Avsnitt
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The women who thrive in the next decade of AEC won't just be technically excellent they'll know how to leverage AI as a tool for growth, income, and creative problem-solving. Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek is the CEO of Clarity AI, ranked the #4 Voice AI Influencer globally by Voicebot.ai, and author of the Amazon bestseller Your AI Roadmap: Expand Your Career, Money, and Joy (Wiley, 2025).
In this episode, Joan breaks down what AI really means for your career trajectory not in abstract terms, but in concrete, actionable strategy.
What you'll learn:
How to build custom AI solutions even if you're not a coder - Why resilience, networking, and financial freedom are central to the AI era - What Fortune 500 companies are actually using AI for right now - How to position yourself as an AI-forward leader in your firmConnect: LinkedIn — Joan Palmiter Bajorek | Website: clarityai.co
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The right fit doesn't always show up first. Sometimes it shows up after you've tried the wrong things, learned what you're actually made of, and gotten honest about what you're uniquely positioned to build. Lindsay Friedman is a four-time founder who failed twice before finding the work that was hers to do and she built it directly from her experience as a caregiver.
Lindsay joins Bryce to talk about entrepreneurship, purpose-driven work, and what it looks like to stop chasing the right opportunity and start building from the right foundation. She works at the intersection of technology, advocacy, and eldercare an industry that touches almost every family and gets very little attention until a crisis hits. This conversation is about finding your lane, building inside it with everything you have, and why the work that comes from lived experience hits differently than the work that comes from a business plan.
This episode is for anyone navigating a career pivot, sitting with a business idea they can't shake, or trying to figure out whether what they're building is actually the right fit or just the next thing.
About Lindsay Friedman: Lindsay Friedman is a four-time founder, lifelong multigenerational caregiver, and former nursing assistant with hands-on experience in memory care and eldercare. She is the founder of CareBloom and LTCareNav, a platform that connects families with vetted long-term care experts to make quality care more accessible and affordable. Lindsay combines technology, personal experience, and advocacy to empower families navigating complex care decisions and is committed to transforming how society cares for seniors.
What We Cover:
Lindsay's background as a caregiver, nursing assistant, and multigenerational care advocate
What her first two failed companies taught her that success couldn't
How CareBloom and LTCareNav came directly from personal experience, not a market gap analysis
What the long-term care space actually looks like for families trying to navigate it
Building a platform at the intersection of technology and human advocacy
The right fit question how passion and lived experience together create a different kind of business foundation
What workplace autonomy looks like when you're the founder and the mission is personal
Where to find Lindsay and how to connect with her work
Key Takeaways:
Failure is not the opposite of the right fit sometimes it's the path to it
The businesses that come from lived experience have a staying power that market-driven ideas often don't
Passion alone isn't enough, but passion plus experience is a legitimate competitive advantage
The long-term care space affects nearly every family and most people don't engage with it until they're already in crisis
Workplace autonomy as a founder means you get to decide what problem is worth your career
Resources + Links:
CareBloom: https://carebloom.com/
LTCareNav: https://ltcarenav.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lfriedman1/
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Leaving a career you're good at is harder than leaving one that isn't working. Ryan Sullivan was a successful mechanical engineer who built a department from scratch — and then chose to walk away and start over. This episode is about that decision, what it took, and what he's built on the other side.
Ryan joins Bryce to talk about career transitions, financial autonomy, and what it looks like to build a life by design instead of by default. He works exclusively with architects and engineers, which means he understands the mindset of someone who's been trained to solve complex problems — and he applies that same precision to financial and business planning. This is not a generic money conversation. It's about using financial clarity as a tool for making better career and life decisions.
This episode is for AEC professionals at any stage who are wondering whether their financial position is actually giving them options — or quietly taking them away.
About Ryan Sullivan: Ryan Sullivan, PE is the founder and principal wealth engineer of Off the Beaten Path Financial. He began his career as a mechanical engineer, built an engineering department from the ground up, and transitioned into financial and business planning to serve architects and engineers specifically. Ryan combines engineering precision with dynamic investment strategy to help clients build resilient financial plans that give them freedom and flexibility to live life on their terms. Learn more at [Off the Beaten Path Financial URL — confirm with Ryan].
