Never underestimate the power of mentorship. Whether you're the one learning or the one teaching, these professional relationships create lasting connections and pave the way for growth opportunities.
Here's the kicker: the positive effects of mentorships can ripple through an entire industry by strengthening the workforce and attracting new talent. For the construction sector—which faces a well-documented labor shortage—mentorships are not just a nice-to-have; they're a vital tool for building a skilled workforce.
Joining me to explore this topic is Graham Condit, the Director of Emerging Technology at Skanska and a passionate participant in the ACE Mentor Program. Graham guides the next generation of builders and helps bridge the gap between education and hands-on industry experience.
We discuss:
As mentioned above, Graham is part of the ACE Mentorship Program. ACE—short for Architecture, Construction, Engineering—is a free after-school program that connects high school students with expert construction and design professionals.
One of the great things about ACE is it goes beyond simply teaching or talking about construction. It takes things to the next level by immersing students in the real-world dynamics of the industry.
"The beauty of ACE is that it's not just centered on teaching. It's centered on real-world examples. Participants can see what it's really like to work on a construction project," explains Graham.
For example, mentees get to see how preconstruction works and get exposed to different roles involved in construction projects.
"It's good to get in front of students that haven't had that exposure on what it takes to build a building," adds Graham.
When asked about his advice for mentors and mentees, Graham emphasizes the importance of allowing these professional relationships to develop naturally through shared experiences and interests.
"I think it's better to connect with people organically than to be assigned a mentor. Finding common passions and interests is key."
He adds, "If you're a mentor, ensure you provide time for people who have questions and are engaging with you."
On the flip side, Graham encourages mentees to speak up and take initiative in building relationships with mentors. "Don't be afraid to ask questions, and know that not everything needs to be formalized," he says.
Reflecting on his early days in the industry, Graham recalls showing up early to job sites, often spending time with the carpenter foreman or lead layout. These interactions allowed him to learn problem-solving firsthand while sharing his perspective on leveraging technology to improve efficiency.
"It was a great way to learn how their careers have gone, while at the same time showing them how to do things differently from my perspective using technology. So, to me, the best mentorships pair up people in a way where it's a force magnifier instead of just another task for someone to do."
Mentorships aren't just beneficial for mentors and mentees; they also play a role in recruiting new talent to the construction industry. In a way, these programs serve as a gateway for bringing the next generation into the fold. They allow young people to see the real-world impact they can make, especially as emerging technologies redefine how we work.
As Graham puts it, "There are so many innovative things happening to our sector, from data and AI to automation and robotics. These things are second nature to kids today. Their perspective is incredibly valuable and will help propel our industry forward."
He adds, "So, let's mentor and recruit as much talent as possible."
Building on the topic of technology, Graham observes that mentees respond incredibly well to interactive and hands-on tech experiences.
"I've seen a lot more engagement when using technology to drive their interest and put them in a dynamic learning environment. So, I try to bring tech into the space. Whether that's using common data environments to share and collaborate or using 3D printing to create models—all of that creates tactile, memorable moments that build a strong foundation for a future career in construction."
Graham is very candid about our industry's challenges around attracting young talent. "We do a really bad job of selling our industry. Honestly, there could be a lot more opportunities for us to be out there and share our career and opportunities at AEC," he remarks.
Going out there to bust industry myths
He brings up the need to dispel common misconceptions about how the AEC sector is old-fashioned. In reality, construction has made tremendous progress with digital transformation.
This is the type of message we must amplify, says Graham. And for him, social media is a key avenue for doing so.
He encourages using platforms like YouTube to showcase the dynamic opportunities within AEC. The construction sector can reach younger audiences and challenge their preconceptions by publishing engaging content—such as projects shared by influencers like The B1M.
Creating accessible, relatable content helps expand the conversation beyond industry insiders and inspires the next generation to explore construction careers.
Expanding recruitment to adjacent industries
Another idea is to establish a presence in related or adjacent industries. For example, the team at Skanska attended RoboBoston, one of the largest events celebrating robotics. According to Graham, this approach can open doors to recruiting people whose interests align with the construction industry.
"Traditionally, you wouldn't go to a robotics fair to bring in talent, but there are a lot of people who are interested in that level of technology and then see opportunities in an industry like construction."
Events like RoboBoston let us present construction as an industry that embraces innovation, which helps attract fresh perspectives and technical expertise.
"I think there's a lot of opportunity to go out to a bunch of different non-traditional career fairs and spaces to bring in that perspective and drive home that our industry is ready for a lot of that."
Digital Builder is hosted by me, Eric Thomas. Remember, new episodes of Digital Builder go live every week.
