Architecture & Engineering Business Strategies

Latest Episodes:

Slack & Practice of Architecture: How To Empower Your Team Beyond Projects (w/ Evelyn Lee, FAIA of AIA) Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

Evelyn Lee is a pillar of the architecture industry. Currently a senior internal experience designer for Slack, over the last two decades she has also played a role in AIA National and founded a podcast called Practice of Architecture. Evelyn’s eyes are set on the future of architecture: how both individual practitioners and leadership need to approach work in a way that is more innovative and inclusive than in years past.

Interview Takeaways

Growing your career as an individual contributor or manager
Exploring better & faster task management
Promoting transparent communication at every level
Approaching work with an entrepreneurial mindset
Taking the architecture role beyond building
Fostering fledgling ideas
Fighting back to regain lost work
Navigating implementation risk
Capturing data for business development
Pushing the boundaries of the architecture business model
Rethinking the time-based service model
Cultivating a great customer experience

Show Links

Connect with Evelyn Lee on LinkedIn or Twitter
Check out Practice of Architecture
Connect with George Valdes on LinkedIn or Twitter
Check out Monograph
Follow Monograph on LinkedIn or Instagram
Listen and read more about Monograph

Archmark: How To Find Clients By Building A Brand (w/ Bryon McCartney) Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

Architects don’t learn about marketing in design school - and few learn about it after. When Bryon McCartney and his wife discovered just how many architects were missing out on opportunities by avoiding digital marketing, they founded Archmark, a marketing agency focused on architectural firms and their success. Bryon joined host George Valdes on a Monograph webinar to talk about how architects should start building their brand, the best social media platforms for firms looking to connect with new clients, and how developing a career and marketing niche is the best way to find your ideal clients.

Interview Takeaways

Many firms are not taking advantage of digital marketing
Advertising, marketing, and public relations all play a unique role in branding
Branding stems from an alignment of messaging
There are three principles that should guide your branding
To find clients, map out a client journey and identify pain points
Stick to your purpose and keep your expertise focused
Use your story to guide the content on your website & client outreach
Communicate targeted messages on the right channels
Create a specific ideal client and niche so you can target messages appropriately
Use LinkedIn for client outreach
Use Instagram for building brand awareness
A good reputation will open many doors - even when you pick a niche

Show Links

Check out Archmark
Follow Archmark on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Bryon McCartney on LinkedIn or Twitter
Connect with George Valdes on LinkedIn or Twitter
Check out Monograph
Follow Monograph on LinkedIn or Instagram
Listen and read more about Monograph

EntreArchitect: How To Build A Successful Architecture Firm (w/ Mark LePage) May 27, 2021

Show notes

Are you a small firm architect? Then you’re also a businessperson. The problem is that architecture school is all about design, with very little training on the day-to-day practicalities of running a company. When Mark LePage and his wife started their architecture firm in 1999, they succeeded by dividing and conquering. Mark headed up the business side, while his wife focused on design. In a quest to create a community to help other small firms, they started EntreArchitect: a thriving online platform to help architects build better businesses. In an interview with Monograph’s Best Practice host George Valdes, LePage shared the importance of honing basic business skills, weeding out bad clients, and valuing a culture of transparency over secrecy.

Interview Takeaways