The Founder Who’s Changing How the World Sees Construction | Tony Iannessa

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.

Built With Purpose shares thoughtful conversations with the people who design, build, and improve the world around us.

Hosted by Chris Fay, the show blends experience from commercial construction and tech leadership to explore how values, systems, and steady execution create enduring companies.

Each week, you’ll hear:

• Builder Conversations: Warm, in-depth interviews with founders, operators, and craft leaders across construction, architecture, engineering, manufacturing, and built-world tech.

• Field Notes: Short, practical takeaways on leadership, culture, brand, sales, and operational excellence—ideas you can put to work on Monday.

If you care about building teams and businesses that last—without losing sight of purpose—this podcast is for you.
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