Architectette

Today we are replaying an episode with Yiselle Santos Rivera.

Yiselle is Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion at HKS and is also a former AIA|DC Chapter President, co-founder of LA IDEA, and WIELD event founder.

She is a natural community builder and has been heavily involved with JEDI initiatives both on a local and national scale for which she has been recognized with numerous awards.We talk about: - Crafting her career path in terms of employers and project types to better align with her interest to design spaces that heal- How Yiselle created communities around her interests and identities and how her leadership elevated others but also opened doors for her- The specifics of her role as JEDI director: how she splits time, her current initiatives, JEDI focused client work, bridging difficult conversations with clients and colleagues, and her tips for those interested in starting a JEDI movement at their own companies- The circular benefits of mentorship and Yiselle's Hogwarts house!

More Episodes you Might Enjoy:

038: Olivia Asuncion: Architect, Ramp Enthusiast, and Accessibility Advocate

022: Gabriella Bermea: Advocate and Arquitecta

018: Alexandra Chaves: Women in Architecture and Storytelling with 'Profiles'

(Bonus 002) Set Design with Dominique Dawson

008: Evelyn Lee: Tech, Transformation, and Disruption within Architecture

(Bonus 006): Q&A with Architecture Graduates - Sofia Daly

029: Patricia Ramallo: Behind the Scenes at NCARB

Bryn Young is an architect, educator, and creator dedicated to helping aspiring architects succeed in their architectural licensing journey. She founded the ABC Club and Mind Over ARE, which both provide practical resources and guidance for Architect Registration Examination (ARE) candidates.

Bryn also shares insights on architecture, studying, and balancing life through her YouTube channel and podcast.

We talk about:

- Bryn’s determination to complete her Master of Architecture thesis despite a due date in the middle of the academic year. We talk about how openly communicating with her professors helped her successfully complete her work with a newborn in tow.

- Failing the AREs and the huge impact that sharing her story online had on Bryn’s career. 

- Bryn’s experience launching a design firm, pivoting after licensure, and eventually stepping back from client work to focus on education, impact, and creative freedom.

- Her emphasis on mindset, balance, and self-awareness in lieu of memorization when preparing for the AREs and how these strategies have evolved into a business providing guidance and support to other future architects.

>>>

Links:

https://dci.byoungdesign.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_im9VVO5ZP628YIqSpaEw

https://www.instagram.com/byoungdesign/

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Connect with Architectette:

- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)

- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)

- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)

- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Today we are replaying our episode with Fatemeh Monfared.

Fatemeh started her journey with a degree in architecture, but soon established a specialty crafting virtual worlds and experiences. She is currently the Chief Metaverse Architect at her company, Spaces.

This is a great episode for folks in architecture and design who want to know a bit more about the metaverse without all the jargon and complexity.

Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:

001: Cynthia Muñoz: Strong Mentors Make Great Leaders

042: Katerina Burianova: From Layoff to Leadership- How to Build an Architecture Firm

034: Aya Shlachter and Jing Lauengco: AEC Entrepreneurship and Branding through Storytelling

008: Evelyn Lee: Tech, Transformation, and Disruption within Architecture

(Bonus 008): Q&A with Architecture Graduates - Victoria Clarke

On this episode of Architectette, we sit down with Stephanie Lindsey and Jessica Nelson, the dynamic duo behind the Austin-based interior design firm Etch Design Group.

Etch's businesses include residential interior design, styling, interiors-focused AI education, and property management.

After a decade of collaboration and firm leadership, Stephanie and Jessica have built a thriving business where they believe, "Beautifully designed space is an invitation to fully be ourselves and great design brings us an experience of the extraordinary."

We talk about:

- Steph and Jess’ meet-cute! We talk about how they met, the events that led them to start their own firm, and how they balance parenthood, multiple businesses, and work as long-distance business partners

- Company growth and how they have created a leadership structure that fosters autonomy and accountability

- Etch’s preferred AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, custom GPTs and how they are specifically using AI to assist with rendering, HR, and budgeting

- Transforming a passion project into another arm of their business with a podcast and educational services focused on AI for Interiors

>>>

Links:

Connect with Etch Design Group: https://etchinteriordesign.com/

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Connect with Architectette:

- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)

- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)

- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)

- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

>>>

Support Architectette:

- Leave us a rating and review!

