Erica Lockwood discusses her journey into executive recruiting, emphasizing the importance of cultural alignment and the challenges of finding the right fit for both candidates and companies. She highlights the significance of not just chasing titles or salaries but finding a role and company culture that align with one's values and professional goals. Erica shares personal anecdotes and professional advice, making this episode a valuable listen for those in the home building industry and anyone interested in career development and recruitment!

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Erica Lockwood is a Managing Director and Executive Partner at Joseph Chris Partners. Known for her deep expertise in the construction and real estate development industries, Erica has a strong track record of securing top talent for companies nationwide for over 2 decades. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her approach to recruitment, where she leverages her extensive network and keen understanding of client needs to deliver exceptional results.

In today’s episode:
Sara Williams shares her evolving journey with AI technology and its transformative impact on her life and career. She emphasizes the importance of mastering AI technologies, like ChatGPT and YOU.com, to boost productivity and efficiency across various life and work domains. Sara also explores AI's promising potential within the construction industry, especially in mitigating skilled labor shortages. She urges listeners to experiment with AI tools to enhance their productivity and maintain a leading edge.

• 00:00 Where will AI be in 10 years?
• 02:22 Gen Z Views on AI
• 03:47 Safety and Security Concerns of AI
• 05:41 Moving Trends of Different Generations
• 11:42 What Can AI Do?
• 18:39 Sara Williams Interview
• 27:12 Embracing AI: From Early Encounters to Evolution
• 36:28 Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency With AI
• 42:22 AI in the Construction Industry
• 48:03 Staying Ahead of the Curve: Exploring and Experimenting with AI

For almost 20 years, Sara has been working in the new home industry in sales, marketing and leadership for builders and tech companies, and has had a hand in growing each company she has worked for by putting strategic sales and marketing processes and technology in place. Her own work on sales teams gained her national recognition from the National Association of Home Builders Sales and Marketing Council when she won the first Gold award in 2013 for Online Sales.

In her current role as Director of Sales at Anewgo, Sara has had the opportunity to help with rebranding initiatives, building industry relationships, marketing, product development, product launches, sales, advisory boards, training, and business consulting with Anewgo builder partners. Sara and her team at Anewgo have been industry trailblazers and disruptors for selling new homes online via ecommerce platforms and the AI revolution for new homes sales and marketing.

Acknowledgements:
Builder365 is powered by Opendoor for Builders. For easy sales and smooth moves, visit www.opendoor.com/builder365

• 00:00 Don't Take No as an Answer
• 05:50 Self Repairing Concrete
• 09:44 Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis with Startup Companies
• 14:46 The Importance of Passion in the Home Building Industry
• 23:50 Why Fast Decision-Making in Home Building Matters
• 25:15 Keys to Success - Talent, Intelligence, Hard Work, and Determination
• 26:09 Surrounding Yourself with Smart and Capable People
• 27:34 The Value of Mentors in Personal and Professional Growth
• 33:08 Finding the Right Role Through Self-Awareness
• 35:00 The Challenges and Rewards of Being a Female Executive
• 39:13 Passion, Empathy, and Self-Awareness in Leadership

Liesel brings a wealth of experience to the table. With a diverse background spanning land acquisition, land development, land entitlement, construction, purchasing, product development, sales, corporate marketing, customer service functions, and finance—resulting in over $3 billion in revenue for the company in 2022 while delivering just over 6,600 homes.