Podcast
The Origin Story of Breaking Ground
Episode Description
Every podcast has a beginning—and this one started with an early morning phone call.
In this special episode of Breaking Ground: Women in AEC Leadership, host Reanna Dempsey sits down with Akshay Mahajan, EVP of AEC at Unanet, to share the origin story behind the podcast and community.
Together, they unpack the personal and professional moments that sparked the idea—from real conversations with women leaders in AEC to the growing need for mentorship, representation, and shared stories at the executive level.
This episode sets the foundation for why Breaking Ground exists: to elevate voices, connect leaders, and help women across AEC see what’s possible.
🎧 Subscribe and listen to hear how it all began.
Have questions or want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@unanet.com
0:00
Reanna Introduces Akshay Mahajan and His Role in the Podcast's OriginHi all, Breaking Ground podcast listeners, Rihanna Dempsey here.
And I just wanted to give a little bit of context for our episode today.
You may notice that my guest today is not a woman.
And since the podcast is Breaking Ground Women in AEC Leadership, just wanted to explain a little bit.
0:21
So this episode is basically the origin story of our podcast.
And Akshay is a close mentor, somebody that I've worked with for a few years now.
And there was a phone call very early in the morning one day that prompted the discussion that led to the creation of this podcast in this community.
0:45
And so we thought it would be fun to let everyone listen to how all this came about, why we were thinking, what we were thinking.
And I thought, who better to unpack that with than Akshay because really a lot of this was his idea.
1:00
And so I hope you enjoy the episode and keep listening.
And please send us any other people that you think would be great to add as our future episode guests.
Thanks everybody.
1:22
We really wanted to give you the back story of why we created this group, this podcast specifically for the AEC industry.
So with me today is Akshay Mahajan.
And Akshay is the executive Vice President of the AEC Group at Unanet.
1:38
In the past five years, Akshay has been in the AEC industry working for Unanet, but he's been in B to B software technology as a profession for more than two decades.
So welcome Akshay, nice to see you.
1:51
Speaker 2Thank you.
Same same here.
Good to see you as well.
1:53
Speaker 1This is a different episode for me because we work together basically every day and I know you quite well, so it's kind of fun to start the podcast with you on it.
2:06
Speaker 2Well, that's amazing.
I'm looking forward to it.
It's it's my first podcast ever getting recorded.
So if you can tell, I'm a little nervous.
2:14
Speaker 1No, that's not true.
You've been on other podcasts, haven't you?
2:19
Speaker 2No, no, I have not.
2:20
Speaker 1Really.
So webinars, like a million webinars and you speak at 1,000,000 industry events but first official podcast.
2:27
Speaker 2Yeah, you know, I'm the, I'm becoming the cool dad at my house now with these things.
2:33
Speaker 1It's funny.
I'm the cool mom, too.
My daughter's like, you're doing a pot, You have a podcast.
I'm like, well, yeah, sort of, I guess.
Yeah.
So it's funny how, Yeah, they think we're cool now.
I like it.
So it's not often.
And I mean, I know you will never say this, but you're kind of my boss.
2:49
I can't, I always say I kind of have 3 bosses.
Obviously I report to to Jeff, but you, you are one of my bosses and I don't often get to put you in the hot seat.
So we're going to start with just a little bit of fun and kind of have a quick fire round of, you know, this or that questions so our audience can get to know you a little bit.
3:07
And we'll just get into this with some fun.
Are you ready?
3:10
Speaker 2Yeah, that's great.
3:11
Speaker 1Here we go fast ice Creamer cake.
3:15
Speaker 2Cake.
3:16
Speaker 1Nope.
Disagree.
Beach vacation or city adventure?
3:20
Speaker 2Oh depends, but if I were to pick City Adventure.
3:28
Speaker 1I knew it.
I, I, I feel like I know a lot of these.
All right, I don't know this one.
Movie night or game night.
3:34
Speaker 2Movie night or game night?
Oh, movie night.
3:37
Speaker 1No, me too.
Board games or video games?
3:41
Speaker 2Oh, I used to love video games, but nowadays it's board games because it's best for to do some family time.
3:51
Speaker 1Yeah, I agree.
I figured you might have had most of the you were a developer early in your career.
Yes.
Yeah.
So most developers I know were video gamers at some point.
Sneakers or flip flops.
4:05
Speaker 2Sneakers or flip flops?
Flip flops any day.
4:08
Speaker 1Nice, sleep in or wake up early.
4:13
Speaker 2Wake up early, yeah?
4:16
Speaker 1Camping or hotels day.
4:19
Speaker 2Oh well.
