Business of Architecture Podcast

Hosted by Enoch Sears & Rion Willard

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759

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Oct 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

October 12, 202653 min

Winning Better Work: Chris Laul on Strategy, Clients & Growth | 708

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework What if your firm could grow by chasing less work, not more? In this episode, Chris Laul of HOK shares what years inside a design firm have taught him about growth, clients, and creative work. He looks at why some firms build trust, make choices, and stand out without losing what makes their work special. Chris also shares how his life as a fine artist shaped the way he thinks about business, value, and the people who buy creative work. The question that can change which jobs you chase—and which ones you walk away from. Why some of your growth may already be sitting inside the ties your team has built. What art taught Chris about making creative work valuable without giving up its heart. If you want to win better work, build client ties, and think clearly about growth, this episode may change how you see your firm. To learn more about Chris, visit his website: https://www.hok.com/ - sponsorship - Xero: referrals.xero.com/BOA

October 5, 202641 min

Five Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Building Remote Teams for Your Architecture Firm | 707

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework Building a remote team can give an architecture firm more capacity, flexibility, and freedom. Yet the results depend on far more than finding a skilled person and assigning them work. In this episode, Enoch Sears speaks with Camila Brugger, Founder and CEO of WorldTeams, about what firm owners often overlook when they hire across borders. Drawing from her work with more than 200 architecture firms, Camila explains why the right preparation can shape the entire experience. You will hear how clearer decisions, stronger communication, and better internal habits can help remote team members succeed. You will also learn why some common hiring approaches create friction before the work even begins. The hidden decision that can determine whether a new hire thrives Why one attractive hiring shortcut often leads firms in the wrong direction The overlooked internal shift that makes global teamwork far easier Listen to discover how to build a remote team that supports both growth and freedom. To learn more about Camila, visit her: https://worldteams.com - sponsorship - Xero: referrals.xero.com/BOA

September 28, 202654 min

What Luxury Clients Expect: An Owner's Rep on Better Project Delivery | 706

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework What makes a great project feel great for the client, not just look great at the end? In this episode, Rion Willard talks with Megan Turner, founder of ML Turner, about what really happens behind the scenes of complex custom homes. Drawing on her work as a builder, construction manager, and owner's rep, Megan shares a rare view of how strong teams keep ambitious projects moving. The conversation explores why some projects stay on track while others become harder than expected. Megan also reveals what high-end clients notice, what strong architecture firms tend to understand, and why the best project experience often depends on choices made long before construction begins. You'll also hear how trust, communication, and the right team can shape far more than the final result. If you work with demanding clients or complex projects, this episode may change how you think about the service you provide today. The overlooked factor that can quietly shape a project before construction even begins What high-end clients notice that many project teams may never think to ask about Why the firms that earn lasting trust tend to approach the client experience differently To learn more about Megan, visit her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-turner-cm

September 21, 20261 hr 8 min

The Exhausted Architect: Moving from Overwork to Freedom and Flow | 705

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework Many architects are taught to believe that more hours, more effort, and more sacrifice will lead to a better firm. But what if that belief is quietly creating the very pressure they are trying to escape? In this episode, Enoch Sears and Rion Willard unpack the hidden patterns behind exhaustion in architecture practice. They explore why hard work can become a trap, how busyness can feel like progress, and why rest may play a much bigger role in great leadership than most firm owners think. This conversation is not about lowering standards or caring less. It is about learning how to lead with more clarity, energy, and freedom. The silent habit that can make even smart architects feel stuck in endless work Why "just pushing harder" may not be the path to better results A surprising shift that can help firm owners protect both their work and their life

September 14, 202652 min

How High-Performing Architecture Firms Improve Profitability and Cash Flow | 704

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 Ashish Desai, CEO of Monograph, to talk about what the numbers are really showing inside architecture firms. Ashish shares a grounded look at how some firms are building stronger businesses without losing sight of the work they love. The conversation touches on profit, cash flow, AI, team habits, and the quiet business patterns that often decide whether a firm feels steady or strained. This is not a theory-heavy episode. It is a clear look at what is changing in architectural practice now, and what firm owners may need to rethink next. The simple metric that can reveal more than most firm owners expect Why "busy" firms can still feel financially tight The hidden shift that may change how architects use technology To learn more about Ashish, visit the website: https://monograph.com/

