What Architects Can Learn from UX, Tech, and Real Estate | EP658
Business of Architecture Podcast
Release Date: 10/27/2025
Business of Architecture Podcast
Add the CTA before the copy: End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: What does it take to run multiple companies and build £30 million in property, without losing your mind? In this episode, architect and developer Ben Richards returns to share what’s really changed since his last viral interview. You’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and the hidden lessons most architects never get to learn. Ben lifts the hood on how he structured his practice to run without him, and the price he’s paid for that freedom. He also shares the real risk of juggling...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: TS3 Architects founder Thomas Smith joins Rion Willard to share how he moved from scraping by to leading with purpose. He reveals the turning point that made his firm’s numbers—and culture—finally click. Tom talks about the fee trap that many architects fall into and the surprising move that got his clients saying yes. He hints at a simple review that uncovered cash hiding in plain sight. You’ll also hear how opening the books shifted his team from employees to true partners. From vision days to a fresh org...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: Architects are trained to hustle, but what if the grind is actually holding you back? In this episode, coach Jenna Harrison joins Enoch Sears to explore a radical shift—one that swaps overwork for a schedule that fuels creativity, clarity, and growth. They dive into the unseen toll hustle culture takes on your body, mind, and most valuable relationships. You’ll hear how an unexpected turning point made Jenna rethink everything about success, and the surprising ripple effects that followed. This isn’t...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: Architects often feel torn between their creative calling and the pressure to “talk money,” leaving many unsure how to price their work, defend their value, or navigate client conversations without anxiety. Money is supposed to be boring, distant, and handled by someone else, especially in architecture. In this episode, Enoch and Rion pull back the veil on the quiet myths architects inherit about fees, value, and what their work is really worth. They show how those hidden stories shape firms, projects, and even your...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: In this episode of Business of Architecture, Rion Willard sits down with Camila Brugger, founder of WorldTeams—the company quietly transforming how architecture firms grow. Camila shares her personal journey from witnessing the chaos of her parents’ small practice to building a 650-person global team that serves over 200 firms. Her story is raw, energizing, and full of practical insight for any architect tired of doing it all alone. You’ll hear how remote talent can unlock growth, freedom, and surprising...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: Architects often find themselves juggling client demands, project deadlines, and team issues while feeling like they have no space left for themselves. This episode tackles that hidden pain—why architects run on panic even while designing calm, beautiful spaces for others. Many firm owners live in constant “firefighting” mode, but don’t see the cost on health, team, and profits. You’ll hear stories of monks, pilots, scuba divers, and tax bills that show the price of knee-jerk reactions. You’ll also see how...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: When Drew Pedrick started his architecture firm, he didn’t follow the usual rules. No office. A global team. A deep focus on meaning, not just design. In this episode, Drew shares the mindset shift that helped him build a profitable, values-driven practice from the ground up. Host Enoch Sears digs into how Drew balances creativity and business, and what most architects get very wrong about profit. They talk about staying aligned without an office, building strong partnerships, and what it really means to run a...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: Fees start everything in an architecture firm: the work you take, the team you pay, and the life you live. In this episode, Enoch Sears and Rion Willard cut through “competitive pricing” and show why fee stress is rarely about the number on your proposal. They point to what low-fee fear is really signaling—and why it’s hard to fix later. You’ll hear how sales and marketing shape fees more than most architects admit, and why confidence is built from real inputs, not hype. They also preview an updated industry...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: Architects often find themselves buried under deadlines, staff questions, and the pressure to deliver flawless work—leaving little room to breathe, lead, or think creatively. This episode explores why that overwhelm feels so persistent and why traditional fixes rarely move the needle. Drowning in projects, staff issues, and nonstop client demands? In this episode, Enoch and Rio dig into what really sits beneath overwhelm for architecture firm owners and new partners. You’ll hear how ego and pride in being “the busy...
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End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: What do two architects do after working at one of the most elite firms in the world? In this episode, Alex Yuen and Minkoo Kang share how their time at OMA shaped their view of architecture—and why they chose a very different path. They now work at the intersection of design, development, and teaching. But they didn’t just trade desks—they rewired the way they think about value, money, and impact. If you’ve ever felt stuck between being a visionary and being profitable, this episode speaks directly to you....
info_outlineEnd chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
Most architects feel like outsiders in the business conversations that shape their projects. They’re left out of key decisions, treated as a line item cost, and frustrated when their design expertise isn’t valued the way it should be.
What happens when an architect trades AutoCAD for agile sprints and business models?
In this episode, we sit down with Daplaah-Teng Aryene—an architectural designer turned UX strategist—whose career took a sharp turn during the pandemic. What started as a leap into startup life became a masterclass in value creation, entrepreneurship, and how architects can reclaim agency in a system that often undervalues their genius.
Daplaah unpacks how real estate, tech, and business strategy reshaped his understanding of architecture’s role—and where most firms leave opportunity on the table. From innovation frameworks to unexpected lessons in developer boardrooms, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about the “architect’s lane."
To learn more about Daplaah-Teng Aryene, visit his LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daplaah-teng-aryene