Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Built With Purpose

As we kick off the first Between the Builds episode of 2026, host Chris Fay takes a step back to reflect on leadership, priorities, and the pace of change ahead. Building off last week’s conversation with Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Toggle AI, this episode introduces a powerful framework for modern leaders:

What should be systematized? What can be automated? And what must remain deeply human?

From business operations to family life, Chris shares how intentional reflection, smart systems, and thoughtful use of technology can actually create more space for the human connections that matter most. This episode is both a leadership reset and a practical guide for planning your next 90 days with clarity and purpose.

• Why the best leaders schedule time to think, not just to execute

• How over-systematizing can quietly damage culture and relationships

• Practical examples of what should be automated—and what absolutely shouldn’t

• How AI and modern tools can give leaders more time for people, not less

• A simple reflection exercise to realign your calendar, priorities, and energy for 2026

• Founders and CEOs

• Construction, AEC, and operations leaders

• Anyone navigating AI, scale, and leadership in a fast-moving world

• Leaders who want growth without losing their humanity
  
  

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Follow Chris Fay on LinkedIn for more leadership insights and behind-the-scenes reflections.

In this episode, we sit down with Patrick Erin Murphy to break down what it truly means to build with purpose—not as a slogan, but as a daily commitment to leadership, integrity, and long-term thinking.

Patrick shares how staying grounded in values has shaped his approach to leadership, decision-making, and growth, especially in environments where shortcuts and short-term wins are often rewarded. This conversation explores what it takes to build something meaningful while maintaining discipline, clarity, and trust.

From leadership principles to navigating hard decisions, this episode dives into how purpose-driven thinking creates stronger teams, better outcomes, and businesses that actually last.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, operator, or leader at any stage, this episode offers perspective and lessons you can apply immediately.

• What “building with purpose” really looks like in practice

• How leadership rooted in integrity impacts long-term success

• Why values matter most when decisions get difficult

• The importance of discipline and consistency in leadership

• How to think long-term in a short-term results-driven world

• Why meaningful growth requires patience and conviction

• Lessons learned from navigating responsibility and pressure

• How leaders set the tone for culture and accountability

• Purpose isn’t optional — it’s a leadership responsibility

• Integrity compounds over time in business and life

• Long-term thinking creates sustainable success

• Discipline matters more than motivation

• Strong leadership starts with clarity of values

Patrick Erin Murphy is a purpose-driven leader focused on building with intention, integrity, and long-term vision. Known for his thoughtful approach to leadership and decision-making, Patrick emphasizes values-based growth and the importance of doing things the right way—even when it’s not the easiest path.

Built With Purpose explores the intersection of business, leadership, culture, and long-term growth. Each episode features founders, executives, and leaders who are building intentionally — and proving that purpose-driven businesses don’t just feel better, they perform better.

In this Between the Builds episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay reflects on leadership, culture, and growth as the year comes to a close.

Drawing from recent conversations — including insights from Wes Palmisano of Renegade Construction — Chris explores what it truly takes to scale a business without sacrificing culture. From promoting leaders from within to empowering teams through clear frameworks and shared vision, this episode focuses on how intentional leadership creates sustainable growth.

Chris also shares personal reflections on year-end planning, the responsibility of leadership, and why documenting culture is just as important as defining strategy. The episode closes with a thoughtful reminder to reflect not only on business goals, but on personal purpose, family priorities, and the legacy we’re building beyond work.

This conversation is for leaders, founders, and operators who want to build companies — and lives — with purpose.

• Why culture must be intentional to scale

• The power of promoting and developing leaders from within

• Building team-based organizations instead of top-down hierarchies

• How vision and autonomy drive retention and performance

• Preparing your company — and yourself — for the year ahead

• Reflecting on leadership, purpose, and personal growth
  
  

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In this episode, we sit down with Wes Palmisano, founder of Renegade, to break down how he’s building one of the most forward-thinking construction companies in the industry.

Wes shares how Renegade scaled by challenging traditional construction norms, prioritizing culture and leadership, and embracing technology and innovation in an industry known for doing things “the old way.”

