The Trailblazers Presented by BST Global

Be Unafraid With Parsons’ Ricardo Lorenzo

In this episode of The Trailblazers, Parsons' Chief Technology Officer, Ricardo Lorenzo, tells BST Global's Chief Executive Officer, Javier A. Baldor, that AEC leaders should “be unafraid” as the industry begins to embrace AI technology.  
Ricardo discusses the reactions he sees from customers and employees when it comes to AI, which range from reluctance to excitement. He states that firms should help clients take measured risks and identify AI applications that will suit their specific needs. To encourage employee adoption, Ricardo says to make upskilling fun by organizing challenges that allow teams to gain hands-on experience while they innovate. 
As Ricardo describes Parsons’ approach to helping clients enhance efficiency, his passion for innovation and using technology to solve complex problems becomes clear. He highlights that, apart from using AI for tasks like proposal development and remote construction supervision, Parsons creates AI-driven decision-making solutions for federal clients. 
Ricardo also addresses the new security risks AI introduces, stressing the importance of having governance structures and risk management processes in place.  
Listen to the full episode to hear more of his thoughts on these and other topics! 

Solving the AI Puzzle With Terracon’s Jason Kephart

In this episode, Jason Kephart, Chief Technology Officer at Terracon, joins Eileen M. Canady, Chief Marketing Officer at BST Global, to delve into his career path and the evolving role of technology in the AEC industry. 
Jason reflects on his transition from consultant to technology leader, highlighting the critical role of aligning technology with business needs to drive efficiency and innovation. He discusses the evolution from basic technology to the transformative potential of AI, emphasizing that AI should complement human expertise, not replace it. In his experience, the key to leveraging AI effectively is using it to phase out non-value-added tasks and enhance value-added work, thereby improving team efficiency and distinguishing the firm's offerings from its competitors. 
The Terracon CTO also addresses the importance of a robust data strategy, the need to embrace new technologies while managing change, and the growing requirement for engineers to be tech savvy. He believes future technological advancements should boost efficiency and client value rather than merely generate designs. Finally, Jason offers advice on learning the business as well as the technology and urges others to adopt a growth mindset. 

Level Up With HNTB’s Marty Williams

In this episode, HNTB Chief Information Officer Marty Williams joins BST Global Chief Marketing Officer Eileen M. Canady to discuss the transformative impact of AI on work and talent acquisition. 
 
Throughout the discussion, Marty emphasizes a key lesson that has served him his entire career — everything gets done through people. He underscores the importance of building relationships, especially when advocating for technological advancements. 
 
Addressing the concern that AI could take over certain jobs, Marty notes that plenty of work still requires humans. He anticipates an organizational shift toward prioritizing data accuracy and the quality of AI-generated outputs. To stay relevant, professionals must broaden their skills, embrace AI technology and adapt to new ways of working. 
 
Marty also explains that employees aren’t the only ones who need to level up as technology advances — companies must evolve as well. Primarily, they need to begin viewing data as an asset and use it to solve their problems. He cautions against training new talent to do things the way they’ve always been done and advises encouraging them to find new paths forward instead. 
 
Listen to the full episode to hear more from Marty! 

Providing AI Superpowers With Ramboll’s Jason B. Miller

In this episode, Ramboll’s Head of Innovation, Jason B. Miller, sits down with BST Global’s Chief Executive Officer, Javier A. Baldor, to explore how AI can empower teams, define valuable data, harness technology to create sustainable solutions and other topics. 
 
In their conversation, Jason delves into Ramboll’s operations and how recognizing technology’s pivotal role in crafting effective solutions sparked his career shift from chemistry and nuclear engineering to digital transformation and AI strategy. He also expresses a strong interest in generative AI, highlighting its potential to revolutionize sustainability and client engagement.  
 
As for Ramboll’s employees, Jason says they’re excited about AI. Even so, they remain cautious, choosing to focus on pilot projects due to concerns over sustainability and ethics. Clients, too, are intrigued by AI’s possibilities but need more information about the practical applications and data security. 
 
Jason believes that AI will bring significant changes to business models, client relationships, and the regulatory landscape while also demanding new skills and critical thinking from professionals. 

Connect to the Future With Gannett Fleming’s Kevin Switala

In this episode, BST Global’s Chief Executive Officer, Javier A. Baldor, sits down with Gannett Fleming’s Chief Technology Officer, Kevin Switala, who shares his expectations for the AEC industry in the age of AI.  
 
Kevin expresses particular enthusiasm about AI's potential to bridge the knowledge gap between retiring professionals and newer, tech-savvy employees. He envisions AI-driven digital mentorship programs that will accelerate the proficiency of young professionals by helping them gain expertise quickly as their predecessors retire. 
 
