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In this episode... Leo Panian, Principal Engineer at Tipping Structural Engineers, offers insight into how his firm is able to attract and retain high quality engineers, including those engineers coming right out of school who tend to bounce from firm to firm. Episode highlights include: Benefits of investing in new hire training How to create a culture of engagement Leo's best advice for young engineers Teaching new employees how to communicate with clients, present engineering concepts, and run software are all important parts of their training. BUT the biggest advantage to investing in new engineers is that it maintains a strong team-centered culture built on trust, openness, and compassion. This allows a firm to hire top talent while also creating leadership opportunities from within the ranks of the company. Great podcast for leaders as well as students in the Design World! About Leo Panian.. Leo is a Principal Engineer at Tipping Structural Engineers headquartered in Berkeley, CA.  Leo has successfully managed many of the firm’s ambitious projects, including the SF Public Utilities Commission Headquarters building, UC Berkeley’s Campbell Hall, and an IDIQ contract with the National Parks Service that includes the 2011 post-earthquake evaluation of the Washington Monument. While he has a wealth of experience in a range of project types, he specializes in steel and concrete structures with a focus on seismic engineering.  Check out Leo Panian on LinkedIn here.

Jeff Echols, of EntreArchitect, helps support small firm entrepreneur architects with free leadership and business education online. In April 2020, Jeff started a daily livestream show called Context & Clarity LIVE as a means for architects to connect and support each other through the COVID pandemic. He also hosts the Build Your Brand Podcast, a mini-series exploring how the best brands in the world think and act differently. In this episode, Jeff shares his experiences on how social media content can influence the architecture community. Topics include: Advantages of doing livestream Why you should give free resources/content with no expectations And his biggest takeaway on how architects can improve their leadership mindset While networking with architects all over the world in over 500 podcasts, he has great insight into the world of small firm architects and the content they find most valuable.   Context & Clarity is a podcast, livestream, and conversation on the Clubhouse app. Join the daily Context & Clarity livestream on the EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group

Cyberattacks aren't a new phenomenon in 2021, but they are more prevalent than ever with more employees working from home. Design Firms commonly have liability insurance, but fewer opt for cyber insurance? They rely heavily on email communication and online databases to store client and project information. If this data were breached, this could have devastating consequences. Boris Rapoport founded a company called ArchIT to address cybersecurity specific to Architecture, Design and Engineering firms. His company understands the software tools that that design professionals use on a daily basis (Revit, Autocad, Bluebeam, etc) and the unique infrastructure needed to protect them.   In this episode... Boris Rapoport, CEO of ArchIT, joins co-hosts Zach Waters and Courtnee Stevenson to discuss the many layers of protection that Design Firms can implement to decrease their risk of a cyberattack  Topics covered include: Email security Password hygiene Social engineering Processing a cyber claim Tons of great tips on how to protect your firm!   Email Zach at zwaters@blackswan-riskmanagement.com if you'd like to discuss how to add a cyber policy to your insurance program. Email Boris at boris.rapoport@getarchit.com with any cybersecurity questions or if you're interested in ArchIT. ArchIT website: http://getarchit.com 

Architects by nature are more left-brained, creative and imaginative in their thinking. But what happens when an architect becomes a CEO or Principal and has to use more right-brain thinking like numbers and reason. You can see how this can become a problem for architects who take on ownership roles at a firm.  Architects need financial education that isn't taught in school. Patrick MacLeamy has leadership experience in the Design Industry to help teach architects and engineers the business side of running a firm. Patrick spent 50 years at HOK - starting as a Junior Designer at HOK St. Louis in 1967, later becoming Principal at the San Francisco office, COO in 1997, and finally CEO in 2003. He ran the firm for 13 years, helping it grow into one of the top architecture and engineering firms in the world! He is also currently a Chairman at buildingSMART and the host of the Build Smart Podcast. In this episode... Patrick first discusses how firm leaders can cope with COVID-19 and other uncertain economic times... How to make budget cuts? How to approach financial decisions as a team? Patrick then teaches us about the 3 rules for financial health at a Design Firm. These rules can be found in his new book Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm: The People, Stories, and Strategies Behind HOK: 50% Rule: How many people can you afford? 10 Month Rule: How much backlog do I need? 90 Day Rule: How can long can I afford to wait before being paid?   If you're running a Design Firm and need clear guidelines on how to handle the finances, then this podcast is a must listen!