From hiring and retention to operational efficiency, AI, and long-term vision, this conversation dives into what it really takes to grow a modern construction company without losing your values.

Whether you’re in construction, entrepreneurship, or leadership, this episode delivers real-world insights you can apply immediately.

• How Renegade was built by doing things differently

• Why company culture is the foundation of sustainable growth

• The biggest mistakes traditional construction companies make

• How leadership directly impacts employee retention

• Why technology and AI matter in construction today

• How to scale without sacrificing quality or values

• Building trust, accountability, and ownership within teams

• Lessons learned from rapid growth and hard decisions

• What the future of the construction industry looks like

• Culture isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a competitive advantage

• Leadership sets the ceiling for company growth

• Technology enables scale, but people drive success

• Breaking industry norms can unlock massive opportunity

• Long-term vision beats short-term wins
  
  

Wes Pamisano is the founder of Renegade, a construction company redefining what it means to build in today’s market. Known for prioritizing people, culture, and innovation, Wes has helped Renegade grow by challenging outdated systems and focusing on leadership-driven growth.

Built With Purpose explores the intersection of business, leadership, innovation, and culture. Each episode features conversations with founders, executives, and industry leaders who are building differently — and winning because of it.

In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fey returns with a powerful Between the Builds reflection—breaking down one of the most important leadership lessons from his recent conversation with Burton Hackney, President & CEO of JORIS General Contractors, one of Texas’s most admired construction companies.

Rather than chasing size, geography, or market dominance, JORIS made a bold and clarifying decision: to become one of the most admired companies in Texas. Chris unpacks why that single choice reshaped how the company hires, leads, allocates time, and builds culture—and why clarity like this is the difference between growth that compounds and growth that creates friction.

This episode goes deeper than construction or leadership theory. Chris challenges leaders to confront a hard truth: most organizations don’t fail from lack of vision—they fail because leaders don’t spend enough time on what actually matters. Drawing from Burton’s philosophy, along with insights from The One Thing and Unique Ability, Chris explains why leaders must spend a disproportionate share of their time reinforcing culture, alignment, and direction.

Through candid self-reflection, Chris shares how even well-intentioned leaders get pulled into meetings, emails, and “important” tasks that quietly steal focus from the work only they can do. This episode is a reset—a reminder that your company will never rise above the clarity of its leadership or the discipline of how time is spent.

Whether you’re leading a company, a team, or your own life, this conversation will help you recalibrate your priorities, refocus your calendar, and recommit to building something that’s not just successful—but truly admired.

Key Takeaways

• Clarity beats scale — JORIS didn’t chase being the biggest; they committed to being the most admired, and everything flowed from that decision.

• Culture is the real differentiator — when people love where they work, customers feel it in every interaction.

• Your calendar reveals your leadership — vision without time allocation is just aspiration.

• Leaders must focus on their “One Thing” — spending time everywhere guarantees impact nowhere.

• Disproportionate focus creates disproportionate results — at least 50% of a leader’s time should be spent driving the most important initiative forward.

• Fragmentation kills momentum — meetings, emails, and distractions slowly erode strategic progress.

• Delegation requires discipline — letting go of good tasks is necessary to protect great ones.

• Great companies are built intentionally — admired organizations don’t happen by accident; they are designed daily through leadership behavior.

• The same rules apply to life — the question isn’t just what matters most in business, but whether your time reflects what matters most as a human being.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Burton Hackney, President of JORIS, one of Texas’s most respected and long-standing construction companies. Across a candid, energizing conversation, Chris and Burton explore what it really takes to lead a 700-person organization through growth, uncertainty, and generational change—without losing sight of culture, people, or purpose.

From JORIS’s 50+ year Texas legacy and the reboot that reshaped the company’s values, to Burton’s view on servant leadership, hiring for character over résumé, and creating psychological safety across four regional offices—this episode goes far deeper than construction. It’s a masterclass in what happens when a business bets everything on culture, clarity, and human connection.

