The Power of Construction

We call it “strategy,” but what if that word has lost its meaning in construction? Helen Gawor breaks down why construction strategies fail—and what real strategy looks like when it inspires your people, not just your boardroom. She calls out the industry’s addiction to lagging indicators, the dangers of blame culture, and why a "no bad news" mindset kills performance. You want transform...

Futurist Nikolas Badminton challenges the industry to reimagine what’s possible when we move from “what is” to “what if.” He introduces the Four Futures reshaping construction: Design, Decision-Making, Productivity, and Workforce. These aren’t predictions—they’re invitations to explore how augmented intelligence, global labor shifts, and a renewed sense of purpose are already changing ho...

Everyone says construction needs to innovate—but no one agrees on who’s actually responsible for making it happen. Is it the owner? The builders? The tech vendor? Or is innovation everyone’s job—and therefore no one’s?

In this episode, Amy Marks, SVP of Innovation at Compass Datacenters, breaks down why innovation in construction get...

In a market where cost, speed, and quality are table stakes, owners are demanding more than projects delivered on time and on budget. They want trusted partners who bring strategy, intelligence, and collaboration to every phase. In this episode, Skanska's Regional Executive Officer, Anita Nelson, shares how owner–contractor relationships are evolving, why operating models must shift alongside s...

Everyone’s talking about AI in construction — but are we asking the harder questions: Who owns the intelligence AI creates? Whose data powers it? And what happens when AI is wrong?

In this episode of The Power of Construction, we look beyond the hype to explore what true data and AI readiness means for our industry. From subcontracto...

In this episode of The Power of Construction, we explore how AI is reshaping not only construction but the way organizations everywhere think, decide, and lead. Joined by Fiona Wilhelm, Director of Artificial Intelligence at the Wilhelm Group, and Rochelle Tognetti, Co-founder of the Australian Centre for AI in Marketing and previous CMO of Deloitte, we explore the emotional, ethical, and operational challenges of how leaders integ...

Behind every safety incident is a person — and behind that person is a story we rarely ask about. Were they already exhausted before they arrived on site? Did they skip breakfast to meet a deadline that was never realistic? Were they pushed to work faster than was safe?

In construction, working conditions that overlook human factors ...

On paper, construction has never looked safer. In reality, mental health claims are rising, workers are disengaged and the compliance playbook is broken. Garry Mansfield, co-founder of Scratchie, argues the answer isn’t more rules—it’s rewiring incentives so teams want to work safely. In this episode, we unpack the concept of “zero harm”, explore the gamification of safety and reveal how...

Construction doesn’t need more tech for tech’s sake—it needs tech that helps people build. In this episode, Dustin Burns, SVP of Technology & Business Solutions at McCownGordon, shares how relying on best-in-class SaaS tools—not in-house development—helps his teams focus on what they do best: building.

We discuss how this approac...

For decades, construction decisions have often been made based on gut instinct. But the industry is on the cusp of a significant shift. In this episode, we talk with Paul Hedgepath, Director of Virtual Construction at MJ Harris Construction, who has over 25 years of experience navigating the evolution of construction technology. Paul shares his journey, from handing out early iPads to su...

Construction has long been seen as a low-margin industry. But what if the real problem isn’t the margins—it’s how decisions get made? In this episode, we sit down with Indra Gutiérrez, President of Gutier, who’s reimagining what’s possible when data isn’t just collected—it’s actually used. Starting her company with zero outside capital, Indra has led a bold transformation from a specialty contractor to a self-performing general con...

How will construction look different in 2030? Could robots become as standard as hard hats and hammers? Might AI reshape your day-to-day tasks, making it possible to clock out on time—maybe even reclaim a bit more of your life outside work?

In this episode, we talk with Hamzah Shanbari—Director of Innovation at Haskell and author of Paperless Builders: The Why, What, and How of Construction Technology, about what’s really at st...

Construction has poured billions into technology—but ask any owner, and you’ll hear the same thing: it still hasn’t solved their problems. In this episode, KP Reddy—CEO of Shadow Ventures and longtime tech leader in AEC—makes the case that BIM and automation have mostly failed the people who matter most: the owners footing the bill.

We unpack why that happened, what went wrong in the handoff between design and delivery, and why ...

Can an industry tasked with building our future truly meet the demand to double its growth by 2040? In this season, we explore insights from The Future State of Construction report—a global survey of industry leaders who employed “future-back” thinking to envision what lies ahead. You’ll hear how some of today’s most innovative leaders plan to tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges, and why...

In season one of The Power of Construction, we asked a big question: What’s holding our industry back from boosting productivity? Across our conversations, we discovered that while the industry as a whole is fighting to overcome digital adoption, labor shortages, and other rapidly evolving challenges, there are leaders out there proving it can be done. In this special recap, we reflect on the i...

In this special kickoff episode recorded live at Groundbreak, Fred Mills—Founder of The B1M and Get Construction Talking—joins us to explore the projects and people reshaping the construction landscape in 2024. Hear firsthand stories from Fred’s travels that have influenced his vision, along with the real challenges he’s encountered that highlight the grit behind industry innovations. We...

Construction is facing a decades-long productivity gap, yet the solutions are right in front of us—if we know how to use them. In this episode, we sit down with Jit Kee Chin, Chief Technology Officer at Suffolk, to explore how applying scientific rigor to data could unlock the mindset shift the industry needs to drive lasting change. What happens when you prioritize trust and transparency over tradition? How do you motivate an indu...

This episode explores how construction does more than just build structures — it shapes the communities where we live, work, and learn. Advancing productivity in the industry isn’t just about improving efficiency and profitability; it’s about creating lasting, positive change. We sit down with Jennifer Downey, Director of Environmental Social Governance at Turner Construction, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in driving ...