Features Overview
Skin in the Game. Paths to Ownership.
As the architecture practice continues to evolve, so does the business of architecture, and more than ever, equity plays an important role, from the standpoints of social justice and business.
Hear from the panelists on why they joined forces with founders of established, boutique A+D firms, rather than start their own A+D firm. How did they arrive at their decisions, and what has that professional journey been like for each of them?
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Profit Motive & The Business of Design – The A+D Leader’s 101 of Firm Financial Management
Who deals with the money, and how? This session focuses on how finance, metrics and performance influence an A+D practice’s wellbeing and its success moving forward, as well as an A+D firm culture and its bottom line. Staying fit is an ongoing goal, and a long-haul effort that focuses on all aspects—physical, mental, emotional, and even, creative – to the extent that mental fitness is integrated in my work with clients particularly around the area of financial fitness which is critical to their success.
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Case Studies at the Intersection of Purpose, Profit & Portfolio
What are the “profiles of success” for A+D business? How are purpose, profit and portfolio interconnected? Why is a good business strategy dependent on financial health?
Watch an AIAU presentation [recorded at AIASF] rooted in case studies, best practices grounded in financial health and the lessons of entrepreneurship. Drawing from my extensive experience helping A+D clients successfully navigate the various phases of their business’s life cycles - from growth and expansion to restructuring, succession planning and ownership transition
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Metamorphosis: Legacy, Transformation & The Business of Design
SO|arch presents Ownership Transition Event on AIA SF platform
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What is the life cycle of an architecture and design practice? Why, and how do architecture and design firms evolve? How do firm leaders and owners navigate transformation, and keep the firm spirit alive during periods of transition?
We discuss ownership structures, and strategies around succession planning and leadership transitions.
Principals’ MasterClass
SO|arch presents Pathway to A+D Firm Leadership Event on AIA SF platform
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What does it mean to lead an A+D practice today? And what does it take to be a firm leader? Who is part of the team leading the firm? What are the leadership team roles? What processes and tools do we need? Get into the mindset of success with me.
In this informative presentation, I discuss the skills an A+D practice leader needs to master—from knowing who they are with its limits and opportunities; to building and leading BRAND / FINANCE / OPERATIONS / DESIGN teams; to stewarding firm culture; and to staying on top of best practices.
THINK-TIME TUESDAYS - Inside the A+D Studio
SO|arch presents BRAND / FINANCES / OPERATIONS / PRACTICE + DESIGN Events on AIA LA platform:
What makes a successful A+D practice?
Find out by taking a break from your daily grind and getting into active thinking mode with business strategy consultant, leadership coach, architect and SO|arch founder, Elisabeth Sporer, AIA, CIC.
SERIES DETAIL BELOW:
TTT1 BRAND
Story-selling & The Freestyle Practice
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Who gets the work, and how? The first session [of four] focuses under the umbrella term BRAND focuses on how brand is tied to BD (business development), marketing and PR (public relations).
TTT2 OPERATIONS
Leadership & Where the Buck Stops
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Who builds, manages, and supports the team and how? The second session under the umbrella term of OPERATIONS is centered on business strategy, culture and firm management - a presentation on the business of running an A+D firm.
TTT3 FINANCE
Profit Motive & The Business of Design
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Who deals with the money, and how? This session focuses on how finance, metrics and performance influence an A+D practice’s wellbeing and its success moving forward, as well as the firm culture and its bottom line.
TTT3+ FINANCE [The Project Manager Edition]
Profit Motive & The Business of Design — Unpacking KPIs
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Who manages the projects and how? This session focuses on how the approach to utilization, project metrics and team performance influence an A+D practice’s wellbeing and its success moving forward, as well as the firm culture and its bottom line.
TTT4 Design & Practice
The Art of Collaboration & Getting Things Done
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Who does the work and how? What does collaboration really mean? This session focuses on how A+D founders and leaders create their own culture with impactful design, and how this is nurtured by design teams, leadership styles, new ways of working, and even, ownership transitions.
TTT4+ DESIGN & PRACTICE [The Project Architect Edition]
The Art of Collaboration & Getting Things Done – Unpacking Culture
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Who oversees the teams and how? What does collaboration really mean? This session focuses on how topics like thoughtful work and task planning, accurate job descriptions, leadership styles and team building influence an A+D practice’s wellbeing and its success moving forward, as well as the firm culture and its bottom line.
Blueprint for Success -
Case Studies at the Intersection of Purpose, Profit & Portfolio
SO|arch presents A+D Business Strategy Event on AIA SF, AIA EB and AIA CV platforms
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What are the “profiles of success” for A+D business? How are purpose, profit and portfolio interconnected? Why is a good business strategy dependent on financial health?
Ownership Transition in the Entrepreneurial Era of Gen X
Panel Discussion about Ownership Transition at AIA EB
From going solo midcareer, to moving up the ranks to strategically merging with another firm - how are entrepreneurial firm owners leading their architecture practice? Are they delivering traditional design services, or are they exploring other venues in professional services to meet and exceed their client’s needs?
The Free Solo Practice
Entrepreneurship & Roadmaps to Future Practice
Panel Discussion about A+D Firm Entrepreneurship at AIA SF
Small businesses form the backbone of communities, an integral part of a vibrant business ecosystem. How do locally-based firms help shape the regional economy, culture and society? What does it take to be an entrepreneur? How do local entrepreneurs benefit their communities and activate the urban fabric?
Unlearning the Metric System:
International Perspectives on Re-thinking the Practice
Panel Discussion about International Practice at AIA SF
This candid, cross-generational conversation on shared experiences, challenges overcome and lessons learned appealed to anyone with an entrepreneurial approach, a success mindset and a pioneering spirit.
High Performing Mentorship Groups
AIASF Mentorship Committee Presents
One of the extracurricular activities I’m proud to be part of was the AIA SF’s mentorship program where I was the “senior level professional” of a group of 6 international professionals. My client work puts me in the thick of the business of design, so I saw my role for the yearlong program as helping designers, architects and leaders successfully bridge theory into practice. The profession has evolved – some might even say, stalled and stuck in the past – and I think “diversity” is no longer about a checklist on RFQ’s but a mandate for culture shift.