Chris and Burton unpack how to develop young talent faster, balance demands on modern leaders, build powerful partnerships instead of transactional clients, and why focusing on who you’re being, not just what you’re doing, is the real competitive advantage in today’s market.

Whether you’re scaling a team, navigating change, leading a legacy business, or building one from scratch, this conversation offers grounded wisdom, tactical leadership practices, and the inspiration to build with more intention—inside and outside the jobsite.

Key Takeaways 

• Culture IS strategy — JORIS believes its long-standing values are its true competitive edge in a crowded construction market.

• Leadership starts with authenticity — Burton models transparency and vulnerability to encourage honest communication company-wide.

• Psychological safety drives high-performing teams — people speak up when they trust the environment.

• Great companies hire for culture, not just capability — character, curiosity, and a servant mindset outrank résumé credentials.

• Legacy requires intentional resetting — JORIS hit pause, recalibrated its identity, and rebuilt values into daily habits.

• Growth without clarity leads to friction — regional expansion forced the company to rethink rhythms, communication, and accountability.

• Leadership is a mindset, not a title — employees at any level can lead without positional authority.

• Experience still matters, but tech can accelerate it — the future of knowledge transfer will blend mentorship with AI and accessible internal expertise.

• Healthy leaders create healthy companies — burnout, overextension, and lack of boundaries limit organizational impact.

In this Between the Builds episode of Built With Purpose, Chris Fay reflects on his recent conversation with Landon Messal, Founder & CEO of SiteMarker, and digs into one big theme: the people closest to the problem are usually the best equipped to solve it. Chris expands on what this means for leaders who aren’t always in the field or on every customer call—and how to build systems that surface insights from across a growing organization.

Chris also explores how AI is transforming knowledge capture and enablement. By recording internal meetings, customer conversations, and team discussions, leaders can use tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to quickly analyze information, build strategies, create training materials, and transfer critical knowledge across teams. He shares how his own company reduced a six-month enablement project to just a few weeks—all by leaning fully into AI.

This episode is a practical guide for leaders who want to scale their teams, speed up innovation, and ensure that institutional knowledge becomes an asset rather than a bottleneck.

Key Takeaways:

• Being close to the problem is a competitive advantage. Landon built SiteMarker by experiencing the pain firsthand—proof that great solutions often emerge from lived frustration, not theoretical strategy.

• Leaders can’t be everywhere. As teams grow, leaders must intentionally design systems for surfacing insights from employees and customers who experience challenges in real time.

• Record everything. Customer calls, internal meetings, support conversations, strategy sessions—every recording becomes raw data for improvement.

• AI enables analysis at unprecedented scale. Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can digest hours of conversations, extract patterns, and convert them into strategy, documentation, and training.

• Enablement can happen dramatically faster. Chris’s team used AI to build a full go-to-market strategy, video content, learning paths, and quizzes in under two weeks—work that used to take six months.

• Knowledge transfer is a massive challenge in experienced-based industries. Construction, AEC, manufacturing, and engineering depend on decades of tacit human knowledge. AI can help capture and pass that knowledge forward.

• The best prompt is honesty and curiosity. If you don’t know how to use AI, ask it. If you don’t know what to do with transcripts, ask it. Curiosity is the new superpower.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Landon Messal, Founder & CEO of Site Marker, for a deep, forward-looking conversation about technology, process, and purpose inside the AEC industry. From the origins of Site Marker, born directly from real pain in the civil engineering field, to the rapid acceleration of AI, automation, and internal innovation, this discussion breaks down what it really takes to build tools that teams actually adopt. Chris and Landon dive into digitizing fieldwork, replacing old habits with intuitive workflows, onboarding tech without overwhelming teams, building culture during rapid growth, and why the future of AEC is a blend of human connection and smart, familiar technology.

Whether you’re a CEO, a technologist, or simply trying to modernize a growing firm, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how two leaders are scaling companies, and helping an entire industry evolve, with clarity, humility, and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Innovation is most powerful when it comes from those who actually live the problem every day.

• Familiar, intuitive UX dramatically increases adoption in the field. Technology should feel as simple as texting or using maps.

