This Is DesignIntelligence

Thankfulness and gratitude is not natural to most.  Seems we're inclined towards complaint and remorse before being thankful and grateful. 

Planning and implementing resilience strategies in parallel with one's annual business strategy is a best practice of leadership that takes their role of stewardship seriously.

The future of the design profession will be determined by value . . . both perceived and objectively measured.  The traditional built environment disciplines of design are all at the crossroads of relevance.

At DesignIntelligence, we contemplate leadership in this rapidly altering reality.  We wonder what the leader of the near future will have to be like. 

The pursuit of understanding is somewhat of a mystery - it occurs through different pathways, known and unknown.

We assign the idea of currency to time, which we spend. The only difference is that we don't get to earn more time as we might earn more currency. What is equally a mystery is not knowing how much time any individual actually has left...

Every effective plan requires accountable assignments tied to time-based deliverables that individually and collectively advance the business impact and influence of the firm.

Then dynamics of the last several months are not in the normal course of ups and downs, nor the usual patterns of cyclical change.  We are in a different and unusual place...

Adopting a victim mindset is a losing proposition and frankly is not a leadership characteristic any of us should aspire to. 

As leaders, how do you effectively and successfully lead in this never-ending context of change? It begins with daily reaffirming the unchanging nature your leadership values. Leadership values are relevant and applicable regardless of what else is changing.

Resilient businesses are marked by certain attributes that operate in an intertwined way to yield the intended results.  Like strands woven together, these attributes have a direct and indirect reliance on one another. 

Upon returning he leaned over and in a low tone said, “I appreciate your speaking with me earlier.  I've lost my joy in the job and seem to be carrying negative around everywhere I go.  Your manner and positive way was a good poke in the eye.  Thanks!”

Chris Allen is Global Principal at Jacobs, a purpose-led, technical professional services firm with approximately $16 billion in annual revenue and a talent force of more than 60,000.  He works collaboratively with partners and clients to co-create and align innovative technologies, practices, and business models to deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits through high-performance sustainable/regenerative solutions. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about balancing optimism with the reality of the complex environmental challenges, why the SDG framework doesn't have to be specific to be effective, and how Jacobs continues to adapt and evolve by adding diversity in collaborators and points of view.

As a leader, I only got to where I am because others took the time, cared enough, and were patient with my misunderstandings and questions.  They saw the potential best in me and invested the time and effort to seed my fertile soil with what would later become fruit others would benefit from. 

Far too many leaders are running on fumes simply because they neglect to step back and refresh their perspective, awareness, and purpose. Contemplation is the way to this refreshment.

Humans are inclined to judge others' failures harshly. But it's awfully lonely living in judgment and beware, because as you so harshly judge others, you'll get the same back multi-fold.

Dr. Jesse Keenan has advised on matters concerning the built environment for agencies of the U.S. government, governors, mayors, Fortune 500 companies, technology ventures, community enterprises and international NGOs and is currently an Associate Professor of Sustainable Real Estate and Urban Planning within the faculty of the School of Architecture at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a globally recognized thought leader and his teaching and research advances the interdisciplinary fields of sustainable real estate and infrastructure finance and development. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he shares what drives his passion, examples of projects and geographies that reinforce environmental responsibility, and why climate change is a serious threat to U.S.national security.

As a leader, you're constantly aware of the possible “next shoe to drop”.  But what you do with this awareness marks the difference between a sustainably effective leader and one who consistently diminishes in effectiveness and value impact.

Don Harrier has over 4 decades of industry experience in architecture, with an emphasis on studio management, creating cohesive team dynamics, and promoting individuals' professional growth. With a lifetime affinity for rowing and water, he shares the parallels between rowing and leadership dynamics, and the idea that no matter how hard you row, if you don't harmonize with your “crew”, you will never achieve a true winning edge.

There is a clear delineation between the work of an advisor from that of a consultant...

Dave Gilmore and Hael Kobayashi talk about a variety of topics, including Artificial Intelligence and the United Nations SDGs...

Preparing for transition is a multi-year, formally executed strategy.  It requires patience, steadiness of vision, adaptability to altering realities, contingency plans and actions for “just in case” occurrences, and more. 

What leaders ought to possess is the discipline to capture the wonder of brilliance when it comes, recording the insights therefrom, and intentionally searching for best ways and means to apply it for the betterment of the organizations they lead.

Carol Ann Colbert has had a career dedicated to creating effective and rewarding workspaces. Beginning her career as an interior designer, she eventually moved to the client side. Most recently the Global Director for Workplace Strategy and Innovation for the Coca Cola Company, she also served as Senior Real Estate Advisor for Chevron and Managing Director at JLL. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, she talks about how ideas have changed around what makes an effective workplace, how the design community can create optimal experiences for workers, and the question that begins any successful workplace design.

The primary maker of successful negotiation rests in the themes of relational diplomacy...

David Lau is an accomplished leader and serves as a Senior Instructor with the FLETC Leadership Institute. He is a combat veteran and regularly speaks on resilience, wellness, anti-fragility, and post traumatic growth. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about his life changing deployment to Afghanistan, the examples of leadership that continue to influence him, and how a traumatic event can actually be a springboard to a deeper, richer, more fulfilling life.

Like a bullet from a gun, the speed and focus of business at the start of the year gauges the velocity of the overall business for the overall year.  Are you following the plan you set in place before the starting gun of the new year began? 

Eric Cesal is a designer, educator, writer and noted post-disaster expert.  He has been called “Architecture's First Responder” by The Daily Beast for his work leading Architecture for Humanity's post-disaster programs from 2010 to 2014. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about the red thread running through his multi-faceted career, the event that caused him to realize the true power of design, and how, with good design strategies, architects can design the disaster out of extreme natural phenomena.

