Building Doors with Lauren Karan

Lauren Karan
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Building Doors, hosted by Lauren Karan, is the podcast for ambitious professionals in construction, infrastructure, and engineering ready to accelerate their careers and lead with impact. Each episode explores how top industry leaders built their success and what it takes to stand out. Lauren shares practical strategies for career growth, networking, and influence, along with insights on leadership, hiring trends, and the future of the industry. You’ll hear real conversations with CEOs, project managers, and innovators shaping the built environment. Tune in every two weeks for expert guidance and inspiration—and start building doors to your future.

  1. 87. Courageous Engineering: Breaking the Fear Cycle and Reclaiming Pride in the Profession with Ben Schnitzerling

    4D AGO

    87. Courageous Engineering: Breaking the Fear Cycle and Reclaiming Pride in the Profession with Ben Schnitzerling

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ben Schnitzerling, founder of Red Fox Advisory, a Queensland-based civil and structural engineering consultancy delivering support across the full project lifecycle, from early planning and design through construction, contract administration, technical due diligence, and dispute avoidance. Red Fox helps clients navigate risk, protect value, and deliver practical, buildable infrastructure solutions. From nailing floors for his builder father as a kid to certifying major infrastructure projects just two years out of university, Ben’s career has been shaped by doing the uncomfortable. Today, he’s on a mission to challenge what he sees slowing the industry down: fear of litigation, fear of accountability, and fear of stepping outside the “safe” standard. Lauren and Ben unpack how this risk-averse culture is producing average outcomes and quietly failing the very communities engineers are meant to serve. With Queensland facing a massive pipeline of work and tighter budgets, Ben makes it clear that courageous, accountable engineering is no longer optional. It is essential. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Roots of a Courageous Mindset: How Ben’s upbringing on construction sites and struggle with dyslexia shaped his learning and leadership philosophy.Why embracing uncomfortable, high-stakes projects early in his career was foundational to his growth.The personal hierarchy for sustainable success: “Love yourself first, then your partner, then your kids, then work.”Confronting the Fear Culture in Engineering: Why the industry’s obsession with “cover your ass” and blind compliance is stifling innovation and delivering poor value.The critical difference between a compliant design and a good, accountable design.How an abundance of money over the past decade has incentivized safe, unthinking work and why the coming "burning platform" of financial constraint will force change.Courage, Accountability, and the Art of Negotiation: Why true accountability leads to positive consequences and professional pride.Advanced negotiation tactics: understanding the “deal zone,” moving past “stupid numbers,” and identifying what the other party needs to feel they’ve won.The danger of email “CYA” culture and the irreplaceable value of picking up the phone to build understanding.Building the Engineers of the Future: How Ben’s company, Red Fox, was born from asking clients one simple question: “What can’t you get right now?”Practical strategies for creating a “safe to fail” environment: setting clear safety rails, encouraging peer review, and resisting the leader’s urge to solve every problem.The link between personal pride in one’s work and magical outcomes for the community, the engineering profession’s true customer.Legacy, Grit, and the Next Generation: How stories of resilience from past generations (like his 102-year-old grandmother) inform a mindset of grit and determination.Why fostering discomfort and allowing the next generation to “have a crack” is essential for building courage.The legacy Ben wants to leave: training a generation of engineers who contribute to society and make the world a better place.Parenting and Modeling Courage Why children learn courage by watching, not listening.The story of a teenage act of bravery that left a lasting mark.How leadership at work directly mirrors leadership at home.Key Quotes from Ben Schnitzerling: “I found I had to learn the concept of being uncomfortable to learn.”“We solve complex problems for the community. They’re our true customers.”“A compliant design does not mean a good design or an accountable design.”“Courage is no longer optional in engineering. It’s required.”“You’re better to have a go and get it wrong than do nothing safely.”“If you want magic to happen, give people pride and freedom.”About Our Guest: Ben Schnitzerling is an engineer, leader, and founder of Red Fox Advisory, with decades of experience across complex infrastructure, dispute resolution, negotiation, and business leadership. Known for his direct honesty and deep commitment to developing young engineers, Ben is passionate about restoring courage, accountability, and pride in the profession. His work focuses not just on projects but on shaping the next generation of industry leaders. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Ben on LinkedIn and explore Red Fox AdvisoryStay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let’s Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.