Ray Brown is the Co-Founder and Chief Mentor at Archibiz, a company who specializes in business education for Architects to build profitable and sustainable practices. Ray is a business coach and entrepreneur who has worked in the UK, South Africa and the US. He operated at CEO level for over 25 years before relocating to Australia in 2005. Ray’s passion is helping business owners realize their personal potential and that of their organization.   In this episode... Ray breaks down the 3 most impactful ways to increase your architecture firm's profitability.  Having a vision - where do you want to be in 5 years? Are all employees on the same path? Using financial measures - establish ways to measure if you are reaching your financial goals Positioning/Specializing - get really good at a few specialties and be picky when choosing clients   Connect with Ray on LinkedIn Learn more about Archibiz

This is the second podcast with Patrick MacLeamy, former CEO of HOK and Founder of buildingSMART International. He has worked with architects and designers for over 50 years! Zach and Patrick continue their discussion of the lessons Design Professionals can learn from his book, Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm: The People, Stories and Strategies Behind HOK.    In this episode... Patrick shares the origin story of HOK and how its founder George Hellmuth came up with the innovative leadership ideas that made the architecture firm so successful. Patrick goes through Hellmuth's key principles for a depression-proof firm and how they can be applied today. Four Principles for a Depression-Proof Firm: Attract and keep talented people Provide full time marketing Diversify project building type, geography, and services Leadership needs to be specialized   For more information on Patrick's book go to macleamy.com. Also check out the first podcast with Patrick, Episode 1 of The Leadership BluePrint Podcast, where he discusses the difference between managing and leading.

Marissa Feliciano is an expert on building business relationships, specifically at a Design Firm. She is currently the Business Development Manager at HPI Architecture. She is responsible for leading business development and client stewardship for the Senior Living division and establishing a continuous and consistent brand presence for the firm. Marissa has been invited to speak at industry events and on podcasts on such topics as: Business Development The Seller-Doer Model Personal Branding Speaking and Storytelling Business Networking and Relationships   In this episode... Marissa discusses the elements of emotional intelligence that make a great leader. Daniel Goleman's five elements of emotional intelligence are: Self Awareness Self Regulation Motivation Empathy Social Skills This episode puts a special focus on how empathy can improve your leadership. Being open to new ideas, recognizing your weaknesses, and mentoring new employees all require this characteristic. Zach and Marissa also discuss how vulnerability and empathy work hand in hand to improve your leadership. Tune into this episode to learn strategies that can help you build better relationships with your team and your clients!   References from podcast: What Makes a Leader: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters by Daniel Goleman Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss Mindset by Carol Dweck (on growth mindset vs fixed mindset) Brene Brown Ted Talk on vulnerability Simon Sinek: how can leaders show empathy?   If you have any questions for Marissa, message her on LinkedIn.

John McNulty is the Founding Principal of MBH Architects, a full service architectural firm headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area with offices in New York City, Denver, and Mumbai. As a member of the US Navy and a lifelong philanthropist, McNulty has cultivated a firm that is devoted to teamwork and community service projects. MBH works with the Good Tidings Foundation to design art, music, and athletic spaces for children in underserved communities across the US. The firm also has an internal community service committee to promote firm member's volunteerism.   In this episode... McNulty gives us the components of building a successful team and how he has been able to implement these at MBH over the past 30 years. He addresses questions including...  What do you do when a talented employee is a poor teammate? How to retain employees over time in a society where people are constantly jumping job to job? Why he implemented peer reviews across all departments at his firm?  What advice would you give up-and-coming Design Professionals?   McNulty is a great person and leader! A lot can be learned from the positive culture he has created at MBH! To learn all about MBH including its design projects and philanthropic work to to http://www.mbharch.com/

