Built With Purpose

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.

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.