    59 min
  2. 86. The Hidden Values of Engineering: Why the Future of Infrastructure Depends on People, Purpose, and Legacy with Felicity Furey

    FEB 1

    86. The Hidden Values of Engineering: Why the Future of Infrastructure Depends on People, Purpose, and Legacy with Felicity Furey

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with award-winning engineer and author Felicity Furey to unpack the powerful ideas behind her upcoming book and her mission to transform the engineering profession from the inside out. Felicity shares how engineering’s DNA, inherited from the Industrial Revolution, has shaped the way we design, solve problems, and even unintentionally overlook the people those designs impact. She reveals why modern engineering must go beyond efficiency and output, and instead reconnect with values like well-being, community connection, and legacy. Through personal stories of burnout, motherhood, and rediscovering purpose, Felicity shows why engineers are not just technical problem solvers. They are inventors, creators, and community shapers whose decisions influence how society feels, moves, and thrives. Whether you are an engineer, a leader, or someone passionate about the future of our cities, this episode will challenge you to rethink what is possible. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Engineering’s Hidden Values and Blind Spots: Why engineering still operates from industrial era assumptions.How designing for the “average” person creates safety and wellbeing gaps.The surprising ways that road design, seatbelts, vaccines, and even signage can unintentionally exclude people.Shifting From Efficiency to Human Impact: How reframing engineering around people, place, and legacy leads to better design.Examples from around the world where small, thoughtful changes created enormous community benefits.Why nature-connected, stress-reducing infrastructure must become standard.Diversity, Purpose, and the Future Workforce: Why engineering has a marketing problem and how creativity genuinely belongs in the field.What attracts young people, especially girls, to engineering today?The real reasons women struggle to stay in the industry and what actually works to fix it.Leadership, Wellbeing, and Cognitive Load Felicity’s personal journey through burnout and complex PTSD, and how it reshaped her work.Why engineers cannot design for human wellbeing when they are overwhelmed themselves.How workplaces can rethink schedules, meeting structures, and expectations to support better thinking and better results.Legacy and the Next Generation The seven generational question that inspired Felicity’s book: “What Did You Do Once You Knew?Why engineering is entering an era where maintenance, stewardship, and long-term thinking matter more than ever.How small values-based shifts in design can create massive change over time.Key Quotes from Felicity Furey: “Engineers are superheroes. We can change the planet.""Everything we do as an engineer is for people, and often we are not actually meeting them.""What if we designed infrastructure that actually calms us down?"“Purpose is one of the most powerful ways to attract and keep people in engineering.”“What did you do once you knew? That question keeps me going.”About Our Guest: Felicity Furey is an award-winning engineer, entrepreneur, and speaker recognised for her leadership in engineering, diversity, and the future of infrastructure. With 18 years in the industry, Felicity has led major projects, launched national programs, advised organisations on gender equity, and is now reshaping how engineers think about values, legacy, and human-centered design. Her upcoming book explores how rewriting even 1% of the industry's mindset can have a profound impact on communities and the planet. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Felicity on LinkedIn and visit felicityfurey.com for updates on her book and podcastStay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let’s Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.

    50 min
  3. 85. Fixing Infrastructure Delivery: Collaboration, Procurement Reform, and Building High-Trust Teams with Mark Simister