As a leader you have to give those following you the benefit of the doubt and press in to get to the truth rather than respond from your own fear of rejection.  After all, rejection is perhaps the most difficult dynamic between humans, and leaders face it every day.

Known for seamlessly interweaving sustainable landscapes, art, and architecture, Andrea Cochran is the founding partner of Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture and a recipient of numerous awards, including the 2023 Design Futures Council Lifetime Achievement Award. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, she talks about the path that led her to the profession, the relationship between art and design, and why she thinks landscape architects are uniquely situated to help solve some of our most complex environmental problems.

As a leader, it's important to be aware that others depend on you for direction, confidence, self-discipline, and genuine care.  When your demeanor communicates these things, people are more apt to embrace your authenticity.

Ella Hazard is the Managing Director of Arktura Ventures, a venture studio wholly backed by Armstrong World Industries that focuses on accelerating and incubating advancements in architecture, engineering and materials science in building and construction. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, she talks about the trial and error of her nonlinear career path, how the stumbles she's made along the way have perfectly positioned for her current job, and why applying the practices of venture design to the delivery of architecture might be key in changing its value proposition.

How much time, effort, and money are you investing in your growth? The people that follow you as their leader depend on you bettering yourself on a regular basis.

Make no mistake about it, 2024 will be replete with challenges. DesignIntelligence is committed to staying focused on our community of built environment professionals and firms to support you with insight empowered foresight, pragmatic and strategic advice to weather whatever comes, and provisioning the perspectives you need for the decisions that matter.

How are you spending or investing the precious asset of time you have? 

Rick Archer is a founding partner at Overland Partners Architecture + Urban Design and served as Overland's CEO from 2016 to 2023. He is an active leader in community initiatives around the globe, with a focus on education, sustainability, social equity and design that inspires human flourishing. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about what he learned from his time at the American Academy in Rome, what he learned about leadership from his time as CEO of Overland, and what he believes is the bedrock of any organization.

You might recall the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald who said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

Randy Deutsch is an educator, author, international keynote speaker, AI researcher, and licensed architect. He is a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council and currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about the benefits and opportunities of AI, the risks inherent in AI, and the skills that will continue to be important even as AI changes the way students prepare for a career in architecture.

Transformation is no longer an option, but rather, a mandate for resilience. Few will count the costs or pay the price to authentically transform, but they will be the vanguard of the new built environment over the next few years.

Evelyn Lee is head of workplace strategy and innovation at Slack Technologies. With a background in both architecture and business, she is a widely published columnist and featured speaker at national design and architecture conferences. She served as the first-ever female Treasurer to the AIA National Board in 2020-2021 and will serve as the AIA National President in 2025. On this edition of this is DesignIntelligence, she talks about her role at Slack, how we should rethink the business model of architecture and design, and why architects should not be afraid to step out of their lane and talk about more than just buildings

Time and resolve are two essential factors for transformation. Leadership who determines to transform themselves as well as the organizations they lead will give it the time to form coupled with unwavering resolve to see it through.

Dr. Vini Nathan currently serves as Auburn University's Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 2011, she joined Auburn University as Dean and McWhorter Chair in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC), and prior to that she held teaching positions at Virginia Tech, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, New York Institute of Technology, and Philadelphia University. On this edition of this is DesignIntelligence, she talks about her unique professional experience, how her design training helped equip her for academic leadership, and how building trust and goodwill early on kept her from losing the confidence of her faculty after one of the biggest mistakes of her career.

A board is a fiduciary responsibility. A board is placed by shareholders who are placing confidence and trust in the board to best represent their interests for sustainable, long term results. 

Mancini Duffy is a national design firm with a 100+ year old history and a tech forward approach. William Mandara Jr is the firm's CEO & Co-owner, and Bolanle Williams Olley is the CFO & Co-owner. On this edition of This is DesignIntelligence, they talk about the history of the firm, the transition to the current generation of leadership and diversified work typologies, and why creating a culture of trust within the firm has been key in building the kind of place where people want to come to work.

When one ascends to leadership, the natural centricity of self will be challenged as responsible leadership decision-making replaces self as the center with the organization being led. Said another way, Me becomes We in responsible leadership decision-making.

Veronica Schreibeis Smith is the Founding Principal of Vera Iconica Architecture as well as the CEO of Vera Iconica Wellness Kitchen & B-Corp Vera Iconica Developments. She is a global pioneer in Wellness Architecture and has been featured world wide in  distinguished publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Forbes. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, she talks about what drew her to architecture, how her love of travel and immersion in different cultures has shaped her design philosophy, and why she believes good building performance can nourish the soul of its occupants.

Trustworthiness is assembled and maintained through the consistency of what a leader “does next” after they fail or disappoint or disillusion those they're leading.

Rico Quirindongo has been working for over 25 years to revitalize and reimagine some of Seattle's most historic landmarks and neighborhoods and currently serves as Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development for the City of Seattle. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about what led him to become an architect, why it's important for architects to be involved in their community, and how design education can help focus on using design skill sets to pursue alternative career paths beyond traditional architecture.

The heart of effective leadership is a commitment to the others one is leading. It's this "others" mindset that sets the effective leader apart from the pack...

Andrew Kitchner is the Founder and CEO of New Wave Solutions, an extraordinary firm with an extraordinary leader, specializing in helping organizations retain top-tier talent. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he shares the workplace habits and expectations that have changed as a result of the pandemic, the three different types of employee commitment, and what firms should be focusing on to make sure they retain talent and foster a culture of commitment.

The effective leader, the one who positively impacts other's lives, will usually articulate their core beliefs through a positive lens rather than a negative one.  It's an insight about what the leader is for rather than what they're against.