4:23
Speaker 1You're moving back to Colorado.
Am I correct about that?
4:27
Speaker 2That is correct.
It's happening in the less than 20 days.
4:31
Speaker 1Oh my gosh.
Well, you might have to reconsider because everybody there seems to camp like 24 hours a day.
So all right.
And last one text or phone call?
4:42
Speaker 2Phone call.
4:44
Speaker 1Yeah, I, I, I feel like I, I knew most of them.
I did.
I'm surprised by the sneakers or flip flops, but probably because we're, we don't often wear flip flops when we go visit customers together.
So all.
4:57
Speaker 2Right.
And the, you know, the text message was this phone is, you know, nowadays I'm learning to do text messages because that's how the kids communicate.
5:06
Speaker 1Uh huh.
Yeah, but.
5:08
Speaker 2But there's nothing better than picking up the phone.
I just calling somebody and you know me so well, like I do that so often to a lot of people.
5:17
Speaker 1It's a lost art.
It's something I'm I'm trying to bring home to my kids that like you need to remember how to talk to people.
Like I know AI is here and that's all good.
But like, they're, we're still humans and you should learn how to speak to people.
So I'm trying trying to do that.
5:33
Akshay Reveals the Personal and Professional Triggers for the Podcast's CreationSo let's talk a little bit about Speaking of phone calls, about how this whole idea came about because it was only a few months ago.
It's kind of fun that we're here just a few months later.
Yeah.
So let me set the stage and then you can tell me kind of.
5:49
I would love for you to rehash as much of the conversation as you can remember and sort of the why, but we were slacking about something and you're like, hey, well, let me know when you have time to connect.
And I was like, I have zero time today, but I'm awake and it's like 7:00 AM.
What?
How about now?
I mean, my kids were like, still getting ready for school.
6:06
So I was like, yeah, let's chat now.
So we're on the phone.
It's 7:00 AM And.
And what?
How did that conversation go, if you remember?
6:15
Speaker 2It was 630 AM your time and 5:30 AM my time if you don't precise.
Yeah.
And I had, I think I was just back from a conference and I had had a very intimate one-on-one conversation with somebody that I've known for some time now.
6:38
And she shared with me her struggles on how much strategic value that she has added to the firm in the last two decades.
And even now, the struggle for her was real in order to get to be an executive or even be recognized for that work in that manner.
7:04
And there was a trigger moment there.
But this has been an accumulation of I would say, you know, last seven years I've been in the AEC industry now for seven years, five years with the Internet, two years prior with that with essential.
7:22
And as I got into this industry, I've been very fortunate to spend time with some incredible leaders in the ANEAAENC industry, and lot of them were woman and you know, I get to meet them, get to learn about the industry.
7:41
So I'm, I'm learning and I, I quickly realized that there is, there's a lot of leaders who are women in that way.
But as I start meeting executives, there's a clear gap.
The B, they are not enough.
And even today there are not enough representation of women at the executive level, whether that's CE OS, whether that's C titles, that's executive titles like they are not.
8:05
And that I, and it's not surprising because if we think about construction, construction is a very, you know, heavy focus with, with men and, and, and that's how that industry has been.
And 20 years back, the shift had started happening where there were more women coming.
8:23
But still the gap on that side is very, very high.
And, and as, as I've done that and talked to many of these people, I know heard from many women leaders about three things.
Number one, what I do is not valued enough #2 when it comes to getting to that executive seat, that is always seems to be a struggle with that.
8:50
Nobody can point to the exact reasons, but there is like enough data and evidence that that that points to that.
Part of it.
I heard aspect is that the number of women coming into the construction, if you look back, is increasing, like the new teams that are coming in.
9:10
I've seen project managers on the field getting women representation.
I've spoken to supervisors.
So it's not just at that level, but the industry is seeing that shift from that perspective.
And the trigger moment that I'm talking about was accumulation of hundreds of other conversation that I've had with the many women with a similar struggle of doing that.
9:33
And I'll pair that with my personal life.
I have two daughters, one of them is in college.
She's going to be junior this coming year and the younger 1 is going to college this year.
She's going to be freshman.
9:50
And you know, we've raised them with independence.
We have raised them where you can do anything you want to.
Like in my head, there was never a bias about, you know, girl versus boy.
I think so it's like, I've never thought like that.
We've never thought like that.
So it's being that independence on that.
10:07
So and then at work, the I've been fortunate that companies that I've worked with, which is, you know, your second home in many ways, yes, I've seen woman representation.
I've seen how, you know, people like you and people, so many other people who are there who are representing that aspect of it.
10:23
And I've never in my head thought about a bias, if I'm being honest with you, right.