    JAN 18

    85. Fixing Infrastructure Delivery: Collaboration, Procurement Reform, and Building High-Trust Teams with Mark Simister

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Mark Simister, a globally experienced program leader who has spent three decades reshaping how infrastructure is delivered. From London’s crumbling water network to disaster recovery in Queensland and Christchurch, and ultimately transforming Sydney Water into one of the world’s top-performing programs, Mark’s story proves that collaboration is not a buzzword. It is a system that works when leaders are brave enough to implement it. Mark opens up about his unconventional journey from the British Army to hydrogeology to major program delivery. He shares inside stories from rebuilding regions after natural disasters, pioneering early contractor involvement, cutting years out of procurement cycles, and leading one of the most influential collaborative frameworks in Australia. Whether you work in water, transport, energy, major projects, or leadership more broadly, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how teams engage, how contracts shape behavior, and how cultural clarity lifts productivity. Mark shows what happens when you replace fear-based systems with trust-based delivery: better outcomes, higher morale, and programs people are proud to be part of. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Leadership & Career Journey: How Mark went from the British Army to hydrogeology to multimillion-dollar program leadership.Why early exposure to NEC contracts shaped his lifelong passion for collaboration.How major disaster events (2011 floods, Christchurch earthquake) taught him the power of co-location and shared purpose.Collaboration & High-Performance Delivery: Why early-contractor involvement removes waste before it starts.How co-located teams eliminate rework and build trust.Why standardized contracts accelerate decisions and cut procurement delays.How shared KPIs and open-book data create accountability instead of adversarial behavior.Procurement Reform & Industry Challenges: Why traditional tendering creates fear, inefficiency, and poor outcomes.How Sydney Water shifted from adversarial contracting to 10-year partnership frameworks.How behavioral scoring using organizational psychologists created world-class team alignment.Why governance should enable, not police, major programs.Culture, People & Legacy Why emotional intelligence matters as much as engineering intelligence.How embedding finance, communications, and support staff into frontline teams boosts morale.Why Mark believes mature engagement between owners and contractors must define Australia’s next decade of delivery.What meaningful legacy looks like when billions of public dollars are on the line.Key Quotes from Mark Simister: “I want to see people enjoying being at work. I want to see a maturity in the engagement between owner and contractor.”“Everyone will work in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation, that’s written into NEC, and it changes everything.”“Get what you want. Get what you’re really striving for. If you want something, plan it clearly from the beginning.”“When disaster hits, people turn up. Collaboration becomes natural when the purpose is clear.”“It’s public money, my money and your money so I want to see it spent effectively.”About Our Guest: Mark Simister is a program delivery and collaborative contracting specialist known for transforming some of the most complex infrastructure environments in Australia and the UK. From Sydney Water’s award-winning Partnering for Success framework to major disaster reconstruction and global best-practice adoption via Project 13, Mark’s work continues to influence the future of infrastructure procurement, governance, and team culture. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Mark on LinkedIn to follow his work and insights.Stay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let’s Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.

    1h 3m
  4. 84. Designing Your Career: Leadership, Imposter Syndrome, and the Future of Engineering with Stuart Cook

    JAN 4

    84. Designing Your Career: Leadership, Imposter Syndrome, and the Future of Engineering with Stuart Cook

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Stuart Cook, a multi-award-winning engineering leader who stepped into major leadership roles early, including managing a 400 million infrastructure program in his late 30s. Stuart opens up about career-defining opportunities, overcoming imposter syndrome, mentoring future engineers, and why the human element matters just as much as technical excellence. Stuart also shares his personal journey from following his grandfather on construction sites to raising three boys and rediscovering fishing. His honesty about insecurity, leadership missteps, and the pressure to be everything to everyone offers rare insight into what real growth looks like in the engineering and construction sectors. Whether you are an emerging engineer, an experienced leader, or someone fascinated by the future of infrastructure, this conversation will encourage you to rethink how you lead, collaborate, adapt, and build a meaningful career. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Leadership and Career Growth: How Stuart landed a design manager role decades ahead of the norm.Why building core technical skills is essential before chasing leadership titles.The truth about imposter syndrome and why even top leaders still feel it.Why the best leaders stop doing everything and start empowering others.Mentoring the Next Generation: Why mentoring only works when the mentee wants it.How organic, intentional mentorship shaped Stuart’s entire career.Why knowledge transfer matters now more than ever as senior engineers retire.Sustainability and Industry Challenges: Why red tape, not people, is strangling productivity in infrastructure.Stuart’s frustration with sustainability points that waste resources.The gap between practical sustainability and bureaucratic sustainability.How industry expectations must evolve to truly support net zero goals.Collaboration and Team Culture Why collaborative outcomes depend on people, not contract structures.How simple rituals like weekly coffees and birthday celebrations build trust.The surprising importance of emotional intelligence for engineers.What it takes to unify SMEs, contractors, clients, and stakeholders.Personal Growth and Legacy Why becoming a father shifted Stuart’s definition of legacy.How family, surfing, and fishing keep him grounded.Why being a good dad matters more than being a well-known engineer.Key Quotes from Stuart Cook: “I still feel deeply inadequate and insecure in my position, but you have just got to work to your strengths.”“You cannot mentor someone into success unless they want to be mentored.”“Some of the most collaborative projects I have seen were not collaborative contracts. They were collaborative people.”“We spend so much time chasing sustainability points instead of investing in real sustainable outcomes.”“Legacy does not matter to me as much now. Being a good dad and a good mate matters more.”About Our Guest: Stuart Cook is an award-winning engineering leader known for delivering major infrastructure programs, mentoring emerging engineers, and championing emotionally intelligent leadership in a traditionally technical field. From the Ipswich Motorway upgrade to the Coomera Connector South project, Stuart has built a career grounded in curiosity, humility, and passion for developing people. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Stuart on LinkedIn to follow his work and insights.Stay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let’s Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.