• AEC firms often rely on outdated or overly customized tools because they avoid changing broken processes. True transformation demands process clarity, not just new software.

• Scaling tech inside busy, understaffed firms requires starting small, tackling top pain points, and treating digital transformation as a journey, not a one-time deployment.

• Leaders should empower small, high-performing teams to evaluate and select solutions, too many voices slow progress.

• Relationship-based selling still dominates the AEC industry. Trust and human connection matter as much as product features.

• Both companies and careers grow faster when leaders reinforce vision and purpose constantly, not just during onboarding.

• AI is already reshaping development, operations, and communication. Teams that experiment now will outpace those who wait.

• Hiring motivated people means looking beyond résumés. Seek candidates with personal goals, curiosity, and internal drive.

• Building scalable companies requires shedding tasks, trusting teams, and focusing leadership energy on the highest-impact relationships.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Between the Builds, host Chris Fay reflects on last week’s conversation with Al Petrangeli, diving deeper into one of the most foundational principles of effective leadership: servant leadership. Chris breaks down what servant leadership really means, how to distinguish it from simply “being a servant,” and why the difference can shape the trajectory of your team, culture, and organization.

From leading by example and setting the tone for your team to empowering frontline decision-makers and avoiding the trap of doing the work for your people, this episode offers a thoughtful look at what it means to scale through others. Chris also shares personal experiences, practical insights, and industry data that illustrate why servant leadership is one of the most powerful tools for building high-performing teams and creating long-term impact.

Whether you’re guiding a growing company, developing emerging leaders, or evaluating your own leadership habits, this episode will challenge you to reflect, recalibrate, and lead with purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Servant leadership is about empowering others, not elevating your own ambitions.

• Leading by example is constant. Your behavior sets the pace whether you realize it or not.

• You become who you spend your time with. Leadership is contagious.

• True scaling happens through people, not personal effort alone.

• A servant leader teaches, equips, and develops their team rather than doing tasks for them.

• Being “a servant” instead of a servant leader can bottleneck growth and hinder performance.

• Frontline empowerment boosts productivity by nearly 33% and massively increases engagement.

• Only 21% of AEC employees feel coached by their leaders, a major opportunity for improvement.

• High-performing cultures emerge when leaders foster autonomy, accountability, and clarity.

• Asking your team for feedback on how you lead can unlock transformational growth.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Al Petrangeli, COO at Carroll Daniel Construction and former CEO of Balfour Beatty’s Southeast Region, to explore what it takes to lead with humility while driving massive growth. From growing up in an Italian family restaurant to leading billion-dollar construction businesses, Al shares his story of servant leadership, grit, and building organizations where people and culture come first.

He opens up about the toughest transitions in his 46-year career, how humility and communication anchor effective leadership, and the mindset that helped Carroll Daniel 5× its revenue while maintaining the same family-driven culture. This is a powerful look at how vision, trust, and people-first leadership can scale both business and impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Grit beats knowledge. You can train for skills but grit, mindset, and accountability drive long-term success.

• Servant leadership scales. Great leaders enable others to win, even when it means rolling up their sleeves.

• Humility is strength. Owning challenges and embracing change builds credibility and trust.

• Communication is culture. Town halls, open-door policies, and visible leadership keep teams aligned.

• Growth requires reinvention. Every new stage demands stronger systems, smarter strategy, and aligned people.

• Legacy is impact. True leaders leave behind people who are better because of their influence.

• Vision with discipline. A five-year compass and nimble course corrections create scalable, sustainable success.

• From success to significance. At the highest levels, leadership becomes about giving back and building others.

• Behavioral leadership wins. In construction, and business, 60% of success is behavioral, not technical.

• Humility fuels legacy. Al’s story reminds us that greatness is built not on ego, but on lifting others higher.

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Between the Builds, host Chris Fay reflects on his conversation with Tony Iannessa, Founder and CEO of BIG Construction, to explore one of the hardest truths in leadership. Sometimes the thing holding your company back is you. Using Tony’s shift from “BIG 1.0” to “BIG 2.0" as a framework, Chris breaks down what it really means to stop being the system and start building systems. From vulnerability and empowerment to the psychology of delegation, this episode challenges every leader to evaluate how they’re scaling, through control or through trust.

