Episode 150: Women Defining AI for Architects How can we bridge the gender technology gap and ensure ethical development of AI while empowering women and non-binary individuals in STEAM fields? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn welcomes Helen Lee Kupp and Nichole Sterling, the co-founders of the Women Defining AI community, to the show. Helen and Nichole are dedicated to bridging the gender technology gap and advocating for ethical AI development by merging their tech expertise. They...
Apr 18, 2024•49 min•Season 8Ep. 150
Episode 149: Using Data to Create a Better Employee Experience How can organizations use data to enhance the employee experience and drive positive cultural change within their workplace? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, Dr. Serena Huang, a data analytics executive in Fintech, joins us to discuss how organizations can optimize the employee experience by leveraging data and communication strategies in the workplace. As a data analytics executive, Dr. Huang is passionate about leading change...
Apr 11, 2024•42 min•Season 8Ep. 149
Episode 148: The Future of Tech within AEC How can technology, innovation, and sustainable practices transform the architecture, engineering, and construction industry? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, I chat with Dave Lemont, the past CEO of Revit and the Executive Chairman of Acelab with over 30 years of experience in high-tech startup companies. In our conversation, Dave shares his invaluable insights on scaling software companies, revolutionizing the architecture industry, and the mass...
Apr 04, 2024•42 min•Season 8Ep. 148
Episode 147: The Power of Copywriting for Architects How can architects use copywriting techniques to communicate their value, connect with their ideal clients, and improve their marketing? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, I'm excited to share my very special conversation with Nikita Morell, an expert copywriter who specializes in working with architects. She is also the founder of Architects WordShop: an online shop dedicated to helping architects with their words. In this episode, Nikita...
Mar 28, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 147
Episode 146: Architecture, And: Design Crises, Past and Future As architects, how can we adapt to technological advancements like AI and be proactive in the face of disasters and climate change? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, renowned designer, educator, writer, and post-disaster expert Eric J. Cesal discusses being an architecture optimist within the current landscape, how technology is evolving, where the opportunities lie, and what architects need to focus on going forward. Eric is re...
Mar 21, 2024•44 min•Season 8Ep. 146
Episode 145: The Psychology of Architecture How can we use architecture and design to address loneliness, promote well-being, and foster inclusive and supportive work environments in the field? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, I am joined by Erin Peavey, an architect with a background in psychology, to explore the importance of connection, the power of healing, and the role of mental health in the culture of architecture workspaces. Erin is the Health & Well-being Design Leader at HKS ...
Mar 14, 2024•44 min•Season 8Ep. 145
Episode 144: Power of Podcasting in Architecture How can architects effectively leverage podcasting as a platform for storytelling, personal branding, and connecting with their clients? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, I am excited to share my conversation with Lauren Popish, founder of The Wave Podcasting, Project Manager at Google, and former Design Strategist at Gensler. Today, Lauren shares her valuable insights into the intersection of storytelling, podcasting, and architecture, offer...
Mar 07, 2024•53 min•Season 8Ep. 144
Episode 143: Architecture And AI & Head of Digital Marketing How can architecture and design professionals embrace technological advancements such as AI, bridge the gap between physical and digital, and stay relevant in a rapidly changing field? On this Practice Disrupted episode, I talked with Ricardo J Rodriguez, the chief marketing officer for Master Builder Solutions, to discuss his career journey from traditional architecture practice to embracing AI and education in the industry. His p...
Feb 29, 2024•49 min•Season 8Ep. 143
Episode 142: Digital Transformation in Practice How can we change the way we use data and digital tools to help improve our clients' business, internal collaboration, and design development? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, I sit down with Tim Dufault, Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of ConcertVDC, and Stefnee Trzpuc, the Director of Operations for BWBR to discuss the opportunities of digital transformation in practice, which refers to integrating digital tools and processes for design d...
Feb 22, 2024•42 min•Season 8Ep. 142
Episode 141: Season 8, Coffee Sketch Podcast How will the architectural profession adapt and evolve to meet the ever-changing demands of the field? Host Evelyn Lee is back for Season 8 of Practice Disrupted! In this episode, fellow podcasters of the Coffee Sketch Podcast, Kurt Neiswender and Jamie Crawley, join her for a conversation on the current state of architectural practice and their vision for its future. Jamie currently serves as the Design Lead for the Texas Historical Commission, while...
