Why ESOPs Matter for Architects When small firm architects talk about succession, legacy, and culture, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) often come up. They promise a way to reward the people who built the firm, provide liquidity for the owner, and preserve the practice for the future. But what exactly is an ESOP, and how […]
From Fired Architect to $40 Million Startup: 5 Lessons Every Firm Owner Must Learn
What Robert Yuen’s journey from unemployed designer to venture-backed CEO teaches us about building stronger, more innovative architecture firms. On this week’s episode of the EntreArchitect Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down once again with my good friend Robert Yuen, CEO and co-founder of Monograph. Robert’s story is not one of smooth, linear […]
SEO for Architects 2025: A Guide to Building a Website That Works
When Bryon McCartney of Archmark joined me on the podcast this week, we dug into a subject that impacts every small firm: your website. If you think of your website as an online brochure or a digital portfolio, you’re already behind. In 2025, your site is your single most important business development tool. And if […]
Becoming Irreplaceable as an Architect in the Age of AI
Five commitments to help small firm architects thrive in a world of automation If you caught last week’s Solo Session, we talked about the shift from trust over task and how the real value of small firm architects lies in human connection, not technical execution. But that left me with a bigger question for this […]
Will AI Replace Architects? Why Human Connection is Our Competitive Edge
As automation takes over tasks, the architects who thrive will be those who build trust. There’s a question simmering under the surface of our profession: Will AI replace architects? If you’ve seen the latest AI-powered renderings, zoning analyses, or drafting tools, you know the question is not unreasonable. Machines can already complete in minutes what […]
Architect Firm Growth Strategies: Sell Then Hire and Other Lessons from Mark Orttung
Starting With Clarity: Why Your Firm Exists I love conversations that reveal a single idea you can take back to your firm and use immediately. My interview with Mark Orttung, CEO of Projectworks and chair of Provoke, delivered several. The biggest one is this: every strong firm begins with a crisp answer to why it […]