What We Cover:
Ryan's background in mechanical engineering and what led him to leave
The decision to become a financial advisor and what that transition actually looked like
Why he chose to focus exclusively on architects and engineers
Cash flow as the foundation of financial health — what that means in practice
Aligning money with purpose — and why that's different from standard financial planning
How engineering precision translates into dynamic, adaptive investment strategy
What financial autonomy actually looks like for AEC professionals
The right fit question — how to know when to stay on a path and when to leave it
Where to find Ryan and how to work with him
Key Takeaways:
Leaving a career that works is a different kind of hard — it requires clarity about what you're moving toward, not just what you're leaving
Cash flow is the foundation; everything else — freedom, flexibility, options — gets built on top of it
A financial plan that doesn't account for what you want your life to look like isn't a plan, it's a spreadsheet
AEC professionals are well-positioned to think in systems — applying that to personal finance changes outcomes
True financial autonomy means money stops making your decisions for you
Resources + Links:
Off the Beaten Path Financial: https://www.obpfinancial.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-sullivan-pe/
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High performance and burnout are not opposites. For a lot of people, they're the same thing wearing different clothes. This episode is for the professional who is achieving by every external measure and still feeling like something is off — because that feeling is data, not weakness.
Nancy Gentle Boudrie joins Bryce to talk about the inside-out approach to career alignment: what it means to make regulated, values-driven decisions about your work instead of just reacting to demands and hoping things improve. Nancy brings neuroscience and mindfulness together in a way that's practical and direct — no meditation retreat required.
This episode is for high-achievers who are tired of running on autopilot and ready to make intentional choices about where their energy actually goes.
About Nancy Gentle Boudrie: Nancy Gentle Boudrie is a mindset coach, corporate wellness speaker, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of coaching experience and more than three decades of business leadership. She is the creator of the Pathway to Inner Peace — Featuring the 4R Method®, an evidence-based framework blending neuroscience, mindfulness, and energy mastery. She is also the founder of the Awaken with Light App, a digital platform offering mindfulness tools and live emotional resilience practices.
What We Cover:
Nancy's background and what led her to build a framework around inner peace for high performers
What "living on autopilot" actually looks like in a demanding career
The inside-out approach — why regulation and values alignment have to come before strategy
Burnout as a signal, not a failure — what it's telling you and how to listen
The 4R Method and how it works in real professional contexts
How to evaluate whether you're in the right fit — job, role, or career path
Finding the right fit through entrepreneurship vs. staying and building from within
Where to find Nancy and how to work with her
Key Takeaways:
Autopilot isn't neutral — it's a slow drift away from what you actually want from your career
Burnout in high performers often looks like more output, not less — it hides well
Regulation comes before decision-making — you cannot make good career choices from a dysregulated state
Values alignment is not a soft concept; it's a performance variable that shows up in your work, energy, and retention
The question isn't always "should I leave" — sometimes it's "am I showing up as myself here"
Resources + Links:
Awaken with Light: https://www.awakenwithlight.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyboudrie/
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There's a gap between people who grow in their careers and people who wait to be grown. This episode is for anyone sitting in that gap, wondering why the effort isn't translating. Elizabeth Barber has a clear answer and it has nothing to do with working harder.
Elizabeth and Bryce dig into workplace autonomy, practical innovation, and what it actually looks like to take ownership of your visibility, your decisions, and your career trajectory. This isn't motivational talk, it's operational. Elizabeth brings frameworks she's used inside real organizations, and she doesn't sugarcoat what it takes.
This episode is for professionals who are done waiting and leaders who want to build teams that don't need to be rescued.
About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Barber is an operations leader specializing in customer experience, scalable systems, and practical AI adoption. A U.S. Navy veteran, she's known for bringing clarity, structure, and a no-fluff approach to leadership and execution. She works at the intersection of AI, software, communications, operations, and leadership.
Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethbarber/
What We Cover:
Elizabeth's background and the through line from Navy service to operations leadership
What "own your agency" actually means in a workplace that rewards waiting
Momentum over permission, making decisions without waiting to be rescued
Practical AI adoption: small steps, real outcomes, and what doesn't make the cut
Why clarity beats cleverness in communication and leadership
How to stay visible and active in your own career planning
Where to find Elizabeth and what she's working on now
Key Takeaways:
Visibility is active, not passive if you're hoping someone notices, you've already lost ground
The filter for any tool or process: does it reduce friction and improve outcomes? Use it. If not, cut it
Shipping at 80% is a strategy, not a shortcut waiting for perfect keeps you invisible
Clear communication is a leadership skill bullets, white space, and a direct call to action will outperform clever copy every time
You can build systems that support your growth without waiting for an org chart to give you permission
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Most AEC firms treat PR like a nice-to-have, something you think about after you've won the work. Julia Bonner, founder and president of Pierce Public Relations, has spent her career proving that's exactly backwards. In this conversation with Bryce, Julia gets into what strategic communications actually looks like for firms in the built environment and why the firms investing in their story now are the ones winning the work later.
Pierce PR is a certified woman-owned boutique agency working with some of the most recognized names in AEC, Wold Architects and Engineers, ESa, Reeves Young, BELL Construction. Julia started her career in New York City with a master's degree from NYU, built a practice around the built environment, and has become one of Nashville's most recognized business leaders in the process. She's not talking about press releases and award submissions. She's talking about what it takes to build a brand that actually moves a business forward.
This episode is for firm leaders who know their work speaks for itself and are starting to realize that might not be enough.
About Julia Bonner: Julia Bonner is the founder and president of Pierce Public Relations, a certified woman-owned boutique PR and marketing agency specializing in the AEC and professional services industries. Her clients include Wold Architects and Engineers, ESa, Reeves Young, and BELL Construction. A Nashville-based leader, Julia holds an M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communication from NYU and a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Tennessee. She is a recipient of the Nashville Business Journal's Most Admired CEO Award (2024), Women of Influence Award (2020), and 40 Under 40 Award (2017), and has been named to the Nashville Post's "In Charge" list four consecutive years (2022-2025).
Website: https://pierce-pr.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaebonner/
What We Cover:
Introduction and Julia's path from NYU and New York City to building Pierce PR in Nashville
What PR and strategic communications actually means for AEC firms — beyond press releases and award submissions
Why most firms in the built environment wait too long to invest in their brand
What the best communicators in AEC do differently than everyone else
How Julia has grown Pierce PR to represent some of the most recognized names in the industry
What it means to run a woman-owned boutique agency in a historically male-dominated space
Julia's community leadership — ULI Nashville, Young Leaders Council, Nashville Film Festival — and why she invests there
What she's learned about leadership from building her own firm
Where to find Pierce PR and what working with them looks like
Key Takeaways:
PR is not reactive — the firms using it strategically are building relationships and reputation before they ever need them
Most AEC firms undersell themselves not because they lack good stories, but because they're too close to their own work to see what's remarkable about it
A boutique agency in a specialized industry can outperform a generalist firm every time — because deep industry knowledge changes everything about how you tell the story
Community investment isn't separate from business building — it's how the best leaders create lasting influence
Running a woman-owned business in AEC requires both credibility and persistence in equal measure
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FMI's founder once said: "You don't build a business, you build people, and then people build the business." Julie Witecki has spent her career helping leaders in the built environment actually live that out — and in this conversation with Bryce, she gets specific about where most firms fall short.
Julie advises executives and ownership teams across construction and AEC on leadership development, talent strategy, people systems, and organizational growth. She brings a perspective shaped by years inside some of the industry's most complex firms, and she's not here to give comfortable answers. This episode covers what firms are still getting wrong about why people leave, how leadership behavior drives retention more than compensation ever will, and what the next generation of leaders in the built environment actually needs to look like.
This episode is for firm owners, principals, and anyone in AEC who has ever said "people are our greatest asset" and then wondered why the good ones keep leaving.
About Julie Witecki: Julie Witecki is a consultant and advisor at FMI, one of the most trusted management consulting and investment banking firms serving the built environment. She works with leaders across construction, architecture, and engineering on leadership development, people strategy, talent, and organizational growth. Julie is a recognized voice on leadership, culture, and women in the AEC industry.
