213: ‘The Rise of Tech-Driven Leadership in AEC’, with Jonathan Nelson, Nirva Fereshetian, Heath May, and Shane Burger
A conversation with Jonathan Nelson, Heath May, Nirva Fereshetian, and Shane Burger about the evolving role of design technologists in leadership, the challenges of technology adoption, and creating pathways for the next generation of leaders in the AEC industry.
Jonathan Nelson, Nirva Fereshetian, Heath May, and Shane Burger join the podcast to talk about one of the biggest questions facing our industry: How do design technologists grow into firmwide leaders?
What was originally planned as a one-way presentation quickly became a true two-way conversation. Instead of a traditional panel format, we created a space where the audience guided the discussion with thoughtful and challenging questions. The energy in the room elevated the entire session and resulted in one of the most engaging and candid moments of the conference.
Joining me on stage are four leaders who all began in design technology roles and now hold significant positions inside their firms:
- Jonathan Nelson, Global Head of Digital, Populous
- Heath May, Partner and CEO Elect, HKS
- Nirva Fereshetian, Principal and CIO, CBT Architects
- Shane Burger, Chief Design Technology Officer, SOM
Together, we explore real pathways into leadership, pivotal career decisions, and how to build credibility inside complex organizations. We discuss what technology adoption conversations look like, how to develop the next generation of talent, how to approach the build versus buy dilemma, and what it takes to secure buy-in for major technology investments. We also talk openly about the cultural friction that continues to challenge firmwide transformation.
By capturing and sharing this session on TRXL, we help extend the value and reach of AECtech far beyond the room. These ideas and insights can now be part of a global conversation among AEC professionals and leaders.
If you want to understand how design technologists make the jump into senior leadership, what skills matter most, and how the future of practice is being shaped right now, this episode delivers clarity, candor, and inspiration from leaders who have lived it.
Original episode page: https://trxl.co/213
Recommended Resources
- Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule by Paul Graham
- John Cleese's Legendary 1991 Speech About Creativity (YouTube)
Connect with the Guests
Jonathan Nelson
- Populous – Global Head of Digital
Nirva Fereshetian
- CBT Architects – Chief Information Officer
Heath May
- HKS – Principal, Director of LINE (Laboratory for INtensive Exploration), CEO Elect
Shane Burger
- SOM – Chief Design Technology Officer
Event + Hosts
- AECtech Conference
- Thornton Tomasetti – CORE Studio
Recommended TRXL Episodes
- 068: ‘A Wealth of Abandoned Ideas’, with Shane Burger
- 156: ‘Why Are We Doing This in the First Place?’, with Shane Burger
- 163: ‘Confusing Evolution With Innovation’, with Nirva Fereshetian
- 205: ‘Rethinking Your A/E Practice’, with Robert Otani and Alexandra Pollock
About Jonathan Nelson:
Jonathan Nelson joined Populous in 2022 as Global Head of Digital, leading internal digital transformation and external productization and partnerships. He supports the global Holdings Board by shaping the firm’s technological vision and strategy across digital services and products.
Previously, he was Global Head of MX Studio at Lendlease Digital, overseeing development of physical and digital products and project delivery. There, he also led the Contextual Universal Building Systems (CUBS), a digital building automation initiative.
Trained as an architect, Jonathan’s career spans architecture, construction, manufacturing, software development, and academia. Before Lendlease, he was partner and director of StudioWorkshop, an award-winning architectural and digital fabrication practice, where he advanced file-to-factory workflows, custom software tools, and design projects across Oceania.
As a researcher and academic, Jonathan has published widely on prefabrication, generative design, and digital fabrication, including peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and a book. His applied research and projects have been exhibited internationally.
About Nirva Fereshetian:
Nirva Fereshetian is a Principal & Chief Information Officer at CBT Architects, a Boston based award-winning design firm providing services nationally and internationally in Architecture, Interior Design & Urban Design. She is responsible for aligning business technology strategy to meet primary business objectives. She is experienced in managing projects & people with an interdisciplinary background in architecture/construction/technology and a capacity to bridge that knowledge to enable informed business decisions and increased productivity. A passionate advocate of the AEC startup ecosystem as CBT Architects continues to collaborate with many founders for the overall goal of shaping the future of the industry. In 2024, she was recognized as one of Boston 25 top women in tech.
About Heath May:
Heath May FAIA is a Partner and Executive Vice President at HKS. He has dedicated his career to elevating the firm’s reputation for computational design, research and innovation. Previously the Global Practice Director of HKS LINE (Laboratory for INtensive Exploration), he specializes in data-driven design optimization, simulation and digital fabrication and has led projects spanning diverse sectors, including hospitality, healthcare, urban infrastructure and sports. A former Adjunct Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at Arlington, a frequent contributor to leading publications that explore advancements in digital practice and a patent holder for digital stamping and sealing of architectural documents, Heath is widely recognized for his leadership in shaping the future of our industry and for inspiring the next generation of designers.
About Shane Burger:
As Chief Design Technology Officer, Shane leads SOM’s global Design Technology team and directs the workflows and software that empower every member of our team to better foster efficiency and innovation. In his previous role as a Principal at Woods Bagot, he led a global DesignOps team dedicated to researching, developing, and applying new models of design and delivery to projects, and fostered a global community of designers that was defining the innovation-led future of practice.
From 2003-2011 he was Head of Design Technology at Grimshaw Architects. At Grimshaw he specialized in design for Arts & Cultural facilities and the use of advanced computation techniques for advanced geometry, analysis, and fabrication. He also established Grimshaw’s first BIM projects.
Starting in the early 2000’s, Shane was an early advocate and active developer of design computation methodologies in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. During this time, he served for 8 years as a director of the design computation and education non-profit Smartgeometry, firmly positioning that organization at the intersection of art, design, technology, and the modern human experience.
