Subscribe Now
AE Industry Dashboard > Volume 15 issue 1
AE Industry Dashboard: Volume 15, Issue 1
Bringing you snapshots of key market sectors, business management ideas, and must-know information for managing and leading your firm.
In This Issue
Market Watch
Technology Corner
The New Workplace
MARKET WATCH | Southeast, West Hottest Regions in 2025 and Beyond
Southeast, West Hottest Regions in 2025 and Beyond
Growth spurt
As Morrissey Goodale Director of Market Intelligence Rafael Barbosa detailed in his 2025 AE Market Intelligence Webinar, the Southeast, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain regions will offer the strongest growth opportunities and funding prospects for AE firms in 2025 and beyond. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, year-over-year real GDP grew the fastest in the Far West in 2024, rising at 3.1%. That was followed by the Southeast and Southwest, which both increased by 2.9%. In terms of overall real GDP size, the Southeast and Far West also outpaced the rest of the country.
They’ll follow the sun
Based on U.S. Census Bureau data, Barbosa reported that the U.S. population in 2024 grew at its fastest annual pace since 2001. Sun Belt and Rocky Mountain states experienced the greatest population surge. Florida’s population rose the fastest at 2.0%, followed by Texas and Utah at 1.8%; South Carolina and Nevada at 1.7%; and North Carolina, Idaho, and Arizona at 1.5%. When looking strictly at domestic migration, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina experienced the largest influxes of people, while California, New York, and Illinois saw the most outmigration.
Leaders of the pack
Barbosa also revealed the results of Morrissey Goodale’s state-by-state economic performance and outlook rankings, which are based on a combination of economic activity indicators, demographics, employment and workforce participation rates, and state fiscal and financial health. Utah topped the list as the state with the most attractive environment for AE industry activity and growth. The Beehive State was followed by Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Idaho as states with the brightest outlook for AE firms. Also placing in the top 10 were the Southeast states of Tennessee and Georgia and the Mountain time zone states of Arizona and Colorado.
Click here for details on accessing the 2025 AE Market Intelligence Webinar recording. For sector- and state-specific data and insights or questions about market intelligence and research services, call/text Rafael Barbosa at 972-266-4955 or email [email protected].
Technology Corner | The Five AI Personalities You Need to Understand
The Five AI Personalities You Need to Understand
The spectrum of AI users
In an industry composed of technophiles, technophobes, and everyone in between, pitfalls await any one-size-fits-all approach to integrating new technology—and AI is no exception. AE firms will need to tailor their AI adoption approaches to various workforce segments, and based on an August 2024 global survey of 5,000 workers, Slack’s Workforce Lab has identified five distinct AI personas in the workplace: Maximalists, Superfans, Undergrounds, Observers, and Rebels.
AI’s biggest boosters
AI’s most enthusiastic proponents, dubbed “Maximalists,” form the largest segment of the workforce. Accounting for 30% of workers, Maximalists use AI several times a week. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Maximalists are open about their use of AI at work and actively encourage co-workers to follow suit, which means firms can rely on them as effective AI evangelists. Representing 16% of the workforce, Superfans are excited about AI’s potential but aren’t yet maximizing its use. Nearly three-quarters of Superfans (72%) use AI once a month, and 76% admire coworkers who apply AI to their work in creative ways. According to Slack, firms can encourage Superfans to augment their AI use by fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing with Maximalists to become more comfortable with AI solutions.
Proceeding with caution
More than half of Undergrounds, who account for 20% of workers, use AI at least a couple times a week, but they do so discreetly, partly out of fear that AI might replace them. These workers need a nudge out of the shadows. Slack suggests establishing clear usage guidelines so that Undergrounds understand how to use AI in the workplace and feel comfortable sharing ideas and experiences. Observers, representing 16% of workers, have yet to integrate AI into their work and are eyeing its use with interest and caution. Two-thirds of Observers (66%) are indifferent about AI use in the workplace, but one-third (33%) are interested in learning or further developing their AI skills. Slack recommends firms start small with Observers, help them understand how AI can add value, and encourage experiments with simple use cases within their teams.
Rebel rebel
Accounting for 19% of workers, Rebels see AI as a threat and push back against the AI hype. Two-thirds of Rebels (66%) have never used AI at work, 58% view AI as “mostly a threat to society,” and 55% are concerned about AI replacing their jobs. Given the Rebels’ skepticism, firms will need to allay their concerns and provide them with the time, training, and tools to experiment with AI.
The New Workplace | Studies Bust Imposter Syndrome Myths
Studies Bust Imposter Syndrome Myths
We’re not worthy
Many executives harbor deep doubts about the qualifications of one particular employee—themselves. Despite their success, or perhaps because of it, high achievers often see themselves as unworthy of their leadership positions and struggle with the nagging fear of being exposed as frauds. Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes first dubbed this self-doubt “imposter phenomenon” in 1978, and research by Clance and a colleague found that approximately 70% of people have felt like impostors for at least some part of their careers. Even the most brilliant thinkers have been plagued by “imposter syndrome.” “The exaggerated esteem in which my life work is held makes me very ill at ease,” Albert Einstein confessed to a friend. “I feel compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler.”
Myths debunked
Research by MIT Sloan School of Management professor Basima Tewfik has debunked myths and challenged common assumptions about imposter syndrome. While initial studies of imposter syndrome emphasized its prevalence among women, Tewfik found it affects men and women equally. Her research has also revealed an unexpected upside as those with more frequent workplace imposter thoughts rated more highly on interpersonal dynamics because they focus more outwardly on others to compensate for their self-perceived shortcomings.
Fluid dynamics
Although “syndrome” connotes a chronic condition, a forthcoming paper by Tewfik, Georgetown University’s Jeremy A. Yip, and University of Virginia’s Sean R. Martin in the Academy of Management Annals reveals that imposterism isn’t permanent, but fluid and dynamic. That’s led Tewfik to use the term “workplace imposter thoughts” instead of “imposter syndrome.” “It’s not something you’re stuck with, and I think that it’s really important to move the needle in terms of how we talk about this,” Tewfik says.
Mind shift
Experienced executive coaches can help firm leaders navigate and overcome imposter syndrome. Coaches offer confidential and judgment-free spaces in which executives can discuss self-doubts and confront vulnerabilities. By fostering resilience, reinforcing a greater sense of self-belief by focusing on strengths and achievements, and extinguishing the doubts that fuel imposter syndrome, coaches can provide practical strategies to shift executives’ mindsets.
Strategy &
Strategic Planning
Think bigger and achieve success beyond what you might think is possible with our best practice AE Business Consulting strategies and expert service teams.
Market Intelligence
Consulting Services
Morrissey Goodale’s AE industry consultants can keep your firm informed about market trends and project opportunities, giving you a competitive edge over your rivals.
June 11-13, 2025 | LAS VEGAS, NV
Western States M&A and Business Symposium
Learn and network with over 200 AE and environmental consulting industry executives, investors, and experts in the most exciting city in the United States.
Subscribe to our Newsletters
Stay up-to-date in real-time.