Building Doors with Lauren Karan

Lauren Karan
  • 5.0 (1)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. 91. Sustainability Is Everyone's Problem: Engineering, Values, and Raising the Next Generation with Ashley Hernandez

    6D AGO

    91. Sustainability Is Everyone's Problem: Engineering, Values, and Raising the Next Generation with Ashley Hernandez

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ashley Hernandez, a civil engineer turned sustainability consultant who has worked across Australia, the Middle East, and the United States. Now a key member of the boutique consultancy Losee Consulting, Ashley brings a rare blend of technical engineering knowledge, sustainability expertise, and mindfulness practice to her work. Ashley opens up about her unexpected journey into engineering, her time in Abu Dhabi chasing the mysterious “green kilometre,” and why she walked away from big consultancies to align her career with her values. She also shares how becoming a mother reshaped her perspective on work, leadership, and legacy. From the power of single-tasking to the importance of turning cameras on, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for anyone navigating the human side of infrastructure. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Sustainability as Integration, Not Silos: Why sustainability isn’t just “something the enviros do”How infrastructure rating systems (like Greenroads and ISC) create a common languageThe challenge of moving goalposts and why that’s actually a sign of progress Career Transitions and Values Alignment: Why Ashley left large consultancies to join a boutique firmHow saying “yes before thinking” led to a board role and a new career pathLetting your RPQ lapse and why that was the right decision Motherhood, Activism, and Legacy: Why “motherhood in and of itself is activism”How raising the next generation is the most influential work we can doThe shift from selling your soul for a paycheck to building a life aligned with your valuesMindfulness for the Overwhelmed Professional: Why burnout builds from micro-stresses, not just major crisesPractical techniques: box breathing, single-tasking, and the “rubber ball vs. glass ball” analogyHow to transition between meetings (and why a minute of breath work matters more than being on time) Workplace Culture and Human Connection: Why cameras off on Teams calls creates anonymity and hostilityThe power of in-person kick-off meetings to build psychological safetyHow a manager who encouraged friendship created a high-performing team Gender Equity and Male Allyship: The sting of “working a short day today?” and why it still happens 20 years laterWhy bystanders have more power than targets to call out biasThe importance of male allies in creating psychologically safe workplacesKey Quotes from Ashley Hernandez: “Sustainability brings it all to the forefront. This is everyone’s problem.”“We’re here for a short time. What kind of life are we living if we’re not true to our values?”“Motherhood in and of itself is activism.”“It’s not that serious. We’re saving PDFs, not lives.”“We design and build these massive pieces of infrastructure through teamwork and through people.” About Our Guest: Ashley Hernandez is a civil infrastructure professional with over a decade of experience across Australia, the Middle East, and the United States. She currently works at Losee Consulting, a boutique sustainability firm, where she helps clients integrate environmental and social outcomes into major infrastructure projects. Ashley is also a certified yoga teacher who leads weekly mindfulness sessions for her team, and a former board chair of the Greenroads Foundation. 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 LinkedInStay 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 16m
  2. 90. The Power of People: Leadership, Vulnerability, and Building a Better Construction Culture with Paul Rhoden

    MAR 29

    90. The Power of People: Leadership, Vulnerability, and Building a Better Construction Culture with Paul Rhoden

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Paul Rhoden, a seasoned infrastructure leader, podcaster, and consultant with over 30 years of experience across the UK and Australia. Paul is the founder of Vulpra Contractors and the host of the Construction Matters podcast, where he champions the human side of construction. Paul shares why he believes the industry’s greatest asset is its people, and how authentic, vulnerable leadership can transform project cultures. From his early days in the Royal Navy to leading major infrastructure projects, Paul opens up about his journey through grief, burnout, and purpose. He offers powerful insights on male allyship, the importance of listening to your supply chain, and why sometimes the best way to save a failing project is to simply stop and ask for help. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Leadership and Vulnerability: Why authentic leadership means admitting you don’t have all the answers.How leaders can create psychological safety by being vulnerable first.The power of “stopping” a project to reset culture and solve underlying problems.Male Allyship and Gender Diversity: Practical ways men can use their influence to amplify women’s voices in meetings and on-site.Why true allyship is about everyday behaviors, not just policies.Paul’s personal motivation: his mother’s strength and his three daughters.Mental Health and Psychosocial Safety: The link between purpose, retirement, and wellbeing in construction.How burnout and “rust-out” affect the industry, and what leaders can do about it.The importance of self-care for those who spend their lives helping others.Project Culture and Supply Chain: Why paying subcontractors fairly builds loyalty, innovation, and better outcomes.Moving from a “master-servant” dynamic to genuine business partnerships.The value of listening to everyone from the plant operator to the cleaner for breakthrough ideas.Key Quotes from Paul Rhoden: “If you’re willing to turn up and have a go and ask for help, you get help. For me, it’s the power of human relationships.”“We’re great at building bridges and roads. We need to get better at building people.”“When I look at a social media post or a brochure, that reveals intent. But sites reveal design.”“Don’t worry about position and power. It’ll chase you when you’re ready and you may not want it.” About Our Guest: Paul Rhoden is a civil infrastructure leader with more than three decades of experience delivering complex projects across the UK and Australia. A passionate advocate for mental health, gender equity, and authentic leadership, Paul now runs his own consultancy, Vulpra Contractors, and hosts the Construction Matters podcast, where he continues to shift the conversation toward the people who make the industry possible. 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 Paul on LinkedIn and listen to his podcast Construction Matters.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 13m
  3. 89. Finding Calm Amid the Chaos: The Leadership Shift Every Construction Professional Needs to Hear with Alex Prenzel

