Business of Architecture Podcast

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this episode, Rion Willard talks with interior designer Sally O'Connor about how she grew Hesellic Design from a solo start into a small global studio. She shares how a TV job opened the door to luxury homes and how she moved forward without formal training. You'll hear hints of the quiet actions that drew in her first major clients.
Sally also talks about the moment her workload broke the old way of working. She describes learning to hand off control, building a tight-knit team, and stepping into the role of creative leader. She then touches on the studio's move into Dubai and Los Angeles, and how journaling and visualising guide her biggest moves.
The simple shift that helped her stop clinging to every task.
The "vision exercise" she used before her first Dubai project.
How one early hire quietly set the tone for her culture.
To learn more about Sally, visit her website: https://www.hesellicdesign.com

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
If you have ever felt uneasy talking about fees, you are not alone—and that silence may be costing you more than you think. In this episode, Rion Willard explores why pricing sits underneath many of the stress points in an architecture practice, from cash pressure to burnout and the wrong clients.
You will hear why "doing great work" is not a pricing strategy, and how a firm can drift into a cycle of undercharging, overdelivering, and thin margins without realizing it. Rion also reframes money as a form of agency and explains what changes when you treat fees as a business system, not a guess, and why small shifts can create outsized leverage.
He then lays out a practical framework for premium pricing and hints at the habits that make it work in real firms. If you want more breathing room, stronger teams, and better choices, start here right now.
The quiet reason clients "suddenly" fixate on price—and how to stop that game before it starts.
The one missing piece that makes fee confidence feel impossible, even when your work is strong.
A simple way to tell if your firm is financially healthy—without looking at profit alone.

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
What makes one architect memorable while another gets tuned out, even when the work is strong? In this episode, Enoch Sears talks with Lee Schneider about why storytelling is not just a nice skill, but a real business tool for architects.
Lee explains why people do not connect with facts alone, and why the most effective message often starts somewhere unexpected. He also shares how small shifts in the way you present ideas can change how clients hear you, trust you, and respond to you.
You will also hear why some presentations fall flat, what strong communicators do differently, and how story shape matters more than most people think. If you have ever wondered why some people win attention so naturally, this conversation gives you a fresh way to think about it.
Why the thing most architects lead with may be the very reason people stop listening
The overlooked shift that can make your message feel more human, clear, and persuasive
What great storytellers seem to do naturally that others miss completely
To learn more about Lee, visit his LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/docuguy/

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this episode, Enoch Sears sits down with Joost Bende, President of PACIFIC 33 Architects, to talk about what hits hardest once the drawings are done. Joost shares what it feels like when work is flowing, then suddenly isn't—and how small choices can create a dip months later. If you've ever felt "feast or famine," this will feel familiar.
You'll also hear how a healthcare-focused practice stays sharp, why relationships matter more than tactics, and what changes when you watch the business engine behind the design. Joost explains how stronger systems and clearer numbers can lower stress and create freedom away from the office—without losing traction.
The moment that reveals whether your pipeline is real… or just hope
Why "being busy" can still set you up for a surprise slump
The shift that makes clients treat you like a strategic partner
To learn more about Joost, visit his website: https://pacific33architects.com/

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this episode of Business of Architecture, Enoch Sears talks with John Arnold, partner at KFA. John shares how rising from junior staff to firm leader shaped his focus on people, culture, and stability. The stories show life inside a firm that works hard not to treat staff as disposable.
You'll hear how John and his partners think about staffing, money, and growth so they can protect their team when the market shifts. He also hints at a mindset that shapes how they choose clients, write proposals, and handle scope changes. And he explains why he sees his role as helping people leave the firm as "whole" humans.
The routine that helps KFA spot trouble months before others feel it.
The way they handle first client calls that often leads to more work.
One mindset shift that changes how you lead, mentor, and profit in your firm.
To learn more about John, visit his website: https://kfalosangeles.com/