Website: www.fmicorp.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewitecki/
What We Cover:
Introduction and Julie's career arc advising leaders across the built environment
What "trusted advisor" actually means at FMI and how those relationships are built
How the definition of leadership success has shifted over the last decade in AEC
Doc Fails' founding philosophy — "you build people, and people build the business" — and what that looks like inside firms today
Where leaders struggle most when developing people, especially as firms scale
What separates firms that say people are a priority from those that actually operate that way
How strong leaders balance accountability with empathy in high-pressure environments
What firms are still getting wrong about why people leave
How employee expectations have shifted post-pandemic and who is adapting well
Why leadership behavior drives retention more than compensation, flexibility, or benefits
The biggest strategic blind spots holding firms back right now
Hard conversations leaders are avoiding that they need to be having
What progress for women in construction looks like — and where the work is unfinished
How organizations can support women leaders without performative DEI
What qualities will define the most effective leaders in AEC over the next decade
Julie's one piece of advice for a principal or executive listening today
How Julie defines success at this stage of her own career
Key Takeaways:
Leadership behavior is the number one driver of retention — more than comp, flexibility, or benefits. Firms that don't understand this will keep losing people and blaming the market.
There is a difference between saying people are your priority and building systems that prove it. Most firms are still operating on the former.
The hard conversations leaders are avoiding — about performance, direction, and accountability — are exactly the ones their teams are desperate to have.
Supporting women in leadership isn't a DEI initiative. It's a business decision. The firms that treat it as the latter are the ones making actual progress.
The next generation of AEC leaders will need to hold technical credibility and people leadership simultaneously. Firms that only develop one are building a gap.
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Most architecture, engineering, and construction firms are so focused on building things that they forget to build their brand. Carey Balogh and Lauren Sleeman, the powerhouse duo behind Brand Groupies, have spent their careers fixing exactly that. In this episode, Bryce sits down with both women to talk about what strategic communications actually looks like for leaders in the built environment — and why getting it right changes everything.
Carey and Lauren bring a combined perspective that's rare: luxury brand storytelling from Gucci and Hublot meets insider knowledge of the construction and design world. They've used that combination to build a nationally recognized communications firm and a podcast network that ranks in the top 5-10% globally. This conversation covers how leaders in AEC can claim their story, show up with authority, and use podcasting as a real business development tool.
This episode is for firm owners, principals, and anyone in the built industry who knows their work is exceptional but struggles to articulate why it matters to the people they want to reach.
About Carey Balogh: Carey Balogh is the Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Brand Groupies, a women-owned strategic communications agency serving the built industry, which she founded in 2015. With a background working with luxury brands including Gucci and Hublot, and years of experience abroad and in New York City, Carey brings a global, high-end brand perspective to architecture, design, and real estate. She also launched the Brand Groupies Podcast in 2018 and previously co-founded Frolic!, a children's play space later acquired by the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandgroupies/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/careybalogh/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/brand-groupies/id1336590849About Lauren Sleeman: Lauren Sleeman is Chief Executive Officer of Brand Groupies, joining in 2020 after running the fashion and lifestyle divisions at one of New York City's top PR firms. Her experience with legacy fashion brands including Hermès and Burberry, combined with her family's roots in construction and design, gives her a rare dual fluency in brand storytelling and the built environment. Under her leadership, Brand Groupies has grown from a boutique agency into a nationally recognized communications firm. She has been recognized on the New York Real Estate Journal's "Rising Stars" list.
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-sleeman-11437982/
What We Cover:
Introduction — who Carey and Lauren are and how Brand Groupies came to be
What strategic communications actually means for firms in the built environment
Why most AEC firms are underselling themselves and how to fix it
What luxury brand storytelling from Gucci and Hermès taught them about the built industry
Podcasting as an executive visibility and business development tool
How to identify what sets your firm apart when you're too close to see it
What it looks like to build a brand that outlasts any individual project or client
Where to find Brand Groupies and what working with them looks like
Key Takeaways:
Your brand is already telling a story — the question is whether you're the one telling it
Podcasting isn't just content; it's a relationship-building tool that traditional PR can't replicate
The firms that win future work are the ones that make their expertise visible before someone needs to hire them
What makes luxury brand storytelling transferable to AEC: specificity, consistency, and knowing exactly who you're talking to
You don't need a massive marketing budget to build authority — you need clarity and consistency
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There's a version of leadership that looks good from the outside and feels like chaos on the inside. Corinne, founder of The Gav Group, has built her entire practice around helping C-Suite leaders close that gap. In this conversation, she and Bryce dig into what it actually means to perform at the executive level — not just deliver results, but lead in a way that builds something lasting.
