Welcome to the Building Better Futures podcast, where host Eric Hirani connects with visionary thought leaders who are building the future. Together they delve into what it takes to not only build companies and structures but how to inspire individuals to reach their full potential, creating the leaders of tomorrow.
This is the show for you if you’re interested in:
- Learning more about building and delivering iconic projects and companies
- Cutting-edge innovation
- Cultivating positive work cultures
- Helping everyone reach their full potential
- Creating exceptional teams
Together we can create a ripple effect of positive change in our communities and society, one inspired individual at a time.
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Données mises à jour le 20/10/2026
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EP 53: Mistakes Make Innovation Possible with Christopher Sharples of SHoP Architects
Saison 1 · Épisode 53
lundi 19 octobre 2026 • Durée 49:05
Join us as Christopher Sharples, Founding Principal of SHoP Architects, explains how manufacturing thinking, model-based delivery and a culture of trust are changing the way buildings come together. He shares what architects gain by engaging in means and methods, why lifecycle value matters more than first cost and what the next generation of AEC leaders should focus on.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
00:00 Why manufacturing and industrialization ideas belong inside a modern architecture practice.
11:14 The belief architects need to let go of to gain real influence at the project table.
17:20 How designing buildings to adapt and evolve can extend their useful life for generations.
24:03 Why standardizing process, not products, protects creativity in industrialized construction.
27:40 What it takes to bring owners, engineers and builders together around model-based delivery.
32:49 The hiring and prototyping habits that make innovation repeatable inside a design firm.
39:44 Advice for young professionals who want to solve real problems from their first day.
Thanks for listening to the "Building Better Futures" podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
SHoP Architects website, the firm behind Barclays Center and the projects discussed in the conversation:
EP 52: Why Curiosity and Change Define Tomorrow's Leaders with Tom Scarangello of Thornton Tomasetti
Saison 1 · Épisode 52
mardi 6 octobre 2026 • Durée 46:50
Join us as we talk with Tom Scarangello, Managing Principal and Senior Advisor of Thornton Tomasetti, about what it takes to build an enduring organization. Tom shares how his firm grew from 30 people to more than 2,000, why curiosity and openness to change matter for emerging leaders, and how the AEC industry advances faster through collaboration.
Key Takeaways:
00:00 Why the best mentors help young leaders make new mistakes instead of repeating old ones.
05:34 The choice every growing firm faces between a lifestyle company and an enduring organization.
12:37 Why deciding what a firm wants to be is harder than deciding what it doesn’t.
14:11 What changes when a firm drives innovation into its culture instead of reacting to it.
29:56 The three things Tom looks for before backing a new idea or emerging company.
32:10 Why adoption, not the technology itself, is the hardest part of changing the industry.
35:10 How smaller firms can keep pace by collaborating with peers instead of working in silos.
41:55 Why openness to change and constant retooling now define long-term career growth.
Thanks for listening to the "Building Better Futures" podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
EP 51: Public Service as a Team Sport with Commissioner Ahmed Tigani of New York City Department of Buildings
Saison 1 · Épisode 51
lundi 21 septembre 2026 • Durée 45:04
Commissioner Ahmed Tigani of the New York City Department of Buildings oversees more than 1,600 public servants and 1.1 million buildings across New York City. He joins to unpack what it takes to lead an agency at the center of housing, safety and economic development citywide.
Ahmed traces his path into public service back to his mother and the community in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, that raised him, and explains why he treats every win as a team accomplishment rather than his own.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
00:00 Why embracing mistakes, not avoiding them, defines long-term success in public service.
06:14 A single mom's rebuilding story that shaped a life devoted to public service.
14:21 How overseeing 1.1 million buildings and 1,600 staff comes down to one nexus concept.
24:26 The data behind a construction safety turnaround, and what drove injuries down by half.
33:37 The leadership hires reshaping how the agency operates from the inside out.
38:12 Why credit for a win should never land on just one desk.
41:02 The mental health conversation the construction industry is only now beginning to have.
Thanks for listening to the "Building Better Futures" podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
EP 50: Measuring Success by the Lives You Impact with Jim Hirani of Hirani Group
Saison 1 · Épisode 50
mardi 8 septembre 2026 • Durée 43:07
In today’s special episode, Jim Hirani, President and Founder of Hirani Engineering and Land Surveying, D.P.C., and the Hirani Group, joins us to discuss what nearly four decades in engineering teaches a person about others. We explore the path from a $4-an-hour first job in New York to leading a firm, why he measures success by who is thriving around him and why he sends every young engineer into the field first.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
00:00 Introduction and celebrating the 50th episode with Jim Hirani, a mentor in the field.