-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

>>>

Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Today we are replaying our episode with Tenille Bettenhausen.

Tenille is a client success manager at Microdesk where she leverages her 20+ years in AEC industries working in technical, business development, and construction specializations. She is also author of the book, Maybe I’ll be an Architect, as well as Host of the Podcast, Death by Architecture. 

We talk about:

- How Tenille developed resilience through her job hunt after college, landing an unfulfilling job, and lay-offs.

- Winning the Miss Long Beach Pageant which led to a new job in architecture.

- Working on spaces in a hospital and later having a baby in one of her maternity ward projects.

- The challenges of re-entering the profession after focusing on motherhood and how she leveraged her soft skills to become a business developer.

- Her current role at Microdesk and how she, with a background in architecture, advocates for users of the software her company supports.

- Her perspective on diversity in AEC industries, how she is contributes with her passion projects- her children’s book and architecture/true crime podcast

Other Episodes You May Enjoy:

012: Ramune Bartuskaite: Encouraging Architects to Specify Better Materials

013: Erin Alley: Rising to Leadership in Architecture through Inquiry, Inclusivity, and Innovation

008: Evelyn Lee: Tech, Transformation, and Disruption within Architecture

005: Eva Baker: An Architect Specializing in Laboratory Planning

On today's episode of Architectette we chat with Erin Peavey.

Erin is an architect, researcher, and the Health & Well-being Design Leader at HKS. She bridges the gap between research and practice with a focus on design for health, happiness, and social connection.

We talk about: 

- Erin’s career journey: her early exposure to environmental psychology, how she navigated uncertainties in her career, and how she came to lead healthcare and community-focused architecture projects.

- We talk about the importance of research and data and how this information can guide architectural decisions that promote health and wellbeing.

- We also talk about loneliness and the importance of social connection. We focus on strategies to design spaces that foster belonging, community, and connection, with an emphasis on the impacts of the pandemic and how mindful engagement can reduce loneliness and lack of connection

>>>

Links:

Website: www.erinpeavey.com

Erin's Writing: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/erin-peavey

Connect with Erin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpeavey/ and https://www.instagram.com/erin.peavey/

Peace by Design Book: https://www.erinpeavey.com/news/peace-by-design

Erin's Recommended Resources: Dr. Mardelle Shepley, Dr. Kirk Hamilton, HERD Journal, Psychology Today, EndNote, Mendeley, JSTOR, Google Scholar (use "peer review"!), Research Gate, Visual Refence for Evidence Based Design, and senior living topical books by Margaret Calkins.

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Connect with Architectette:

- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)

- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)

- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)

- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

>>>

Support Architectette:

- Leave us a rating and review!

-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

>>>

Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Replaying our episode with Morgan Chawaga. 

Morgan is a licensed architect turned stress management consultant. After experiencing the stress and exhaustion known by many in the industry, she developed stress management tools that she now shares with architects that help them DESIGN and BUILD a healthier relationship with their careers.

We talk about:

- Morgan's background working for both architecture firms and owners and how her experiences in the industry impacted her. 

- The origin of her company, The Healthy Architect, and how a nights and weekends effort became her full-time job recently. 

- Morgan shares some of her mental health philosophies: how motherhood makes women skillful managers and empathetic collaborators, the power of habit stacking (hint: you can do a lot while Revit syncs!), and essential ways to advocate for yourself in the workplace. We also share a short breathing exercise- join us! 

- We end with Morgan’s home office decor- what she keeps on the wall as a reminder of where she’s been and where she is going. 

More Episodes You Might Enjoy:

048: Robyn Linstrom: Design and De-Stigmatization as a Mental/ Behavioral Health Architect

036: Jill Bergman: Specializing in Healthcare Architecture

19: Joann Lui: Mental Health, Architecture, and Building Community

(Bonus 009): Q&A with Architecture Graduates - Maithili Awasarikar

On today’s episode of Architectette we feature Maya Sharfi. 

Maya is the founder of Build Yourself Workshop where she helps women in design, technology, and innovation rise and subsequently thrive in senior roles. Her clients have landed executive positions, launched innovative initiatives, and achieved salary increases. She also helps companies make their organizations better places for women to flourish.

