more:
https://www.sicontainerbuilds.com/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

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For over 20 years, the construction industry has discussed prefabrication, modular construction, and industrialized construction as solutions to labor shortages, productivity challenges, and project inefficiencies. Yet, adoption has been slower than many expected.

Why?

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Josh Mensinger, President of Integrity Built Texas and Prefab, to reveal a hard truth often overlooked:

The biggest barriers to prefabrication aren't technical—they're human.

Drawing on two decades of experience in offsite construction, Josh explains how resistance to change, fragmented delivery models, outdated assumptions, and industry silos continue to hinder progress across the built environment.

Their conversation covers the evolution of prefabrication, the crucial role of integration and education, and why overcoming construction challenges demands more than new technology—it requires rethinking collaboration, learning, and decision-making.

This episode challenges AEC leaders to look beyond products and processes, focusing on the human side of innovation.

What you'll learn:

• Why prefabrication adoption remains slower than expected
• How human behavior impacts construction innovation
• The influence of delivery models on prefab success and failure
• Why education is one of the industry's greatest opportunities
• Connections between labor shortages and industrialized construction
• How integration and collaboration improve project outcomes

Who this is for:
Architects, engineers, contractors, developers, manufacturers, and construction leaders interested in prefabrication, industrialized construction, construction innovation, and leading change in the AEC industry.

Chapters
00:00 Cold Open: Who Really Defines Prefabrication?

01:06 Meet Josh Mensinger | IntegrityBuilt & Industrialized Construction

21:07 Why the Construction Industry Is Teaching Prefabrication Wrong

25:30 The Real Barrier to Prefabrication Isn't Technology

34:16 Why Industrialized Construction Is About People

46:25 What Happens If Construction Doesn't Change?

1:04:25 The Flatiron Building: A Prefabrication Success Story

1:10:28 The Hardest Part of Construction Change

1:16:42 How Construction Leaders Can Get Started

Guest:
Josh Mensinger is President of Integrity Built Texas, with over 20 years advancing prefabrication, offsite, and industrialized construction throughout the AEC industry.

His expertise spans light gauge steel framing, panelized construction, bathroom pods, volumetric modular solutions, design-assist delivery, and integrated project teams. Josh works closely with architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers to bridge traditional construction with emerging industrialized approaches.

He continues to champion integration, education, and collaboration to improve productivity, address labor shortages, and accelerate innovation in construction.

https://www.integritybuilt.us/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

New Lyfe Accounting
Free Diagnostic ($500 value) for Activating Curiosity Listeners by NLA, to help your financial goals

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Have feedback or stories to share? Drop us a note or leave a VM—we’re listening!

Follow Ryan at the following: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

Don't miss out on future episodes! Follow & subscribe now to our newsletter and stay informed about the latest trends and insights in the construction industry.

If this show helps you, please consider supporting it. Just $3/month helps cover production and keeps the conversations going.

⭐ “Love the show? Toss some stars my way, it’s the easiest applause ever.