87. Courageous Engineering: Breaking the Fear Cycle and Reclaiming Pride in the Profession with Ben Schnitzerling

In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ben Schnitzerling, founder of Red Fox Advisory, a Queensland-based civil and structural engineering consultancy delivering support across the full project lifecycle, from early planning and design through construction, contract administration, technical due diligence, and dispute avoidance. Red Fox helps clients navigate risk, protect value, and deliver practical, buildable infrastructure solutions.

From nailing floors for his builder father as a kid to certifying major infrastructure projects just two years out of university, Ben’s career has been shaped by doing the uncomfortable. Today, he’s on a mission to challenge what he sees slowing the industry down: fear of litigation, fear of accountability, and fear of stepping outside the “safe” standard.

Lauren and Ben unpack how this risk-averse culture is producing average outcomes and quietly failing the very communities engineers are meant to serve. With Queensland facing a massive pipeline of work and tighter budgets, Ben makes it clear that courageous, accountable engineering is no longer optional. It is essential.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The Roots of a Courageous Mindset:

• How Ben’s upbringing on construction sites and struggle with dyslexia shaped his learning and leadership philosophy.
• Why embracing uncomfortable, high-stakes projects early in his career was foundational to his growth.
• The personal hierarchy for sustainable success: “Love yourself first, then your partner, then your kids, then work.”

Confronting the Fear Culture in Engineering:

• Why the industry’s obsession with “cover your ass” and blind compliance is stifling innovation and delivering poor value.
• The critical difference between a compliant design and a good, accountable design.
• How an abundance of money over the past decade has incentivized safe, unthinking work and why the coming "burning platform" of financial constraint will force change.

Courage, Accountability, and the Art of Negotiation:

• Why true accountability leads to positive consequences and professional pride.
• Advanced negotiation tactics: understanding the “deal zone,” moving past “stupid numbers,” and identifying what the other party needs to feel they’ve won.
• The danger of email “CYA” culture and the irreplaceable value of picking up the phone to build understanding.

Building the Engineers of the Future:

• How Ben’s company, Red Fox, was born from asking clients one simple question: “What can’t you get right now?”
• Practical strategies for creating a “safe to fail” environment: setting clear safety rails, encouraging peer review, and resisting the leader’s urge to solve every problem.
• The link between personal pride in one’s work and magical outcomes for the community, the engineering profession’s true customer.

Legacy, Grit, and the Next Generation:

• How stories of resilience from past generations (like his 102-year-old grandmother) inform a mindset of grit and determination.
• Why fostering discomfort and allowing the next generation to “have a crack” is essential for building courage.
• The legacy Ben wants to leave: training a generation of engineers who contribute to society and make the world a better place.

Parenting and Modeling Courage

• Why children learn courage by watching, not listening.
• The story of a teenage act of bravery that left a lasting mark.
• How leadership at work directly mirrors leadership at home.

Key Quotes from Ben Schnitzerling:

• “I found I had to learn the concept of being uncomfortable to learn.”
• “We solve complex problems for the community. They’re our true customers.”
• “A compliant design does not mean a good design or an accountable design.”
• “Courage is no longer optional in engineering. It’s required.”
• “You’re better to have a go and get it wrong than do nothing safely.”
• “If you want magic to happen, give people pride and freedom.”

About Our Guest:

Ben Schnitzerling is an engineer, leader, and founder of Red Fox Advisory, with decades of experience across complex infrastructure, dispute resolution, negotiation, and business leadership. Known for his direct honesty and deep commitment to developing young engineers, Ben is passionate about restoring courage, accountability, and pride in the profession. His work focuses not just on projects but on shaping the next generation of industry leaders.

About Your Host:

Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.

How You Can Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.
• Connect with Ben on LinkedIn and explore Red Fox Advisory

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• Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.
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Let’s Connect:

• Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.

Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.