Business of Architecture Podcast

Hosted by Enoch Sears & Rion Willard

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741

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Discover strategies, tips and secrets for running a fun, flexible and profitable architecture practice. The focus here is simple: discussion of ways for architects to create a dream architecture practice: design what you want, when you want, and get paid well for it.

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60 recent

June 15, 202649 min

Growing a Global Design Studio Through Leadership, Talent, and Intention | EP691

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework In this episode, Rion Willard talks with interior designer Sally O'Connor about how she grew Hesellic Design from a solo start into a small global studio. She shares how a TV job opened the door to luxury homes and how she moved forward without formal training. You'll hear hints of the quiet actions that drew in her first major clients. Sally also talks about the moment her workload broke the old way of working. She describes learning to hand off control, building a tight-knit team, and stepping into the role of creative leader. She then touches on the studio's move into Dubai and Los Angeles, and how journaling and visualising guide her biggest moves. The simple shift that helped her stop clinging to every task. The "vision exercise" she used before her first Dubai project. How one early hire quietly set the tone for her culture. To learn more about Sally, visit her website: https://www.hesellicdesign.com

June 8, 202645 min

Setting Premium Fees in Architecture: From Scarcity to Agency | EP690

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework If you have ever felt uneasy talking about fees, you are not alone—and that silence may be costing you more than you think. In this episode, Rion Willard explores why pricing sits underneath many of the stress points in an architecture practice, from cash pressure to burnout and the wrong clients. You will hear why "doing great work" is not a pricing strategy, and how a firm can drift into a cycle of undercharging, overdelivering, and thin margins without realizing it. Rion also reframes money as a form of agency and explains what changes when you treat fees as a business system, not a guess, and why small shifts can create outsized leverage. He then lays out a practical framework for premium pricing and hints at the habits that make it work in real firms. If you want more breathing room, stronger teams, and better choices, start here right now. The quiet reason clients "suddenly" fixate on price—and how to stop that game before it starts. The one missing piece that makes fee confidence feel impossible, even when your work is strong. A simple way to tell if your firm is financially healthy—without looking at profit alone.

June 1, 202647 min

Storytelling for Architects: How to Communicate Ideas That Connect and Win Work | EP689

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework What makes one architect memorable while another gets tuned out, even when the work is strong? In this episode, Enoch Sears talks with Lee Schneider about why storytelling is not just a nice skill, but a real business tool for architects. Lee explains why people do not connect with facts alone, and why the most effective message often starts somewhere unexpected. He also shares how small shifts in the way you present ideas can change how clients hear you, trust you, and respond to you. You will also hear why some presentations fall flat, what strong communicators do differently, and how story shape matters more than most people think. If you have ever wondered why some people win attention so naturally, this conversation gives you a fresh way to think about it. Why the thing most architects lead with may be the very reason people stop listening The overlooked shift that can make your message feel more human, clear, and persuasive What great storytellers seem to do naturally that others miss completely To learn more about Lee, visit his LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/docuguy/

May 25, 202642 min

Why Architecture Firms Experience Cycles—and How to Lead Through Them | EP688

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework In this episode, Enoch Sears sits down with Joost Bende, President of PACIFIC 33 Architects, to talk about what hits hardest once the drawings are done. Joost shares what it feels like when work is flowing, then suddenly isn't—and how small choices can create a dip months later. If you've ever felt "feast or famine," this will feel familiar. You'll also hear how a healthcare-focused practice stays sharp, why relationships matter more than tactics, and what changes when you watch the business engine behind the design. Joost explains how stronger systems and clearer numbers can lower stress and create freedom away from the office—without losing traction. The moment that reveals whether your pipeline is real… or just hope Why "being busy" can still set you up for a surprise slump The shift that makes clients treat you like a strategic partner To learn more about Joost, visit his website: https://pacific33architects.com/

May 18, 2026Episode 68750 min

How to Build a Stable, People-First Firm | EP687

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework In this episode of Business of Architecture, Enoch Sears talks with John Arnold, partner at KFA. John shares how rising from junior staff to firm leader shaped his focus on people, culture, and stability. The stories show life inside a firm that works hard not to treat staff as disposable. You'll hear how John and his partners think about staffing, money, and growth so they can protect their team when the market shifts. He also hints at a mindset that shapes how they choose clients, write proposals, and handle scope changes. And he explains why he sees his role as helping people leave the firm as "whole" humans. The routine that helps KFA spot trouble months before others feel it. The way they handle first client calls that often leads to more work. One mindset shift that changes how you lead, mentor, and profit in your firm. To learn more about John, visit his website: https://kfalosangeles.com/