Key Takeaways:
• Letting go isn’t losing control, it’s creating capacity for growth.
• When leaders fail to delegate, they become the bottleneck for progress.
• Empowering your team builds trust, retention, and innovation.
• Vulnerability and transparency can reignite team engagement and accountability.
• Scaling requires systems that outlast the founder’s direct involvement.
• Overcontrol breeds apathy; empowerment fuels ownership.
• The best leaders invite feedback, and accountability, from their teams.
• Growth demands moving from “I” to “we.”

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Tony Iannessa, Founder and CEO of BIG Construction, to explore what it takes to build a high-performing, values-driven company from the ground up. From the early “Big 1.0” days of grit and long hours to the evolution into “Big 2.0,” Tony shares how he learned to scale through people, process, and purpose.

They dive deep into the human side of leadership, the tension between vision and execution, the emotional challenge of letting go, and the personal growth required to lead sustainably. Tony also opens up about redefining the perception of the construction industry, advocating for a new generation of builders to see craftsmanship as both meaningful and lucrative work.

This is a candid and energizing conversation about leadership evolution, organizational culture, and what it truly means to build with purpose.

Key Takeaways:
• Building sustainably means knowing when to shift from founder-driven to team-driven leadership.
• A “strength overused becomes a weakness”. Drive without balance can burn out both the leader and the team.
• Vision without execution is hallucination, every visionary needs an integrator to make ideas real.
• Systems like EOS help translate strategy into daily accountability and communication.
• Hiring for complementarity (not similarity) is critical. Great integrators balance visionary leaders.
• Founders must create psychological safety for their teams to challenge ideas and push back constructively.
• Success requires celebrating progress, not just chasing the next goal.
• Parenthood and leadership share common lessons, growth comes from struggle, not comfort.
• The construction industry needs a new narrative: building is a high-value, purpose-driven profession.
• True leadership is measured not just by growth, but by legacy and the culture and opportunities you leave behind.

Episode Summary:

In this Between the Builds reflection, host Chris Fay reflects on his recent conversation with Chris Dornfeld, co-founder of Whistle Rewards which was acquired by One10 where he now serves as Executive Vice President of Product Strategy. Fay dives into the science of immediate recognition, exploring how micro-rewards can reshape workplace motivation and culture.

He breaks down how generational differences, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z, impact how people respond to feedback and appreciation, and why modern leaders must learn to “speak every language” across their teams. From real-time recognition to authentic connection, Fay challenges leaders to build psychologically safe environments where people feel seen, valued, and empowered.

Key Takeaways:

• Real-time recognition reinforces positive behavior and deepens engagement.

• Micro-rewards can rewire motivation by connecting action to immediate appreciation.

• Every generation values recognition differently and leaders must learn to adapt their approach.

• Vulnerability builds trust; sharing your own challenges helps others open up.

• Connection fuels performance and leaders must be intentional about staying in touch, especially with remote teams.

• Psychological safety and open communication accelerate innovation and team cohesion.

• Balancing instant feedback with long-term growth creates sustainable success.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Chris Dornfeld. At the time of recording Dornfield was the President and Co-Founder of Whistle Rewards, which has since been acquired by One10 where he now serves as the Executive Vice President of Product Strategy. Together they explore how behavioral science, neuroscience, and real-time recognition are transforming the way teams adopt technology and drive performance. From his early days as an architect to becoming the CIO of St. Louis and a serial tech founder, Dornfeld shares how he’s spent two decades at the intersection of human experience and digital transformation.

The conversation dives deep into how micro-rewards can spark lasting behavior change, why construction and industrial sectors are ripe for innovation, and how AI will reshape the future of workforce engagement. Dornfeld offers practical insights for leaders looking to build resilient cultures, increase adoption of new systems, and help teams embrace change, not fear it.

