Jordana de Castro Rosa, a BIM Specialist at WSP, is part of a growing wave of AEC professionals merging technical innovation with people-first problem solving. From her early exposure to the construction world in Brazil to her current role supporting digital workflows and emerging tech, Jordana brings heart and hustle to everything she does. In this interview, she shares how her journey began, the tools driving change in the industry, and the daily rituals that help her stay grounded while pushing boundaries.
Career and Industry Evolution
Jordana’s journey into AEC was inspired by her upbringing—specifically her father’s construction company in Brazil. That early exposure to job sites and project planning ignited a passion that would later shape her career path.
“I was greatly influenced by my father. Growing up in that environment naturally sparked my interest in the industry.”
Since officially entering the industry in 2015, Jordana has witnessed firsthand a massive cultural and technological shift.
“Back then, we used to say construction never changes. But that’s definitely not true anymore. Innovation is moving so fast now that it’s actually hard to keep up!”
Her role as a BIM Specialist is anything but static. Each day is a mix of supporting project teams, delivering digital training, and carving out time to research and experiment with new solutions to long-standing challenges. That balance of collaboration and innovation has become the cornerstone of her work.
TECH
Technology and Collaboration
Jordana lights up when she talks about the impact of technology on collaboration, particularly tools like Speckle. For her, Speckle has transformed how teams interact with data across platforms like Revit, Rhino, and Power BI.
“It eliminated version chaos and gave everyone real-time access to project updates. Its open-source nature and interoperability have pushed the industry forward.”
Another defining moment came in 2024 during the Phil Freelon Design Competition at Perkins&Will. In the midst of a 3-day challenge to reimagine a library 25 years into the future, Jordana led her team in using Stable Diffusion, an AI image generation tool, to create renderings. This bold pivot allowed them to focus more on concept development and storytelling, landing them on the shortlist and paving the way for future innovations.
A few months later, that spark turned into AI2Speckle, a hackathon-winning project that automated design tasks through Generative AI linked with Speckle.
“That was the start of more AI-driven innovations in our workflows—and showed me how fast we could go when we embraced these tools creatively.”
FIT
Work-Life Balance and Focus
While Jordana’s professional world moves fast, she’s found ways to stay grounded through routine and intentional choices. Her personal transformation began with a decision to fast from both food and social media—a choice that redefined how she approached health and mindfulness.
“I started working out for at least 15 minutes a day, eating only between 12 PM and 7 PM, deleted Instagram, and made nightly prayer part of my routine.”
One small but mighty change that’s helped her stay consistent with movement: YouTube yoga. Specifically, she’s a fan of Move with Nicole, which offers flexibility and ease without needing to leave the house.
“I never regret it. After doing yoga before bed, I always feel relaxed—like a baby.”
And when she really needs to reset?
“I travel!”
MIND
Mindset and Learning
Despite her tech-heavy role, one of Jordana’s go-to tools is surprisingly analog: her digital planner. Simple bullet points and boxes help her stay focused, avoid multitasking chaos, and feel a sense of control amidst a busy schedule.
“There’s something oddly satisfying about crossing things off.”
For continuous growth, Jordana turns to LinkedIn, where she engages with industry peers, explores new ideas, and keeps tabs on thought leaders and design challenges. Participating in webinars, hackathons, and innovation communities has helped her remain curious and connected.
Looking Ahead
Jordana de Castro Rosa is part of a new generation of AEC professionals pushing for change—not just in how we design and build, but in how we live and lead. From fast-paced design competitions and AI experiments to spiritual resets and daily yoga, Jordana’s path is one that merges cutting-edge technology with deep personal intention.
Her advice to fellow professionals?
“Stay curious. Stay connected. And don’t underestimate the power of 15 minutes of yoga and a crossed-off checklist, one idea at a time.”
LinkedIn: Jordana Castro Rosa | LinkedIn
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