Corinne's XTR framework — the Executive Table Read — is unlike anything in the traditional executive coaching world. It's a thought-partnership model designed for leaders who are already successful and ready to go further. This episode gets specific: how leaders lose time without realizing it, what it looks like to operate with certainty in a landscape that gives you none, and the moment most executives realize something has to change.
This one is for leaders at any level who feel like they're working harder than they should have to — and suspect the answer isn't more hours.
About Corinne: Corinne is the founder and CEO of The Gav Group and creator of the XTR (Executive Table Read), a thought-partnership model for C-Suite leaders. She works with executives to help them reclaim their time, gain a performance edge, and lead with more certainty in an uncertain corporate world. Her clients include leaders who are high performing by every external measure and ready to go deeper.
What We Cover:
Introduction and Corinne's background
What The Gav Group is and who it's for
The XTR — what the Executive Table Read is and why she created it
What it means to truly reclaim your time as a senior leader
The difference between being busy and being effective at the C-Suite level
How leaders build certainty when everything around them is uncertain
What legacy actually means and why most leaders don't think about it early enough
Where to find Corinne and what working with her looks like
Key Takeaways:
Busy and effective are not the same thing — most high performers confuse the two for years
Certainty at the executive level isn't a feeling you wait for; it's a practice you build
Legacy isn't what you leave behind — it's what you're building right now in how you lead your team
Time reclamation starts with knowing which decisions only you can make and which ones you're holding onto for the wrong reasons
The leaders who grow fastest are the ones willing to be honest about where they're stuck
Resources + Links:
The Gav Group: https://www.thegavgroup.com/
Corinne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinnegavlinski/
Career Collective: https://www.mycareercollective.com
Bryce Batts Consulting: https://brycebatts.co
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The conversation around talent shortages in construction is everywhere—but what if we're starting too late?
In this episode, Bryce sits down with Kate Glantz, Co-Founder and CEO of Move Over Bob, to explore how early exposure, storytelling, and representation shape the future of the workforce.
After completing a carpentry pre-apprenticeship herself, Kate saw firsthand how few girls had access to visible role models in construction. That experience led her to launch Move Over Bob, a media company focused on reshaping how young women see the skilled trades.
Now distributed to hundreds of schools and youth organizations, Move Over Bob is creating new pathways into construction, manufacturing, and apprenticeship careers.
If you're thinking about talent, workforce development, or the future of AEC—this episode offers a fresh and important perspective.
What we cover:
Why the talent pipeline problem starts earlier than hiring
The role of representation and visibility in career choice
How storytelling can influence workforce development
Barriers young women face entering the trades
Creating real, accessible on-ramps into construction careers
What industry leaders can do to support the next generation
About Kate:
Kate Glantz is the Co-Founder and CEO of Move Over Bob, a media company reshaping how girls and young women see construction and the skilled trades. Through storytelling, hands-on workshops, and partnerships with industry and education, she is creating new on-ramps into construction, manufacturing, and apprenticeship pathways for the next generation.
Before launching Move Over Bob, Kate spent 15 years working across social impact, marketing, and economic inclusion in the public and private sectors. She led social impact at Luma Pictures, directed economic empowerment programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and built transportation access initiatives at Lyft. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania and Senegal.
In 2024, after completing a residential carpentry pre-apprenticeship, Kate partnered with award-winning carpenter and trades advocate Angie Cacace to launch Move Over Bob Magazine, now distributed free to more than 400 Arizona schools, libraries, and youth organizations.
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Hiring in AEC is harder than ever—and many firms are feeling the strain.
In this episode, Bryce sits down with Micaela Socci, co-founder and CEO of Wemoter, to explore a new way of thinking about team building, hiring, and scalability.
Instead of relying solely on traditional hiring models, Micaela shares how firms can integrate pre-vetted remote talent alongside their internal teams to increase capacity, reduce hiring friction, and maintain quality.
They discuss the mindset shift required to embrace hybrid teams, the operational benefits of combining on-site and remote talent, and how this model is helping firms grow faster without overextending their people.
