In the FINAL EBFC Show episode of 2025, host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez sits down with Adalia Zhao, founder and CEO of BuildTrace, to talk about how AI is reshaping the future of construction—starting with change management. Adalia’s journey from counting 4,823 windows on a set of plans to becoming a Microsoft engineer and now AI startup founder is nothing short of inspiring.

Together, they dive deep into:

* Why “this doesn’t make sense” is the best way to spot innovation opportunities 🚨

* How BuildTrace automates drawing comparisons, estimates, and change tracking in minutes, not months ⏱️

* The power of learning on the job and betting on yourself 💪

* Overcoming barriers as a woman and immigrant in construction tech 🌍

* What GitHub for blueprints really looks like (hint: it’s amazing)

💡 Plus, Felipe reveals why he became an advisor to BuildTrace and why Adalia’s solution is exactly what construction needs right now.

🔥 If you’ve ever been buried in RFIs, confused by change orders, or frustrated by endless PDFs, this episode will hit home.

👉 Ready to build smarter in 2026 and beyond? Listen now, then connect with Adalia to explore if your team qualifies as an early design partner!

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Connect with Adalia via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adalia-zhao/

Website at https://build-trace.com/

Connect with Felipe via Social media and Free Lean and Scrum Training Resources at https://thefelipe.bio.link

RSM Podia Course Link: https://store.theebfcshow.com/rsm

Subscribe to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

Watch The EBFC Show Podcast https://click.theebfcshow.com/YouTube-Podcast

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Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.

What does real Lean leadership look like—and how do you avoid just looking Lean without being Lean? 🤔

Join host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez on The EBFC Show as he talks with Patrick Adams—Lean expert, international consultant, author of The Appearance Trap, and host of the Lean Solutions Podcast.

This episode dives deep into leadership, coaching, and continuous improvement that actually sticks in the real world—not just on paper. Patrick shares powerful stories from consulting around the globe, including a hospital transformation in Kazakhstan, Lean in education, and how organizations can evolve beyond cost-cutting into cultures of safety, quality, and delivery.

💡 In this episode:

* How Lean leadership has evolved post-2020

* What true continuous improvement looks like in construction and beyond

* Lessons from international consulting (including Kazakhstan 🇰🇿)

* Why daily management systems & leader standard work matter

* The danger of “fake Lean” and how to escape the appearance trap

* Building psychological safety and coaching for change

* The role of AI and modern tools in Lean transformation

Patrick also shares insights from his award-winning book The Appearance Trap, packed with practical guidance for anyone working to improve teams, processes, or culture.

📘 Grab Patrick’s book on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4ozVLdw

👍 If you’re passionate about Lean, leadership, and building better systems, hit that Like, Comment, and Subscribe—and let us know your favorite takeaway from the episode!

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Connect with Patrick via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickadamsii/

Website https://www.findleansolutions.com/

Connect with Felipe via Social media and Free Lean and Scrum Training Resources at https://thefelipe.bio.link

RSM Podia Course Link: https://store.theebfcshow.com/rsm

Subscribe to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

Watch The EBFC Show Podcast https://click.theebfcshow.com/YouTube-Podcast

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Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.

Welcome to a special edition of The Easier, Better, for Construction Show (EBFC Show)! 🎙️ Host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez goes full Hot Ones mode in this spicy Season 6 episode, taking on 🔟 blazing sauces while answering 🔟 burning questions.

This time, Felipe is in the hot seat—literally—interviewed by his son, Noah, in a fiery twist of father-son bonding, lean thinking, and laugh-out-loud moments. 🌶👨‍👦

🎧 What’s inside:

• The BIGGEST misconceptions about Scrum in construction 🚧
• Why trust + communication = supercharged teams 🛠️
• Parenting vs. project management — which one’s spicier? 😂
• Emotional moments & epic shoutouts from 6 years of podcasting ❤️
• And yes... he faces "The Bomb" and lives to tell the tale 😵‍💫

🔥 It’s heat, humor, and hard truths—Scrum-style.

👉 Join us, share a laugh, and maybe a tear (from the spice 🌶). 💬 Don’t forget to leave a comment: What’s YOUR biggest challenge with Scrum or Lean Construction?

🔥 Ready to build easier, better, faster, and cheaper?

Join the EBFC Scrum Community — your space to learn Scrum & Lean with real builders and designers.

✅ Free access through Jan 2026 with code STARTNOW

👉 Tap here: https://store.theebfcshow.com/the-ebfc-show-community

Connect with Felipe via

💼 Social media and Free Lean and Scrum Training Resources at https://thefelipe.bio.link

📲 Subscribe to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

🎥 Watch The EBFC Show Podcast https://click.theebfcshow.com/YouTube-Podcast

Follow Noah via

🔗 LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/scrum-for-teens/

Book Website at https://scrumforteens.com/

Photo Credits:

Conan O'Brien Needs a Doctor While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

https://youtu.be/FALlhXl6CmA?si=hKElx1IeDwe376YI