In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, host Scott MacMillan speaks with Dr. Mehdi Nourbakhsh and Dr. Sam Zolfagharian, co-founders of YegaTech and co-authors of Disrupt It. The conversation highlights how their complementary strengths—Sam’s detail orientation and Mehdi’s big-picture vision—shaped a unique collaborative writing process. Rather than dividing up chapters, they worked in a “round robin” style, iterating together through multiple drafts and challenging one another’s ideas until the manuscript truly served its intended audience.
They also share how changing environments, from coffee shops to mountain retreats, helped them step away from daily distractions and focus deeply on the book. With support from Scott and his team, they stayed on track and pushed through the endless cycle of revisions to arrive at a book that equips AEC executives to navigate AI transformation. Their story underscores the discipline, collaboration, and creative strategies needed to bring a complex idea to life on the page.
SHOW LINKS
Free Resources: yegatech.com/free-resources/
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GUEST BIOS

Dr. Mehdi Nourbakhsh is an author, speaker, and CEO of YegaTech, a technology consulting company in the AEC industry specializing in AI strategy, governance, and implementation for AEC companies. As the author of two Amazon bestselling books “Augment It: How Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Leaders Leverage Data and Artificial Intelligence to Build a Sustainable Future,” and “Disrupt It: How Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Executives can Transform their Organizations in the Age of AI Disruption,” Dr. Mehdi co-created new frameworks for understanding and integrating AI technologies in AEC, establishing a solid foundation for innovation in the field.
Feel free to meet Dr. Mehdi via his blog posts or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Dr. Sam Zolfagharian is an AI strategist, keynote speaker, and author of Disrupt It: How AEC Executives Can Transform Their Organizations in the Age of AI Disruption. As Co-Founder of YegaTech, she advises CEOs and boards on AI strategy, governance, and innovation. With a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech and 20+ years in tech and design, Sam helps organizations turn AI disruption into sustainable, strategic advantage.
You can learn more about Dr.Sam Zolfagharian through their blog posts or LinkedIn.

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