Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in Construction

Making Sustainability Work: Turning Vision into Action


Listen Later

What does it take to make sustainability more than a buzzword?

Recorded live at Autodesk University 2025 in Nashville, this conversation with Allison Scott, Director of Customer Experience & Industry Engagement at Autodesk, dives into how sustainability becomes real when it’s woven into the daily workflow.

Allison shares how the AEC industry is entering a hockey-stick moment—where data, technology, and culture converge to turn good intentions into measurable impact. From integrating carbon with cost to building a culture of accountability, this episode explores how innovation, accessibility, and human leadership are reshaping the built world for people and planet alike.

Highlights from the Conversation
  • Why sustainability must be embedded into everyday workflows
  • How connecting cost and carbon drives smarter business decisions
  • The rise of digital culture and generational change in AEC
  • Turning data into action: the role of tech in reducing emissions
  • Why transformation happens top-down and bottom-up
  • MEET OUR GUEST

    Allison Scott is Director of Customer Experience & Industry Engagement at Autodesk, leading sustainability initiatives that bridge technology and impact across the built environment. With over 20 years of experience spanning architecture, construction, and tech, Allison focuses on transforming sustainability from a concept into a core business advantage—helping firms design, build, and operate with purpose and performance in mind.

    TODD TAKES
    Sustainability Must Be Woven Into the Workflow

    Allison underscored that sustainability can’t be a side effort or a separate team in the corner—it has to become part of the everyday workflow. Just like BIM or digital field tools, the biggest gains happen when sustainable practices are integrated into decisions early and often.

    Practicality Turns Buzzwords Into Value

    Sustainability often feels overwhelming or abstract, but Allison reframed it as a practical, competitive advantage. By tying carbon data directly to cost, companies can ground big goals in everyday project choices—whether it’s reducing waste, reusing materials, or tracking embodied carbon. That shift moves sustainability from “good intentions” to measurable business impact.

    Transformation Happens Top-Down and Bottom-Up

    The industry is in a hockey-stick moment where both leadership mandates and grassroots champions are driving change. From superintendents using mobile tools to enterprise-level firms making sustainability part of their strategy, the cultural shift is accelerating. The future of innovation comes from aligning both forces to make sustainable, tech-enabled practices the norm.

     

    More Resources 

    Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.

    Bridging the Gap Website

    Bridging the Gap LinkedIn

    Bridging the Gap Instagram

    Bridging the Gap YouTube

    Todd’s LinkedIn

     

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    Graitec North America

    Graitec North America LinkedIn

     

    Other Relevant Links:

    Allison’s LinkedIn

    Autodesk’s Website

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in ConstructionBy Applied Software

    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5

    5

    30 ratings


    More shows like Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in Construction

    View all
    This American Life by This American Life

    This American Life

    91,072 Listeners

    Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

    Freakonomics Radio

    32,090 Listeners

    Planet Money by NPR

    Planet Money

    30,638 Listeners

    99% Invisible by Roman Mars

    99% Invisible

    26,171 Listeners

    The Ben Shapiro Show by The Daily Wire

    The Ben Shapiro Show

    154,200 Listeners

    The EntreLeadership Podcast by Ramsey Network

    The EntreLeadership Podcast

    4,389 Listeners

    The Construction Leading Edge Podcast by Todd Dawalt

    The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

    269 Listeners

    Pod Save America by Crooked Media

    Pod Save America

    87,135 Listeners

    The Daily by The New York Times

    The Daily

    112,482 Listeners

    Up First from NPR by NPR

    Up First from NPR

    56,391 Listeners

    The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

    The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

    8,505 Listeners

    Today, Explained by Vox

    Today, Explained

    10,230 Listeners

    Contractor Evolution by Breakthrough Academy

    Contractor Evolution

    50 Listeners

    Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

    Huberman Lab

    29,122 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,030 Listeners