Welcome back to KP Unpacked, the #1 podcast in AEC.

In this episode, KP Reddy (Founder & CEO of Shadow Ventures) and Jeff Echols (Executive Director at Catalyst) unpack a powerful metaphor that’s reshaping how we think about startups, business models, and the built environment.

We’re not just talking features or fixes. We’re talking about delivering outcomes that actually cure real industry problems. From aligning incentives in AEC to rethinking how firms deliver value, this episode is packed with strategy, story, and sharp insights.

🔍 Featured in this episode:

• KP Reddy, Founder & CEO of Shadow Ventures
• Jeff Echols, Executive Director at Catalyst by KP Reddy Co.

📌 Main Topics Covered:

• Why “being useful” isn’t enough in an AI-driven world
• The real difference between vitamins, painkillers, and cures (and where your product fits)
• What AEC firms get wrong about value and deliverables
• How misaligned compensation models destroy innovation
• What NFL stadium designers can teach us about asymmetric business models
• Why the future of the industry belongs to those who think beyond specs and software

Ignite what's next

We're launching something new... It’s called Catalyst.

It’s a space for AEC forward-thinkers are reimagining what’s next. This is where the top minds in the industry are sharing ideas, leading change, and pushing the future of AEC forward.

Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/

Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers

Hope to see you there!

🎙 Featuring:
Jeff Echols, Chief Executive Director Catalyst, KP Reddy Co.
David Niewadomski, Senior Research Advisor, KP Reddy Co.

In this episode of KP Unpacked, the number one podcast in AEC, host Jeff Echols sits down with David Niewadomski, Senior Research Advisor at KP Reddy Co., to dive into the inefficiencies of construction—and how rethinking them through the owner's lens could change everything.

David shares insights from his journey across construction, development, and Lean Six Sigma. Together, they unpack what’s broken in our current workflows, why data fragmentation costs more than we think, and how the Integrated Owners Forum is designed to surface the real issues facing today's built environment.

From fragmented systems to missing feedback loops, this is a conversation about connecting the dots before solving the problem.

Ignite what's next

We're launching something new... It’s called Catalyst.

It’s a space for AEC forward-thinkers are reimagining what’s next. This is where the top minds in the industry are sharing ideas, leading change, and pushing the future of AEC forward.

Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/

Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers

Hope to see you there!

On this episode of KP Unpacked—the number one podcast in AEC—Jeff Echols sits down with Alan Montpellier, Principal and Chief Innovation Officer at PAE, to explore what it really takes to embed innovation into the DNA of an AEC firm.

Alan shares how PAE shifted from ad hoc ideas to a fully resourced innovation group, why innovation can't live in a silo, and how they prioritize experimentation—without sacrificing project delivery or profitability.

You’ll learn:

• How PAE structured its innovation group and budget
• Why innovation should come from everywhere—not just the “innovation team”
• How to balance client deadlines with long-term experimentation
• Real-world examples of tools, AI pilots, and failed-but-smart experiments
• What to do when PMs block innovation because of fees

This is a playbook for firms who want more than buzzwords—who actually want to build something new and better.

Ignite what's next

We're launching something new... It’s called Catalyst.

It’s a space for AEC forward-thinkers are reimagining what’s next. This is where the top minds in the industry are sharing ideas, leading change, and pushing the future of AEC forward.

Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/

Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers

Hope to see you there!