Episode 195: ‘Humble Relationships’ with Tom Fuduric
In this episode:
Christi Powell and Angela Gardner interview Clemson University lecturer and former walk-on Clemson basketball player Tom Fuduric, introduced during an interview with guest Adam Hoots. Fuduric shares how he entered construction at 16 through asphalt paving and learned relationship-building and servant leadership from mentors on a road crew and from coach Art Musselman. Drawing on 40+ years in construction, human resources, and safety management, he explains why Clemson revitalized courses on building high-performing teams and the human side of construction to strengthen students’ communication, negotiation, emotional intelligence, and teamwork across architects, engineers, owners, and trade partners. He discusses psychological safety, mindfulness, and a proposed certificate in human-centered leadership in construction, emphasizing trust, a growth mindset, active listening, and not taking on more than you can handle.
Show Notes and Links:
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:52 Clemson Athlete Backstory
02:55 Early Construction Lessons
05:06 Teaching at Clemson
08:38 Safety and Mindfulness
11:22 Building Trusting Teams
14:21 Advice for New Grads
16:49 Contact and Closing
About Tom:
Tom Fuduric serves as an Adjunct Faculty member within the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development at Clemson University. His work focuses on the intersection of technology and the construction industry. His specific research and professional interests include: Workforce Development: Strategies for recruitment and advancing construction education. Technology in Construction: Utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) to support the entire lifecycle of a building.
Residential Construction: Researching various topics specifically related to the residential sector.
Safety: Focusing on safety protocols and advancements within the construction field.
