Making Sustainability Work: Turning Vision into Action

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.

 

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Other Relevant Links:

Allison’s LinkedIn

Autodesk’s Website