Feb 15, 2024•52 min•Season 8Ep. 141
Episode 108: Attracting and Retaining Midcareer Women Why are leadership-track women in architecture leaving their firms? Throughout 100+ episodes of Practice Disrupted, we’ve touched on the missing middle, burnt-out architects, and the challenges in navigating career growth in practice. We wanted to dedicate an entire episode to exploring and understanding why midcareer and even senior-level women are considering leaving their firms. We'll look also discuss the core issues driving retention in ...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Episode 080: Season 4 Finale with Madame Architect Why is visibility of female leadership important in the profession of architecture? While the seeming lack of women in architecture has been well-documented, women are, and have been, making waves in all levels of the field. Madame Architect is an online magazine celebrating the extraordinary women that shape our world, a magazine designed to break the architect’s mold and show young women entering the industry the myriad choices they have in cr...
Feb 01, 2024•56 min
Episode 010: Organizational Design, Process, and Innovation How does organizational design support an innovative firm culture? Guest: Andrew Cronin, Principal at KieranTimberlake In over 15 years as an architect, Andrew has focused on a variety of project types including award winning renovations for university clients, an addition and renovation at a local religious institution, a private home in rural Northern California, and an innovative new education center at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. An...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Episode 086: A Large Firm Perspective on Innovation & Transformation: CannonDesign How do large firms think about innovation and transformation within the industry, and where are they investing next? Within the last four years, CannonDesign: grew their consulting practice through the strategic acquisition of Blue Cottage Consulting brought new software tools to market, and launched a pre-fab design and fabrication facility in the middle of a pandemic In turn, growing their market share and t...
Jan 18, 2024•46 min
Episode 067: Architecture And: The Future of Workplace How can technology simplify workflows for both clients and designers? As CEO of CANOA, Federico Negro is building the first end-to-end platform for designing, procuring, and managing low-carbon, reconfigurable interiors in the workplace. What does that mean in simple terms? Clients and designers can design, purchase, and completely furnish the office space without touching CAD or going through a dealer. Even though CANOA is a technology plat...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Welcome to the launch of Practice Disrupted! Meet hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain who will begin to discuss the changing nature of architectural practice. Hosts: Evelyn Lee, Founder of Practice of Architecture & Senior Experience Designer for Slack Technologies Je’Nen Chastain, Founder of Apostrophe Consulting Evelyn M. Lee, AIA, MBA, MPA is a licensed architect in the state of California, with over 15 years of experience working with individuals and companies that are looking to reshap...
Jan 04, 2024•49 min
Episode 140: Season 7 Finale, Behind the Scenes of Practice Disrupted How has Practice Disrupted grown and evolved since launching in 2020? On the Season 7 Finale of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn and Je’Nen reflect on the podcast’s evolution over the last four years, and share a behind the scenes conversation on the creation of the show. They discuss lessons about the complexities of change within the industry, and some of their favorite conversations along the way. Stay until the end of the episod...
Dec 28, 2023•51 min•Season 7Ep. 140
Episode 139: Bridging the Gap to Diversify Leadership in the AEC Industry How do you bring accomplished leaders and diverse AEC professionals together to increase the diversity of leadership in the AEC industry? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with the team at LeaderFlow: Executive Director Janiece Williams, and John Gavan, CEO of KPFF Consulting Engineers, to discuss their leadership development program and the vision they have to bridge the gap between leadership and profess...
Dec 21, 2023•46 min•Season 7Ep. 139
Episode 138: New Realities: Employee Wellness and Organizational Culture in Design Firms How do organizational dynamics tie to social and emotional well-being at work? We sit down with Cameron MacAllister Group thought leaders, Saskia Dennis-van Dijl and Annelise Pitts, who are actively advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) inside of AEC firms and across the industry at large. On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we dive into the results and observations from their co-publi...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 138
Bonus Episode: Autodesk AI How is AI reshaping the way architects design, collaborate, and innovate? On this bonus episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Amy Bunszel, the Executive Vice President of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Design Solutions at Autodesk, and Ryan McNulty, Principal of MBH Architects, to dive into the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it relates to architectural practice — including The Phoenix, one of Ryan’s recent projects recently showcased at...