Maya was a former Harvard Innovation Lab resident and was featured as a 40 Under 40 honoree by Impact Design Hub. She loves graphic nonfiction, the color yellow, and reading to her daughter.

We talk about:

- Maya’s start in landscape architecture, the realization of her coaching expertise, and how she established her business with a focus on elevating women in architecture 

- Maya’s framework for career advancement which is focused on her 5-step framework which helps women position themselves for a future principal or partner role 

- Asking for a promotion, making it rain, signs it’s time to leave a company, skills for networking, imposter syndrome, and self-advocacy

>>>

Links:

Everything You Want to Know About Becoming a Principal Guide: ⁠https://www.buildyourselfworkshop.com/architectette⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayasharfi/⁠

>>>

Connect with Architectette:

- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)

- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)

- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)

- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠

>>>

Support Architectette:

- Leave us a rating and review!

-⁠⁠⁠⁠ Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠

>>>

Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Replaying our episode with Ramune Bartuskaite.

Ramune is an Architect and Associate at FIFTEEN Architecture and Design as well as the CEO and founder of Spec Matters - an organization that strives to encourage the building industry to write healthier specifications and make better material selections.

We talk about:

- Ramune's first generation college experience and her contributions to Rise First which empowers first gen students

- Volunteering within architecture and how/why she helped establish PennDesign Women in Architecture

- We do a deep dive into Spec Matters and talk about building materials to avoid, which to use more frequently, and how architects and designers can leverage available tools to make healthier, safer spaces for their clients

More Episodes You Might Enjoy:

⁠009: FIFTEEN: Ximena Valle, Mary Beth Di Figlia, and Jill Lavine on their Women-led Firm⁠

045: Atelier Cho Thompson: Ming Thompson and Christina Cho Yoo on Diverse Strengths and Great Design

024: Bolanle Williams-Olley: Leading Boldly as CFO

013: Erin Alley: Rising to Leadership in Architecture through Inquiry, Inclusivity, and Innovation

036: Jill Bergman: Specializing in Healthcare Architecture

19: Joann Lui: Mental Health, Architecture, and Building Community

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome Kira Gould.

Kira is a writer, strategist, and convener focused on advancing design leadership and climate action through her company, Kira Gould CONNECT. 

She is also the co-host of the Design the Future podcast with Lindsay Baker, a Senior Fellow with Architecture 2030, and co-authored Women in Green: Voices of Sustainable Design.

We talk about: 

- Kira’s career as a non-architect working in AEC. She elaborates on her family roots in the industry and how she leaned into her passions for writing and sustainability. 

- We talk about the power of storytelling and how limiting industry jargon and using clarifying language helps to set clear expectations about the design and construction process with clients. 

- We also chat about the evolution of sustainability from an offshoot to an integral part of practice today with leaders not only leading sustainable initiatives, but the companies where they work.

- Kira and I review the lessons and impact of Women in Green and discuss other impactful topics including parenthood, mentorship, Architecture 2030, and developing thought leadership.

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Links: 

Connect with Kira: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiragould/

Design the Future Podcast: https://www.designthefuturepodcast.com/

Women in Green: Voices of Sustainable Design (2007), Kira Gould with Lance Hosey

Kira's Book Recommendations (elaborations on the Architectette Website):

Multisolving: Creating Systems Change in a Fractured World, Elizabeth Sawin (2024)

Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency, Sarah Ichioka, Michael Pawlyn (2021)

It’s Not the End of the World, Hannah Ritchie (2024)

What If We Get It Right, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (2024)

Doughnut Economics, Kate Raworth (2017)

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World, and Why Things Are Better Than You Think, Hans Rosling (2018)

Shape of Green: Aesthetics, Ecology, and Design, Lance Hosey (2012)

Books that were Foundational in Kira's Journey:

Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough, Michael Braungart (2002)

Biomimicry, Janine Benyus (1997)

How Buildings Learn, Steward Brand (1994)

>>>

Connect with Architectette:

- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)

- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)

- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)

- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

>>>

Support Architectette by leaving us a rating and review!

>>>

Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.