May 11, 202638 min

From Chaos to Clarity: Vision, Pricing, and the Next Stage of Practice Growth | EP686

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework In this episode, Enoch sits down with Eariny Adams, founder of Genesis Design, to explore what really happens after the excitement of starting a firm wears off. Eariny shares what it felt like when growth brought complexity, pressure, and a quiet sense of confusion that many firm owners know well. Her story reflects a turning point that doesn't come from working harder, but from seeing differently. As the conversation unfolds, Eariny describes how clarity, vision, and support reshaped the way she leads her practice. Money, pricing, and team building show up—not as tactics, but as deeper shifts in mindset and confidence. The result is a firm that feels lighter, stronger, and more intentional. The episode ends with a look toward the future, where growth takes on a bolder, less traditional shape. The hidden signal that told her something had to change The small shift that completely altered client dynamics The growth move most firm owners never see coming To learn more about Eariny, visit her website: https://www.genesisinteriordesign.com/

May 4, 20261 hr 3 min

A Smarter Approach to Business Development for Architects | EP685

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework In this episode, Rion Willard sits down with TJ Lyons to explore a side of practice growth that many architects find unclear or uncomfortable. Instead of relying on presentations or personality, TJ shares a more focused way to approach business development—one built on clarity, intent, and better conversations. They unpack what really happens in client meetings, why so many firms sound the same without realizing it, and how a small shift in approach can change who you attract. The discussion also touches on a deeper issue inside the profession: why selling feels difficult, and how that mindset shapes results. If you have ever left a meeting unsure what happened, felt stuck competing on fees, or questioned how to reach better clients, this episode offers a fresh perspective worth hearing. Why the way architects open conversations can quietly shape the outcome The subtle difference that makes some firms stand out—without saying more What effective business development feels like when it's done right To learn more about TJ, visit his website: http://www.cubedbd.com

April 27, 202646 min

How Raising Your Fees Creates Freedom in an Architecture Practice | EP684

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework Chris Smart didn't start out confident about money. He undercharged, worked nonstop, and felt the stress spill into his home. In this conversation with Enoch Sears, he shares the turning points that helped him move from survival mode to more space and better clients—without losing his love for design. You'll hear what changed as he moved from "be competitive" thinking to a clearer view of value, service, and faith. It's part business, part inner work, and honest about what it costs to wear every hat alone. If you run a small firm and feel stretched thin, this episode will challenge what you call "normal." On today's episode, you'll discover: The quiet belief that keeps talented architects stuck at "drafter money" The mindset shift that made higher fees feel clean—and eased pressure at home Why "more projects" can feel safer… and how that can become the trap To learn more about Chris, visit his website: https://chrissmartdesigns.com/

April 20, 202651 min

How Architects Can Harness Technology to Run Smarter, More Profitable Firms | EP683

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework Running an architecture firm has never been simple. Between creative demands, clients who want more for less, and the ever-shifting landscape of technology, many practice owners feel stuck. But what if the very tools and habits you rely on are holding you back? In this episode of Business of Architecture, host Rion Willard sits down with Matthew Nickerson, serial entrepreneur, consultant, and longtime ally to design firms. Matthew shares hard-earned lessons from building and selling companies, working with world-class practices, and bridging the worlds of art, business, and technology. His story reveals how small shifts can unlock growth, reduce stress, and create real freedom inside your firm. You'll also discover: The hidden drain quietly steals profits from firms of every size Why some practices thrive while others drown in chaos — and the overlooked difference A future trend in firm management that almost no one is preparing for To learn more about Matthew, visit his website: https://www.milientsoftware.com/

April 13, 202650 min

Surviving a Lawsuit and Building a Stronger Solo Practice | EP682

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework A solo architect shares the real story of launching a practice as the world shut down—then facing a legal fight that could have ended everything. You'll hear what it did to his mindset, his marriage, and his business; it's a field report from the trenches, and it also shows what long stress costs when you try to carry it alone. Then the conversation turns to the pivot: how he stopped drowning in volume, reclaimed his week, and began to earn more with fewer jobs, without living in constant rush or losing sleep over deadlines. He explains why saying "no" became one of his most profitable skills. He also shares how mentorship helped him spot blind spots, tighten habits, and set firmer boundaries with clients. The quiet red flag he ignored at first The contract tweak that changed client behavior The uncommon path he used to get licensed To learn more about Andrew, visit his website: https://www.raharchitecture.com/ To purchase Andrew's book, click here: https://a.co/d/1eFe5ld