From Martial Arts to the Art of BIM, VDC, and Inspiring Youth with Morgan Drivas

In episode 71, VDC Manager for @jtmconstruction944 Morgan Drivas details her path from mixed martial arts to construction technology, sharing insights on problem-solving, women in construction, education, Singapore’s BIM & smart cities, AI & upcoming innovations, inspiring younger generations, and much more. Episode Timeline 1:15 Morgan’s backstory, construction roots, and building houses in The Sims 2:56 Construction Management at the University of Washington 5:35 MMA, her first full-time job as a BIM detailer, and a consulting venture 7:30 The defining moment of choosing construction over martial arts 9:19 What’s next in Morgan’s VDC career, and AI integration 11:27 Morgan’s top takeaways from college, and planting seeds for younger generations 14:40 Working in the field versus on a screen, and traits for success in BIM and VDC 18:00 Technology helping transfer knowledge, and a polycam scan story 20:44 A vision of 2044 22:50 Showing stakeholders dollars saved versus work improved 23:42 Technology as a kind of insurance, and conversations around investment 25:51 Current and upcoming technologies that excite Morgan 28:34 Singapore’s BIM and smart cities 30:30 Bringing together professionals from around the globe 31:50 BIM and VDC pain points 33:28 Imagining a reality capture version of ChatGPT 38:00 Underestimation of the scan-to-BIM process, and a lightbulb moment for Morgan after R-CON 41:03 Helping professionals solve common problems 44:19 Documented communication, and Morgan’s favorite successful projects 47:15 Failure and approaching struggles 49:15 Lack of awareness of virtual careers 51:36 Morgan’s ideas for spreading the technology word 55:45 The abundance of women and mothers who want a flexible career 58:29 Education vs. quality education, and internship opportunities 1:01:24 What might happen when BIM gets integrated into residential construction. 1:02:06 What Morgan would tell people considering a career in construction technology 1:03:30 Morgan’s mantra, and gratitude for challenges 1:06:45 Owning your career and confidence in sharing