What’s holding architecture back—and who’s actually fixing it?

Mercedes Carriquiry, IA., AIA, co-founder of Slantis, joins Most Podern to unpack why architecture firms can no longer afford to go it alone. From early disillusionment with traditional practice to building a 100-person company that’s redefining tech adoption in AEC, Mercedes shares hard-won insights on incentives, process design, and the real reasons most firms struggle with innovation. We explore the messy middle between design and production, why persuasion is an underrated skill in this industry, and how Slantis is helping teams—from boutique studios to global firms—build smarter, not just faster. This is entrepreneurship as it is rarely discussed in architecture: fast moving, systems driven, and relentlessly focused on impact.

About Slantis”We seek the finest solutions for all your architectural challenges. By developing a highly complex BIM model, we deliver outstanding Design, Construction Documents, assets for Fabrication and 3D printing systems, so you build the extraordinary!”

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

Mercedes Carriquiry, Slantis, AEC technology, BIM consulting, architecture innovation, design technology, architectural workflows, digital fabrication, architecture entrepreneurship, external partners in architecture, production support for architecture firms, tech adoption in AEC, knowledge management in architecture, architecture process improvement, building information modeling, architecture firm collaboration, startup culture in AEC, remote architecture teams, architectural design systems, tech-forward architecture firms

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Slantis and Mercedes Karakiri01:54 Founding Slantis: A Journey of Innovation05:55 Understanding Slantis: More Than Just a Firm10:03 The Dual Approach: Production and Consulting13:44 The Importance of Collaboration in Architecture18:15 Technology as a Mindset: Slantis' Perspective25:01 Building Ideal Client Relationships29:16 Persuasion and Internal Resistance in Firms34:07 Navigating Innovation and Value Proposition34:56 The Importance of Unique Identity in Business37:37 Success in Remote and Hybrid Work Environments41:56 Culture-Driven Technology Adoption45:26 The Future of Collaboration in Architecture49:29 Managing Knowledge and Adaptability in Architecture55:16 Rethinking Teamwork and Incentives in AEC58:21 Critical Thinking in the Modern Era

Links

Slantis: http://www.slantis.com

Tiago Forte: https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/

37 Signals: https://37signals.com/

Rework: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6732019-rework

Remote: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/228370/remote-by-jason-fried-and-david-heinemeier-hansson/

0 to 1: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=peter+thiel+zero+to+one&rh=n%3A283155&hvbmt={BidMatchType}&hvdev=c&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5drh44zcl3_e

Marc Andreessen Future of the Internet, Technology, and AI | Lex Fridman Podcast #386: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hxeDjAxvJ8

Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture: https://youtu.be/-hxeDjAxvJ8?si=Y5N2Hl-w59itSZkh