In construction, success isn’t just about the tools in your hands. It’s about the wisdom in your head.
For decades, experienced tradespeople have passed down their know‑how through side‑by‑side training. But with 30–40% of the workforce retiring in the next 10 years, that system is breaking.
On this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin speaks with Manja Horner, Founder and CEO of Boost, a company devoted to capturing and preserving the tribal knowledge that keeps projects running smoothly.
Manja tells the story of a master plasterer who retired after 30 years without documenting a single process or recipe. Decades of techniques and shortcuts, gone in an instant. She calls this a vacuum of knowledge, and it’s happening in companies everywhere.
Why Does This Matter?
Tribal knowledge isn’t just about techniques. It’s about intuition, craft, relationships, and the lessons learned from costly mistakes. When you lose that, you lose your competitive edge.
Manja explains that capturing this knowledge starts with a mindset shift. Waiting for trade schools or “the next guy” to solve the problem won’t cut it. Leaders must take ownership of training and knowledge capture in-house.
How Do You Get Started?
Manja outlines steps:
- Interview your veterans and record everything. Video is best.
- Ask specific questions about tips, tools, and decision-making.
- Organize information by role, process, and best practices.
- Build systems that make this knowledge searchable and accessible.
It doesn’t have to be high tech on day one. A smartphone video and a folder system can start the process. Later, you can build it into a digital library or even an AI‑powered search tool. Boost is already helping companies create exactly that.
And here’s the exciting part: This isn’t only for executives and managers. Field crews hold invaluable secrets. Manja suggests pairing them with apprentices who can record and ask questions. It becomes part of training and culture, not an extra burden.
If you’re picturing hundreds of hours of video and wondering, how will we ever use it all?… That’s where tools come in. Learning management systems, organized libraries, and new AI tools can turn raw footage into a searchable, practical resource your whole team can use.
Want to know how to build your own knowledge‑capture engine and hear Manja’s insider strategies? Listen to the full episode now.
Connect With Manja:
Website: https://www.boostld.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manja-horner/
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