If you're trying to scale your team—or struggling to keep up with demand—this episode offers a fresh, practical perspective.
What we cover:
Why traditional hiring models are breaking down
The benefits of hybrid teams (on-site + remote talent)
How to scale project capacity without increasing headcount
Overcoming trust and control concerns with remote teams
The role of systems and structure in making hybrid work
A new approach to talent strategy in AEC
About Micaela:
Micaela F. Socci is the Co-Founder & CEO of Wemoter, where she helps AEC firms scale through people-powered growth and smarter talent strategies. With a background in International Trade and a deep passion for people management, she bridges the gap between global talent and the unique needs of architecture and engineering firms.
Through Wemoter, Micaela has helped AEC firms grow up to 20% year-over-year, reduce hiring time by 40%, and scale project workloads by 2–3x without expanding internal headcount. She is passionate about helping firms adopt new ways of working—integrating remote and in-house teams to create more flexible, efficient, and scalable businesses.
Her mission is to make insourcing the new standard for architect-led firms and to help studios grow without compromising quality or wasting time on misaligned hires.
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What does it really take to build a company where people feel supported, challenged, and connected to their work?
In this episode, Bryce sits down with Daniel McCaulley, founder of Ultimus Engineering, to talk about leadership, mentorship, and building a culture rooted in purpose and community.
As a family-owned, faith-based firm, Ultimus takes a different approach to growth—one that prioritizes trust, development, and giving people the space to step into ownership of their work.
Daniel shares lessons from building and scaling his firm, mentoring younger engineers, and creating an environment where people can do meaningful work while continuing to grow.
If you're thinking about culture, retention, or leadership—this conversation will give you a practical and refreshing perspective.
What we cover:
Why most companies misunderstand culture
The connection between mentorship and retention
Creating ownership vs. assigning responsibility
Building trust within teams
Supporting growth at different career stages
What purpose-driven leadership actually looks like
About Daniel:
Daniel McCaulley, P.E. is the founder of Ultimus Engineering, a faith-based, family-owned engineering firm based in Texas. With over 13 years of experience, he leads a team that delivers MEP, structural, and aquatics engineering services across the U.S., all 100 percent made in America. Ultimus Engineering exists to "Create Engineering Solutions to Build Better Communities" and is known for delivering better, faster, and more cost-effective results by cutting out unnecessary overhead.
Daniel brings a rare blend of deep technical expertise and business acumen, holding a master's degree in mechanical engineering along with an MBA. His perspective is shaped by hands-on experience as a staff engineer and as a leader in national engineering and business organizations. That combination of field experience and strategic leadership has made him a trusted partner to architects, general contractors, developers, and franchise groups who value transparency, communication, and consistent quality.
https://ultimus.engineering/
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Your home isn't just where you live—it's shaping how you think, feel, and function every day.
In this episode, Bryce sits down with Ashleigh Clark, CEO and Lead Designer of IDG, to talk about the real impact of interior design—beyond just how things look.
From new builds to large-scale renovations, Ashleigh has worked with high-performing clients to create spaces that are not only beautiful, but also deeply functional and aligned with their lifestyle.
They dive into how your environment influences your energy, productivity, and overall well-being—and why so many people are living in spaces that don't actually support them.
If you've ever felt like your home doesn't match your life, this conversation will change how you think about design.
What we cover:
• How your environment impacts your mindset and daily performance
• The biggest mistakes people make in home design and renovations
• Why functionality matters just as much as aesthetics
• Designing for real life (especially as a busy professional or parent)
• How to create a space that reflects you and supports your lifestyleAbout Ashleigh:
Ashleigh Clark is the CEO and Lead Designer of IDG, an award-winning interior design firm recognized as Cleveland's "Best in Interior Design" for two consecutive years. Specializing in new builds, large-scale renovations, and full-scope furnishings, Ashleigh works with executives, entrepreneurs, and local leaders to create spaces that are both elevated and deeply livable.
Born into the industry and raised around design, Ashleigh developed her passion early—eventually studying interior design at Ursuline College and later being recruited as an adjunct professor. Her work has been featured in HGTV, Cleveland Magazine, and Homes & Gardens.
