Tracy Lee sits down with Charlie Cichetti, a leader in green building and workforce upskilling, to unpack what it really takes to run high-performing, healthy, and profitable buildings. Charlie shares lessons from years helping companies pursue LEED and WELL certifications, navigate decarbonization, and turn sustainability goals into measurable ROI.They get into practical playbooks for retrofits vs. new builds, how policy and incentives shape project timelines, the role of data and AI in ongoing building performance, and the skills teams actually need to execute. You will also hear Charlie’s career advice for future sustainability leaders and a candid look at what separates projects that stall from ones that scale.Key Points from this Episode- Sustainability Certifications in Action: Charlie explains how organizations can pursue and maintain LEED and WELL certifications while aligning them with business goals.- Data and AI in Building Performance: They discuss how modern tools, from sensors to AI analytics, help monitor energy use, improve occupant health, and ensure long-term operational efficiency.- Retrofit vs. New Construction: Charlie shares the trade-offs, cost considerations, and policy influences that shape the decision between upgrading existing buildings and starting fresh.- Developing the Next Generation of Leaders : The conversation covers the skills future sustainability professionals need and practical career advice for breaking into and growing within the green building industry.Follow Tracy Lee on Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyslee/Follow Charlie Cichetti on Linkeidn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-faddoul-917b81a/This Dot Labs Twitter: https://x.com/ThisDotLabsThis Dot Media Twitter: https://x.com/ThisDotMediaThis Dot Labs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisdotlabs/This Dot Labs Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisdot/This Dot Labs Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisdotlabs.bsky.socialSponsored by This Dot: https://ai.thisdot.co/

Chapters

0:00 – Gratitude as the Antidote to Overwhelm
1:08 – Introducing Guest Charlie Cichetti
2:20 – Bourbon, Atlanta, and Shared Connections
2:31 – Founding Schema.ai for Architects and Developers
3:06 – Transition from Green Buildings to AI
3:53 – Tips for Greening Your Business and Home Offices
7:54 – AI Predictions and Data Privacy in Architecture
13:26 – Enabling Early-Career Professionals with AI
14:38 – Previous Ventures and Building Multiple Companies
16:42 – How to Found and Operate Multiple Businesses
22:02 – Avoiding Overwhelm While Leading
28:14 – Patterns for Running Businesses in Tandem
31:03 – Management vs. Leadership and the Five Levels
34:18 – Final Sustainability and Leadership Tips
35:01 – Bourbon as Community and Collection
37:30 – Favorite Bourbons and Ryes
40:44 – Closing Remarks and Where to Find Charlie