He also highlights the vast opportunities AI offers for integrating emerging technologies to create hybrid solutions. Kevin anticipates innovations that will combine computer vision and natural language processing, enabling robots to conduct hazardous inspections in environments too dangerous for humans. Such advancements could revolutionize how we approach complex and risky projects. 
 
On the topic of data, Kevin discusses how the AEC industry is protected against certain AI-related risks due to its rigorous practice of calculation, recalculation, validation and verification. Maintaining this methodical approach will serve as a natural safeguard when working with AI-generated outputs.  
 
Catch the full episode to hear what else Kevin has to say about these and other topics. 

AI Efficiency & Scale With HDR’s Justin Webster

HDR’s Chief Technology Officer, Justin Webster, sits down with BST Global’s Chief Executive Officer, Javier A. Baldor, to discuss how HDR is harnessing AI and digital innovation to advance its capabilities. Justin traces his tech journey from childhood computer programming lessons to establishing a digital innovation lab and an AI program during his career. He emphasizes the synergy between people and technology as vital for organizational success. 
He also illustrates his strategy of managing innovation portfolios to achieve significant breakthroughs. While excited about Gen AI, he stresses the importance of maintaining focus on various narrow AI capabilities. Justin highlights specific AI applications at HDR, including semantic search, and proposal and image generation. 
He outlines HDR’s vision to lead in technology within the AEC industry, driven by a commitment to continuous innovation. Justin also shares insights on fostering a positive organizational response to technology through education and awareness initiatives.  
Additionally, he offers career advice and discusses his mentors and personal influences. 

Next-Level Experiences With Populous’ Jonathan Nelson

Populous’ Global Head of Digital, Jonathan Nelson, sits down with BST Global’s Chief Marketing Officer, Eileen M. Canady, to discuss his insights into the intersection of architecture, digital innovation and AI.  
 
Originally trained as an architect, Jonathan has shifted his focus toward technology throughout his career. He highlights Populous’ pioneering work with AI, applying it to their specialized data sets across various business functions from design to operations. 
 
The conversation dives into Populous’ innovative projects like “The Sphere” in Las Vegas, showcasing immersive design powered by AI. Jonathan explores the complexities of AI governance, copyright issues, and the role of AI in enhancing efficiency rather than replacing human roles. He stresses the importance of investing in data as a top priority for firms looking to innovate in the AEC industry. 
 
Jonathan explores a wide variety of topics in this episode, like specific use cases, governance, copyright issues, security, talent recruitment efforts and more!  

The Power of Augmented Intelligence With Stantec’s Shankar Kalyana

Stantec’s Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Shankar Kalyana, discusses the future of the AEC industry in a conversation with BST Global’s Chief Executive Officer, Javier A. Baldor.  
 
Shankar introduces Stantec as a firm dedicated to design with community in mind, emphasizing his role as Stantec's first Chief Technology Officer. He discusses his background in computing, the evolution of technology, and his journey from IBM to Stantec.  
 
The two delve into the significance of digital transformation, leadership, and other factors in implementing change. Shankar highlights the importance of reimagining work processes and leveraging emerging technologies like AI to enhance employee and customer experiences. He emphasizes the role of data in decision-making and predicts a shift toward predictive and preemptive approaches.  
 
Shankar also touches on the potential of AI to address sustainability challenges and the future convergence of AI with quantum computing. He envisions a future where technology augments human capability and drives value for businesses and society. 

Vulnerability in the Eye of AI With AtkinsRéalis’ Darren Martin

AtkinsRéalis’ Chief Digital Officer, Darren Martin, discusses leveraging AI for societal improvement in a conversation with BST Global’s Chief Executive Officer, Javier A. Baldor.  
Darren emphasizes the importance of vulnerability alongside AI, noting a lack of depth and authenticity from some within the industry.   
He also underscores leadership's role in fostering curiosity around AI within their firms. Additionally, Darren addresses productivity challenges in the AEC industry and identifies opportunity gaps for the future workforce. 

AI’s Power to Radically Transform With GHD Digital’s Kumar Parakala

Kumar Parakala, President of GHD Digital, discusses digital transformation, leadership, AI and more with Javier A. Baldor, Chief Executive Officer of BST Global.  
Kumar highlights the potential for generative AI to revolutionize the AEC industry, foreseeing machines surpassing human intelligence in 5–10 years. He attributes this advancement to technology milestones such as deep learning and increased computing power.  
GHD Digital has established an AI Center of Excellence, leveraging generative AI for internal and client projects. Kumar advises senior leaders to champion AI adoption to stay competitive in evolving markets.