Dec 07, 2023•53 min
Episode 137: MASS Design Group Business Evolution Why do we need a non-profit architecture business model? A Model of Architecture for Society (MASS) Design Group was founded in 2008 as a non-profit organization with the mission to research, design, build, and advocate for architecture that promotes justice and human dignity. On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Patricia Gruits, AIA, Co-Executive Director and Ashley Marsh, Senior Director to learn about how MASS has experience...
Nov 30, 2023•50 min•Season 7Ep. 137
Episode 136: Redesigning the Future of Work How do you build a people-first workplace environment that is both innovative and supportive? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Brian Elliott, a leading expert on workplace flexibility and co-author of How the Future Works: Leading Flexible Teams to Do the Best Work of Their Lives who spent two decades building companies and leading teams as a startup CEO and leader at Google and Slack. Brian co-founded Future Forum to help decisi...
Nov 16, 2023•50 min•Season 7Ep. 136
Episode 135: Architecture, And: Melodie Yashar, Space Architect How can you merge architecture with space robotics to create a new design language? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Melodie Yashar, a space architect, technologist, researcher, and Vice President of Building Design and Performance at ICON, a construction technologies company focused on large-scale additive manufacturing. First, Melodie illustrates the niche discipline of space architecture and the types of ba...
Nov 09, 2023•51 min•Season 7Ep. 135
Episode 134: Architecture, And: Growing a Tech Start-up out of an Architecture Firm How does architecture support a CEO stepping out and into a specialized tech start-up space? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Zach Soflin, AIA, the Founder and CEO of Layer , the first and only flexible and mobile-friendly building management software. First, we learn how the company was created in response to the Nebraska State Capitol Building where Zach and his previous firm, BVH, were l...
Nov 02, 2023•42 min•Season 7Ep. 134
Episode 133: 2023 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award Honoree Robert L. Easter, FAIA, NOMAC How does a desire to make a difference bring visibility to underserved and marginalized students, and future practitioners? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we’re incredibly honored to be in conversation with Robert L. Easter, FAIA NOMAC, an AIA National Award winner, recipient of the 2023 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, whose work broadens diversity, equity, and inclusion within the profession. Robert is the f...
Oct 26, 2023•48 min•Season 7Ep. 133
Episode 132: Architecture, And: Ownership, Mergers, and Tech Startups How do you utilize technology to make good design efficient and accessible for everyone? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Alma Lopez, Head of Creative at CANOA, and Elizabeth (Liz) Wert, Head of Brand at CANOA, an AI-assisted collaborative online tool for designers, to learn about their journey from business owners to company mergers, how a tech startup forces efficiency, and the ways CANOA serves as an ...
Oct 19, 2023•51 min•Season 7Ep. 132
Episode 131: Five Topics on Mental Health for Architects & Designers What are specific strategies architects and designers can implement to support their mental health? For this week’s episode, we’ve selected five mental health topics that commonly relate to the practice of architecture: identity, perfectionism, stress + anxiety, burnout, and coping strategies. Allison Grubbs, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and Certified Clinical Supervisor, joins...
Oct 12, 2023•59 min•Season 7Ep. 131
Episode 130: Designing for Inclusion with Olivia Asuncion How do architectural design decisions create physical symbols that tear down social barriers and inequities? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Olivia Asuncion, AIA, a Project Architect at Quattrocchi Kwok Architects and advocate for individuals with disabilities. Even further, as a Fulbright Scholar, Olivia was recently appointed by President Biden to the U.S. architectural and transportation barriers compliance Acce...
Oct 05, 2023•44 min•Season 7Ep. 130
Episode 129: Architecture, And: Waterfront Design How do you transform interests into a specialized niche and trailblaze a non-linear path? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Dena Prastos AIA, a waterfront architect with a background in civil engineering and Founder and CEO of Indigo River , a women-owned transdisciplinary design firm focused on progressive waterfront architecture, resiliency, and climate adaptation. We learn about Dena’s upbringing in Alaska and how access ...
Sep 28, 2023•52 min•Season 7Ep. 129
Episode 128: CO Architects, Leading the Way Through Change How do you shape the next chapter of an established firm, while leading a “practice into perpetuity”? Tune in for a conversation with Jenna Knudsen, Managing Principal at CO Architects , who we had the pleasure of connecting with at this year’s American Institute of Architects Conference on Architecture (A’23). In this episode, we learn about Jenna’s transition into the role of Managing Principal, the challenge of stepping into a new rol...
Sep 21, 2023•46 min•Season 7Ep. 128