06:43 Growing up in Bombay, and the road from Manipal to a master’s degree in New York.
09:26 The first engineering job in America, and the night shift that pays 50% more.
12:08 How a corporate book he never asks for becomes his first company.
17:23 The question he asks every successful person he meets, and how often it works.
20:12 Why trust comes before correction when building a team.
26:48 The measure of success that has nothing to do with money.
30:14 Why every engineer belongs in the field before settling behind a desk.
32:41 The union surveying job he agrees to before he knows what a union is.
38:37 The mantra he keeps about who holds the key to your happiness.
Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
EP 49: A Boss Is Followed, a Leader Is Chosen with Michael J. Vardaro of Zetlin & De Chiara
Saison 1 · Épisode 49
lundi 24 août 2026 • Durée 45:15
Join us as we sit down with Michael J. Vardaro, Managing Partner of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, to discuss the legal risks that quietly decide how construction projects end. Drawing on a career that starts with a framing crew and a civil engineering degree long before it reaches a courtroom. Michael explains why communication sits at the heart of most disputes, what firms get wrong about AI tools and indemnification language, and why the strongest firms come out of litigation with better processes rather than thicker files.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
00:00 Introduction.
03:50 From construction family to laborer to framing crew to civil engineering degree.
08:07 What starting at the bottom on a job site gives you that other construction attorneys lack.
10:51 The biggest legal risk facing AEC firms today, and why it has not changed.
13:05 What AI note-takers get right, and why the fraction they get wrong ends up in dispute.
19:38 How firms come out of litigation well, and why defensive habits are the wrong takeaway.
22:48 Indemnification explained: who is liable versus who actually pays.
30:43 The qualities that make a good leader, starting with work ethic over talent.
35:08 Michael's optimism about construction, and his concern about attracting talent.
38:39 The one change he would want every listener to make.
EP 48: Building Credibility Before You Have the Title with Kevin Khemraj of Welkin Mechanical
Saison 1 · Épisode 48
mardi 11 août 2026 • Durée 49:10
Join us as we sit down with Kevin Khemraj, Vice President of Welkin Mechanical, to talk about building a career and a team in heavy mechanical construction. He shares what separates good contractors from great ones, why mentorship is worth asking for directly and how young professionals earn credibility long before they earn a title.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
00:00 Build the right balance, don’t rush into leadership.
05:00 Kevin Khemraj traces his path from working alongside his father to engineering school and a civil engineering career.
08:00 Being the second person hired at a growing contractor, and carrying eight projects at once.
11:00 The mechanical infrastructure New Yorkers rely on daily and never think about.
14:00 What separates a good contractor from a great one on public infrastructure work.
18:00 The opportunities and relationships that carry him from intern to executive.
25:00 Building a formal mentorship program, and why one dinner can outpace a year of tuition.
36:00 Rebuilding a Lincoln Tunnel car ramp inside a 49-day window and finishing in 23.
41:00 How young professionals build credibility before they have the title.
44:00 What leaders can do this week to support their teams without micromanaging.
EP 47: Listen First, Lead Better with Phil Collin of Mott MacDonald
Saison 1 · Épisode 47
jeudi 30 juillet 2026 • Durée 55:16
Join us as we sit down with Phil Collin, Chief Growth Officer of Mott MacDonald, to explore what it takes to lead growth with purpose in the AEC industry. Drawing on three decades of engineering and program management experience, he shares lessons on culture, mentorship, communication and knowing your contract inside and out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
00:00 Introduction.
01:00 Phil Collin introduces himself and his path from Maine to a 30-plus-year career in engineering and construction.
08:00 What the Chief Growth Officer role actually looks like day to day.
12:00 Why sustainable growth means building a stronger business, not just a bigger one.
17:00 Connecting everyday project work to a larger sense of purpose.
19:00 Revisiting the Goethals Bridge replacement, a career-defining P3 project.
31:00 Why lessons learned and project reviews matter more than most firms admit.
33:00 What leaders should do first to build a stronger culture.
39:00 Advice for young professionals on understanding the business side of engineering.
46:00 The mantra that has shaped how Phil approaches every conversation.
53:00 Fast-fire questions on music, sports and Phil’s go-to comfort meal.
EP 46: Building Great Teams by Letting Go of Being the Expert with Edward Broderick of Gilbane, Inc.