Today, 83% of prospective clients are eliminating firms from consideration, because of their online presence. Design Professionals used to be able to rely on word-of-mouth referrals to gain clients, but nowadays websites and social media are the best way to market. Bryon McCartney, of ARCHMARK, is a branding and marketing guru who specifically works with Architectural Firms to increase their visibility and attract better clients.  IN THIS EPISODE.. Bryon talks about many factors that create an effective Design Firm website. He has evaluated and graded over 500 design firm websites! So it's safe to say he's done his research. He shares some major mistakes Design Firms are making including Out-dated software Poor first impression on home page No communication of company values Inconsistent branding Is your firm's website sending the right message to future clients? For information on Bryon McCartney and ARCHMARK go to archmark.co 

Tyler Pew, the Founding Principle of LMNOP Design, is featured on this episode of The Leadership BluePrint Podcast.  His firm LMNOP Design works collaboratively with their clients to answer the following questions: "How can the design improve the customer experience?" "How are users going to connect to the brand?" "Is the design lining up with the client's values?" Even a small decision like a restaurant's table size can have an impact on the overall customer dining experience. Tyler takes pride in paying attention to these details and branding his project's environment in the correct way.  An exciting project discussed in the episode is his firm's design for a Municipal Marketplace in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. They are working with a non-profit organization called La Cocina (Spanish for “the kitchen”) that supports low-income and immigrant women growing food businesses.  It sounds like an amazing organization that is making a big impact for small business in the community. Check out these links! Learn more about the La Cocina Municipal Marketplace Get to know the women behind La Cocina's new marketplace. Tyler goes on to talk about the ways we as a Design Industry can support diversity & inclusion in our communities.    To learn more about Tyler and LMNOP Design check out lmnopdesigninc.com

Leadership skills are something that CAN be learned, but most Design Professionals do not get proper training on how to be an effective leader.  Liz Myers, Executive Leadership Coach at Integrative Leadership Strategies, works specifically with Design Firms to improve leadership within their company. She is uniquely qualified as she is an engineer herself, earning a Bachelors in Engineering from Cornell and a Masters in Structural Engineering from Stanford. Upon beginning her engineering career, she was disheartened to discover the lack of teamwork and leadership within design firms. Senior designers failed to mentor the younger ones, team members were afraid to speak their mind at meetings, and no one seemed to trust management. Experiencing this negative work environment inspired her to make a career switch from engineer to leadership coach.    I love how Liz breaks learning leadership into simple frameworks for her clients! For example... 3 components of trust within a team: Benevolence - having someone’s best interest Competence - having skills to get the job done  Reliability and Consistency - proving to the team that they can count on you   She also addresses a pressing question for many firm owners... "How can I best lead the Millennial Generation?"   For more info on how Liz can help improve the leadership within your firm, check out the Integrative Leadership Strategies website www.integrative-leadership.com or message her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/liz-myers/.      Also check out these references from the podcast: The Opposable Mind by Roger Martin (Liz mentions choosing “third alternative” when facing two opposing ideas) The Grammars of Trust: A Model and General Implications by Blair H. Sheppard and Dana M. Sherman, 1998. (research paper on components of trust) “Simon Sinek on Millennial in the Workplace” interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hER0Qp6QJNU    Thanks for watching! Zach

Giulia de Mauro is the Founder of the ibd company and the ibd hub. She is a trained architect and entrepreneur who helps design professionals grow their practices. As an unshakable optimist, Giulia specializes in empowering the architecture field to improve their business development skills in order to grow and innovate. In addition to this, Giulia has tutored and lectured Architecture students at the University of Nottingham and Manchester University. She is also a speaker, coach, and the host of the ibd hub podcast. In this episode… The architecture industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects have been paused or dropped as people have veered away from the need for traditional spaces for work, study, and recreation. The continued persistence of the pandemic also poses a challenge for industry players—particularly old-fashioned firms—who are not ready to revolutionize their business development tactics to move with the changes of a post-pandemic market. According to Giulia de Mauro, architecture firms need to learn to embrace the new ways of connecting with potential clients if they want to continue to thrive in the industry. More importantly, they need to learn how to showcase their skills and expertise to the right people in order to stay on top of the market. So, what is Giulia’s advice to architecture firms looking to grow and succeed in 2021 and beyond? In this episode of The Leadership Blueprint Podcast, Zach Waters talks with Giulia de Mauro, the Founder of the ibd company and the ibd hub, about the future of the architecture industry. Tune in as Giulia explains how architecture firms can start using technology and social media to scale and innovate. She also shares her tips for effectively engaging with your audience, attracting potential clients, and adapting your business development and marketing strategies for the post-pandemic market.