    40 min
  5. 83. Why Most Companies Get Safety Wrong and How True Leaders Build Systems That Learn with Dr. Sean Brady

    12/21/2025

    83. Why Most Companies Get Safety Wrong and How True Leaders Build Systems That Learn with Dr. Sean Brady

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Dr. Sean Brady, a forensic engineer, safety expert, and founder of Brady Heywood Consulting. Known for leading the landmark Brady Review into fatal mining accidents, Sean breaks down why our current approach to safety is fundamentally flawed and how the way we design systems, reward behavior, and report incidents can quietly create the very risks we think we are preventing. Sean shares what he discovered while investigating major failures across mining, aviation, health, and engineering, and why so many organizations unknowingly encourage silence, hide near misses, and measure the wrong things entirely. From normalization of deviance to the dangers of chasing zero-harm metrics, this episode challenges leaders to rethink how they view systems, human behavior, and organizational learning. Whether you lead teams, manage major projects, or simply want to understand what true safety looks like, Sean's insights will shift how you think about risk, leadership, and culture. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Rethinking Safety and System Design: Why most companies mistake the absence of incidents for the presence of safety.The real reason safety statistics often hide, not reveal, fatal risks.How normalization of deviance creeps into everyday work and leads to catastrophic failures.Why high-reliability organizations like aviation do not rely on compliance alone.Leadership, Reporting, and Culture: Why bad news rarely flows upward and how leaders can change that.How to create a culture where people report near misses instead of hiding them.Why learning beats blaming and how organizations unintentionally punish honesty.What senior leaders must do to build genuine psychological safety.Building Systems That Actually Keep People Alive: Why effective controls, not hazards, determine whether people survive high-risk work.How to design critical controls and verify their effectiveness continuously.The powerful difference between set-and-forget systems versus systems that learn.How dropped object reports and near misses can reveal deep system weaknesses.Key Quotes from Dr. Sean Brady: "It is not hazards that kill people, it is ineffective controls.""Zero harm sounds good, but what your people hear is: do not report anything.""When you cannot measure what is important, you make what you can measure important.""High-reliability organizations do not expect perfection. They expect things to go wrong.""Our companies are built for good news to flow up, not bad news."About Our Guest: Dr. Sean Brady is a forensic engineer, consultant, and internationally recognized expert in safety and organizational failure. Through his company, Brady Heywood Consulting, Sean investigates complex failures across high-risk industries and helps leaders understand how systems break and how to design organizations that learn, adapt, and prevent catastrophic events. His work on the Brady Review reshaped how Australia views mining fatalities and organizational risk. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Dr. Sean Brady on LinkedIn to learn more about his work.Stay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let’s Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.

    53 min
  6. 82. Inside Queensland’s Next Boom: Housing, Workforce and the Road to 2032 with Ashley Stewart

