222: How Hensel Phelps is Diverging from the Construction Pack with New Innovation Strategies

In this episode of The Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Thai Nguyen, Managing Director of Diverge, the corporate venture and innovation arm of Hensel Phelps. With more than 20 years of experience in architecture and construction, Thai is charting a bold new path for the built environment by reimagining how disruptive solutions are discovered, tested, and scaled.

From laser scanning and drones to the rise of robotics and generative AI, Thai shares how innovation is reshaping everything from fieldwork to leadership mindsets. We explore why simplicity is key to adoption, how “field first” thinking drives sustainable change, and why empathy is critical when overcoming resistance to new technology.

This conversation goes far beyond blueprints and buildings. Thai opens up about his nonlinear career journey, the appetite for change that has guided him, and his vision for creating a culture of open collaboration across the construction industry. 

Whether you are in tech, design, or business leadership, his insights on navigating complexity, balancing people with technology, and leading through uncertainty will resonate.