Saison 1 · Épisode 46
mardi 14 juillet 2026 • Durée 46:52
Edward Broderick, Chief Executive Officer of Gilbane, Inc., joins us to discuss what five generations of family ownership teaches you about leadership, trust and building for the long term. We explore how leadership evolves at every stage of a career, why humility is a practice not a destination, and how Gilbane's integrated model of construction and real estate development serves clients across the built environment.
Key Takeaways:
00:00 Introduction.
02:34 Gilbane starts every meeting with a "Gilbane Cares moment," pausing to recognize the community and people before diving into work.
05:32 Edward grew up in Westchester, studied finance at Manhattan College, and began his career as a laborer at Gilbane before becoming a management trainee.
11:07 Leadership evolves at every career stage — mastering skills, managing teams, setting vision and relying on experts better than yourself.
15:46 Watching five different leaders with distinct styles early in his career shaped Edward's understanding of who he wanted to be as a leader.
18:36 Public-private partnerships allow Gilbane to bring construction, development, financing and planning together in one trusted relationship.
23:06 Eastern Michigan University case study: Gilbane helped the university downscale its campus while maintaining quality, delivering a full roadmap of cost, schedule and financing.
38:28 Humility is not a fixed state — leaders lose it, and the best ones recognize that and keep listening.
EP 45: How Great Leaders Delegate, Step Back and Let Teams Grow with Lawrence Fitzpatrick of The LiRo Group
Saison 1 · Épisode 45
mardi 30 juin 2026 • Durée 51:03
Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President and Deputy Business Unit Head of The LiRo Group, shares what great leadership looks like across a construction career built from the ground up. From running residential crews at 19 to leading large-scale public infrastructure programs, Lawrence offers a candid look at how to build client trust, develop young professionals and create the team cohesion that drives predictable project outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
00:00 Introduction.
05:34 Lawrence's path from Bronx jobsites to SVP, and why going back to construction after college was the best thing that happened to him.
09:55 What great construction leadership looks like: taking ownership, staying humble, leading by example and communicating openly across generations.
14:13 How to earn lasting client trust through execution, consistency and delivering on your word.
17:05 The armory project for the New York National Guard, and the ribbon-cutting moment that stopped Lawrence mid-sentence.
22:07 The structured post-meeting debrief that accelerates young professionals' growth faster than any training program.
26:31 How Lawrence learned to step back and let his team take the first shot, and why jumping in with the right answer can backfire.
38:35 Why team cohesion — not technology — is the single most important investment for predictable project outcomes.
EP 44: Inspiring the Next Generation Through Advocacy and Architecture with Julia Murphy of SOM
Saison 1 · Épisode 44
mardi 16 juin 2026 • Durée 43:26
Julia Murphy, Partner of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), joins us to discuss architecture as a legacy and a force for community impact. We explore her journey as a third-generation architect, her advocacy for women in design and construction, the structural challenges of Manhattan West and why she believes the people behind every project matter more than anything else.
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction.
03:42 Julia shares her path into architecture and the influences that shaped her career.
06:00 How SOM's collaborative culture differs from other firms.
11:38 The challenges facing women in architecture and the responsibility to make space for different voices.
18:47 The role of SOM's work in reshaping cities and landmark projects.
24:57 Walking through the early days of the Manhattan West development.
30:29 How AI and emerging technology are reshaping architecture's future.
41:10 Julia's people-first leadership philosophy and what it means to lead with care.
41:55 Where to connect with Julia and closing thoughts.
Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
Resources Mentioned:
Thornton Tomasetti website, where Tom serves as Managing Principal and Senior Advisor:
“Buy Back Your Time” by Dan Martell, the book Jim is reading right now (referred to in the recording as “How to Buy Back Your Time” — the published title is “Buy Back Your Time”):
Thanks for listening to the "Building Better Futures" podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
Eric Hirani is the host of Building Better Futures and a principal at Infinite Consulting Corp., where he works with leaders in the AEC industry on project delivery, team building, and organizational growth.
Thanks for listening to the "Building Better Futures" podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
Eric Hirani is the host of Building Better Futures and a principal at Infinite Consulting Corp., where he works with leaders in the AEC industry on project delivery, team building, and organizational growth.
Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
41:18 Edward never entered Gilbane with becoming CEO as an aspiration. Breadth of experience and trust built over decades prepared him for the role.
44:00 Five generations of family business: core values and evolving governance, including an outside-majority board, are what keep Gilbane strong.
Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
46:09 What Lawrence lives by: explaining the why to everyone, every time.
48:28 Builder's Blitz: overrated leadership buzzwords, what every team should normalize and Lawrence's long-term bet.
Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations.
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