    12/07/2025

    82. Inside Queensland’s Next Boom: Housing, Workforce and the Road to 2032 with Ashley Stewart

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ashley Stewart, Project Director at Turner & Townsend, whose global experience across major events, construction, and program delivery gives her an extraordinary 360-degree perspective on Queensland’s future. From starting on construction sites in Scotland at 18 to shaping the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and delivering Canada’s Pan Am Games, Ashley brings a rare blend of lived experience and strategic insight. Together, Lauren and Ashley explore the state’s biggest challenges, from housing shortages to capability gaps to the cultural shifts reshaping the workforce. As the 2032 Olympics fast approaches, what will it truly take for Queensland to build a workforce ready for the world stage? Grounded, honest, and deeply human, this episode offers practical wisdom for anyone navigating growth, leadership, or the emotional weight of relocating a family across continents. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Realities of Migration and Major Events: Why relocating a family is far more complex and emotionally taxing than people assumeThe hidden financial layers of international migration (shipping, customs, housing, credit history, vehicles, schools)How Ashley’s experience across Glasgow 2014 and Toronto Pan Am Games informs her predictions for Brisbane 2032Why Brisbane is a different test case compared to London or LA due to city size, growth rate, and resource constraintsQueensland’s Housing and Infrastructure Challenge: Why housing shortages could become one of the biggest barriers to workforce growthHow policy, zoning, approvals, and red tape shape development timelinesWhy large-scale master planned communities may be essentialThe ripple effects: schools, healthcare, roads, and the infrastructure needed to support incoming workers and familiesHow the cost of living and interstate migration are reshaping South East QueenslandWorkforce Capability, Skills, and Diversity: Why Queensland faces unique skill shortages heading into the Olympic decadeHow long procurement cycles awarding work years ahead affect workforce planningThe alarming 12% decline in women in construction over the past yearThe role flexibility, culture, and workplace systems play in retaining women“You can’t be what you can’t see”: why visible role models matterHow technology, hybrid work, and outcome-based management can close capability gapsLeadership, Flexibility, and the Future of Work: Why flexibility is not one size fits all, and why organisations must redefine itThe dangers of “flexibility but” policiesHow trust, autonomy, and outcome-focused leadership strengthen cultureThe double-edged sword of remote work: freedom vs. the pressure of being “always on”Why leaders must build sustainable systems, not rely on individuals to “push through” burnoutThe Mental Load, Comparison Trap, and Redefining Success Why so many professionals, especially women, feel overwhelmed post-COVIDHow social media distorts expectations around careers, parenting, homes, and successWhy intentionally protecting your inner circle changes everythingThe importance of letting go of comparison and building connections aligned with your valuesHow community groups like NAWIC and industry bodies build confidence, belonging, and supportCommunity, Networking, and Belonging Why meaningful networking is about depth, not quantityHow newcomers to Queensland can build a professional community from scratchThe power of reaching out to new arrivals, women returning from maternity leave, and early-career professionalsWhy smaller events often spark richer, more authentic connectionsThe role of committees, advocacy groups, and industry organisations in shaping the future of constructionKey Quotes from Ashley Stewart: “I want to be able to push open doors that people thought were closed and hold them open for others to walk through behind me.”“If I had known how hard relocating with a family would be, I’m not sure I would’ve done it.”“Queensland is such an attractive place to live, but that makes housing one of our biggest challenges.”“Flexibility can’t be ‘flexibility but’, it has to be tailored to the individual.”“You can’t be what you can’t see. Visible role models matter.”“Sometimes you walk into your home and your kids run to you, and that’s the moment that makes everything feel worth it.”About Our Guest: Ashley Stewart is a Project Director at Turner & Townsend, with a career spanning major global events including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Toronto’s Pan Am Games, alongside significant roles in construction, program delivery, and infrastructure. With deep experience across Scotland, Canada, and now Queensland, Ashley brings a unique lens to workforce capability, housing challenges, and the human realities behind major development cycles. Passionate about women in construction, flexibility, and leadership, Ashley is committed to opening doors and building pathways for future generations. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn and follow Turner & Townsend’s workStay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let’s Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.

    1h 7m
  7. 81. Breaking the Silence: Why Mental Health Conversations Matter in Construction with Nick Mair

    11/23/2025

    81. Breaking the Silence: Why Mental Health Conversations Matter in Construction with Nick Mair

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Nick Mair, founder of Pack Mentality Group and a rising voice for men’s mental health across construction, mining, and FIFO workforces. Nick opens up about his near-fatal mental health crisis, the moment Lifeline saved his life, and how that experience inspired him to build a movement centered around community, connection, and giving men a safe space to speak without judgment. Nick unpacks the hidden struggles workers face in high-pressure, male-dominated industries, from isolation and fatigue to identity shifts and societal expectations. Whether you lead teams, work onsite, or simply care about the well-being of people around you, this conversation will challenge you to rethink strength, connection, and what it means to show up for each other. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Truth About Men’s Mental Health: Why men are three times more likely to die by suicideThe silent toll of isolation, societal pressure, and identity shiftsHow stigma keeps men suffering alone and hiding behind “I’m fine”Why connection, not toughness, is the real antidoteInside the FIFO and Construction Reality: How long shifts, heat, fatigue, and remoteness impact mental healthWhy FIFO workers face unique guilt, stress, and relationship strainThe hidden dangers of financial pressure and “golden handcuffs”How simple support structures can change the culture on-siteBuilding Pack Mentality Group & The Power of the Pack: The story behind Pack Mentality Group and the “wolf pack” conceptWhy Nick created the onsite Wolf Chap and Wolf Angel rolesHow the Palmy Army gives men a safe space to talk openlyThe importance of catching subtle behavioural shifts earlyConnection, Identity & Living Your Values Why our identity should not be tied to our job titleHow changing gender roles leaves many men feeling “lost”The danger of ignoring misalignment in your careerWhy removing the phone can transform any conversationKey Quotes from Nick Mair: “People don’t want to hear your obituary. They want to hear your story.”“Men want to be seen. They want to be heard. Just like everyone else.”“Fatigue is the biggest driver of poor mental health onsite.”“We’re losing connection through technology, and we’re not built for that.”“You’d be surprised how quickly a mate will show up when you say, ‘I’m not doing well.’”About Our Guest: Nick Mair is the founder of Pack Mentality Group, an organization dedicated to smashing the stigma around men's mental health. Through workplace sessions, Mental Health First Aid training, and community groups like the Palmy Army, Nick provides education, awareness, and safe spaces for men to be seen and heard. His mission is fueled by his own lived experience and a passion for ensuring no one feels as alone as he once did. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Nick on LinkedIn and explore Pack Mentality Group’s mission.Stay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let’s Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.