Yeah, call it man issue because I'm mad.
So I because I don't think that bias, I assume that bias doesn't exist.
10:34
Speaker 1Right.
Yeah.
10:35
Speaker 2Like my girls, starting from middle school started telling me this, that you don't understand.
I've heard that word so many times from them, but in this context, they're like, you don't understand.
We get biased.
There is an aspect of that in the girls and I, you know, initially like teenagers.
10:51
They're just saying it like ignore that, just like you're ignoring every of.
10:54
Speaker 1The let's be honest, sometimes it's not always the most, you know, my 11 year old sometimes says things and I'm like just, you know.
So yeah, I get, I get that.
11:03
Speaker 2Right, like just like most of the things ignored it.
But then as they got into the high school and I started hearing more stories about it, more real aspect of it, I'm like, it was hitting me home.
Oh my God, this is real.
My girls who I have raised like that are facing the same thing.
And now at the same time, my kids got to high school when I started in AEC.
11:22
So it kind of happened all in the same time.
And now I'm seeing the same struggle in this industry too.
So after that I came to, and I'm sorry, we have 1800 AEC firms as our customers.
That's a very high number of AEC firms that we touch.
We come from a technology handle.
11:38
Yeah, we have this opportunity to talk about this.
Bring a forum together of people who can come together.
And the purpose of all of this shouldn't be about what is the problem.
11:55
Yes, we should talk about that.
But the purpose is how do we help elevate that.
Let's talk about the solution.
Let's talk about what are we doing?
It's not the people are not doing anything.
So the this trigger moment of the the thing came from the combination of my personal aspect of it and the professional aspect of hearing it and bringing it together.
12:14
And the phone call in the morning to you was Rihanna.
We should do something about this.
Yeah, about starting the group that represents the woman in the AC.
12:24
Reanna Shares Her Early Career Experience and the Call for RepresentationAnd I remember when you said it, I mean, I immediately got so excited.
You know, my personal experience, like my first job out of college, I worked for a very small commercial construction company, but we had to do, we were building a a skyscraper in Baltimore City and we were going to build it to spec, which I also understand is a little bit crazy without any like anchor tenants to get started.
12:50
So I'm out of college.
I've no experience in any of this.
And I worked there for two years and I met one woman the entire time that was any sort of leadership position and she wasn't AC level, she was AVP.
13:08
So it's not like it's just as a female and especially early in my career, I'm like, wait, so I don't like it.
It it almost like makes you think, well, wait, is there not a place for me?
And we know that's not true.
That is there's plenty of women proving that wrong everyday.
13:23
But it's like you just don't see it.
So it's almost just, yeah, the representation.
And like you're saying, I don't want to sit here and talk about how bad things are because honestly, there's a lot of great, like you said, we have so many women that we know that are crushing it in these industries.
So how can we help, you know, tell their story?
13:39
And I remember, so when you said the idea, I was like, man, first of all, love the idea.
But I never thought because like we build software.
So I get caught in this.
Yeah, we can help our customers one-on-one and we're helping with their technology.
But like when you said that you're like, we have access to all of these companies and all of these women and we already know who they are because we work with them.
14:00
So it actually wouldn't even be that hard to.
And, and with our podcast guest list, I mean, we've got, you know, 30-5 people that were like, they would be amazing.
I don't know how we're going to get everybody in.
So, you know, and I, they think one of the stats that I saw right now, it's like 27% of architecture firms are staffed by not sorry, 27% of the architecture workforce.
14:25
Those positions are held by females.
But like globally it's like 10% or even in leadership roles.
And like, let's not even get to C level roles because that's non existent.
So like you're saying, it's we're seeing more and more representation in all the industries, but the leadership isn't following.
14:41
So how can we help kind of, you know, again, just just elevate and discuss and and share stories is really what we're trying to do here.
14:49
Speaker 2Yeah.
14:50
The Podcast's Mission: Inspiring Women Through Mentorship and ConnectionAnd, and if you were to hold the same, like, you know, what are we trying to achieve from?
Like what's the why behind having this kind of a group?
I think it's a very simple thing.
It's telling stories of women who have made it to that level and the women who are trying to make it to that level and connect those stories in some ways so that we can inspire more women to be able to continue to keep feeling that confidence that they can do it and learn from that membership.
15:26
Things that can come from this group would be we can connect some of these people.
You know, we know so many CEOs who are women.
We know so many CFOs who are women.
We know so many, but CR OS or CS OS were women and they have made it and they can tell the stories, but they can also connect and help mentor others in that manner, in that way.