Through her designs, Ashleigh blends high-end aesthetics with real life—creating homes that feel personal, functional, and effortlessly refined.
https://www.ashleighclarkidg.com/
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Communication is one of the most talked about leadership skills and one of the most misunderstood.
In this episode, Bryce sits down with Emma Collyer, executive coach and founder of Aspire Executive Coaching, to unpack what's really happening beneath the surface of workplace communication.
From feedback conversations that fall flat to teams that feel disconnected, Emma shares how a lack of trust and the inability to truly listen—are often the root cause.
Together, they explore how leaders can shift from one-way communication to meaningful, two-way conversations that build stronger teams and better results.
If you've ever felt like your message isn't landing… or your team just isn't fully engaged this episode is for you.
What we cover:
Why employees feel unheard (even when leaders think they're communicating clearly)
The connection between feedback and trust
Common communication habits that damage team dynamics
How to give feedback that actually lands
The power of active listening in leadership
Simple ways to turn tough conversations into growth opportunities
About Emma:
Emma Collyer is the owner and principal coach of Aspire Executive Coaching, where she helps leaders turn everyday interactions into powerful, two-way conversations that spark trust, creativity, and results. Known for her down-to-earth approach and energy in the room, she transforms "tough talks" into growth moments that bring teams closer together. A certified ICF-ACC coach and Emotional Intelligence practitioner based in Canada, Emma works with leaders around the world—helping them communicate with clarity, lead with empathy, and enjoy the ride along the way.
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In this episode of Women in AEC: Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Katie, founder of Hire Innovations, to unpack what is really happening inside modern talent acquisition.
Katie leads a proprietary, human-centric AI platform that challenges the industry's overreliance on bots, ghosting, and automated job posts that erode trust on both sides of the hiring process.
Through Hire Innovations and its family of brands Recruitics, Talivity, and Jobstream, her team has helped more than 25 million people find employment using collective AI talent technology.
In this conversation, we explore:
• Why traditional applicant tracking systems are failing candidates and employers
• How companies can turn dispositioned applicants into long-term pipeline value
• What Gen Z and Millennial talent expect from brands
• Why social media is now a primary recruiting channel
• How AI can support human decision-making without replacing accountability
• Lessons from Katie's career with brands like MTV, AOL, and The Wall Street JournalKatie also shares how her commitment to community work, including serving on the board of the American Red Cross Metro NY North Chapter, shapes her perspective on leadership and impact.
This episode is for anyone who hires, anyone who has been ghosted, and anyone who believes recruiting should feel more human.
https://getjobstream.com/
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Guest: L.R. (Lee) Weeden, CM-Lean, LCI-CPC
What We Discussed:
Lee's journey into construction leadership and lean thinking
Why continuous improvement matters in project delivery and teams
How lean principles shift focus from firefighting to intentional progress
What resilience looks like in busy project environments
The intersection of process, people, and leadership in built work
Lessons from building teams as much as buildings
Why It Matters:
Lee brings a systems mindset to an industry that moves at the pace of relationships and momentum. His experience especially in healthcare projects, shows how intentional process and team dynamics make the difference between chaos and predictable outcomes.Key Highlights:
Continuous improvement isn't a buzzword it's a set of choices and habits
Leadership in construction happens on the ground as much as in meetings
Lean principles are human, not just technical
Follow Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lrweeden/ where he posts regularly about leadership and lean in construction.
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In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Elif Acar-Chiasson, P.E., founder of OPLE Leadership and former COO with over 30 years in the AEC industry.
Elif built her consulting practice after living inside what she calls a "broken autonomy model." Brilliant engineers are promoted into leadership roles, then trapped in approval culture where every decision climbs uphill for permission. The leader becomes the bottleneck. The team stops growing. Everyone burns out.
Together, Bryce and Elif unpack:
• Why technical excellence and leadership requirements are often in conflict
• The hidden addiction to approval and control inside engineering firms
• Why autonomy is not "do whatever you want," but clear decision ownership with guardrails
• How emotional intelligence supports decision-making under pressure
• What stepping away from a COO role taught Elif about fit and courage
• Why leading with both head and heart is not weakness but maturity
• What competitive ballroom dancing at 50 revealed about starting over and discomfortElif shares a systemic approach to leadership. Instead of coaching one overwhelmed leader in isolation, she looks at the entire decision architecture of a team. Who owns what? Where decisions stall. How trust is built or broken.