    54 min
  8. 80. Why the Future of Australian Manufacturing Depends on the Next Generation with Ryza Garbacz

    11/09/2025

    80. Why the Future of Australian Manufacturing Depends on the Next Generation with Ryza Garbacz

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ryza Garbacz, the second-generation Managing Director of NEACH, a leading Australian steel fabrication and manufacturing company. From humble beginnings in a small Noosa workshop, NEACH has evolved into a powerhouse supplier for some of the nation’s most complex infrastructure projects, championing regional capability and sovereign manufacturing. Ryza shares his journey from sweeping floors in his family’s factory to managing major tier-one projects across Australia, before returning to transform his family’s 50-year-old business. He reflects on lessons in leadership, authenticity, and the power of building loyalty through developing homegrown talent. The conversation explores data-driven decision-making, transparent communication, and creating a culture that thrives through change. Ryza also unpacks the resurgence of trades, the transition ahead for Australian manufacturing, and the importance of sustainable growth. He leaves listeners with an inspiring message about legacy, purpose, and building a business that endures beyond yourself. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Leadership and Legacy: How Ryza transformed his family’s business into a sustainable, future-focused manufacturer.Why true legacy means building something that thrives without you.Lessons from 50 years of continuous operation and what it takes to survive in a changing economy.Career Growth and Authentic Leadership: How working on large infrastructure projects built the foundations for authentic, people-first leadership.The power of humility, likeability, and transparency in advancing your career.Why trusting your gut and having hard conversations are essential leadership skills.Building and Retaining Talent: How to create loyalty and long-term retention through homegrown apprenticeship programs.Why investing in people early builds a stronger culture and business resilience.Insights into tackling the trade shortage and inspiring the next generation of skilled workers.Data, Decisions, and Sustainable Growth: How to use data to make smart, strategic decisions that keep your business alive and thriving.The importance of measuring everything and knowing your numbers “to the cent.”Why not all growth is good growth. Understanding sustainable scaling in construction and manufacturing.Resilience, Balance, and Happiness Ryza’s personal journey from a high-paying corporate career to rebuilding a family business for purpose and lifestyle.Why choosing happiness, family, and nature over constant hustle leads to real success.The value of staying human in an increasingly automated, AI-driven world.Key Quotes from Ryza Garbacz  “Authenticity in how you deal with people is everything; it creates loyalty and trust.”“True legacy is building something that can survive without you.”“Data doesn’t lie. If you don’t know your numbers, you can’t run your business.”“Don’t chase growth for the sake of it. Growth has to be meaningful.”“I chose happiness, and that was the best business decision I ever made.”About Our Guest: Ryza Garbacz is the Managing Director of NEACH, a second-generation Australian manufacturing company based on the Sunshine Coast. With a background in civil engineering and a decade working on major infrastructure projects across the country, Ryza brings a unique blend of hands-on experience, commercial acumen, and deep commitment to regional manufacturing. Under his leadership, NEACH has become a trusted partner in sovereign supply and sustainable growth across Australia’s construction sector. About Your Host: Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers. How You Can Support the Podcast: Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Ryza Garbacz on LinkedIn to learn more about his work and insights on the future of Australian manufacturing.Stay Connected: Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let’s Connect: Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.

    52 min
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Building Doors, hosted by Lauren Karan, is the podcast for ambitious professionals in construction, infrastructure, and engineering ready to accelerate their careers and lead with impact. Each episode explores how top industry leaders built their success and what it takes to stand out. Lauren shares practical strategies for career growth, networking, and influence, along with insights on leadership, hiring trends, and the future of the industry. You’ll hear real conversations with CEOs, project managers, and innovators shaping the built environment. Tune in every two weeks for expert guidance and inspiration—and start building doors to your future.

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