15:48
And necessarily they're not in the same town or the same city, but they're spread out.
So this is our way to kind of like bring them together in, in that way to do that.
And it's so I think if he can tell their stories and let everybody here and know that, and if we can inspire even few women to continue doing that fight, knowing that this can happen, I think we have achieved the goals.
16:15
Speaker 1Yes, and that that's a great reminder because the podcast.
So this is great and this was an easy way of telling the stories.
But we absolutely on our road map, we're trying to make sure.
Yeah.
How are we addressing mentorship?
Because we talked, you know, and you were there.
16:30
We were at our conference this year in Atlanta.
And we're hearing from women who've made it that they would love to tell their stories and help women who are starting out their careers or entering into the industries, you know, from a different industry and trying to figure all this out.
And then we heard from women who've been in the industry, some of them for like what you mentioned a long time, but they don't know how to, to get to the next level.
16:53
They don't and they want to, but maybe they're looking up in their organization and there's no one that's mentoring them.
So we have both sides saying, Hey, we would love to connect.
So to your point, how do we think about mentorship?
We're already thinking about, you know, live Q&A.
17:08
So let's say you're at a company and you're trying to figure out that you maybe you've got a situation or you've got a problem you're trying to solve and you bring it to this group and, and we have a panel of experts and they can kind of almost like the Dear Abby of, you know, business AEC.
17:24
And then of course, we're thinking about we have our conference in April in 2026.
How do we bring everyone together for a live event to like get that in person connection?
So, you know, again, I like you planted the seed and look where we're going.
So it's exciting and I do think there's a lot of opportunity and we'll see kind of where we go in the next couple of years as as this thing grows.
17:47
Speaker 2Yeah.
And I think we, we, we have a unique position as we, as we see all these things and we are not trying to be the ones who are like going to make it happen.
I think we just want to be the facilitators of the communication of the discussion and connecting the dots.
18:10
And I think it it will gain its momentum from there, which it's already gaining momentum in the place I know like SYSMPSPSMJAGC, all of these industry, you know, associations that are out there, they have been doing a good job about this for, for a long time.
18:33
They have their individual chapters and sub chapters that people are part of and driving back.
So it's just adding to the same aspect of our way to give back to this industry that we serve so that we can make a meaningful impact in in driving this industry to the next level.
18:51
Speaker 1Yeah.
18:53
Akshay Discusses His Role in Supporting and Challenging Women LeadersWell, and you already, you already shared a little bit about this, but how else?
Like, how do you feel that you've personally supported women in AEC, either in this role or prior?
19:06
Speaker 2No, it's, it's a, it's a good question.
It's funny that, you know, when I'm trying to think about answering the question, I never thought about it in a manner.
Oh, I am helping woman in AC, you know what I'm saying?
19:21
Like so as I'm reflecting back and thinking about it, my being in this industry and being able to talk to these human beings, which were woman mostly in that way.
19:37
And and you know me in that regard.
You know, I, I, I get happiness from helping people grow next level, right?
That that's my happy place.
Like, you know, how do I measure my success as an individual?
That is how I measure it.
So having had the opportunity to be able to speak to them and really naturally guiding some cases, providing mentorship, providing some ideas to help them grow and get better at what they do.
20:08
I remember incidents where I had one-on-one conversations with people.
Nothing to do with the software, nothing to do.
With technology, nothing to do with their business processes, but to do with that person and saying her struggle in terms of where she is and where she wants to go and providing guidance around how do you think about it?
20:29
You're doing a really good job.
Why don't you think about this?
Have you thought about challenging that?
So providing that aspect of that is something that has I've been fortunate enough to be able to do that where the multiple and and it's so fun.
20:45
Rihanna, you see and watch and grow some of those people like, like I've known some of these people for seven years now and where they were seven years ago and where they are today.
You know, when you see that and go, Oh my God, and and and they've become stronger leaders and and that's not just about me or I've not done anything around that, but they themselves have grown and done that.
21:09
The second thing is about even, you know, listening sometime like, you know, when you say how do you, how have you contributed?
The second thing I would say is being in here like being that person that who connects with people and talk to them like and all that.
21:27
Just providing a year that they can talk about what's going on with them is another way that I felt that I have helped out or or contributed in some ways around these initiatives.
21:42
Speaker 1Yeah.
Well, then of course this whole thing if as it grows, we can, you know, the more women that get something out of the podcast in the group.
But I can, I can personally say you've helped me become a stronger leader personally.
21:57
And I think, you know, sometimes I've had moments in my career, especially earlier on, where it's like you almost get treated softer and and I don't think people do it on purpose.
I think he's actually think about it.
