Podcast Summary: Dirt Talk by BuildWitt

Episode: Dubai, MQL’s, and Benefits (Building BuildWitt #35) – DT 407
Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Aaron Witt

Episode Overview

In this candid solo episode, host Aaron Witt reflects on his recent travels to Dubai and the UAE, his experience attending the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, and what these journeys reveal about the global construction industry. He discusses core operations at BuildWitt, particularly around their training platform "BuildWitt Improve," the importance of marketing-qualified leads (MQLs), and the major role employee benefits play in attracting and retaining talent. Throughout, Aaron mixes humor and transparency, aiming to demystify what BuildWitt really is and how it serves the “Dirt World.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What is BuildWitt? (00:00 – 06:10)

• Aaron reiterates the mission: "Our purpose is to build the dirt world's next generation." (06:10)
• BuildWitt is not just Aaron: "It is a team, a brilliant team. The best team I could ask for of 40 plus individuals..." (01:02)
• The company focuses on training and developing professionals in construction and mining, not just newcomers but also seasoned employees and future leaders.
• Aaron is the face of the company: "Someone’s got to do it. It's hard work, but you know, I'm running around the world and everybody's seeing what I'm doing..." (00:23)
• He frames the podcast as an “open door” to BuildWitt: “We’ve got nothing to hide. We're not building this business for ourselves, we're building it for the dirt world. And I want the dirt world to be a part of it as we do it.” (02:18)

2. UAE & Formula 1 Trip (03:00 – 17:00)

• Middle East Travel Logistics
  • Aaron reflects on strategically timing trips to the Middle East to avoid extreme heat: "Middle east, very hot. So December, January, February, that's when you want to go. July, August, pass." (03:48)
• Formula 1 Experience
  • He debates splurging on a $2,100 Grand Prix ticket, ultimately deciding: “I don't make a ton of money. ...I just went for it, and holy shit, was it so Cool. And so worth the money. It was extraordinary.” (07:25)
  • On F1’s allure: "It's such a crazy blend of global politics... the absolute pinnacle of engineering and human ingenuity... then you've got, like, the pinnacle of athleticism." (06:30)
  • Recommendation: “If you’re a Formula One fan out there, you haven’t been to a race, I highly recommend sitting in the main grandstand.” (08:59)

3. Dubai Construction Highlights (10:00 – 17:40)

• Project Visits
  • Casino development on a man-made island: “We went out to a huge casino development. It's the first casino in the UAE... It’s all on a man made island of course, because where else would it be?” (10:30)
  • Sunset bridge pour, high-speed rail in the desert, master-planned community developments, and an undisclosed major island project: “I can't necessarily talk about it right now. Unfortunately... probably the best hour I've had this year from a work standpoint." (13:01)
• Global Construction Insights
  • Biggest takeaway: "Just how similar people are. You can go halfway around the world to a totally different culture and bond with people over their pride in work, over their love for their family, over laughter..." (14:27)
  • Impact of travel: "Traveling to these places is like, it turns life from black and white to color. Or from 2D to 3D, it just gives life so much more texture." (15:13)
  • Observation on US infrastructure: “Turns out that they can build high-speed rail, which we're totally incapable of in America. Look no further than the California high speed rail project. If you haven't, it's a complete embarrassment.” (12:00)

4. BuildWitt Internal Updates (17:40 – 23:25)

• Product Development
  • Launching the executive summary feature in BuildWitt Improve: "This will help us reinforce learning cultures as we roll out the new feature..." (18:00)
  • Data insights for customers: “Customers can now see who’s hungriest within their company, which is great. You can pour more into those individuals.” (18:54)
• Business Development & MQLs
  • The business development team is “kicking ass.” (19:30)
  • Dan is focused on MQLs: “Leads driven by marketing activities... for example by our website... If you go to billwit.com, you can peruse the product page and then you can book a meeting.” (20:00)
  • On selling the platform: “There's not one right way to do it... The ultimate goal: get people meeting with us so we can show them in detail... what other great customers are doing.” (21:00)

5. Benefits & People (23:25 – 26:45)

• Importance of Employee Benefits
  • Shoutout to Jennifer: “Jennifer, she handles everything people behind the scenes and she handles benefits. It's a thankless task.” (23:25)
  • Why prioritize benefits: “I think pay is key, but I think benefits go just as far, especially with people's families.” (24:08)
  • Highlights of BuildWitt’s package:
    • U Turn Health: for counseling on “addiction, substance abuse, stress, anxiety, a death in the family, etc.” (25:00)
    • 401(k) program with Assured Equity Management: “They really take the time to meet with our people, make sure they understand how a 401(k) works...” (25:15)
    • Healthcare: “Healthcare is an absolute bear. It’s brutal, man. The costs went way up this year, but we did our best to absorb that ourselves, not pass that along to our team.” (25:35)
  • On benefit education: “Open enrollment... is an opportunity to remind everybody what the benefits are here and how to get the most out of them. And we need to do a lot more educating.” (24:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Social Media:

  “For you that say social media is stupid, I beg to differ. I just went to Dubai thanks to some messages on social media. How good is that?” — Aaron Witt (02:18)

• On the Formula 1 Grand Prix:

  “I spent $2,100 on this seat, which is insane. ...holy shit, was it so Cool. And so worth the money.” — Aaron Witt (07:25)

• On Global Similarities:

  “Everybody's just a person. And it's so cool. I'll never take these opportunities for granted.” — Aaron Witt (14:48) “Traveling to these places... turns life from black and white to color.” — Aaron Witt (15:13)

• On US High-Speed Rail:

  “They can build high-speed rail, which we're totally incapable of in America.” — Aaron Witt (12:45)

• On Benefits:

  "It's a thankless task. ...It is huge to offer top tier benefits. ...We've gone above and beyond." — Aaron Witt (23:35-24:39)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 – 03:00: Introduction to the episode and BuildWitt’s mission
• 03:00 – 09:00: Dubai travel, Formula 1 experience and reflections
• 10:00 – 14:30: Site visits in UAE and cross-cultural takeaways
• 14:30 – 17:40: Thoughts on the similarities of people worldwide and the value of travel
• 17:40 – 18:54: New BuildWitt Improve features and the team’s work
• 19:30 – 22:00: MQLs and business development strategies
• 23:25 – 25:35: The importance and specifics of employee benefits
• 25:35 – End: Concluding thoughts, gratitude, and call to action

Conclusion

Aaron offers a behind-the-scenes look at both the global world of construction and the inner workings of BuildWitt. He draws powerful parallels between cultures, advocates for travel and openness, and underscores the importance of company culture, team wellbeing, and real-world business development. Whether you're in the dirt world or just curious about team-building and industry evolution, this episode is an engaging, honest, and insightful window into the heart of BuildWitt.

Contact:
Website: buildwitt.com
Email: Aaron at aaronillwood.com

“This isn’t my company. This isn’t BuildWitt’s company. This is the dirt world’s. And it takes all of us.” — Aaron Witt (26:48)