Another year has flown by, and here at Autodesk, we're not slowing down—especially when it comes to the Digital Builder podcast. With over 35 episodes released in 2023, we explored the cutting edge of design and construction with some of the most inspiring minds in the industry.
Before saying goodbye to 2023, we thought it'd be great to have a roundup of notable Digital Builder episodes this year. While this list doesn't rank episodes or cover all our favorites (an impossible feat!), it highlights a diverse range of discussions that captivated us.
Let's dive in.
All construction leaders want to future-proof their firms, but how exactly can you do that? In this episode, two visionary and highly impactful leaders join the show—John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction, and Jim Lynch, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Autodesk Construction Solutions.
John and Jim weigh in on the biggest challenges construction leaders face and what we need to do to overcome them. The episode dives into the trends and technologies changing the game for construction folks and how teams can use them successfully.
The conversation also touches on how firms can engage the next generation of construction pros. Here, John's transparent explanation of his dyslexia—and the help he received from others—is an incredibly honest and needed perspective in AEC.
Catch this short clip to get a glimpse of the episode:
For episode 42, we have Ariana Alvear from The Boldt Company. Ariana's title and role is a unique one in our industry. As the firm's Senior Production Manager, Ariana serves as the link between the office and the field.
We absolutely love Boldt's approach to this role and think it should be replicated elsewhere. So many companies are grappling with poor integration between office and field teams, which is why it makes sense to have a dedicated team member whose job is to ensure all stakeholders are aligned.
And that's precisely what Ariana does. She focuses on making information understandable for everyone, and she does this by implementing Lean construction principles in communication and project execution.
Beyond our discussion on keeping office and field teams aligned, this episode also offers an excellent overview of Lean construction in general.
Construction isn't a field that many graduates or job seekers traditionally flock to, but this is starting to change thanks to folks being more vocal about evolving technology, diversity, and growth opportunities in the industry.
Case in point: Digital Builder Ep 62, where we have two remarkable guests debunk the common myths about construction careers.
Savy Francis, a pipefitter with E.M. Duggan, and Kelsey Gauger, National Director of Operational Excellence at Suffolk Construction, join the show to tackle problems in AEC and the importance of showing people how lucrative these jobs are.
They also walk us through a typical day in their careers, emphasizing the dynamic nature of their work (spoiler alert: every day is exciting and collaborative).
Take a look at this clip to learn more about Kelsey and Savy:
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at leading airports, cruise ports, terminals, and much more? In this episode, Dr. Luciana Burdi fills us in on what it takes to build and run a thriving transport center.
As Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs at the Massachusetts Port Authority, Luciana leads the construction and innovation efforts at Massport, focusing on enhancing customer experiences and implementing advanced technologies.
This episode spotlights a great owner story and shows how the public sector can continuously innovate and improve with the right culture in place.
This episode features Alan Dillon, Senior Superintendent at Truebeck Construction. Truly the salt of the earth, Alan cares a lot about his team and is incredibly genuine about helping others. He focuses on putting people first and establishing meaningful mentorships in construction.
All of these exemplary traits shine through in our discussion. Alan shares his perspective on technology and why construction is still a people-centric industry (no matter how far tech takes us).
Alan also discusses how cultivating professional relationships and mentorships leads to more successful projects.
Episode 43 dives into a variety of topics, including attracting diverse talent, promoting equitable working conditions, and being more efficient with project delivery.
Camille Hardin, Project Manager at Flint Builders, is an excellent guest to talk about these issues because of her unique insights as a woman advocating for diversity and inclusion in construction.
She discusses how diversity and inclusion opens many opportunities for impactful change. She also shares her views as a woman working in construction, shedding light on topics that others might not ever navigate themselves—for example, pregnancy and maternity leave.
Beyond workforce diversity, our conversation touches on prefabrication and how it helps firms build smarter.
To that end, Camille offers her thoughts on establishing prefabrication facilities in relation to where your team lives to reduce commute times and enhance work-life balance.
There are some fascinating nuggets from this episode, and if you want to dive deeper, start by watching this clip:
Evan Reilly, Senior Emerging Technology Engineer at Skanska, and Fope Bademosi, Circular Economy and Construction Researcher at Autodesk Research, are experienced at teaching and presenting to students.
As such, they have a well-informed perspective on what it takes to get young people excited about construction. This episode debunks some outdated and incorrect perceptions about the AEC industry, while highlighting all the things that make construction an interesting industry to work in.
Our guests also impart actionable tips on how to engage younger generations—including sharing stories, collaborating with academia, and fostering research at the student level.
In this episode, Giana Morini, Operations Technology Leader at DPR Construction, joins us to talk about how firms can achieve operational success. At its core, operational success is "about consistency and predictability in what you're delivering."
According to Giana, construction firms can attain this by meeting the needs of office and field teams and by building a world-class tech stack.
She adds that effectively implementing technology requires listening to your teams and fully understanding business goals to ensure that the tech you adopt aligns with your company's long-term vision. From there, Giana says companies must build strong vendor relationships and focus on proactive collaboration.
As we wrap up another year at Autodesk's Digital Builder podcast, it's fulfilling to look back and reflect on the diverse insights and innovative ideas our guests share.
The episodes above represent just the tip of the iceberg. From industry leaders sharing their visionary insights to young professionals breaking down outdated stereotypes, Autodesk's Digital Builder library is full of remarkable content.
We encourage you to explore these episodes and many more on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform, including:
And we already have an incredible lineup of guests to kick off 2024. Make sure you subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel to be the first to hear about new episodes. Here's to another year of building together, pushing boundaries, and sharing the stories that matter most. Thank you for tuning in!