Chad Shifrin is a Partner at Laurie & Brennan, a Chicago-based firm specializing in construction law. Chad has spent the last 15 years assisting clients in negotiating contracts, providing extensive counsel to designers and architects, resolving disputes, and much more. His specialty is in construction disputes and litigation on large projects like stadiums, high rises, and complex construction projects nationwide. In this episode… Every year, the majority of construction projects end up in mediation due to legal disputes between the owner and subcontractors. Unfortunately, most owners and subcontractors are not prepared to take their case to court. Some even petition against it, ending the case in arbitration litigations. Enter, Chad Shifrin, Partner at Laurie & Brennan. Chad has worked with disputes in the construction industry for the last 15 years and understands what clients need to take their dispute to trial.  In this week's episode of The Leadership Blueprint Podcast, Chad Shifrin, Partner at Laurie & Brennan, sits down with Zach Waters to provide lessons on contract negotiation, disputes, and waiver of consequential damages. Chad shares stories on disputes gone wrong and how to capitalize on an organization’s basic checks and balances to prevent prevailing attorney fees and loss of trust from a client. They also discuss the three areas that often end in disputes and what your firm can do to combat them.

John Marx is a Co-Founding Principal and Chief Artistic Officer of Form4 Architecture. Under John's leadership and artistic vision, the firm has combined philosophy, poetry, and art to create emotionally resonating structures and urban spaces. Not only does he shake the foundation of traditional architectural thought, but he spreads his belief of humanity in the space through the expression of poetry and painting. With his talent and team, Form4 Architecture has received over 165 design awards.  John’s career hasn’t gone without recognition. In 2017, he became a Laureate of the American Prize for Architecture. Before joining Form4 Architecture, John was a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley's Department of Architecture, a Senior Project Designer at DES Architects + Engineers, and on the Architectural Staff at HOK In this episode… What is your favorite building to draw inspiration from? Is it The Shard designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano? Or maybe you were taken aback by Santiago Calatrava's Peace Bridge in Calgary?  Architecture is a combination of art, design, and, importantly, humanity. John Marx, Co-Founding Principal and Chief Artistic Officer at Form4 Architecture, believes in designing emotional pieces and creating a world where buildings resonate with our hearts and minds.  In this week's episode of the Leadership Blueprint Podcast, host Zach Waters sits down with John Marx, Co-Founding Principal and Chief Artistic Officer at Form4 Architecture, to discuss shifting back to emotionally resonating design and what it means to balance the passion and vision of an architect. John reminisces on his time with Warren Callister, the importance of taking ownership of your work, and cultivating a hunger to design. He also shares his advice for new architects entering the workforce.

Kevin Newman is the CEO and Chairman of Newman Garrison + Partners. He is an innovative leader in family and mixed-use housing, mid and high-rise residential, resort, and urban redevelop­ment. Recently, Kevin's firm has stepped into the hospitality and retail space to aid design while reinforcing their commitment to creativity, sustainability, and incorporating an area's geography. After more than 35 years in the architectural field, Newman Garrison + Partners has received countless awards for their diverse international portfolio. They have been a recipient of multiple accords, including several Gold Nugget Awards. Kevin is a Member of the National Association for Home Builders and has spoken at several conferences. In this episode… What inspired you to choose your career? Maybe you had a parent that worked in a similar field? Or maybe you’ve always been good at drawing so you became an artist? Kevin Newman, CEO and Chairman at Newman Garrison + Partners, knew from a young age that his love for sketching and helping his father modify architectural plans on the weekend was leading him to his calling: to become an architect. Kevin's architectural design approach lies in the clear and concise communication he has with his clients and his focus on diversifying his firm's portfolio. His dedication to creative and sustainable design has allowed them to step into retail, hospitality, and many more urban redevelopment planning sectors.  In this week's episode of the Leadership Blueprint Podcast, Zach Waters and Kevin Newman, CEO and Chairman of Newman Garrison + Partners, discuss the importance of having a diverse portfolio, playing to your strengths, and building a generation of entrepreneurial architects. Kevin delves into the importance of demonstrating your thought process, and blending technology with traditional architectural approaches. He also shares his favorite type of client and what your responsibilities look like as a CEO.

