Try for free
The EBFC Show
The EBFC Show

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

03 December 2025 43:20 Felipe Engineer Manriquez

Listen to episode

About this episode

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!

 

---

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

 

---

Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.   

 

 

More AI podcast episodes

Browse all →

Want to find AI jobs?

Join thousands of AI professionals finding their next opportunity

We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe at any time.

© 2026 The EBFC Show. All rights reserved.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about how DevFound's AI matching, resumes, and referrals work.

DevFound's AI Copilot ingests your profile, goals, and live job data to deliver curated matches in seconds. Every match includes a resume variant, suggested referrals, and interview prep so you can act immediately. The more feedback you provide, the sharper the Copilot becomes.

AI-led job searches shrink the hours spent sifting through boards and formatting resumes. DevFound pairs automation with your personal outreach, so you reserve energy for interviews and negotiation. Traditional networking still matters, but AI gives you a lift before you even send a message.

Modern AI roles expect comfort with production-grade code, data fluency, and practical ML tooling. The strongest candidates pair deep technical chops with storytelling—translating model impact to product, GTM, and exec partners. Continuous learning keeps you ahead as stacks evolve.

DevFound rewards active seekers. Keep your profile fresh, respond to match quality prompts, and enable alerts so you never miss a role. The AI prioritizes companies and teams that align with your feedback, accelerating both introductions and interview invites.

High-density tech hubs continue to host the deepest AI talent pools, yet distributed teams are catching up fast. Use DevFound filters to hone in on onsite, hybrid, or fully remote roles and watch openings expand across time zones.

DevFound aggregates thousands of remote AI openings and flags the nuances—core hours, async culture, and visa needs—up front. The Copilot also recommends how to position your distributed work experience so hiring managers know you can thrive on a remote team.

Still have questions?

Contact Support