Her core belief: the most critical structural integrity is not in buildings. It is in teams.
About Elif:
Elif Acar-Chiasson, P.E., is a Professional Engineer and founder of OPLE Leadership. After 12 years as an executive, including 8 as COO at CSRS/Westwood, she now works with technical professionals who are exceptional at their craft but struggling in leadership roles. She translates emotional intelligence into engineering frameworks and helps teams redesign how decisions are made so leaders are no longer the bottleneck.
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Elif brings a multicultural lens to leadership and challenges the idea that "people skills" are separate from technical rigor.
https://www.elifchiasson.com/
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Success isn't always linear and sometimes the bravest move is walking away from something you worked incredibly hard to build.
In this episode, Bryce sits down with Sharla Toller, J.D., Senior Vice President and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at CannonDesign, to talk about courage, career pivots, and redefining what success really means.
Sharla's journey to executive leadership in the AEC industry didn't follow a straight path. A former practicing attorney with a J.D. from Howard University School of Law, she made the bold decision to leave litigation behind to pursue work aligned with her passion: building inclusive, people-centered workplaces.
Since joining CannonDesign in 2021, she has:
Led implementation of the firm's DEI Strategic Framework
Directed the DEI Council and Employee Resource Groups
Launched firmwide training programs
Deepened partnerships with organizations like National Organization of Minority Architects
Co-authored the children's book Deja the Dynamo
Been named one of the Top 50 DEI Professionals in the OnCon Icon Awards (2025)
She also holds a Master of Professional Studies in HR Management/Diversity & Inclusion from Georgetown University and is a single mother who has intentionally shaped a career aligned with both passion and parenthood.
In this episode, we discuss:
Leaving a prestigious profession to follow purpose
How DEI work impacts retention, talent acquisition, and engagement in AEC
What real executive leadership looks like
Building a career that supports your life — not competes with it
The courage required to pivot
This conversation is about alignment, authenticity, and redefining success on your own terms.
🎧 Listen now and share with someone who needs the reminder: it's never too late to pivot toward what inspires you.
If you enjoy the episode, please rate and review Wine After Work — it helps us continue elevating powerful voices in AEC.
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What does it really mean to build wealth — not just earn money?
In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Doug Kinsey, founding member of the Sweater Cashmere Fund and partner at Artifex Financial Group, for a grounded conversation about wealth, investing, and long-term strategy.
With more than 25 years of experience in wealth management and investment strategy, Doug works with individuals and organizations to align financial decisions with real life goals — not just short-term performance. Holding a master's degree in management and strategy from Harvard and a certification as an Investment Management Analyst, Doug brings a thoughtful, disciplined approach to building and protecting wealth.
In this conversation, we discuss:
The difference between income, success, and true wealth
Common mistakes high earners make with investing and retirement planning
How to think about private assets and long-term strategy
Why clarity and intention matter more than timing the market
Building financial confidence as your career and responsibilities grow
This episode is especially valuable for professionals who've focused on building their careers — and are now asking bigger questions about sustainability, freedom, and long-term security.
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What does leadership look like when your path isn't linear — and your industry wasn't built with you in mind?
In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Gwen Smothers, a long-tenured leader at Piedmont Service Group, to talk about career pivots, people-centered leadership, and the power of community in the HVAC industry.
Gwen began her career in accounting before transitioning into business systems and leadership roles — a move that required confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to step into discomfort. With more than two decades at the same organization, she shares what has kept her engaged, how the industry has evolved, and what leadership really requires beyond technical expertise.
In this conversation, we explore:
Navigating leadership without a technical background
Building confidence when stepping outside your comfort zone
Long-term career growth inside one organization
Co-founding and leading the Women in HVAC peer group at Service Logic
Why visibility, voice, empowerment, and community matter — especially in male-dominated fields
Gwen also reflects on mentorship, culture, and what the HVAC industry must do to attract and retain diverse talent in the years ahead.
This episode is a powerful listen for anyone leading through change — or considering a career path that doesn't fit the traditional mold.
- Visa fler