Melissa Hanley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Blitz, an architectural design firm that goes beyond traditions on design and space utilization. At Blitz, Melissa is a lead designer on projects that emphasize innovation, environmental sensitivity, and Blitz's values on exceptional and conceptually-rooted design. She has continued to harness her creativity and love for the architectural process while spending her days managing brands, operations, and product delivery for Blitz. Melissa runs the San Francisco and Denver studios of Blitz and has been featured in The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and many more. Seth Hanley, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Blitz, believes that great design can be transformative—but getting there requires a dedication to service and technical excellence. He spends his days bridging the gap between technical feasibility, code compliance, and his team. Seth has been featured in over 100 publications including, GQ Japan, Vanity Fair, Design Magazine, and many more. In this episode… Architecture, like any other field, requires constant innovation and an homage to age-old traditions, simultaneously. Blitz aims to take the basics of architecture, project management, space utilization, and innovation to create commercial workplaces that drive inspiration and foster productivity. The Co-Founders of Blitz, Seth and Melissa Hanley, take ideas and transform them into stunning spaces that blend the love of design with a need for habitable space.   In this week's episode of Leadership Blueprint Podcast, host Zach Waters is joined by Seth and Melissa Hanley, Co-Founders of Blitz. They discuss the difference between your architectural school education and learning on the job, what it means to own your experiences, and how they maintain their firm's integrity while achieving their goals. Melissa shares the allure of the off-the-wall portfolio in Blitz's hiring process, and Seth reveals what inspired him to pursue architecture. Stay tuned.

William Duff is the Founder and Managing Principal at William Duff Architects, an award-winning architecture firm. In the past 20 years, William has worked on countless notable projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and the greater United States. Considered an architectural leader, William specializes in retail, residential, and commercial architecture with a knack for designing elegantly simple spaces. William is NCARB and LEED-certified and a member of the American Institute of Architects. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Cornell University and a Master’s degree in Construction Management from Colorado State University. In this episode… Architecture is a delicate balance between design and habitable space. To find that balance, and improve the process, architects are the creative minds you need when trying to strike that perfect match between form and function. But, what is that balance? William Duff built his career on designing spaces that exhibit elegant simplicity in plan and detail. And for him, that symmetry comes into play with a sophisticated use of materials, light, and space. In this week's episode of The Leadership Blueprint Podcast, host Zach Waters sits down with renowned architect and Founder and Managing Principal of William Duff Architects, William Duff. They discuss the joy of being an architect, the difference between the business of architecture and design, and how the challenges architects face in their younger years will define their desire to design. William recalls the business skills he had to learn—and how it helped him start his firm. Stay tuned!

Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, is the Founder and Chairman of buildingSMART International, former CEO and Chairman of HOK, and Author of Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm: The People, Stories and Strategies Behind HOK. He is best known for what some call the "MacLeamy Curve," one of the most commonly cited concepts for researchers on the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM).  Patrick is an international speaker, leader, and storyteller. He has a Bachelors and Masters of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In this episode… In this week's episode of The Leadership Blueprint Podcast, host Zach Waters sits down with legendary Patrick MacLeamy to discuss the lessons both young and old professionals can learn from his new book, Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm: The People, Stories and Strategies Behind HOK. Patrick focuses on Chapter 7 of the book, "Managing versus Leading." He recalls some key lessons he learned about leadership during his tenure as a project manager and CEO at HOK.