Why Your Biggest Career Setback Might Be Your Breakthrough
Release Date: 09/03/2025
Solving the Engineering Talent Shortage
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
The engineering industry is staring down a projected shortfall of 600,000 engineers by 2027. Recruiting alone won’t close the gap. Retention and equity have to be part of the conversation. In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Michele Heyward—civil engineer turned tech founder and CEO of PositiveHire—to talk about why engineers are leaving the profession and how firms can rethink workplace culture to keep them. We cover: Why 40% of women engineers leave between 10–20 years into their careers The persistent barriers to retaining women and underrepresented talent...
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Why Your Biggest Career Setback Might Be Your Breakthrough
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
In this episode of Wine After Work, I sit down with Andrea Kanaris, a social scientist, social impact professional, and founder of All Things Social Impact. Andrea’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. From navigating toxic workplaces and a failed business to being made redundant at age 55, Andrea could have let those setbacks define her. Instead, she chose to design the future on her own terms building a platform that equips businesses and professionals with practical, actionable strategies to embed social responsibility and drive long-term value. Andrea shares: What...
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The Future of AEC Hiring And a Big Announcement You Won’t Want to Miss
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
The “post and pray” era of hiring is over — and the AEC industry is feeling it more than ever in 2025. In this solo episode, Bryce Batts shares: ✅ Why top candidates are gone in 10–14 days ✅ What mid-career professionals and Gen Z are demanding beyond a paycheck ✅ How retention has become the new recruitment strategy ✅ The “Career Architect” mindset — and how it transforms hiring into a long-term investment And for the big news… Bryce reveals a project she’s been quietly working on: her upcoming book The Career Architect: How to Build a Career That Aligns with Your...
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Selling Without Burnout: How to transform Your Business
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
What if selling could feel fluid, simple, and easy, without the grind, burnout, or self-sacrifice? In this episode, I’m joined by Kirstin Carey, a neuroresilience specialist and serial entrepreneur who’s built multiple six- and seven-figure businesses both brick-and-mortar and online. After healing from two autoimmune conditions brought on by years of overwork, Kirstin now helps high achievers master the trifecta of sales, resilience, and balance. With over 30 years of experience across industries—restaurants, health coaching, business consulting, and more—she’s sold millions in...
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Building Smarter: Sustainability, Education & Bold Goals from a Woman in Construction
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
In this episode of Wine After Work, I sit down with the powerhouse that is Dee Davis a construction industry veteran, professional educator, Master Composter (yes, really!), Certified Energy Manager, and LEED AP. With over 25 years in construction and 15 years as an educator, Dee shares how she blends sustainability and professional development through her work at Yellowstone Professional Education. We talk about the importance of leading with integrity, staying curious, and why setting "big hairy audacious goals" isn’t just encouraged — it’s essential. Dee opens up about what drives...
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The Power of Positive Leadership: Boosting Engagement and Performance, Good Ripple Effect
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
What if your leadership legacy wasn’t about the perfect metrics or flawless PowerPoints, but about the ripple effect you create in the lives of those around you? In this episode of Wine After Work, I sit down with Lisa Even, a keynote speaker, author of Joy Is My Job, and host of the Have Good Ripple Effect podcast. Lisa is on a mission to help leaders and organizations spark engagement, connection, and thriving cultures through what she calls the Good Ripple Effect. We talk about: 🍷 How leaders can build cultures people choose to engage with. 🍷 What it really means to create a...
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Current State of Talent in AEC: Volume 4 - Why Finding Talent in AEC Is Harder Than Ever (And What to Do About It)
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
Why Finding Talent in AEC Is Harder Than Ever (And What to Do About It) Have you noticed how hard it is to find great talent right now? You’re not imagining it—the AEC industry is feeling a real talent squeeze. In this solo episode of Wine After Work, I break down what’s really happening in today’s talent market, why it matters, and what you can do about it. Here’s what we cover: The big-picture forces behind the talent shortage in AEC What top talent actually wants in 2025 (it’s more than just money) The hiring challenges firms are facing right now What smart firms are doing...
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Building a Talent Acquisition Legacy with Jim Riney of Freese and Nichols
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
In this episode of Wine After Work, I sit down with Jim Riney, a seasoned recruiter and talent acquisition leader who has spent 25 years in the AEC industry. Jim’s journey is remarkable—starting at an agency, moving into corporate at a national firm (later acquired by a global giant), and spending several years shaping talent acquisition operations before joining Freese and Nichols. Four years ago, Jim joined Freese and Nichols to do something unprecedented in their 130-year history: build their first talent acquisition team from the ground up. Today, he leads a team of eight with an...
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Doing Good While Doing Well: The real barriers facing women in entrepreneurship
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
In this powerful episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Marcia Dawood — early-stage investor, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and author of Do Good While Doing Well. As a venture partner at Mindshift Capital and Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association, Marcia brings a wealth of insight into what it means to invest with impact, support women-led startups, and champion innovation in spaces that need it most. Marcia also serves on the SEC’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee and is an associate producer of the award-winning documentary Show Her the Money, a film...
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Unlearning Limiting Beliefs and Lessons from a Career Change
Women in AEC: Wine After Work
This week on Wine After Work, I’m joined by Arivee Vargas — award-winning executive coach, bestselling author of Your Time to Rise, host of the Humble Rising Podcast, and a fierce champion of empowering women to break free of limiting beliefs. Arivee draws on nearly two decades of legal and corporate executive experience to guide high-achieving lawyers and corporate leaders toward more confidence, clarity, and fulfillment. We talk about: ✅ How to unlearn the beliefs that hold you back ✅ Practical ways to protect your energy and time ✅ Lessons from her career pivot from law to...
info_outlineIn this episode of Wine After Work, I sit down with Andrea Kanaris, a social scientist, social impact professional, and founder of All Things Social Impact. Andrea’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose.
From navigating toxic workplaces and a failed business to being made redundant at age 55, Andrea could have let those setbacks define her. Instead, she chose to design the future on her own terms building a platform that equips businesses and professionals with practical, actionable strategies to embed social responsibility and drive long-term value.
Andrea shares:
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What it’s like to be first-generation Australian, one of eight siblings, and the daughter of immigrant parents with traditional expectations.
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The lessons she’s learned from navigating career challenges, undervaluation, and redundancy.
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How social impact work can move beyond compliance and become a true business asset.
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Why resilience, determination, and self-belief are the foundation of any successful career journey.
Andrea is also the author of A Practical Guide to Social Impact Assessment for the Real World and host of a YouTube channel where she sparks important conversations with early- and mid-career professionals about the ups and downs of professional life.
Tune in and be inspired by Andrea’s story of perseverance, impact, and the power of designing a career on your own terms.