Humanity as a Strategy: Leadership Lessons from Ed DeAngelis

When you think about the construction industry, you might picture hard hats, heavy equipment, and a results-at-all-costs mentality. But what if the secret to building a successful company is building up the people who work there?

In this episode of Polaris, I sat down with Ed DeAngelis, CEO and founder of EDA Contractors, to explore how servant leadership transformed both his company and his approach to business.

From Survival Mode to Service Mode

Ed founded EDA in 1999 after working summers for a roofing company while earning his marketing degree from St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania. Looking back, he admits his early leadership style was all about survival. With nearly 50% of businesses failing within five years according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, his focus was simple: stay alive.

But around the 10-year mark, something shifted. "Is this it?" Ed asked himself. "We're just gonna grind it out?" He found himself on what he describes as a "hamster wheel"—successful, but not fulfilled.

That's when he discovered servant leadership through books like "Good to Great" by Jim Collins and "Enough" by Vanguard founder John Bogle.

The Win-Win Mindset

Ed describes his transformation as moving from a "zero-sum game" mentality—where one person wins and another loses—to a non-zero-sum approach where everyone can succeed together.

"I want our customers to feel like when they're done working with us, that they received the exact value of what they desired," Ed explains. "And I feel like we gave them what we wanted and they provided us the same back and forth."

This philosophy extends to employees, vendors, union relationships, and partners. It sounds simple, but in an industry known for its competitive edge, it's a radical shift.

The Human Advantage in an AI World

With the construction industry facing a shortage of 439,000 workers in 2025, Ed believes that creating a people-first culture is both a moral imperative and a competitive advantage.

When asked about artificial intelligence, Ed offers a thoughtful perspective: "I'm not afraid of AI, but I'm also not afraid of the value of humanity. A robot can only do what the robot can do. A human being with the right focus—they are way more powerful."

Vulnerability as a Leadership Superpower

Perhaps the most powerful insight from our conversation was Ed's emphasis on vulnerability. "The best leaders know what they don't know," he says. "Vulnerability is one of the greatest assets of a great leader."

This doesn't mean avoiding accountability—Ed is clear that you can hold people to high standards while treating them humanely. As he puts it, "I can walk and chew gum."

The Story That Says It All

Ed shared a moving story about an older employee who joined EDA's fabrication shop. The man was overqualified but needed work. Though his physical contribution was limited, his humanity and commitment transformed the team culture.

When the employee passed away from cancer, his family shared that he had requested to be buried wearing his EDA work shirt under his suit. "That moment," Ed reflects, "showed me the power of what we're building here."

Your North Star

Whether you're leading a construction crew or a technology team, Ed's message resonates: Put people first. Embrace vulnerability. Seek win-win outcomes. And remember that the human capacity to dream, connect, and care remains our greatest competitive advantage.

To hear the full conversation with Ed, visit polaris.synozur.com.  Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks.

Giving Thanks

On behalf of Synozur we'd like to thank all of you for joining us on this journey. I'm always humbled by the thousands of listeners we get here on Polaris.

Last year, we shared our holiday meal planner. It's an Excel file that helps you plan and prepare cooking times and prep times for your holiday meal.  And its our gift to you.

Synozur Holiday Meal Planner.xlsx

Download XLSX • 138KB

We released it before Christmas, but wanted to share it again this year in time for Thanksgiving with our thanks and gratitude for your support over the past year. And for those of you celebrating Thanksgiving, have a safe and peaceful holiday.

Show Notes

Polaris is a production of Synozur – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease.

Takeaways

Humanity as a Strategy

Treating employees as human beings first—before focusing on transactions—unlocks greater loyalty, performance, and organizational success.

Win-Win Beats Zero-Sum

Moving away from "I win, you lose" thinking to collaborative partnerships creates sustainable success with employees, vendors, and customers alike.

Leadership Evolution Takes Time

Shifting from command-and-control to servant leadership requires patience—not everyone will come along, and that's okay.

Vulnerability Is a Superpower

The best leaders know what they don't know. Humility and vulnerability build trust far more effectively than projecting invincibility.

Accountability and Care Coexist

Being people-first doesn't mean avoiding accountability—you can hold people to high standards while still treating them humanely.

The Human Brain Outpaces AI

While AI will automate mundane tasks, human emotion, creativity, and the ability to dream remain irreplaceable competitive advantages.

Culture Attracts Talent

In an industry facing a shortage of 439,000 workers, creating a best-in-class environment makes your organization the top choice for skilled talent.

Sound bites

Ed DeAngelis Quotes

"Humanity as a strategy. Be strategic on how you want to treat your people as humans first. Secondarily, you will then treat them where there's a transaction in there—but first treat them as a human."

Vulnerability is one of the greatest assets of a great leader. The best leaders I've ever dealt with are so humble to the point that they know what they don't know."

"I'm not afraid of artificial intelligence, but I'm also not afraid of the value of humanity of humans. The human brain is a thousand times more powerful than an artificial intelligent brain."

"A robot can only do what the robot can do. A human being with the right focus on their emotion, their drive—they are way more powerful."

References

Guest Information:

Ed DeAngelis [ LinkedIn] – CEO, Servant Leader, Believer in "Humanity as a Strategy"

EDA Contractors – Specializing in exterior envelope solutions for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings

Titan 100 – Ed DeAngelis was named one of Philadelphia's top 100 CEOs in 2025

Business

Companies and Organizations Mentioned:

Zappos – Known for customer-centric and people-first culture

Starbucks – Pioneer in employee-focused corporate culture

Google – Recognized for innovative workplace culture

Southwest Airlines – Famous for servant leadership approach

Vanguard – Founded by John Bogle, known for client-first philosophy

Statistics and Data Sources:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Source: approximately 49.9% of businesses fail within five years

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) – Source: The construction industry needs 439,000 new workers in 2025

Pop Culture

Sports Reference:

Philadelphia Eagles – Super Bowl LIX Champions (February 2025), defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. Jalen Hurts named Super Bowl MVP.

Events

ESPC 25 (European SharePoint Conference) – December 1-4, 2025, Dublin, Ireland

Strategy, Now With AI – January 6. 2026 (Teams Webinar)

M365 Community Days DC – January 29-30, 2026 (Arlington, Virginia)

Production

Polaris is produced with help from Riverside.fm. Our theme song, “Alternative Dream” is provided courtesy of Adobe.  Additional music and sound provided by IndieGuy Records. Graphic design by Josh Brantley.

Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:45 Introducing Ed DeAngelis

01:34 News and Data Points

03:10 Welcoming Ed to Polaris

05:27 Career Journey and Entrepreneurial Spirit

07:55 Current Business Climate and Challenges

10:18 Leadership Evolution and Style

12:33 Creating a People-First Culture

14:48 Implementing Change and Overcoming Resistance

19:08 Navigating Different Paths in Business Relationships

19:41 The Power of Humanity in the Workplace

22:45 Leadership Beyond Transactions

25:41 The Strength of Vulnerability in Leadership

27:00 The Future of the Construction Industry

30:17 The Impact of Pop Culture on Leadership Philosophy

34:28 Upcoming Events and Community Engagement

35:44 Gratitude and Reflection During Thanksgiving

36:37 Future Conversations and Insights on Technology

37:09 Closing Credits