Key Takeaways:

• Behavior change begins with biology. Our brains resist new things, but micro-rewards can rewire habits.
• Real-time recognition drives engagement far better than delayed, large-scale incentives.
• In fast-evolving industries, low-hanging tech wins can create massive momentum and buy-in.
• Pairing behavioral science with technology unlocks powerful improvements in safety, adoption, and culture.
• Building trust and partnership is key to successful co-founder and client relationships.
• AI will soon personalize incentive systems and drive performance on an individual level.
• Companies that experiment early will outpace competitors as digital transformation accelerates.
• True innovation cultures empower every employee, from the field to the office, to find and solve problems.
• Leadership today requires resilience, curiosity, and the courage to start, even before the path is clear.
• “If you don’t like change, you’ll like irrelevance even less.”

Episode Summary:

In this Between the Builds reflection, host Chris Fay looks back on his conversation with Maor Farid, founder and CEO of Leo AI, and unpacks a powerful theme: the way our lived experiences, both triumphs and setbacks, shape who we are as leaders and builders. From Maor’s time in the Israeli military and at MIT to Chris’s own story of rejection from the University of Georgia leading to unexpected opportunities, this episode explores how the moments we often overlook or even resist can become the very foundation of our purpose, leadership style, and future success.

Whether it’s starting a company, leading a team, or making an impact in your community, Chris challenges us to recognize the gravity of our experiences and to take ownership of the ones we create moving forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Experiences, both positive and negative, are often the unseen drivers of leadership and innovation.
• The average age of entrepreneurs is in their early 40s; experience provides the clarity to identify real problems and build meaningful solutions.
• Negative experiences can become catalysts for long-term growth and perspective.
• We can proactively shape our future by curating the experiences we pursue today.
• Don’t discount your own story. It’s the blueprint for where you’re headed.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Maor Farid, co-founder of Leo AI, to explore how artificial intelligence, military discipline, and heart-centered leadership are reshaping the future of engineering and innovation. From his journey through Israel’s elite defense units and MIT to building a startup transforming mechanical design, Maor shares how purpose and people remain at the center of groundbreaking technology.

The conversation dives into the challenges of scaling fast without losing culture, why founder–market fit matters as much as product–market fit, and how “customer obsession” can cut through the noise in today’s AI boom. Maor’s story is equal parts entrepreneurship, resilience, and a belief that companies built with heart can change entire industries.

Key Takeaways:

• Heart-led leadership builds trust, resilience, and lasting impact.

• Military service instilled camaraderie, accountability, and a startup mindset.

• Founder–market fit is as critical as product–market fit for sustainable success.

• Scaling fast requires hiring for DNA and culture, not just skill.

• Customer obsession helps filter signal from noise in a crowded AI market.

• AI should empower engineers, not replace them; augmenting creativity, not threatening jobs.

• Transparent communication with customers strengthens loyalty during growth pains.

• Empowering teams and shedding ego unlocks true scalability.

• Building partnerships with mentors and industry pioneers accelerates vision.

• True innovation thrives where vision, execution, and heart intersect.

Summary:

In this second installment of Between the Builds, host Chris Fay digs deeper into a theme that resonated in a recent conversation with Ryan Suydam and Tim Asimos from Client Savvy; the power of listening. Drawing from industry data, personal practice, and practical tools, Chris explores why so many leaders miss the mark on client and employee feedback, and what it really takes to bridge the gap between perception and reality. From annual surveys to personalized follow-ups, he lays out actionable ways leaders can humanize feedback, validate their teams and customers, and, most importantly, take action. Whether you lead in architecture, manufacturing, tech, or beyond, this episode is a blueprint for building stronger relationships and creating lasting loyalty.