    MAR 15

    89. Finding Calm Amid the Chaos: The Leadership Shift Every Construction Professional Needs to Hear with Alex Prenzel

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Alex Prenzel, a construction leader and coach with more than 20 years of experience in the property and infrastructure sector. Alex shares her insights on the pressures many professionals face in high-performance environments and why the constant push to deliver more can come at a hidden personal cost. Together, they explore what it means to find calm amid the chaos and why shifting how we think about leadership may be the key to sustaining long-term success in the construction industry. Alex, known for her thoughtful leadership and focus on mindset and wellbeing, also shares personal stories from her own career journey. From navigating imposter syndrome to discovering the transformative impact of meditation, she reflects on how slowing down helped her lead with greater clarity and resilience. Whether you are an industry veteran or early in your career, this conversation will challenge you to rethink performance, pressure, and what sustainable leadership truly looks like. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: High Performance and Leadership Pressure: Why many high achievers tie their identity to their professional success.The hidden cost of “grinding it out” in high-performance industries.How capable leaders often carry silent pressure to always be the reliable one.Mindset and Sustainable Performance: How meditation helped Alex shift from constant stress to clearer thinking.Why slowing down can actually improve decision-making and creativity.The difference between working harder and expanding your leadership capacity.Identity, Self-Acceptance, and Leadership: How imposter syndrome can exist even at senior leadership levels.Why self-acceptance is a critical foundation for authentic leadership.How embracing different leadership styles strengthens teams and organizations.Practical Advice for the Boom Times Ahead: How to navigate the upcoming pipeline of work in Queensland without burning out.Why "grind it out or tap out" isn't the only choice, there's a third way.The difference between capability issues (which most high performers don't have) and capacity issues (which require a mindset shift).Key Quotes from Alex Prenzel: “If we’re going to be high performers, we need to give ourselves space to breathe. Otherwise, we’re just on a narrow track of relentless achievement.”“You can’t increase your capacity simply by working harder. You have to change how you think about the work.”“I am enough exactly the way I am. The more I accept myself, the easier it is to go out and do exciting things without being tied to the outcome.” About Our Guest: Alex Prenzel is a construction leader, consultant, and coach with over 20 years of experience in the property and infrastructure sectors. Having delivered complex projects and led large teams across the UK and Australia, Alex now works with high-performing professionals to help them navigate pressure, strengthen leadership capability, and build sustainable approaches to performance. Through coaching, meditation practices, and mindset work, she helps leaders unlock clarity, creativity, and long-term resilience in demanding industries. 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 Alex Prenzel on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.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.

    56 min
  4. 88. How to Pivot and Thrive When Your Business Faces Market Shifts with James Gleeson

    MAR 1

    88. How to Pivot and Thrive When Your Business Faces Market Shifts with James Gleeson

    In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with James Gleeson, civil engineer and co-founder of Marvel Engineers, to unpack what productivity really means in infrastructure and what it takes to build a resilient specialist consultancy. James shares his journey from tech drawing at school to launching Marvel Engineers after walking away from corporate burnout. Together, they explore the realities of starting a business with no blueprint, the risks of niching too narrowly, and the lessons learned from navigating market slowdowns in government-funded infrastructure The conversation dives deep into procurement systems, panel arrangements, and the hidden cost of endless tendering. James challenges the industry to rethink how we engage consultants if we’re serious about delivering major infrastructure ahead of 2032. If you’re building a business or leading through market uncertainty, this episode will show you how to stay nimble, structure for growth, and rethink productivity to build long-term resilience. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Productivity in Infrastructure: Why current procurement processes may be slowing deliveryThe real cost of panel prequalification and repeated tenderingHow simplifying engagement could unlock speed and efficiencyBuilding and Pivoting a Consultancy: The risks of concentration in government-funded workWhy diversification doesn’t mean abandoning your nicheHow structure and clarity create momentum in a growing businessLeadership and Resilience: Why having a strong business partner mattersHow to lead through market slowdowns without losing composureThe importance of support networks in sustaining long-term growthHiring and Culture What makes a “rounded consultant” in a small businessWhy communication and accountability matter more than everHow intentional onboarding shapes culture from day oneKey Quotes from James Gleeson: “There’s no guideline or standard on how to create a business. It’s a blank canvas.”“If we’re serious about productivity, we need to rethink how we engage industry.”“We’re not a big cruise ship. We can pivot quickly, but we’re exposed.”About Our Guest: James Gleeson is a civil engineer and co-founder of Marvel Engineers, a specialist consultancy focused on transport infrastructure and government projects. Passionate about productivity reform and collaborative delivery, James is building a nimble business grounded in structure, accountability, and strong relationships. 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 James on LinkedIn and share your takeaways.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.

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

    FEB 15

    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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
See All (92)

Trailer

About

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.

Information

You Might Also Like