Thought Leadership Construction, Episodes

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 d...

Construction doesn’t have a building problem—it has an information problem. In this episode, Ryan Ware talks with Patrick Murphy, founder of Togal.AI and Chief Innovation Officer at Coastal Construction, about the enormous data and process complexity facing modern construction. They explore how AI-powered tools and better information management could revolutionize estimating, preconstruction, permitting, and project delivery to reduce costs, speed up timelines, and help solve the housing affordability crisis. Along the way, they highlight the critical role of humans in adopting technology and how reducing repetitive tasks creates more time for value-added work in the industry.

What happens when architects and construction leaders stop accepting the limits of traditional building materials—and start asking better questions? In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Allison Dring, CEO and Co-Founder of Made of Air, to explore how discomfort drives curiosity, innovation, and change in the built environment. Explore how biochar is becoming a key tool for sustainable building practices and climate action in the construction industry. With the con...

Affordable housing isn’t just about building more homes—it’s about whether people can actually sustain a place to live. In this bonus episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Nneoma Albert-Benson, founder of BEFA Women and Child Care Foundation, to explore how construction leadership and change in the AEC industry must go beyond supply and into the systems that determine long-term stability. This conversation challenges a common assumption: that homelessness is the problem. I...

The housing crisis isn’t just a policy problem—it’s a production problem hiding in plain sight. In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Ryan Smith, Co-Founder of ModX, to explore how construction leadership and change management in the AEC industry must evolve to address housing affordability at scale. This conversation challenges a common assumption: that better policy alone will solve the housing crisis. Instead, Ryan Smith breaks down why housing affordability is...

Climate policy shifts happen fast—but construction leadership in change management is what separates winning AEC firms from reactive ones. In this bonus episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan and Laura Steinbrink (CEO, Emerald Built Environments) dive into the mindset shifts and industry transformation needed when policy changes overnight. Discover the strategic framework for navigating regulatory uncertainty and building organizational resilience. This conversation challenges a common assumpti...

Mass timber isn’t just a material shift—it’s a mindset shift critical for construction leadership development. In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Kristen Slavin, founder of Conifer Advising, to explore how construction leadership and change management in the AEC industry must evolve to explore how construction leadership, change management, and modular construction in the AEC industry must evolve to successfully adopt innovative building systems like mass timber....

Mini Series Part 6: Change fatigue is real in construction—but it’s not caused by change itself. It’s caused by our relationship with it. In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware explores how construction leadership and change management in the AEC industry can shift from resistance to resilience by building a stronger relationship with change. Discover proven change leadership tips and strategies for building resilient teams that thrive in evolving construction environments. ...

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™ | Leading Change in the Construction Industry, Ryan Ware sits down with Kristin Kautz of JAM Idea Agency to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the AEC industry—and why most firms are approaching it the wrong way. This conversation challenges a common assumption: that AI is a tool to implement. Instead, Kristin reframes it as something closer to “air”—an embedded capability that enhances how teams already work, rather than something separate...

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Ali Salman of Workspace Modular Structures to explore how prefab and modular construction can help solve some of the construction industry’s biggest challenges. This conversation challenges a common assumption: that the industry’s current methods are sufficient. Instead, Ali reframes the opportunity—highlighting how modular construction offers a scalable path to address infrastructure, housing, and labor shortages. Together, th...