Key Takeaways:

• Listening is one of the most underutilized growth strategies in leadership.
• Only 1 in 26 unhappy customers will speak up, yet most expect their voices to be heard.
• Structured feedback programs can boost net promoter scores by 10–25 points.
• There’s often a massive gap between what leaders think they deliver and what clients actually experience.
• Feedback must be humanized. Emails and surveys should come from people, not faceless systems.
• Leaders who acknowledge both good and bad feedback build trust and loyalty.
• Taking visible action on feedback is what turns insights into impact.
• Simple steps, like annual surveys, project follow-ups, or personal phone calls, can transform client experience.
• Feedback loops should be iterative, quarter by quarter, improving how you listen and respond.
• Organizations that truly listen and act create enduring partnerships and stronger cultures.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Ryan Suydam, co-founder of Client Savvy and now CX Architect at ClearlyRated, and Tim Asimos, Head of Growth at Client Savvy, to unpack how listening, empathy, and purposeful leadership can transform client relationships and fuel organizational growth. From Ryan’s journey starting in architecture to building one of the leading client experience platforms in professional services, to Tim’s perspective on evolving an industry still catching up on CX adoption, the conversation dives into the strategies, stories, and mindsets shaping the future of client-centric firms.

The discussion highlights the recent acquisition of Client Savvy by ClearlyRated, how intentional feedback loops can turn “you sucked” into long-term growth, and why empathy and steadfastness matter as much as strategy in building resilient companies. If you’re a leader in AEC or professional services, or simply want to better understand how purpose and process create thriving businesses, this episode is a masterclass.

Key Takeaways:

• Listening is the foundation of client experience, and of trust.

• Client feedback must be gathered throughout the project lifecycle, not just at the end.

• CX programs transform culture when tied to measurement, accountability, and follow-up.

• Technology enhances relationships when it empowers empathy and responsiveness.

• The AEC industry is behind in CX adoption, offering huge opportunity for early movers.

• Proactive feedback can reveal hidden issues and unlock growth opportunities.

• Leaders must create rhythms of listening, coaching, and communication to embed CX.

• Partnership with ClearlyRated expands reach, resources, and innovation potential.

• Empathy and steadfastness are leadership traits that anchor purpose.

• Building with purpose means aligning vision, people, and process to create lasting impact.

Episode Summary:

In this first Between the Builds segment, host Chris Fay reflects on key lessons from his conversation with Chad Cousins, CEO of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, and shares his own insights from stepping into leadership roles. Chris explores the critical moments of transition—how new leaders can honor legacy while steering toward innovation, why first impressions shape long-term trust, and how a simple 100-day plan can set the foundation for success. With practical advice drawn from personal experience and leadership best practices, this episode is a roadmap for anyone navigating a new role—whether leading a company, a team, or a community effort.

Key Takeaways:

• The first 100 days in leadership set the tone, plan with intention and clarity.

• Listening before leading builds trust and uncovers the real priorities.

• One-on-one conversations are a powerful tool for breaking down communication barriers.

• Leaders gain momentum by focusing on a few high-impact actions, not trying to solve everything at once.

• Balancing respect for legacy with the courage to innovate ensures sustainable growth.

• Early wins create buy-in, energy, and alignment across the organization.

• Servant leadership starts with humility, curiosity, and clear communication.

Check out The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results: https://www.amazon.com/ONE-Thing-Surprisingly-Extraordinary-Results/dp/1885167776

SUMMARY:

In this kickoff episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Chad Cousins, CEO of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, to explore how purposeful leadership can transform an organization from a respected regional firm into a high-impact, growth-oriented platform. Chad shares his unconventional path from the tech and consulting world to leading a design firm, the strategic decisions that fueled their reinvention, and how a deeply rooted sense of purpose continues to guide their vision. From servant leadership and culture-building to scaling through reinvestment and strategic partnerships, this episode offers a masterclass in leading with intention while building teams, companies, and communities that last.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Purpose is the foundation for sustainable growth and team alignment.
• Transitioning from a founder-led to a scalable firm requires trust, structure, and vision.
• Reinvestment in people and systems is key to long-term enterprise value.
• Culture must evolve without being diluted—communication is the glue.
• Growth is not just about revenue, but about opportunity, innovation, and impact.
• A “puppy with big paws” mindset keeps organizations agile and ambitious.

Built With Purpose is the new podcast for the leaders shaping the built world. Those rethinking how we design, manufacture, construct, and innovate. The first episode launches on September 2nd! Follow us so you don’t miss out.