You're a dad, right?
You have daughters.
22:13
You're like you, you it's not even like something that I think people realize, but you certainly don't do that.
Just certainly doesn't do that said with love.
But you don't, I mean, you would say anything to me that you would say to any one of my male counterparts without hesitation.
22:28
And but I, I think that is that's something that, you know, as, as men are listening to this podcast, it's like, yeah, don't, don't sugarcoat stuff for us.
Don't like we we want to be pushed and we want to understand we screw something up or how we could make something better because it makes us a better leader in the long run.
22:46
So I think that that's something that you, like you said, I truly believe, you know, I'll just there are times when you're in conversations as a woman in your career and you know, I've even had customer experiences, not necessarily at Unanet, but I'm thinking of one of few companies back where I had to go to my boss and say this guy needs to talk to a dude.
23:08
Like he just he's not taking me seriously Just based on and that does happen.
I would say I think far less now, which is because of, you know, more evolved, you know, male leaders like you and so many others.
23:23
It's not the same as it used to be.
And I that makes me very optimistic.
It's like there's just, it doesn't seem for me.
I'm like you, I'm like, I didn't realize until the more you go out and you talk to a lot of the females in these industries and what they're seeing, I don't see it as, and I definitely don't see it at unit net, which is amazing.
23:40
So it's, but again, like you said, we're a facilitator.
So how do we get out and, you know, just kind of breakdown some of these barriers and open up some conversations.
And I think that's exactly what this group is going to do.
So.
23:53
Navigating Disruption: Women Leaders Driving Business Value and Offering AdviceAnd I and I want to connect a dot here that is I think the very interesting change that is happening in the in this industry, it's happening in any even more than construction in that way.
24:10
And, and what is happening is that architects and engineers in many ways have always been on that belief that they are here to design, they are here to engineer, right?
They seldom think about the business part of it.
24:30
They are more thinking about how can I create the best design, which is great, right?
But end of the day, you're running a business.
And the shift in the industry that has happened is the professional services firms as they're called, the services part has always been good and the professional part is now getting added more and more from a business perspective.
24:52
And, and if you look back in this 20 year period, the people have started doing things around what are we going to, how are we going to run our business efficiently rather than just about how are we going to keep servicing the people better.
It's important to keep servicing, but it's also important to keep running a business efficiently.
25:09
So with that shift, it's very interesting that there are a couple of executives and leaders that I've seen that some of them are going to be like Ellen, Jennifer, Leah that we're talking about.
We're going to come and talk about as guests.
The one thing I'm noticing is that they bring a unique perspective about business as women in some ways and are able to be part of this wave of changing and becoming more efficient in business and bringing as a woman.
25:41
That aspect of, you know, there is that aspect of the women have that ability to rally people together and do that.
And they're using those characteristics in a many, many effective ways.
Those instincts that they have about how to care about people and how to connect all of that stuff and taking that to the next level.
26:00
And I think that is something that everybody should be thinking about right now.
If you are a woman or not a woman in AEC and if you're a leader, what do you really need to be thinking about is how are you going to add value to your business and how are you going to make sure that you're helping transform the business and take it to the next level?
26:22
Because the disruption in the industry that is waiting to come and is coming right now from AI, from robotics technology, from the ability to do construction, not on the side but outside.
26:39
All of these disruptions that are being planting and coming up is going to change the industry a lot.
And having those people who can continue adding value to the business and driving the business aspect is going to be a really good way to connect these two things.
26:53
Speaker 1That is a really, really good point and great advice.
Do you have any other advice or kind of parting words as we kind of come to the end of our podcast here?
Anything you want to share with our community?
27:09
Speaker 2I think there's a lot happening in this world right now.
There is things across the globe that are happening that are shaping where we as a humanity are, are going to go.
27:26
Some of them are in our control, some of them are not in control.
And I, I would say is that keep doing the right things, which is keep adding value to your business, keep remembering your leadership skills and be human and do not get discouraged by the pushdown that you're getting in this thing.
27:51
I am, I've seen this for hundreds of forms.
The change in the leadership by the next generation coming up is changing the dynamics and it's going to happen more.
So all you need to keep doing is keep doing the right things.
28:07
Do not lose heart and over a period of time you going to start seeing that shift and and in that process you will yourself elevate yourself or be in a position to be going to the next level by adding more value to people and this industry as you go forward.
28:31
Speaker 1That is fantastic advice.
I know we could keep going, but I'm told 20 to 30 minutes is is where they want us to stick.
So thank you so much for being on our our podcast here.
And I want to thank all of our listeners for listening to breaking ground women in AEC leadership.
28:49
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