In this episode of KP Unpacked, the #1 podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols sits down with Chris Parsons, founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, to explore why knowledge management (KM) is no longer just an IT function—it's a strategic currency for AEC firms.

Chris shares his 15-year journey building Synthesis, a knowledge platform purpose-built for AEC, and how today's KM 3.0 (powered by AI) is reshaping how firms capture, share, and scale what they know. From navigating firm growth to managing M&A, this conversation covers what it really takes to design a smarter business.

🧭 Episode Chapters:

02:00 – Why Chris left firm life to build a KM company
07:30 – KM 1.0 → KM 2.0 → KM 3.0 (AI changes everything)
12:00 – The high cost of knowledge stuck in people’s heads
15:00 – What it means to “design your business like a building”
21:30 – AI’s role in making KM searchable and actionable
24:00 – KM as the secret weapon in M&A and scaling innovation
26:45 – Why executive sponsorship makes or breaks KM strategy
31:15 – Process is the product: rethinking “build vs. buy”
41:00 – Designing AI agents that work alongside humans
54:00 – The mindset shift every knowledge leader needs now

📚 Resources Mentioned:

• Synthesis – AEC-specific KM platform by Knowledge Architecture
• KA Connect – Annual KM conference for AEC professionals
• Smarter by Design – Chris’s newsletter on knowledge strategy
• People, Planet, Design by Corey Squire – Sustainability book with a KM chapter
• Eisenhower Matrix – Prioritization tool discussed in the episode

👤 Guest:
Chris Parsons – Founder & CEO, Knowledge Architecture

🎙️ Host:
Jeff Eccles – Executive Director, Catalyst by KP Reddy Co.