September 7, 202656 min

How an Architecture Firm Evolves: Pricing, Confidence, and Leadership | 703

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework Alex Gore joins Enoch Sears for a clear, honest talk about how a firm changes as it grows. This is not a theory-heavy chat. It is a real look at what shifts when you move from trying to survive to trying to lead with more skill, more care, and more control. They talk about the kinds of choices that seem small in the moment but can shape the future of a practice. Alex shares how his thinking has changed over time, where he now draws the line, and why some old advice no longer fits the season he is in. He also opens up about confidence, pressure, and what it really takes to earn trust in business and in design. The episode also explores a few unexpected ideas about team structure, client work, and where real value gets lost. If you run a small firm, this conversation may challenge a few habits you have stopped noticing. The quiet decision that can drain profit long before most firm owners see it Why one common "good habit" may backfire in the wrong season The surprising kind of support that can make projects stronger from start to finish To learn more about Alex, visit his: Website: http://f9productions.com/ Podcast: https://www.insidethefirmpodcast.com/

August 31, 202631 min

Turning Construction Administration Into Firm Intelligence with Tim Douglas | 702

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework For many architecture firms, construction administration can feel like a constant game of chase. RFIs, submittals, emails, spreadsheets, and contractor platforms pile up fast, and important details can get buried before anyone sees the pattern. In this episode of the Business of Architecture podcast, Enoch Sears talks with Tim Douglas, CEO of Roundhouse Labs, about why this overlooked part of practice may hold more value than most firm owners realize. Tim shares how his journey from architecture into construction technology led him to a problem hiding in plain sight. The conversation explores how firms may be sitting on clues that could change the way they manage projects, support teams, price work, and make better decisions. In this episode, you'll discover: The hidden "signal" inside CA that most firms never see. Why old project data may become a firm owner's secret advantage. The overlooked workflow that could quietly shape profit, staffing, and control. To learn more about Tim Douglas, visit his website: https://www.roundhouselabs.com/

August 24, 20261 hr 30 min

Rethinking Fees, Mindset, and Financial Agency in Architecture | 701

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework In this live talk at Westminster University, Rion Willard shares a sharp, practical look at one issue many architects feel but rarely name: why good work does not always lead to a healthy business. He speaks from direct experience, moving from practice into advising firms, and he challenges some deeply held beliefs about fees, value, and the role of money in architecture. But this episode is not just about charging more. It is about a bigger shift in how architects think, speak, and act when business decisions carry real weight. Rion points to a few hidden patterns that quietly shape results, and he shows why some common habits may be costing firms far more than they realize. If you have ever felt tension around pricing, growth, or client expectations, this conversation will give you plenty to think about—and a new lens for what may be possible. The quiet belief that may be hurting your fees more than the market Why one common way of billing can create far more stress than most architects realize The subtle shift that can change how clients see your value before numbers even come up Resource: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/smart-practice-project-fee-budget-calculator

August 17, 202653 min

Eric Lam on Feng Shui, Environmental Psychology, and Designing for Human Energy | 700

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework In this episode, architect Eric Lam joins Business of Architecture to explore a design tradition many architects have heard of, but few understand in depth: Feng Shui. Eric shares how his early life in Hong Kong, his work as an architect, and his interest in biophilic design led him back to ideas he first heard from his grandmother. The conversation opens a thoughtful look at how space, energy, psychology, and business all connect. You'll hear how ancient principles still shape major cities, why small shifts in a room can change how people feel, and how architects might use deeper awareness of space to serve clients in a more human way. The overlooked design idea hiding in plain sight inside some of the world's most powerful cities Why "good energy" may be less mystical—and more practical—than many architects think The simple spatial shift that can change how a business owner feels at work To learn more about Eric, visit his website: https://www.redwoodsdsa.com/

August 10, 20261 hr 13 min

Building a Purpose-Driven Architecture Practice Through Business Clarity and Community Impact | 699

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework In this episode, Erick Darbo Diaz and Carolina Civarolo share how they built ORANGE MADE in the Rio Grande Valley with a strong sense of place, purpose, and partnership. They talk about choosing to stay rooted in their community and why that choice shaped both their work and their vision. You will also hear how they work together as husband and wife while leading the firm side by side. They reflect on how their roles grew over time, what helped them stay aligned, and why building the business became just as important as designing the work itself. The conversation also explores a quiet shift that changed the path of the practice. Without giving too much away, it reveals how better thinking around the business opened new possibilities for the team, the work, and the future they want to build. Why staying in a "smaller" market gave them an edge they did not see at first The subtle change that made the firm feel very different almost overnight What they now believe matters just as much as great design To learn more about Erick & Carolina, visit their: https://orange-made.com/