The EBFC Show AI in Construction: Adalia Zhao on BuildTrace - Change Orders & Innovation
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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